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EXTERIOR SURFACE OF COMMERCIAL <br />CONSTRUCTION <br />DISTINCTIVE FEATURE OF THE <br />BUILDING FACADE <br />DETAIL AND GLAZED SURFACE <br />COMMERCIAL BUILDING MATERIALS <br />• Terra cotta is a prominent and <br />distinctive build'i'ng material found in <br />Paris. It was used throughout the <br />United States in the early part of the <br />20th century. <br />• Terra cotta is distinctive for its <br />repetitive form and geometry as welll as <br />the glazed surface. <br />• Terra cotta is a masonry material and <br />is installed with mortar in the joints <br />between pieces. Replace deteriorated: <br />or missing mortar with mortar to match <br />the original in: color, composition, and <br />profile. <br />• Most damage occurs to terra cotta <br />when moisture, enters into the wall <br />system. The metal anchors rust and <br />expand, causing a cracking of the terra <br />cotta and possible failure of the unit in <br />extreme cases. This is especially true <br />when, terra cotta is exposed to extreme <br />weather conditions such as on a <br />building cornice, for example. <br />• Because terra cotta is a clay material, <br />water entering behind the unit or <br />behind the glaze can cause the clay to <br />expand, cracking the unit or the glaze. <br />Moisture in the, wall and unit that <br />freezes causes damage at a rapid rate. <br />• Anchoring into the face of the terra <br />cotta is a common cause of damage. <br />This is especially true of signage. <br />Holes need to be plugged as <br />inconspicuously as possible to prevent <br />moisture from entering the wall system. <br />• Terra cotta can be reglazed' by a <br />specialist and new units can be <br />manufactured. <br />• Cleaning terra cotta usually only <br />requires a gentle soap and water <br />solution. <br />• Retain and repair terra cotta as a <br />character -defining feature of the <br />building. <br />Design i Standards for the City of Paris, Texas 72 <br />