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Finishesaka: terrazzo flooraka: polished terrazzo

Terrazzo

In Plain English

A highly durable polished floor made from chips of stone or glass set in a cement or epoxy base.

Definition

Terrazzo is a composite flooring material made by embedding marble, granite, quartz, glass, or other decorative chips in a cementitious or epoxy matrix, then grinding and polishing the surface to a smooth finish. It is extremely durable, low-maintenance, and custom-designable with an unlimited range of colors and patterns. Divider strips of brass or aluminum separate color fields and control cracking.

Why It Matters in Bidding

Terrazzo is a premium, labor-intensive finish whose price hinges on the matrix type, aggregate selection, divider strip layout, and pattern complexity, so a square-foot allowance rarely captures the real cost. Estimators must read the finish schedule and details closely, since epoxy versus cementitious systems, custom colors, and intricate divider patterns can multiply both material and skilled-labor hours.

Example

Pricing a lobby floor, an estimator quotes an epoxy terrazzo system from a specialty sub, accounting for the brass divider strip layout shown on the pattern drawing and the custom aggregate blend the architect specified rather than a standard color.

Related Terms

Epoxy FloorCeramic TileFlooringSealant

Related Tools & Templates

Floor Finish Schedule

Frequently Asked Questions

Terrazzo is a poured-in-place specialty finish requiring skilled installers, multiple steps of placing, curing, grinding, and polishing, plus divider strip layout. Custom aggregates and patterns add material and labor. Because cost varies widely with system type and design complexity, estimators usually get a specialty subcontractor quote rather than relying on a unit price.
Epoxy terrazzo is thinner, lighter, faster to install, and offers a broader color range, making it common for interior floors. Cementitious terrazzo is thicker, suits exterior and heavy-duty use, and tolerates moisture better. The system choice changes substrate prep, thickness, and cost, so estimators price to the specified matrix.
Divider strips of brass, zinc, or aluminum separate color fields, form patterns, and control cracking at joints. Their linear footage and material affect both cost and installation labor, since a dense or intricate pattern requires far more strip layout than a simple field. Estimators take off strip footage from the pattern drawings.

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