Ana Silva

When a building façade does not meet its performance requirements, the integrity and safety of the structure may be compromised, resulting in the reduction of the building’s service life. Ceramic tiles are a commonly applied cladding solution due to their aesthetic value and durability. However, as soon as ceramic claddings are installed, the claddings are subjected to various degradation agents, thus starting a degradation process in which different anomalies occur sequentially and simultaneously over the years. This study intends to find patterns of incidence of anomalies in distinct areas of the façade and to map the risk of occurrence of a given anomaly. For that purpose, 345 ceramic claddings are analysed (46 buildings, corresponding to 81,500 m2) in the region of Brasília, Brazil. Four main defects are identified based on visual inspections and using auxiliary diagnosis techniques, namely (i) detachment of ceramic tiles; (ii) cracking; (iii) grout failure; (iv) efflorescence. The results reveal that the detachment is the most frequent defect. The sensitivity maps proposed allow identifying a certain pattern in the occurrence of defects on ceramic claddings, revealing that continuous walls, transition between floors, and the top of the building are areas critically vulnerable to defects. The results obtained allow mapping the sensitivity of each part of the ceramic claddings to a given defect, aiding the detection and diagnosis of the degradation condition when carrying out inspections on new façades.

Climate change could have a significant impact on buildings if its effects are not properly recognized. The consequences of climate action should be considered at the design and maintenance planning stage, with the objective of promoting the overall durability of constructions. Portugal, being part of the Mediterranean region, Southern Europe, and the Iberian Peninsula, and sometimes highlighted in projections as a critical area, is an example of a country considerably vulnerable to climate change impacts. The climate is expected to become warmer and drier, with a substantial rise in temperature and fall in precipitation by the end of the century. What implications will these changes have on the degradation of façades? Climate agents, such as temperature, solar radiation, humidity, precipitation, and wind, directly influence the performance of external claddings that protect internal building components. Cement render is the prevalent façade cladding in Portugal and Europe. Research to assess the risks of future climate-induced degradation on rendered façades is relevant in the context of buildings’ durability and adaptation to climate change. The objective of the present research was to define expectations about the impact of a progressively warmer and drier climate on the degradation of exterior cement renders, based on an analysis of related literature. Generally, less staining and more cracking are expected. Expectations about salt weathering and loss of adhesion are more uncertain and need further research.