{"id":23052,"date":"2025-06-16T14:35:24","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T12:35:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fornacebernasconi.com\/il-cotto-fatto-a-mano-soffre-la-salsedine\/"},"modified":"2025-06-23T11:47:21","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T09:47:21","slug":"does-handmade-terracotta-suffer-from-salt-air","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fornacebernasconi.com\/en\/does-handmade-terracotta-suffer-from-salt-air\/","title":{"rendered":"Does handmade terracotta suffer from salt air? Here’s how to protect and clean it"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n\n\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n

<\/b>Handmade terracotta and salt air: a delicate relationship<\/span><\/b><\/h2><\/div>\n\n

With the arrival of summer, those lucky enough to have a seaside home<\/strong> must face a major enemy of outdoor surfaces<\/strong>: salt air<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Handmade terracotta<\/strong>, chosen for its authentic beauty and artisanal appearance, is perfect for outdoor areas<\/strong> like terraces, patios, and walkways. In fact, handmade terracotta floors are extremely durable and long-lasting. However, due to its naturally porous nature<\/strong>, terracotta can suffer from exposure to the marine environment over time.<\/p>\n

You may notice white stains<\/strong> or dusty halos appearing on terracotta surfaces. These marks, known as salt efflorescence<\/strong>, are among the most common types of damage caused by salt air. They are salt crystals<\/strong> that form on the surface of building materials when certain hydrated compounds \u2013 such as chlorides, nitrates, gypsum, or copper sulfate \u2013 lose their water of crystallization due to a difference between the vapor pressure of the compound and that of the surrounding atmosphere.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to note, however, that the reaction which creates so-called “saltpeter” is completely natural<\/strong>, and the idea that terracotta irreversibly suffers from salt air is a myth<\/strong>. History proves it: the Ancient Romans<\/strong> used terracotta bricks<\/strong> to build their ports because of their strength and versatility. These bricks were used in all port structures \u2013 piers, docks, and surrounding buildings. Even today, we can admire ancient harbors made of terracotta bricks that are still well preserved, such as those in Ostia, Anzio, Civitavecchia, Orbetello, Miseno, and many others throughout Italy and the Mediterranean. These bricks have been in direct contact with seawater for over two thousand years and still stand strong.<\/p>\n

That said, in a private home or hospitality facility, the appearance of saltpeter on outdoor surfaces can be aesthetically unpleasant. In construction, efflorescence is often seen on plaster, bricks, natural stones, and terracotta flooring<\/strong> \u2013 especially those that haven\u2019t been properly waterproofed or adequately protected.<\/p>\n\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n