Terrazzo (Italian for “Terrace”) was invented in Venice over five hundred years ago. Workers in Venetia were often left with discarded marble pieces, where they would put these small marble rocks in clay and grind them flat. These were used as a low-cost alternative to marble for their living quarters. Fast forward to the 1970s, thin-set, or epoxy-based terrazzo was introduced. This quickly sparked the popularity of terrazzo, with a wider selection of colours, faster installation, and less susceptibility to cracking. To put it simply, modern day terrazzo is a composite material, made of small pieces of stone materials or chips (marble, glass, stone), bound together with either cement or epoxy, and polished to get a smooth surface.

1. CEMENTITIOUS TERRAZZO

This traditional terrazzo is heavy and takes a long time to dry. Colour choices are also limited and things like glass can’t be used as it is not porous. On the upside, they feel more like stone and is ideal for both indoors and outdoor use, especially in high traffic areas.

2. POLYACRYLATE TERRAZZO

The “middle ground” made from a combination of cement and latex. They require less work and less product, so are less expensive. It has more design options, can be dyed to match just about any colour, and can often include glass and mirrored chips.

3. EPOXY TERRAZZO

This is the most versatile and most commonly used type of terrazzo in the market today. It’s the strongest and the least susceptible to scratching, fading, staining, or cracking. Epoxy terrazzo is available in any colour and is the best option for making intricate designs.

Terrazzo benefits

If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind flooring option that’s warmer than marble and more stylish than ceramic tiles, terrazzo tiles are an ideal option you can go for. Here are some of their many qualities:

- Versatile for both exteriors and interiors

- Tough and durable flooring option

- Water, slip and heat-resistant

- Go with any style of building

- Eco-friendly and economical

- Stylish and customisable