When hearing the word “facade” an image is automatically generated in our thoughts; a first view of a building; Well, the word façade is derived from Latin and means “outer face”.
Therefore, a facade is usually a primary object of architectural design, which must be carefully projected, since it is the first resource available to the eye in any construction, therefore it can be said that a facade has its own personality., since it allows to express the characteristics of the buildings at first sight.
A façade is not only endowed with an aesthetic character, but also with great functionality, complementing the building with issues of a more technical nature within the construction such as:
Involving engineering, facades are usually an important element that converges with the impact on energy efficiency thanks to the materials and/or construction methods used.
In this way, the facades are usually classified into different types, based on the needs and materials used in each of these:
1. Light facade
This façade does not contribute to the stability of the structure. Due to their lightness, they are not the most suitable if you are looking to obtain thermal or acoustic insulation benefits. Some of the materials used in this type of facades are: alucobond, drywall, aluminum and glass. Each of these materials have different methods and designs for their implementation, which makes them ideal materials for the construction of facades with modernist designs.
2. Heavy facade
They are classified as traditional facades due to the materials used for their construction: brick, stone, wood and block are some of the resources used.
3. Back-ventilated facade
They consist of uprights, crossbars and enclosures, the uprights are anchored to masonry walls, and the enclosure parts are heavy: normally stone or ceramic plates. These types of facades are usually one of the best options when it comes to sustainable architecture. Part of this is reflected in the advantages obtained, such as thermal and acoustic insulation.
4. Precast Facade
They are facades composed of prefabricated wall modules, assembling each other on site. Among the most used materials for this type of facades are: concrete, wood and concrete. The joining systems between the different modules are already incorporated into the pieces themselves, so they are usually dry-joint constructions.
The advantages of this method include:
5. Curtain wall
Curtain wall or “curtain wall” is a facade system, generally light, made of glass, independent of the resistant structure of the building, this curtain wall is built continuously in front of it.
| We recommend you read: 4 Keys to sustainable construction.
On the other hand, we see that the restoration of facades in existing homes and buildings, as well as the proposal of innovative facades in new works, has positioned itself as one of the aspects to be taken into account.
The foregoing, contemplating the functionality, quality and aesthetics provided by the different types of façades and construction materials in trend such as:
These materials contribute to the impact on the design, aesthetics and sustainability of a building, giving it personality, durability and its own style.
At GEG we take care of using the correct type of façade in our constructions based on the needs of our clients; In this way, we reflect our professionalism and commitment as a construction company, respecting the urbanization and the environment, allowing us to provide the highest quality in our constructions without neglecting functionality and aesthetics.
