One of the most popular industrial surfaces of the 20th century due to its near-bulletproof reputation is ironically one of the most difficult to restore to its former glory without specialists.
Almost ubiquitous in the Art Deco scene, terrazzo was a mixture of marble chips, quartz and other similar materials in either epoxy or concrete, which resulted once polished in a form of beautifully ordered chaos.
Its speckled finish gave the look of a natural stone but it was often used in rather more outlandish patterns that gave away its synthetic origins, which alongside its hardy reputation made it very popular in commercial spaces.
However, it is not completely invincible and can lose its sheen over time, have chips of aggregate fall out or even crack entirely.
The problem is that, unlike conventional concrete and even some stone floors, where it is possible to clean, polish and patch one’s way to restoration, terrazzo’s randomness means that any quick-fix patching job will look even more obvious.
Typically, the process of restoring terrazzo is a matter of preparing the floor, removing any carpeting or furniture resting on the terrazzo, as well as cleaning it with a neutral stone cleaner solution to remove any excess sealant.
The next step is to grind the terrazzo floor carefully to restore the shimmering shine that made terrazzo so popular in the first place to lighten the stains and restore the detail of the older designs.
If there are cracks and holes, then an epoxy mixture that has been tinted in the same colours as the terrazzo chips needs to be used to patch the holes. This is often the hardest step, and requires a lot of patience and an eye for detail to complete successfully.
Once this is done, apply a sealant to close off the porous concrete and boost the colours more, before finally polishing the surface.