Although often referred to as terrazzo stone, terrazzo is not actually a stone surface. Instead, it is a composite material. The base is generally cement or a polymer, into which some type of aggregate material is mixed. The aggregate material was traditionally marble, but now quartz, granite, and glass are used in addition to marble. The changing colors of a terrazzo surface are created by the artisan using metal strips to divide the surface into sections and then using different colors of material in the various sections. Usually created in-place, terrazzo stone requires a three-step process. The first step is a base layer, the second step is a sandy layer divided into sections, and the third step is the aggregate material. The artisan uses a heavy weight to roll the aggregate into place and, once the third layer sets, grinds and polishes the top layer to reveal the aggregate and provide a uniform surface.
Terrazzo is associated with Venice, and many credit Venetian construction workers with creating the aggregate material sometime in the mid-16th century. In fact, the skill to create terrazzo was highly associated with the descendants of these craftsmen and only came to the United States with the large wave of Italian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, a similar process was used more than 10,000 years ago in Western Asia, but with lime and clay as a base and crushed limestone as the aggregate material. While this process is not the one associated with modern terrazzo, it does show that even ancient builders realized the beauty and durability of the terrazzo process.
The future of terrazzo has made this beauty available to more homeowners. Trend Terrazzo has created terrazzo tiles, which are applied in the same manner as other floor, wall, or counter-tiles, and give the look, strength, and durability of terrazzo without the complicated installation process of traditional terrazzo. To find out more about Trend Terrazzo, visit our website to see images in our gallery or our latest tile collections, or contact us at our toll-free number: 1-866-508-7363.
