Terrazzo is a material that has been around for hundreds of years. It was invented in Italy by marble-workers who used scrap marble and cement to make floors for their homes. Nowadays, terrazzo is known for being the material used for the Walk of Fame in Hollywood. Terrazzo and marble in Miami have made a comeback and are often see on wall tiles, floors, countertops, and more.
Material Options
While original terrazzo was composed of marble and cement, there are many options today. Some of the most commonly used options include North American marble, Italian marble, ceramic, plastic chips, recycled glass, recycled concrete, metal, and recycled porcelain. In many cases, the choice is made according to aesthetic preference, but some choose the recycled options for environmentally friendly reasons.
Cement vs. Epoxy
Now that you know which aggregate you would like to use, you need to consider the binder. The options are the cement of epoxy. Both are fine choices, but each has a few things that make it unique. Cement is heavier and thicker and works well outdoors. There is a smaller color palette, but earth tones turn out excellent. Epoxy, on the other hand, offers many bright colors and can accommodate larger chips of aggregate. However, it has a long curing time and is a thinner set than cement would be.
Aggregate Sizes
When choosing your terrazzo and marble in Miami, you will want to consider the size of the pieces on the floor or other project. In most cases, the sizes range from zero to two, but there are other options. The smaller pieces of aggregate are cheaper, largely because the larger pieces require the use of a more substantial slab of marble or another materials.
Poured vs. Precast
You can have terrazzo poured on site, or you can have it installed in a precast version. Your budget, time for the project, and wanted ease of installation often factor into this. Precast is more common because it can be installed quickly and easily. Poured in terrazzo takes long and is more expensive overall.
Once you’ve determined what type of terrazzo is right for you, the next step is to get ahold of some. Trend Terrazzo can assist you with this and offers a huge selection of terrazzo types.
