Terazzo Floorings

Terrazzo flooring is composed of composite material. It contains any variety of mixture of aggregate chips like stone or marble and either epoxy resin or concrete. It can be used both indoors and outdoors and can be poured as concrete or laid in tiles. Initially used primarily in commercial buildings, it has become more popular in homes, not just as flooring, but also as a material for kitchen surfaces like countertops and backsplashes. The colors and flecks are customizable, allowing for a wide range of design possibilities. Floors done with terrazzo are comparatively light and durable as they come.

With a new trend we see new technologies, and today resin systems are revolutionizing the design, installation and use of terrazzo surfaces. With these two main options to consider, epoxy-based terrazzo and cementitious terrazzo.

Epoxy terrazzo – The advantage of this flooring type is faster application. Using an epoxy matrix to bind aggregates allows for an incredibly thin-set system that creates a smooth and luxurious floor finish. This system can cure overnight and be ready to polish the next day, permitting a faster project turnaround. This speed of application is ideal for busy shopping centres.

Cementitious Terrazzo – This flooring type uses a cement matrix and describes multiple terrazzo systems, including sand cushion, bonded, rustic, monolithic and polyacrylate systems. This is most suited for exterior and renovation projects. This system is often thicker and heavier.

Benefits

Durability
Unlimited Designs
Low Maintenance
Low Cost
Sustainable
Bacteria Resistant
Slip Resistance
Epoxy Terrazzo Cement Terrazzo
Color
Variety of options
Limited Options
Thickness
6 mm to 8 mm
Thick as required
Application
Internal
Internal / External
Moisture Control
Minimum
Maximum
Floor Finish
Very Glossy
Less Glossy
Cure
Faster
Slower

Terrazzo flooring application

Terrazzo installation includes both bonded and unbonded methods. Bonded systems include bonded under the bed, monolithic, chemically bonded, and the most recent, thin-set method (epoxy resin). Bonded terrazzo is applied over a sand-cement mortar under the bed which sits on top of a concrete slab. The sand-cement layer allows for variations in the finished concrete slab that it sits on. Monolithic terrazzo is applied directly over an extremely flat and high-quality concrete sub-floor. Thin-set terrazzo does not require a concrete sub-floor. Instead, a flexible membrane can be installed so that cracks do not appear on the surface. Unbonded includes the sand cushion method which uses wire reinforcing, an isolation sheet, and sand dusting that absorbs any movement from the concrete slab.

The thickness of layers, curing time varies depending on whether you are applying  Epoxy or Cementitious Terrazzo.

Step 1

Take tile measures from outside edge

Step 2

Cut the edge tiles

Step 3

The first layer is an epoxy primer

Step 4

Lay the full tile and proceed

Step 5

Secure the tile with roller

Step 6

Apply Sealer