The Cost of Terrazzo

 When was the last time you considered new flooring? Perhaps you bought a new business or home. Maybe the flooring in your current place of business is old and worn out or the flooring in your home has seen better days. People consider new flooring for many reasons. Whether you are considering adding new flooring now or anticipate that you may be in the future, cement terrazzo is a great option.

Terrazzo has been around in one form or another since ancient times. Flooring found in neolithic Asia from as far back as 9,000 BC were called terrazzo because of their use of lime and red clay. They were combined and polished much like terrazzo is today. While terrazzo has certainly come a long way since those days it still holds the same appeal. It offers a unique, beautiful, and cost effective option.

Adding up the costs

Once you have decided that you would like to use terrazzo in your home or business it is important to consider all of the costs. Depending on the staining, design, and area size you wish to cover, your costs will vary.

* Initial cost - Many think that polished concrete terrazzo has a high initial cost and in some ways this is true. However, they have not taken into consideration how long the terrazzo will last. In most cases terrazzo flooring can hold up for generations with minimal upkeep costs. For a professionally poured floor expect to pay anywhere from $20 to $50 a square foot. This is hardly any more than designer tiles or wood floors on the market today.

* Tile option - If having your flooring poured seems like a little more than your pocketbook can handle, there are terrazzo tiles available. The tiles usually range from $6 to $20 a square foot and offer a broad range that can match any of your coloring needs. Once you have selected your tiles, if you want them professionally installed you will need to add a bit more to the cost. In the end you can expect to pay anywhere from $12 to $30 a square foot which actually sounds like a bargain!

* Upkeep - Terrazzo floors hold up nicely with a simple daily dust mop, but once a year it is suggested to add an acrylic based sealer. The sealer will run from $20 to $50 a gallon and can be found at all hardware stores.

With all of the major costs laid out you can see for yourself that terrazzo is a fantastic cost effective option. Available in an array of colors, styles, and uses, you are bound to find the floor you love. Not only will the flooring brighten up your business or residence it will also inspire. There is no design too tough to tackle. Let your imagination soar and come up with your own artistic vision. Speak with your contractor about your ideas and find out just how much can be done. The sky is the limit and with terrazzo nothing is impossible. Create the floor of your dreams and then show it off!

The life of terrazzo floors has had many ups and downs, with it usually ending up needing Terrazzo repair. This floor style was such a fad back in the 1950s, with homes in America (and all over) sporting these durable and practical floors, which are not only pretty, but very easy to maintain. However, as with most fads, it soon became outmoded, and people started covering it with tiles, carpets or even wooden floors. A lot of people have also kept theirs intact, but that may be more because of its near indestructibility rather than their active choice. However, the terrazzo is experiencing resurgence nowadays, with hip people suddenly rediscovering the style and grace that such a floor brings to one's home.

Cracks are a common damage that terrazzo floors - actually any type of floor- incur. Cracks can be brought about by anything from earthquakes to dropped dumbbells. Some homeowners prefer to retain the cracks, as they say it has a certain charm to it, and can add an aged look to the room. A lot of people would rather have professional terrazzo restorers do the repairs, but if you wish to terrazzo repair your floors' cracks yourself, there are some things to consider. Is the crack wide enough for small quartz or marble chips to get through? How deep is it?

With these things in mind, take an appropriate amount of grout or Portland cement (whichever is closest to the colour of your floor), and mix to the right consistency. You could mix in the quartz or marble chips with the patch mixture if you wish for a more natural look to it, or you could just implant quartz or marble chips to the surface of the mixture later. After which, stuff the crack with the mixture till it reaches the brim. Wait for the patch mixture to dry, after which you could sand or grind the patched area to match the rest of the floor's surface.

If your floor was previously subjected to carpeting, then I'm sure you will be able to find carpet tracks along the sides of the room. If the tracks have been removed beforehand, then you'll either find nails sticking out of the floor, or its holes. If you prefer to pull out the nails, do so very carefully, and just patch it using the same method above. However, if you find that mixing the grout to match the colour of your floor is simply too hard (a lot of "professional" contractors find this hard too, I believe), you could opt to just cut out the part of the nail that juts out, and just grind the nail to your floor level.

After finishing all terrazzo repairs on your floor, grind it down with diamond impregnated disks until you achieve the level of sheen that you want. After that, rinse it until you remove all races of dust, old floor wax and other chemicals, then mop on a terrazzo- specific sealer to seal in the sheen and to protect your floor for a longer period https://www.newbrandgietvloeren.nl/. Remember, when cleaning your floor, that waxing a terrazzo floor is hardly necessary, as it retains its sheen even without it. Wax even runs the risk of being absorbed by your floor permanently, thus ruining its colour. Also, never use vinegar on your terrazzo floor, as it is too acidic and will cause it to lose its shine. It is best to give your floor a mopping with water and a neutral pH cleaner every week or so for it to retain its quality for a long period of time.