Commercial Terrazzo Floor Installation

System selection depends on the substrate, moisture conditions, exposure, design, intended use and maintenance plan. Compare specified assemblies rather than choosing from a general indoor-versus-outdoor rule.

Our terrazzo system-selection guide covers those decisions, with additional detail on epoxy terrazzo.

Where environmental requirements affect procurement, review the actual product and project documentation. Our guide to terrazzo environmental considerations explains that evaluation.

Different facilities bring different circulation, design and construction requirements. Application guides cover terrazzo in airports and transit facilities, schools and universities and government and courthouse buildings.

Aggregate selection, binder color and divider-strip layout establish the floor’s appearance. An approved physical sample communicates the expected color, texture and natural variation.

For Scanlan Theodore at NorthPark Center in Dallas, Craftsman installed a two-color terrazzo floor using native river-rock aggregate and a brass divider between the colors.

Samples should represent the materials, colors, patterns and accessories specified for the project. Requirements for onsite mockups and other submittals belong in the project documents. A poured decorative finish has natural variation; sample approval does not promise exact uniformity across the floor.

Our terrazzo samples and design guide covers aggregate, color and sample selection.

Agree before installation who will protect the completed floor, how it will be protected and when responsibility transfers.

Final inspection follows sealer application under the NTMA epoxy guide. The guide assigns protection to the general contractor after final grinding and sealing. Confirm the protection method, duration and responsibility in the project documents.

Closeout documentation should identify the installed system, compatible cleaning products, maintenance instructions and applicable treatment-renewal requirements. Establish which documents are required and who receives them.

Before later repair or restoration, confirm compatibility with the existing system and any proprietary sealer requirements that affect maintenance or warranty conditions.

The main cost factors are:

• Terrazzo system and assembly.
• Aggregate selection.
• Design and divider-strip complexity.
• Floor area.
• Substrate preparation, removal and repairs.
• Access, phasing and schedule.
• Precast components and their installation scope.

A project proposal defines how those items are priced. Our terrazzo flooring cost guide provides Craftsman’s bid-based ranges and examples.

Follow the care instructions for the installed system. Routine care may include dry-soil removal and compatible pH-neutral cleaning, but chemistry, pads, frequency and sealing requirements depend on the floor. Our terrazzo cleaning and maintenance guide covers ongoing care.

An existing floor with damage or deterioration needs a terrazzo restoration and repair assessment. A structurally serviceable floor that needs mechanical surface renewal belongs under terrazzo grinding, honing and polishing.

Repair or renewal can preserve an existing floor when its condition permits. It is not always possible or preferable to replacement.

Traction also requires consideration of the finish, contaminants, cleaning and conditions of use. Our terrazzo slip-resistance and floor-safety guide explains how to evaluate the specified finish and its test data.

Compare relevant system experience, completed-project references, installation labor, supervision, quality control and closeout capability. Confirm project requirements for safety documentation, insurance, bonding and manufacturer authorization where applicable.

Our guide to choosing a terrazzo contractor covers qualification and procurement requirements in more detail.

Send Craftsman the project location, approximate area, desired system and design, known slab conditions and schedule.

A project specialist responds within one business day. With basic size, system, condition and schedule information, Craftsman can generally discuss a preliminary installed-cost range during the initial call or within a few hours. That range is not a formal proposal or guaranteed price.

Commercial estimates are typically returned within 24 hours; complete bids requiring drawings, testing, takeoffs, vendor pricing or unusual specifications may take longer.

Initial consultation and initial design and specification assistance are available at no cost. Engineering, testing, extensive design development, mockups, professional design services and repeated estimating revisions are not automatically included.