Aged terra cotta takes on all kinds of unique characteristics, from
slight crazing of the glaze to various types and intensity of stains.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I'd rather rely on the
continuing changes from aging, than to apply modern coatings to make it
look new.  We have a building down the street that we beautifully
restored, including a nicely detailed terra cotta top floor.  We also
replicated its missing sheet metal cornice, which was painted to a color
complementing the terra cotta.  Because of the typical stains, etc. the
owner was not happy with the building's overall appearance, and painted
the entire top floor (terra cotta) to match his new cornice. So, is the
final appearance better?  Perhaps.  Will it be better in 10 years?  Time
will tell...but when the paint fails, what then?!!!


QUINN EVANS | ARCHITECTS 
Ilene R. Tyler, FAIA, FAPT, LEED AP
v 734.663.5888

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