How to safeguard your terrazzo tiles for a long time
While terrazzo tiles are very durable, it is more difficult to maintain than other hard floor solutions, such as vinyl composition tile. Before you take on the responsibility of caring for one of these floors, ensure that you understand how to clean, buff and burnish them. While terrazzo is a finish that must be installed in-situ, the emergence of the terrazzo tile, especially for flooring, marks a quantum leap. Terrazzo’s obvious elegance and sensuous attributes, which reflect the golden period of Art Deco architecture, have been reduced in price and made simpler to use as a tile. Learn more about Art Deco architecture at https://www.thespruce.com/art-deco-architecture-4797589
Terrazzo tiles may be as diverse, vibrant, and durable as conventionally placed terrazzo. The terrazzo effect tile recreates the beautiful appearance while using a considerably more resilient ceramic substance. So, to say, the best of all worlds.
A Lesson in History
Terrazzo tiles flooring originally appeared in Italian houses, workplaces, schools, and commerce in the 1700s. Terrazzo is composed of marble shards and was dubbed the “poor man’s marble floor” in the past. Additionally, it comprises embedded glass and other materials in colored cement. Terrazzo tiles are leveled and polished to a pleasing gloss after installation.
Terrazzo first became popular in North America in the late 1880s. However, since it often cracked after installation, developers lost interest in terrazzo tiles, and it fell out of fashion.
By the 1920s, improved installation procedures had significantly reduced cracking. From the 1930s until the 1970s, terrazzo tiles became a fashionable floor. It regained popularity in the 1990s and is no longer seen as a poor man’s flooring due to the high cost of installation. It is always recommended that you should buy tiles from a reliable place like Tiles and Bath Co
Terrazzo’s Contemporary Value
Terrazzo tiles are installed by mixing them and then pouring them over a suitably prepared surface. While the procedure of installing this sort of flooring was very affordable a century ago, labour expenses have increased significantly in today’s market.
Terrazzo tiles floors are a significant asset that facility owners and managers want to protect and keep looking their best. That is when an experienced facility service provider or building service contractor comes in handy.
Mats Help Prevent Degradation
While terrazzo tiles are typically durable — and can still be found in historic Palacios and palazzos across Italy – it is susceptible to degradation. Terrazzo tiles may be harmed by moisture, dirt, and footwear. That is why it is critical to construct a high-performance matting system that is capable of capturing and trapping soils and moisture.
- Place mats at all building entrances next to the terrazzo tiles.
- Select long mats measuring up to 15 feet in length.
- Mats should be used in transition areas between carpet or other kinds of flooring and the terrazzo tiles floor.
Put a Protective Foundation in Place
Terrazzo tiles floor maintenance has been made faster and simpler with the introduction of new stripping and sealing techniques. Three simple processes for stripping and sealing terrazzo tiles flooring are as follows:
• Remove any existing finish.
Prepare the floor by removing any existing finish or sealer before applying a protective base. Strippers that do not need a scrubber remove the requirement for a machine scrubber. Simply combine the stripper and use a flat mop to apply it to the floor. Adhere to the manufacturer’s recommended dwell time.
• Automatic floor scrubber.
For the following step—deep cleaning the floor—you’ll need an automated scrubber. Utilize a scrubber with a 200-grit pad and a restoration-specific cleaning solution. Scrub the floor ahead, then turn and overlap roughly half of the area you just cleaned. This guarantees that no locations are missed. You’ll want to be thorough since if you apply the foundation properly the first time, you won’t have to repeat the operation over the floor’s lifespan.
• Repaint and reseal the floor.
When the floor is completely dry, add a substrate densifier, a water-based solution that enters the terrazzo tiles pores. This phase enhances the density and hardness of the floor, which provides extra protection. To accomplish this work, polish the floor with an automated scrubber equipped with a 400- to 1,500-grit pad. Again, as long as this step is completed properly, it only has to be completed once.
Ongoing Maintenance
Once the protective foundation has been put to a terrazzo tiles floor, it may be maintained by performing frequent cleanings using a solution specifically prepared for terrazzo tiles flooring. Maintain the sheen by polishing or burnishing it on a regular basis.
While care for terrazzo tiles floors may seem to be a lengthy procedure, it is really rather simple. Additionally, the fact that the first two steps—preparation of the floor and application of the foundation—must be completed just once simplifies the procedure significantly.
Consult a distributor acquainted with terrazzo tiles floor maintenance technology if more issues emerge. A knowledgeable facility care provider is critical for maintaining the appearance of terrazzo tiles floors while also satisfying customers and supervisors.
Terrazzo tiles’ magnificence
With actual concrete, bring the elegance of terrazzo tiles flooring into your house. Terrazzo tiles from Tile and Bath co are a revolutionary new high-strength, pre-sealed concrete tile designed for indoor and outdoor use on floors and walls. Ecostone Terrazzo tiles combines stone resources such as marble, calcareous rock, granite, and siliceous stone with cement and water to create an entirely natural product that is great for beautiful and glamorous interiors while also being very durable in heavy traffic areas.
In New Zealand, Copenhagen, San Petersburg, Carrara, Oslo, and Amsterdam, Tile Space stocks five popular colors in the 400×400 size, with many more available on request.
Top Suggestions
- Used in a variety of applications worldwide, from airports to award-winning residential residences.
- Factory-pre-sealed for simplicity of installation and clean-up.
- UV-resistant colors
- Once placed, it may be polished on-site.
- Does not need a protective covering on the surface.
- Requires no stripping or resurfacing.
- After installation, the area must be sealed.
- Excellent resistance to abrasion and compression
Final thoughts
If you’re seeking for ways to protect your terrazzo tiles, this article will point you in the correct direction. Plus, you can also get cleaning tips from this article as it was written to ensure that your terrazzo tiles last long.