What is Terrazzo?

Many people question what is terrazzo? To answer that question, it is a building material capable of forming many unique finishes.
If to sum up the building material in one sentence, terrazzo is described as a composite material, poured in place or prefabricated for precast terrazzo which is used for flooring, base, walls, stair treads, countertops, and other custom products.
Terrazzo consists of chips of marble, granite, quartz, glass, shell, or other suitable materials. It uses either a cement or epoxy matrix as the binder.

Metal strips divide sections, make color transitions, design decorative patterns or logos and allow for movement or crack mitigation.  Divider strips are made from aluminum (epoxy terrazzo only), zinc, brass or plastic but never stainless steel.

Type of Terrazzo Systems

Terrazzo installation options include cementitious and thin-set epoxy resin systems. There are including:

• Thin-set epoxy
• Polyacrylate
• Sand cushion
• Monolithic
• Bonded
• Rustic 

Thin-Set Terrazzo Systems

Thin-set Terrazzo systems include epoxy resin or polyacrylate as the matrix. Polyacrylate is a cement-modified acrylate creating higher compressive strength and higher impact resistance than cement.
Polyacrylate also allows for vapor transmission.

Installed in the same manner as for regular monolithic terrazzo but at a minimum 3/8” thickness. An Epoxy Resin Matrix is a 2-component resin that bonds directly to the concrete slab.
A moisture mitigation system and or a crack suppression membrane may be required. A vapor barrier is required below the slab for all slab on grade applications. 
Today, epoxy terrazzo is the most-used system in commercial construction. Over 90% of terrazzo installations in the United State are epoxy-based.

The advantages of this material over cementitious terrazzo include an almost endless color selection.  Exotic aggregates such as mirror, Mother of Pearl, and plastic aggregates can also be used in epoxy terrazzo systems.
This system is installed at 1/4 inch to 3/8-inch finish thickness. Other advantages include lighter weight, higher strengths with PSI rates of 10,000 +, faster installations, impermeable finish, and less susceptible to cracking.
A disadvantage of epoxy terrazzo is that it is only for interior and not exterior applications. Also, the topping is not vapor-permeable so moisture mitigations products may be needed. 
If an old building does not have an active vapor barrier under the slab on grade, epoxy terrazzo should not be installed. 

Cementitious Terrazzo Systems

Cementitious systems include Monolithic Terrazzo where the ½” terrazzo topping is bonded directly to a new or existing concrete slab.
Panels are then poured within the directly bonded metal L angled divider strips.

Sand Cushion Terrazzo, which is where the material is poured over a wire-reinforced 2 1/2”- 3” mud bed (low slump) of sand and cement mixture that is also installed by the contractors.
While the mud bed is still soft the standard straight metal divider strips are partially embedded in the mud bed wherever there is to be a joint or a color change.
Underneath the mud bed is an isolation sheet on top of a 1/8” sand dusting creating a floating floor that allows for horizontal movement in the building, thus practically eliminating the possibility of cracking.
The Sand Cushion system requires the building to have 3” recessed concrete slab to accommodate for flooring elevations. 

Rustic Terrazzo, also known as Washed Terrazzo, is typically an exterior application with its slip-resistant textured finish.
In lieu of grinding and polishing the finish is achieved by lightly washing away some of the cement before curing exposing the marble, granite and or quartz aggregate.
Rustic systems can be installed either in a monolithic or a bonded mud bed application.

General Installation for Terrazzo Floors

Installation – Cementitious Terrazzo

The installation of cementitious and epoxy terrazzo is different to the degree that each binder requires a different installation method based on its makeup.
Cementitious terrazzo is traditionally a mixture of 2:1 ratio of marble aggregate and cement (grey or white). For coloring, add iron oxide to the mix.
Mix the materials thoroughly with water. The mix is then poured in within the specified panels and troweled to the preferred height.

 Aggregate is then sprinkled (seeded) on the floor in a uniform manner. A set roller is rolled across the floor in alternating directions embedding the marble chips in the floor while simultaneously working excess cement and water to the top which is then removed from the floor.
Repeat the rolling process a few times with differently weighted rollers continuing to extract excess water and cement from the floor creating a tight grouping of the marble aggregate.
Once this process is complete the floor is lightly troweled. The floor cures for several days before the grinding is to start.

Installation – Epoxy Terrazzo

Epoxy terrazzo is less labor-intensive and doesn’t require many of the skills that a cementitious system does. Epoxy terrazzo is a mixture of a Part A (Base color) and a Part B (Hardener). The typical ratio is 5:1.  
The part A & B are mixed together with filler powder (marble dust) and the aggregate.
The epoxy and aggregate mix is then poured on the floor and placed at the required height with hand trowels then closed with a power trowel to flatten and tighten up the aggregate.
It is the practice of some installers to also seed the floor prior to power troweling. Epoxy installed in the proper ambient conditions can be ground within 24 hours.

Grinding, Grouting, and Polishing Stages

Grinding of both cementitious and epoxy terrazzo are relatively the same procedure with the exception being the process for the initial rough grinding. Epoxy terrazzo rough grinding is done dry with vacuum systems to collect the grinding dust.
In contrast, cement terrazzo is wet-ground so a grinding slurry is created. After the floor is rough ground until the metal or plastic divider strips are exposed and the aggregate is uniformly exposed, both systems are grouted. In this step,
an installer matches binder material to fill any pinholes or voids. After proper curing of the grout, the floor is then polished.  
Typically polishing is done wet in both systems to the required finish level ranging from 120 grit up to 3000 grit.
Both cementitious and epoxy systems are thoroughly cleaned, dried and treated with a minimum of 2 coats of the appropriate sealer.

Evolution of aggregates 

At the beginning of trade, marble and granite were the traditional choices of aggregate with their beauty and abundance from quarries around the world and on many occasions being a locally sourced material for projects.
Mother of Pearl, coral, shell, and pebbles were also used regionally but are now commonly used worldwide.
With the introduction of epoxy and its expanded binding capabilities, it has made way for new materials to be used as aggregates.
These aggregates include post-consumer recycling of glass, mirror, plastic, porcelain, and concrete.

Regardless of the material, aggregate is processed in the same manner whether it’s being sourced from a quarry, the ocean, or a recycling center.  
The aggregates are crushed and ground through a screening process to regulate sizing. Sizes range from #00 at 1/16 “ through #8 at 1 1/8” in size. Afterward, aggregates are bagged in specifically weighted bags.

Aggregate sizing for terrazzo offers design flexibility to create different styles of flooring such as the finer grains of standard terrazzo or the larger, more distinctive pieces of Venetian terrazzo.

What is Terrazzo: Where Can You See It Today

Airports and Transporation Centers

Schools and Universities

Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities

Corporate Offices

Homes and Apartments

Once you notice what terrazzo is, you will see it in many places today. Other places include restaurants, hotels, retail outlets, and theaters.