What’s the Deal with Terrazzo? Your Guide to the Trendy Building Material

Learn more about this classic, cool surface. Experts share how it's made, how it's installed, and how to maintain it.

You’ve probably seen this type of speckled flooring your whole life without really thinking about it, but if you’ve noticed an uptick of terrazzo applications in commercial buildings as well as residential, it’s not in your head! The old-school material is working its way back into the mainstream—and not just in flooring. You might’ve noticed it on walls and countertops, too. “We started seeing it trending in 2018. Slowly, we saw it coming back with retro vintage style, as well as mid-century modern style,” observes Laura Grilli, the director of product design at Daltile, a leading manufacturer and distributor of porcelain, stone, and ceramic materials.

New York City-based Isabella Patrick, the principal designer of Isabella Patrick Interiors, Inc., agrees, saying she noticed the rise in terrazzo surfaces a few years ago as well. “It’s certainly a ‘trend’ now, but for me, it’s a forever thing,” she says. Patrick also adds, though, that it’s “a New York City Classic. You’ll find it in many pre-war buildings, especially in art deco style buildings.”

Regardless of your home’s style, you might be considering the material for your next remodel. Here's everything you should consider before you decide terrazzo is for you.

Related: 12 Kitchen Countertop Ideas That'll Make You Want to Remodel

What Is Terrazzo?

Terrazzo is a man-made material composed of various materials, typically chips of marble, granite, quartz, or glass, set in a binder material such as cement or epoxy resin, explains Corbin Clay, custom home builder and CEO of Wayhome, a service that offers virtual expert advice for home improvement, repair, and DIY projects. The concept of terrazzo stems back to 15th century Venice, Italy, when Venetian workers would use scrap marble particles from their upscale project for their own homes, specifically terraces. (Surprise! Terrazzo means terrace in Italian.)

According to Clay, the process of creating terrazzo involves mixing the chosen materials (like crushed glass or ground stone) with the binder, pouring the mixture into a mold or in-place (think a hotel lobby’s floor), and then grinding and polishing the surface to create a smooth and shiny finish. You’ll often see terrazzo in the form of flooring, walls, and countertops.

Fun Fact

Terrazzo is often considered a sustainable material because it was originally premised on the idea of reducing waste and can be made using recycled materials. In fact, brands like Vetrazzo use glass from royal blue vodka bottles and bright green beer glass bottles.

Durability

Terrazzo is highly resistant to wear-and-tear, making it a popular choice for high-traffic areas such as airports, schools, hospitals, and office buildings. According to Clay, with regular cleaning and the occasional sealing (if necessary), terrazzo flooring will last for decades. Plus, even if the terrazzo is worn down, it can be re-finished and polished.

When it comes to countertops, Clay says terrazzo is fairly heat-resistant, but “not entirely impervious.” Likewise with staining, though it is often sealed during production to help prevent any damage caused from staining or moisture.

Maintenance

Because it’s a man-made material, there’s a lot of variability with terrazzo. How much effort you need to put into maintaining your terrazzo depends on the manufacturer and what materials you selected. “Some do, in fact, need sealing to maintain the water and stain resistance. It’s a good idea to confirm exactly what maintenance is needed for your specific color and brand,” says Clay. As for cleaning, terrazzo does not generally require any special cleaners. Regular soap and water will usually do the trick!

Pricing

There’s a fairly broad range when it comes to the cost of terrazzo. “It varies depending on whether or not it’s a true terrazzo or a printed-on porcelain version,” Patrick says. There are ballpark figures though. According to Angi, terrazzo countertops can cost, on average, about $4,000 for about 30 square feet, while terrazzo flooring costs $9 to $35 per square foot, with the average homeowner spending about $22 per square foot. Tile is typically more affordable than poured.

Installation

How long it takes to install your terrazzo somewhat depends on the application. If it’s in countertop form, it can take about an hour for something small like a bathroom vanity to a few hours for a kitchen. (The bulk of the work for terrazzo countertops is done at the manufacturer’s facility.)

However, the timeline might be a little different for flooring, and this has to do with whether you’re using pre-cast terrazzo (like tile and countertop slabs) or poured-in-place terrazzo.”The former is installed like tile, with similar prep and installation times. This can be as little as several days for a small bathroom floor, to several weeks for an entire home,” Clay says. He adds that poured-in-place terrazzo can be installed in several days, provided the requisite materials are available. Curing for both the mortar used in pre-cast, and the binder for poured-in-place, can then take an additional week to properly cure.

Getting the Terrazzo Look on a Budget

Because terrazzo can get so pricey (the cost of labor is what really adds up), people are now opting to get-the-look without buying true terrazzo. People are instead choosing the confetti look on tile—Daltile produces porcelain versions with the patterns printed onto them. And because they’re tile, “you can easily install them on countertops and walls,” says Grilli. “It has all the advantages of porcelain tile. You can put them everywhere. They’re not going to scratch, they’re not going to stain. You don’t need to seal them,” she adds. Because they’re digitally printed, the patterns and color combinations are virtually endless.

Another alternative is wallpaper—there are plenty of peel-and-stick options now that mimic the appearance of terrazzo and can quickly get installed or replaced once you’re ready for a change. The other option if you really are a die-hard terrazzo fan? Mixing up the materials. For example, if you have a kitchen island, make that the focal point of your space by installing terrazzo on it, then selecting a more affordable, neutral option for the rest of your countertop surfaces. If you’re wondering what makes a nice statement piece, Patrick gives her advice for the selection process, saying she loves “either white ground with colorful or tonal flecks or dark ground, like a deep purple, with those same flecks.” Purple always makes a statement!

Related: How to Design a Kitchen You'll Never Regret, According to Real Simple Home Designer Delia Kenza

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