Terracotta Balustrade and Railing – Typical Mounting and Restoration Methods
At one time, balustrade and railing systems were frequently made from terracotta. Not surprisingly, then, the goal of many terra cotta renovation projects is to restore these elements to optimal condition. Terracotta balustrade and railing systems can be assembled in a number of different ways, which can make terracotta restoration extremely complex or relatively straightforward. This article describes some of these configurations and the corresponding terra cotta renovation method for each.
Balustrade systems
Like the balustrade systems made with modern materials, those made with architectural terracotta are made up of balusters or spindles, the top rail or cap, the base rail or plinth and several pillars. The main difference is that the terracotta balustrade generally consists of many different segments. The following description of a terracotta balustrade system represents a typical configuration. Each individual baluster is a two-piece unit, and the railings are made up of many short pieces attached with steel pins and mortar. Additionally, the top rail of the balustrade is supported by a steel bar and anchored within the terracotta pillars.
Terracotta restoration for this type of balustrade system involves the production of one-piece balusters and rails comprised of 12 to 14 foot units rather than many tiny segments.
Caps and coping
Coping is another word for the top rail of a balustrade system, while caps are used to cover the piers. Although the Terracotta Coping and Caps can be assembled in many different ways, most configurations require the use of numerous gaskets. The reason for this is simple: the manufacturing processes of architectural terracotta did not allow to produce large pieces.
Terracotta renovation for deteriorated caps and copings generally involves replacing several individual terracotta units with a single piece, reducing the possibility of water infiltration.
Architectural Terracotta Railing – Threaded Rod Assembly
Unlike terracotta railings that are assembled with mortar, this method involves the use of threaded rods to join sections of the railing to the structure below.
Terracotta restoration for threaded rod systems involves unscrewing the damaged sections of the terracotta element, removing them, and then replacing them with a terracotta substitute and (if necessary) stainless steel or galvanized steel brackets. The terracotta renovation process for this type of architectural terra cotta railing system is simpler than for full mortar systems.
These are far from the only assembly methods for architectural terracotta railing and balustrade systems, and a company specializing in terracotta restoration will be able to work with most configurations.