Terracotta can give a facade durable material character, but “use terracotta panels” is not yet a project brief. A decision-ready brief connects the architectural idea to panel format, support strategy, performance evidence, samples, interfaces, quantities and programme. It also gives manufacturers enough information to identify feasible standard products, explain custom work and return comparable proposals.
Start with a one-page project definition
Record the building type, location, height, facade area, design stage and procurement route. Add the elevation intent: quiet monolithic fields, a strongly expressed grid, deep horizontal shadow, vertical emphasis, glazed highlights or a controlled blend of natural clay tones. Identify the most important viewing distances and any heritage, planning or brand constraints.
Include climate exposure, design loads, seismic context where applicable, substrate type, insulation zone, cavity concept and local code authority. State who designs the wall, who engineers the subframe, who supplies fixings and who installs them. Early clarity on these boundaries prevents a product quotation from being mistaken for a complete facade design.
Choose the product family from geometry and use
| Facade intent | Product route to investigate | Early questions |
|---|---|---|
| Planar ventilated wall with open joints | Extruded hollow terracotta rainscreen panels | Module, span, joint, clip positions, corner pieces and replacement access |
| Smaller masonry-like scale | Terracotta facing units or mechanically supported tile system | Substrate, attachment pattern, joints, movement and edge restraint |
| Open screen, shading or visual filter | Terracotta baguettes, fins or louvers | Orientation, support spacing, end retention, wind, impact and cleaning |
| Curves, fins or sculpted transitions | Standard special shapes or a custom extrusion study | Tooling, tolerances, minimum quantity, prototypes, handed units and spares |
Do not select solely from a small colour chip. Panel depth, weight, practical length, edge geometry and support location can determine the elevation module. Ask for a standard-section shortlist before committing to custom tooling; a subtle adjustment to the grid can reduce cost and schedule risk without weakening the design.
Build a physical colour and surface approval path
Define whether the desired character is natural unglazed clay, a glaze, a textured or grooved face, or a coordinated mix. Colour names and screen images are useful for shortlisting, but approval should rely on physical samples that represent the expected production range. View them in exterior daylight, beside adjacent glass, metal, stone and sealants.
State whether variation should be evenly blended, grouped or used to form a deliberate pattern. Establish sample size, reference samples, acceptable range and who signs the approval. A facade mock-up should show joints, corners, openings, support visibility and lighting conditions—not just isolated panels on a table.
Define current performance evidence by risk
Prepare a submittal matrix for the actual project. Typical topics include dimensions and tolerances, mass, water absorption where relevant, freeze-thaw resistance for the exposure, strength of the clay unit, fixing resistance, impact, wind-load capacity, seismic movement, reaction to fire and assembly fire performance where required. Applicable methods and acceptance values depend on jurisdiction and wall design.
Require reports that can be traced to the proposed profile, thickness, span and fixing condition. A certificate for a different product family does not automatically qualify a custom section. Project engineering should calculate corner and edge wind zones, bracket and anchor forces, substrate capacity and movement. If the design falls outside tested or documented limits, agree on additional testing before release.
Coordinate the complete wall, not only the panel
Behind the terracotta
Show rails, brackets, isolators, fasteners, cavity, insulation, air and water layers, fire barriers and substrate. Trace drainage to a safe exterior outlet.
At transitions
Resolve windows, doors, base, parapet, soffit, corners, movement joints, penetrations and interfaces with other claddings at a useful drawing scale.
During installation
Set survey requirements, adjustment range, clip engagement, fastener checks, panel replacement method, cavity cleanliness and protection of finished work.
At handover
Provide cleaning guidance, inspection access, repair procedures, product codes, approved samples and a rational quantity of matching spare units.
The panel, subframe and backing wall move differently. Joint widths, slotted connections and perimeter clearances must accommodate calculated movement without forcing brittle edges or compromising retention. Confirm corrosion compatibility and avoid details that trap water on rails or at panel ends.
Make durability and environmental claims auditable
The archived page from 24 November 2015 described natural clay, firing at 1200°C, low environmental impact, thermal and acoustic benefits, simple installation and low maintenance. These are historical marketing claims, not current project evidence. The exact raw materials, firing profile, factory, panel section and wall assembly can differ, so each claim must be checked in current, product-specific documents.
For sustainability review, request a current environmental declaration or equivalent verified data when available, along with declared product scope, factory and validity period. Assess embodied impacts at building level, including support metal, transport, wastage and replacements. For durability, define exposure, cleaning, inspection and replaceability instead of relying on an undefined “maintenance-free” promise. Thermal and acoustic results belong to the complete wall, not the outer clay panel alone.
Plan approvals and procurement backwards from site need
Set dates for standard samples, custom section review, prototypes, visual mock-up, testing, final sample approval, shop drawings, engineering, production, quality review, packing and phased delivery. Confirm quantities by profile and length, permissible overage, replacement stock and packaging sequence. Custom shapes and project colours need decision time before mass production.
Use the terracotta rainscreen overview to shortlist panel directions, study precedent in the project gallery, and bring a marked-up elevation to the first supplier discussion.