Pros & Cons of Terrazzo Flooring

Made from chippings of glass, marble and granite, terrazzo flooring provides an elegant, luxurious look to many modern dwellings. It has a highly polished appearance and smooth finish, as the stone and glass chips are encased in concrete or resin. Terrazzo flooring is a labour-intensive product, and may be spread on-site or bought as pre-made tiles. If you are considering using terrazzo flooring in your home, it is important to consider both the advantages and disadvantages of the product before making a final decision.

The main reason that homeowners consider terrazzo flooring is its modern, elegant look. Terrazzo flooring has a highly polished, smooth finish, which works especially well in contemporary dwellings.

In the past, office and public buildings were the only properties to use terrazzo flooring. Having terrazzo flooring in your home will give it a distinctive, special feel. In addition, terrazzo tiles come in a wide array of colours, so you can design interesting patterns for your floor. If you forgo tiles and choose to have the terrazzo flooring spread on-site, the supplier can add in marble, glass and granite chips in various colours and patterns according to your specifications to create a one-of-a-kind floor.

Because the marble, glass and granite chips are encased in concrete, terrazzo flooring wears extremely well. This makes it a particularly good option for areas of the home that see heavy traffic, such as the foyer, hall, living room or kitchen. It is waterproof as well, so it is a good choice for bathrooms. If any wear should occur, it may be easily refinished.

Terrazzo flooring is easy to clean. Sweeping with a broom is all that is typically required on a daily basis, and a mop dampened with a watered-down household cleanser can be used weekly for deeper cleaning.

Because it is such a labour-intensive product, the materials for terrazzo flooring can be quite costly. According to HGTV, pricing for terrazzo tiles ranged from £4 to £6 per square foot as of 2010, making it one of the most expensive hard flooring options available to homeowners.

The installation of terrazzo flooring is so difficult that it usually must be done by a professional. This is especially true if you choose to have the flooring spread on-site.

The highly polished finish of terrazzo flooring makes it extremely slippery, so slips and falls are not uncommon. As a result, it is generally not a good choice for homes with small children or elderly individuals.

The marble and concrete materials of terrazzo flooring often make it cold underfoot, which may be uncomfortable in the winter or colder climates.

There is no cushioning beneath terrazzo flooring, so it may be uncomfortable to stand on for long periods of time. In addition, the lack of cushioning means the flooring does not absorb sound, which may be an issue if you are using it on an upper floor.