One of the suitable options for building facades is the use of
porcelain ceramic. Facade ceramics come in various types and designs and are used in different scenarios.
Ceramic facades can not only impart a unique beauty and charm to the building but also have a longer lifespan and superior quality, making them a popular choice among architects and designers. Porcelain ceramic offers benefits like high resistance to water, heat, climatic conditions, and corrosion. This coating ensures that the building is resistant to moisture and water penetration and also requires less maintenance and repair. Porcelain ceramic for facades is available in diverse designs and colors in the market.
Types of Ceramic Facades
Ceramic facades can be categorized based on material into two types: simple ceramic and porcelain. Simple ceramic serves well as a building facade; however, in terms of strength and water absorption, it performs much weaker compared to porcelain ceramic. One of the distinguishing features between conventional ceramics and porcelain ceramics is the lighter weight and easier cutting of the former. Another advantage of conventional ceramics is their broader range of designs and colors. The cost of porcelain ceramics for building facades is higher than conventional ceramics due to its quality and unique properties. Ceramics are generally produced in designs resembling stone, wood, parquet, etc. The available facade ceramics in the market come in the following designs:
- Ceramic Facade with Wood Design: This ceramic looks exactly like natural wood, making it popular in many commercial and administrative centers. Wood-patterned ceramic has a glossy and shiny appearance and is available in various color schemes.
- Ceramic Facade with Stone Design: Stone-patterned ceramic is one of the types of facade ceramics that features a pattern and design similar to natural stone. Utilizing advanced technology, this type of ceramic facade has been transformed into a form resembling natural stone through a combination of various colors and diverse designs.
- Ceramic Facade with Brick Design: Brick-patterned ceramics, with their unique features and fewer installation hassles compared to actual bricks, along with their exceptional beauty, have drawn the attention of many builders. Brick-like ceramics are more attractive than ordinary bricks due to their glossy glaze and polished surface, and they are easier to maintain. These brick-patterned ceramics come in various designs, including embossed brick, Kazakh brick, white design, black-banded design, and more.
- Ceramic Facade with Rectangular Design
- Ceramic Facade with Polygonal Design
Read More: "Introduction to Types of Ceramics by Application, Materials, and Construction."
Features of Ceramic Facades
Ceramic facades, also known as facade ceramics, possess numerous advantages, some of which we will mention below:
- High Resistance to Weather Conditions: Ceramics is a material that is highly resistant to various atmospheric conditions such as rain, snow, sunlight, and temperature changes. This characteristic ensures that a building equipped with a ceramic facade remains functional and is used over an extended period. Moreover, the color of the ceramic facade is stable and resistant to temperature changes and sunlight. This ensures that the building maintains its beautiful and appealing appearance over time.
- Beauty and Appeal: Compared to stone and bricks often used for facades, ceramic facades have an attractive and beautiful design, and they can give a special appearance to a building.
- High Resistance to Corrosion: Ceramic facades are resistant to corrosion and chemical effects, such as acid rain. This attribute enhances the longevity of the building. Another notable feature of ceramic facades is their non-combustibility; they don't catch fire, and in the event of a fire, they prevent its spread. Ceramic facades are also highly resistant to harmful UV rays from the sun.
- Ease of Installation and Maintenance: Ceramic facades are lightweight, which simplifies their installation and maintenance. This feature is particularly important for tall buildings and towers. The use of stone, with its substantial weight, can create difficulties for high structures and may even be unfeasible in certain instances. Ceramic facades can be installed quickly, and if a section becomes damaged, that specific part can be individually replaced with a new piece. These factors contribute to the cost-effectiveness of ceramic facades.
Among the disadvantages of ceramic facades, one can mention their lack of sound and thermal insulation. Moreover, if they are not of good quality and are not installed properly, there's a possibility that they might fall and break, which is another drawback of ceramic facades.
Installing Ceramic Facades
Generally, there are three methods for installing ceramic facades:
- Ceramic Facade Installation Using Ceramic Adhesive: In this method, special adhesives are used to firmly bond the ceramic facade.
- Ceramic Facade Installation Using Mortar: This relatively older method employs mortar to install ceramics. It is specifically designed for ceramics that are porous. Due to their low moisture absorption, Porcelain ceramics cannot be attached using this method.
- Dry Installation of Ceramic Facade: In this method, no wet materials like adhesive or mortar are used. A cladding framework is set up on the building's exterior, and the ceramic panels are then attached to this framework using clips.
Implementing the ceramic facade of a building using the dry method requires attention to the following points:
- Procuring high-quality materials and ceramics
- Using a highly durable framework (For constructing a dry ceramic facade, aluminum profiles and steel retaining clamps are required)
- Waterproofing windows, joints, protrusions, and blind spots of the building
- Applying an insulating layer to the wall
You might wonder, "How much does the exterior ceramic facade of a building cost?" Generally, considering the various types of ceramic facades and different designs, it's impossible to provide a fixed price for the implementation of this type of facade. The cost of ceramic is determined based on the type of ceramic (hollow ceramic or solid ceramic), ceramic dimensions, ceramic design, ceramic color, and the glaze on the ceramic. Even factors like the supply and demand in the market, the amount and volume of purchase, the manufacturing company, the intended area, and the rate of purchasing raw materials all impact the cost of the ceramic facade.
Read more: "Introduction and Purchase of Building Floor Ceramics."
Porcelain Ceramic Facade
The principal and most important feature of porcelain ceramics is their very low porosity. This minimal porosity provides other unique characteristics and properties to this product. In comparison with the stones used for building facades, porcelain ceramic facades possess the following advantages.
The structure of porcelain ceramics is entirely uniform; however, the physical attributes of stones can differ in various directions. The water absorption rate of porcelain ceramics is exceedingly low, nearly zero, allowing them to maintain their characteristics when exposed to water. Conversely, some stones are highly susceptible to water, losing their features when coming into contact with it.
Porcelain ceramics are highly dense due to the high baking temperature, and they possess a remarkable resistance to abrasion. Some stones naturally have flaws and fissures, which may be hidden beneath a thin layer. This thin layer may disappear over time due to environmental factors, revealing flaws and fissures and leading to an undesirable appearance. Porcelain ceramics, considering that they are baked at high temperatures for an extended period, will not suffer from discoloration over time.
Porcelain ceramics have a very high resistance to acid. This is in contrast to some stones, particularly those with a calcium carbonate and calcite base, which are highly sensitive to acid. They even react to weak acids such as lemon juice. Even weak acids like lemon juice can trigger a reaction. Unlike a simple stain that can be readily cleaned, this reaction results in surface corrosion.
Read more: "
What is Porcelain Ceramic; Its Types and Applications"
Types of Porcelain Ceramic Facade
Full-body porcelain is a type of porcelain ceramic. This type of ceramic is similar to other porcelain ceramics in terms of production and structure; the selection of raw materials in manufacturing this porcelain ceramic is such that the color of the product is consistent on both the surface and throughout its depth. In other words, unlike regular ceramics and porcelains, where a color difference is observed between the body and the surface after breaking or cutting, no color difference is observed in this type of porcelain ceramic, similar to natural stones.
This feature ensures that in the event of an impact or any kind of damage, the appearance of the ceramic will not be ruined, and it will not appear two-toned like ordinary and simple porcelain ceramics; for this reason, these porcelain ceramics can be used in areas with high foot traffic. Full-body porcelain ceramics are offered in various sizes and thicknesses in the market. It is worth mentioning that the color and pattern variety of full-body ceramic is limited compared to other ceramics due to the specific formulation of the primary clay used for production, and we cannot expect a wide range of designs in this particular product. The price of full-body ceramic is also higher compared to regular porcelain ceramic.
Hollow Porcelain Ceramic
This type of porcelain ceramic, due to the presence of cavities in its body, has a lower weight compared to other types of facade ceramics. Hollow ceramic is available in both glazed and polished forms. The design and colors of the glazed hollow ceramic facade are fewer than regular porcelain ceramics. After producing polished hollow ceramic, the surface is polished using specialized machines.
Read more: "What is Ceramic? Properties, Types, and Applications"
Dimensions of Porcelain Facade Ceramic
Porcelain facade ceramic is available in various sizes in the market; for example:
- Size 60 × 120 centimeters
- Size 40 × 100 centimeters
- Size 30 × 90 centimeters
Installation of Porcelain Ceramic Facade
The installation of a dry ceramic facade, irrespective of whether the ceramics are hollow or full-bodied, is generally conducted using two methods: visible and invisible. In the visible approach, the clips and supporting framework of the ceramic are noticeable on the facade. Conversely, in the invisible approach, the connectors and retaining pieces that hold the dry ceramic on the building's facade are concealed and remain unseen. In this method, the ceramics are nearly joined together, producing a uniform appearance. The substructure for the ceramic facade is typically constructed using aluminum or metal profiles. To install a dry ceramic facade, one must first arrange the substructure in a grid pattern that is compatible with the ceramic's dimensions. Afterward, the ceramics are installed on the substructure using either visible or invisible techniques.
Summary
The facade of a building is considered one of its essential parts, influencing both the aesthetic appeal of the structure and the overall beauty of the urban public space. The ceramic facade is an excellent choice for this purpose. However, this decision should be made with patience and careful consideration and by consulting with experienced and skilled professionals. We at Pishgaman Memari Arya Company are ready to provide you with a consultation.
Q & A
1- What are the advantages of using ceramic as a building facade?
The ceramic facade is resistant to corrosion and chemical effects such as acidic rain, which enhances the building's lifespan. Another significant advantage of a ceramic facade is that it does not catch fire, and in case of a fire, it prevents its spread.
2- What is the price of an exterior building ceramic facade?
The price of ceramic depends on the type of ceramic (hollow ceramic or full-body ceramic), the dimensions, design, color, and glaze of the ceramic; you can obtain information about the price through this page.
3- What is the difference between installing a porcelain ceramic facade and ceramic?
The installation of a porcelain ceramic facade is executed using a dry method. This approach, regardless of whether the ceramics are hollow or full-bodied, is generally conducted in two distinct methods: visible and invisible.
