Terrazzo is a flooring material made of marble, glass, or stone chips set in a cement or resin binder, then ground and polished smooth. It’s known for its speckled, polished look and long life. It’s common in schools, airports, and public buildings. Full-aggregate polished concrete is often compared to it.
How Terrazzo Is Made
Terrazzo is a lot like a chocolate chip cookie made on purpose. The crew picks the “chips” (marble, quartz, granite, recycled glass, or even mother-of-pearl) and mixes them into a cement or epoxy binder. The mix is spread over the floor, allowed to harden, then ground and polished until the chips show as a smooth, flat surface.
Most terrazzo floors are troweled in place on site. Stair treads, wall bases, and countertops are often precast in a shop. Because the chips and colors are chosen by hand, terrazzo can carry custom patterns, borders, and even logos.
Why Terrazzo Lasts So Long
Terrazzo has been around a long time. It started in Italy more than 500 years ago when workers found a use for leftover marble scraps. With basic care, a terrazzo floor can last the lifetime of the building, which is why you see it in busy schools and airports.
That long life comes at a price. Terrazzo generally costs more to install than most other floors. Over decades, though, it can come out ahead because it rarely needs replacing. Simple, single-color layouts can be more competitive on upfront cost than custom designs.
Terrazzo vs. Polished Concrete
Polished concrete with full aggregate exposure can look a lot like terrazzo, since both show stone in a smooth, ground surface. The big difference is choice. With terrazzo, someone picks every chip and color. With polished concrete, you get whatever stone is already in your slab, and that’s set by the supplier who poured it.
Polished concrete also works with the floor you already have, so there’s no new layer to add. If you like the terrazzo look but not the price, see our polished concrete floors guide for how a ground slab compares.
Terrazzo FAQ
What are the disadvantages of terrazzo?
The main drawback is upfront cost. Terrazzo generally costs more to install than most flooring because of the materials and skilled labor involved. It’s also a skilled, hands-on install, so you’ll want an experienced terrazzo crew and a regular cleaning routine to keep it looking its best.
Why is terrazzo expensive?
Terrazzo is built and finished by hand on site. The crew mixes the chips and binder, places it, then grinds and polishes the whole floor, and custom colors or patterns add more work. That said, its long life can make it cheaper than other floors over the life of a building.
What is the lifespan of terrazzo?
With basic maintenance, terrazzo can last as long as the building it’s in. Some U.S. floors are over a century old, and some in Italy are far older. Regular cleaning helps it keep its shine.