Everything you need to know about terrazzo tiles

For a timeless and luxurious look, there is nothing quite like terrazzo tiles. This colourful material dates back to 16th-century Italy where it originated as a way to reuse stone offcuts. The Venetians then adopted it as a practical but decorative way to decorate their floors, so modern terrazzo flooring is often reminiscent of the beautiful ornamental floors you see in historical buildings there.

The old-fashioned building often has various types of flooring including hardwood, vinyl, and tile floors (if interested, learn about flooring installation here). From many categories, terrazzo tiles could be considered one of the most used types of flooring that homeowners tend to install in their homes. They don’t just look at the part- find out the other benefits of terrazzo tiles below.

Sustainable flooring material

Terrazo is a composite material, made by taking marble chippings and setting them into cement. Given that terrazzo tiles are made from offcuts, they should be considered a sustainable flooring option. They are also naturally very durable, as traditional terrazzo flooring has been known to last for hundreds of years. This is thanks to the strength of the concrete which makes it very hard-wearing and able to withstand significant footfall. Moreover, sometimes the concrete is further reinforced with other durable materials that make it that much stronger and able to withstand wear and tear. For example, the use of chopped strand fiberglass is sometimes preferred when setting concrete, so as to increase its lifespan and durability.

Why choose terrazzo tiles?

Durability is not the only benefit of terrazzo. It is also easy to match to any colour scheme around your home, as you can find terrazzo tiles in a wide range of different colours and patterns. The fragments within the flooring can be anything from marble to quartz or glass, so you are bound to find something to suit your needs. Terrazzo is also naturally very good at retaining warmth, so it is ideal for underfloor heating.

Cleaning and maintaining terrazzo tiles

Terrazo is very practical and easy to maintain, especially compared to other flooring materials such as natural stone which require specialist cleaning products. You can keep terrazzo tiles clean by simply using a steam mop. Terrazzo tiles are suitable for use in any room of the house, as they can be sealed to make them water resistant for use in kitchens and bathrooms.

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Kelly Tate

Kelly is a full-time supermum, caring for two kids and a hardworking husband. A cook, a cleaner, a carer and all round hard worker, striving for the perfect family life (with a few bumps along the way!) Eternally honest and sometimes brutally forward, no topics are off limits with Kelly.