Today, the choice of building materials and technologies is playing a more fundamental role in construction than it ever has done before. And not only from an aesthetic point of view but for the overall performance of buildings too. In this context, ventilated façades and porcelain stoneware are a technical combination that, if correctly designed and implemented, can significantly affect a building’s energy efficiency, durability and living comfort. So, what are the factors that make this solution such an ideal choice for architects engaged in high quality projects?
Porcelain stoneware ventilated façades: thermal performance and other benefits
Porcelain stoneware ventilated façades are an advanced solution for improving a building’s thermal performance.
The key principle of the system is the air space between the perimeter wall and the external porcelain stoneware cladding, which acts as a natural barrier against temperature variations. The air cavity that is created facilitates the phenomenon known as the ‘chimney effect’. This encourages heated air to move upwards, eventually freeing it to allow cooler outside air to enter and circulate. This mechanism not only helps reduce summer heat loads, but also provides additional thermal protection during the winter by minimising heat loss.
The result is a significant increase in the energy performance of buildings, which, thanks to ventilated façades and specific types of external cladding, become more efficient and environmentally sustainable.
It is important to emphasise that the combined use of ventilated façades and porcelain stoneware has further benefits too for more ambitious building projects. These include:
- Durability and easy maintenance: of all types of external coverings, porcelain stoneware is one of the most impact-, abrasion- and, above all, weather-resistant materials. Thanks to its exceptional mechanical, physical and chemical properties, porcelain stoneware does not undergo significant changes in the face of rain, snow, frost or UV radiation. This guarantees it a long life with no need for frequent maintenance.
- Eco-sustainable standards and façades: porcelain stoneware ventilated façades not only improve a building’s energy efficiency, they also help meet environmental regulations and energy certification protocol requirements. Energy certifications play a decisive role in the environmental reputation of a project. They increase the value of a property and are increasingly sought after by environmentally aware buyers and investors. Using porcelain stoneware contributes significantly to creating an environmentally sustainable façade.
- Living comfort: thanks to the high acoustic and temperature insulation performance of the entire shell, both during the summer and winter months, ventilated stoneware façades offer a high level of comfort to all users, which is why they are in such wide demand with developers.
- Customisation and style quality: another relevant technical factor is the possibility of customising stoneware panels to meet the specific style requirements of a project. Thanks to modern digital printing technologies, a wide range of textures, colours, finishes and effects such as wood, stone or concrete can be reproduced on porcelain stoneware without affecting its technical properties. Porcelain stoneware also offers different formats and thicknesses that allow the weight of the façade and the building’s structural loads to be optimised, thereby improving the project’s technical feasibility.
Style, performance and eco-sustainable façades
Porcelain stoneware ventilated façades are a state-of-the-art architectural solution for all projects that seek to combine style, functionality and sustainability. Whether it is a new construction or renovation, this winning combination offers endless possibilities for customisation as well as guaranteeing high performance over time.
Designing a ventilated façade requires special care to be taken over construction details, like the correct design of anchorages, joints and expansion joints, which guarantee the façade’s stability and safety over time. Relying on experienced professionals and high-quality materials, like porcelain stoneware, is the key to creating successful architectural projects that meet modern aesthetic and functional requirements.
