Dictionary of Moisture Protection & Restoration

Tensile strength =

The resistance to force that pulls apart a material

to rupture; the maximum

tensile stress

which the

material can sustain.

Tension =

Force tending to pull material apart, as on the

bottom of a lintel or beam. A stretching force.

Terra cotta =

Clay that has been molded in shape and then

treated in a kiln at high temperature; typically

reddish-brown in color when unglazed; when

glazed, usually colored and used for ornamental

work. After the first half of the 19

century, terra

cotta became an economical alternative to stone

as an exterior cladding material. Terra cotta

cladding is difficult to waterproof as there is no

membrane behind and it depends entirely on the

joints to keep the water from penetrating the

substrate.