Understanding Your Flooring Options: What Is Terrazzo Tile?

by | Apr 4, 2018 | Flooring

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You have a very wide range of flooring options today, from carpet to vinyl, hardwood, laminate, natural stone, cement, and a great deal more. One option that you might consider is terrazzo flooring. Popularized in the 1950s and 60s, this flooring is making a big comeback today. What is terrazzo tile, though? What benefits does it offer that makes it an appealing choice?

Aggregate

If you’re asking yourself what terrazzo tile is, the answer is relatively simple. It’s an aggregate – it is not a solid piece of a single material, such as marble, or wood, or even carpet. To manufacture this type of flooring, Portland cement is mixed with small pieces of other materials to create the unique look terrazzo is known and valued for. Some of the materials commonly mixed with Portland cement include:

  • Marble
  • Quartz
  • Glass

Durable

One of the most important benefits of terrazzo tile is that it is highly durable. It will outlast carpet, vinyl and laminate flooring for a very long time, and it can last as long as natural stone flooring when properly maintained. In fact, terrazzo tile flooring could last the lifetime of the building.

Low Maintenance

Unlike many types of flooring that require regular waxing and polishing, oiling and other labor-intensive maintenance steps, terrazzo tile is almost maintenance free. To clean it, you simply need to sweep it with a broom or dust mop. When soiling becomes significant, it can be cleaned with pure water, or a cleaner with a neutral pH, such as what you’d use to clean a marble floor. After washing, a brief buffing will restore the floor’s luster.

Simple Installation

While installing terrazzo flooring once required pouring it on site and then polishing it to reveal the chips in the material and create the desired appearance, that is no longer the case. Today, terrazzo is available in tile form. This allows it to be installed quickly and easily. It can even be cut on site to fit various needs.

Multiple Uses

Finally, when asking yourself what terrazzo tile is, you will discover that it is more than just an option for flooring. It can be used as wall cladding, as a countertop material, as backsplash material, and in many other ways.

Interested in learning more about terrazzo flooring and its value to you? We invite you to get in touch with us at Trend Terrazzo today. Call us at 1-863-655-0164.