Terrazzo is a durable, sustainable, eco–friendly flooring using a whole new range of recyclable products. Design
choices for terrazzo continue to expand, which opens up a wide application base for terrazzo flooring.
Terrazzo is derived from the Italian word for terraces. It is believed to have been a flooring developed first by Venetian
masons in the 15th century. They used cast–off marble chips set in clay to floor the patios around their houses.
Archaeologists though have unearthed terrazzo floors in Turkey dating back to the Neolithic period of between 8,000 and
10,000 years ago which far predate the Venetian enterprise. In Western Asia, terrazzo has been used, and is still in use as
the traditional flooring for centuries. The mixture comprises a blend of clay and burnt lime, given a red coloring with ochre
and then polished.
Italian masons introduced terrazzo to the United States in the late 18th century. Mount Vernon, President George
Washington's house, had several rooms with terrazzo flooring. For decorative purposes indigenous marble is used, which is
abundantly available. In the last two hundred years, American ingenuity has transformed the technology into the fine floor
form terrazzo is today.
Traditional terrazzo is unique in that it is manufactured on site. However terrazzo tiles are more popular from the point
of convenience. Terrazzo tiles can be installed on existing flooring in much the same manner as linoleum tiles. Installation
requires less time and preparation.
Terrazzo, with low maintenance costs has incredible durability and is believed to be able to last the lifetime of a
building. The surface can always be restored to a pristine condition at a fraction of the cost of a floor replacement.
General maintenance involves only dry and wet mopping with occasional spray buffing.
In its manufacture, terrazzo uses a host of recycled materials such as naturally occurring aggregates, plastic oyster
shells, marble and stone chips, recycled glass with a processed cement or epoxy binder. Glass aggregates are the product of
post industrial glass waste that has no other recycling application, or from used bottles. The inputs contain no volatile
organic compounds; hence terrazzo has little or no gassing throughout the life of the floor. Because the surface in
impervious and cleanable, the flooring maintains a mold free environment and supports no microbial growth. Terrazzo ranks
high on the list of flooring with improved indoor air quality.
Up to 70% of recycled material can go into the composition of terrazzo floors. This high recycled content contributes to five
different point areas in the LEED rating system of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). Another major plus point
in terrazzo flooring’s favor.
Terrazzo has an immense color and design possibility which makes it ideal flooring for schools, hospitals, shopping
centers and restaurants. It can be used both in indoor and outdoor applications. With a decorator's unfettered imagination,
flooring designs can be created from bright and bold to classic and elegant styles. Terrazzo has been used in designs of
complex geometric shapes to simple colored floors, from local attractions to popular personalities.
