So what if your establishment, shop or business has one of the highest foot traffic around. That poses no problem with your durable Terrazzo floor. Terrazzo floors are highly versatile and strong solid surface floor material invented by ingenious Venetian mosaic workers during the 15th century. Traditionally, Terrazzo is mix of marble chips embedded into a cement base, then ground flat and coated with a topical sealer. While it is true that modern terrazzo today can be made from a wider range of materials and polished without using coatings, the craft of installing it basically remains much the same.
Nowadays it is a given that the toughness and durability of terrazzo can outlast even the structure or building it is installed in, today’s current terrazzo is made with either Portland cement or epoxy as its base. The Terrazzo is then combined with some type of aggregate that provides its unique one of a kind appearance. Although marble is still the hands up aggregate of choice for most applications, Terrazzo can also be made from natural stone chips, granite and quartz are the obvious choices for Terrazzo finishes, but not to be left behind are other types of aggregates which are also used, including glass pebbles, synthetic chips, recycled glass, metal and silica bits that offer an endless display of colours. Terrazzo can also be creatively set into precision cut forms to create company logos, artworks, text or any other abstract pattern one can imagine.
Recent advancements in terrazzo technology have provided methods for finishing terrazzo without the use of coatings and sealers. Modern terrazzo can now be mechanically polished to a high-shine without the use of any chemicals. For this added reason, terrazzo is also environmentally friendly and requires very little maintenance in the long run. Terrazzo usage today has been said to be “rediscovered” by contemporary architects and interior designers as the material of choice due to its timeless beauty and versatility. Not only does terrazzo make for an impressionable floor, but it can also be used in the fabrication of beautiful precast products, it can be manufactured into tiles, benches, room partitions, pavers, pre casts, steps and risers, skirting, wall panels, benchtops coving, bar tops, lavatory, columns, public furniture and a lot more with different colours to choose from, plus an endless assortment of designs only your creative mind can imagine.
With its popularity reaching its peak in the mid-20th century, Terrazzo is often associated with mid-century contemporary design. With the higher demand for solid surface flooring that is not only easier to maintain and clean and at the same time providing a much healthier environment, Terrazzo proved to be the better choice. Terrazzo is also highly preferred over tile flooring because there are no grout lines to clean or crevasses that can easily trap dirt. More importantly to business establishments, Terrazzo has proven to be a permanent flooring solution that will last through the years that can be customized to suit any desired look. Remember for high foot traffic areas Terrazzo is your choice! It provides a solid surface with natural stone flooring, a unique look that can be customized to suit your design, extremely durable it can outlast other flooring materials with reduced maintenance costs and it is the least expensive flooring option over the total life span of the terrazzo floor.