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Terracotta products are becoming more and more desirable amongst Bahrain's garden lovers.
Terracotta's beauty has been recognised by many civilisations throughout the centuries and the Greeks were the first to identify its worth.
The literal translation of terracotta is 'burnt earth', a characteristic that the material retains, whether it is being manufactured by hand or by machine, making it ideal for exterior garden use.
Earthenware as a material seems to sing out for itself. The natural tones of terracotta work magnificently well amongst the greens of planting, and give a Mediterranean sun-baked look to a garden.
Manufacturing techniques of terracotta include either ramming or pressing the clay through moulds at high pressure. Although terracotta is obtainable in almost any form imaginable, such as candlesticks, water fountains and so on, the prime use of terracotta in gardens is in the form of pots and paving.
Like bricks, there is broad variation in natural tile colours, depending on where the clay has originated from. Although clays suitable for tile can always be described as earthy in look, colours are available in buffs, reds, greys, blacks and browns.
There is a view that light coloured tiles like buff are less durable than the darker shades like brown and black, but a tile's strength is rather derived from the firing process and not from its colour. Firing temperature affects the strength of the tile.
Terracotta surface finishes are numerous, ranging from glazed to stippled, but consideration must be given to the anti-slip characteristics while wet. Glazed tiles can be rather risky when wet, although if laid in mosaic, the grout will provide a degree of slip resistance. However, it is better to use tiles with a non-slip surface finish.
A cheaper option to clay terracotta tiles is to use an imitation concrete product. Some of them are of such high quality that it is difficult to differentiate between the two. There are wide ranges of ceramic and reconstituted stone available on the market.
If you have a tiled floor indoors, linking materials from the interiors to outdoors can give a living space one continuous surface finish.
Conventionally used in gardens as pots, terracotta urns can give a traditional, ethnic or modern edge to a space. Available in a wide range of colours, finishes and glazes, no matter what your garden style is, there is bound to be a nice terracotta pot for you.
Usual places where you could look for terracotta pots would be garden centres, antique shops and of course, those you find when you are on a holiday. If you really want it, you will figure out a way to ship it back home!
Terracotta tiles can look fantastic in a garden setting because of the soft, warm, undemanding effect that this surface provides.
Like bricks, terracotta is available as smaller modules; they are best suited for smaller gardens or small surface areas to avoid the final result appearing too fussy. Laying terracotta is a tricky task, and best left to professionals.
Terracotta does not have to be kept only for use in flooring or decorative vessels. Tiles can also be used as decorative detailing in walls and water features. This material has become so popular that manufacturers are now producing a wealth of products for garden use. Finials, wind chimes, water features and obelisks are available.
If you are looking for something really remarkable, you can go to a ceramist or you can also look around at garden shows and craft fairs.
