When Crossville, Inc. first launched gauged porcelain tile panels, they knew the versatile panels would offer endless design possibilities, including use as a surfacing option for building exteriors. With the ability to skin various surfaces, Porcelain Tile Panels by Laminam® offer many unique benefits, making them an ideal specification for exterior cladding. With dimensions of 1m x 3m (almost ten feet tall!), these generously sized panels install efficiently and with minimal joints, which helps achieve a sleek, uninterrupted look on building exteriors. The panels' light weight (compared to other exterior cladding options) is another advantage because fewer workers are needed to handle them, resulting in reduced labor costs.

The porcelain panels are available in many colors and styles to answer current aesthetic demands and are more consistent in appearance than other materials, such as natural stone. Gauged porcelain tile panels provide gorgeous aesthetics for building exteriors, but they are also strong enough and tough enough to withstand the harshest weather. They’re innately resistant to UV rays and are highly scratch-proof and resistant to deep abrasion. The panels are also energy efficient and can help with noise reduction. And very importantly, the porcelain panels are sustainable and eco-friendly, as the porcelain body is comprised of natural raw materials that do not release toxins into the environment. 

So many advantages to using porcelain panels for exterior cladding — yet initially, a little hurdle existed for designers and architects who wanted to specify the expansive panels for exterior facades. And that hurdle was in the building codes. Back in 2010, the building code singled out porcelain tile as an adhered veneer and put a size limitation on it. Then, the big (but lighter in weight) gauged porcelain tile panels came on the scene, but the code still limited the tile size to three square feet with no side over 24 inches. 

The codes didn’t stop designers and architects from specifying the porcelain panels for exterior cladding, but it slowed them down as they had to seek a variance for each specification. Individual building inspectors granted variances on a case-by-case basis because the panels’ light weight, paired with the availability of stronger mortars, makes them a good candidate for adhered exterior facades despite their size. 

Soon, an effort to change the code was underway, with the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) and the International Masonry Institute (IMI) driving the effort, supported by Crossville and Mapei. Finally, a 2021 update to the International Building Code (IBC) allowed designers to use adhered porcelain tiles as large as 36 x 72 inches on building facades. Now, building owners, designers, homeowners, and construction professionals have greater flexibility to use larger porcelain tiles for exterior cladding, making gauged porcelain tile panels a more viable alternative to many other exterior building materials. 

Crossville Porcelain Tile Panels by Laminam create beautiful and functional exterior façades for hospitality, healthcare, office, multifamily buildings, and more. Here’s a look at some exterior cladding projects featuring porcelain tile panels.

McGowen Station
Laminam porcelain tile panels create a stunning facade for a luxury apartment community in Houston. From performance to aesthetics, this material offers everything the design team sought to create a stunning exterior that would stand out in an up-and-coming neighborhood.



Hidalgo County Courthouse
The design team for a Houston courthouse chose Crossville's porcelain tile panels to evoke the character, culture, heritage, and landscape unique to the Rio Grande River Valley in a contemporary expression. 



As part of the Crossville, Inc. family, Crossville Studios is your one and only local source for beautiful, Laminam porcelain tile panels. With 27 dedicated tile showrooms, we offer local support and are here to answer all your questions about this versatile porcelain product. Click here to view all the porcelain panels options and and request a free tile sample!