Terrazzo Flooring: How to Maintain It?

Terrazzo is a man-made concrete aggregate of crushed marble and other minerals, mixed with water and then poured into molds to set. Most research suggests that Terrazzo was invented in the 15th century by Italian artisans, and it’s been popular ever since. Today, terrazzo is used as flooring because of its durability and stunning colors; however, it requires maintenance to keep looking its best!

We have terrazzo flooring in our commercial spaces at the Curtis Building built in 1919, a historic building located in downtown Bartlesville, Oklahoma. We’re maintaining the terrazzo’s beauty with a few commercially available products and some elbow grease. Here are some of our simple maintenance tips to keep your terrazzo floors looking like new for years to come:

1. Terrazzo floors are incredibly durable and great at resisting scratches, but it also means that they're not as easy to clean as other kinds of floors might be. We suggest that you allocate 3 days for the cleaning and sealing process as it includes waiting time for the products to dry and if you don't use the right products, you can end up doing more harm than good! We recommend using pH-neutral cleaners (Level 7) when cleaning terrazzo floors; this will make sure that you don't accidentally damage or etch the surface by using something that's too acidic or alkaline. A low speed buffer and a soft pad will help agitate the cleaner with the dirt.

2. After cleaning the terrazzo floors thoroughly, we put on three coats of sealant. We used Perma-Crete, diluted in water with a 14:1 proportion. Nothing to worry because the sealant dries quickly so you can use your floor again within just a few hours and can proceed with the next step.

3. Once the sealant dries, we then apply three coats of premium, low skid, commercial wax. Be patient with this step. Let each coat dry fully before proceeding with the next step; if you rush through the process by applying too many coats at once, you'll end up with an uneven finish that will look bluish and peel off over time!

4. Last but not least, we use a low-speed buffer with a soft pad after applying wax. In addition, don’t over polish the floor. Making the finish too smooth can lead to the floor being slippery.

After following all the steps, this is how our terrazzo floor looks.

From this:

To this:

The best thing about terrazzo floors is the durability. They can withstand everything from heavy foot traffic to spilled liquids without any issue. And since they're so strong, they last forever! We estimate ours is 75 years old. If you take care of your terrazzo floors properly then they'll be with you for as long as you own your asset—maybe even longer than that!

If you’re buying an asset and it comes with terrazzo floors that are in good condition, know that the property already has a built-in upgrade. New terrazzo floors are expensive and maybe even more so depending on where you live and the square footage of the space you need to cover. If terrazzo makes sense for your asset, it will provide a long-term durable flooring solution.

All in all, we recommend a terrazzo floor to anyone who wants something durable and aesthetically pleasing for their home or business.