I’m ordering materials for a bathroom update (see our finished, terrazzo-ed bathroom here) and, while I’m cheaping out on some parts, terrazzo flooring is a non-negotiable. Terrazzo, a traditional Italian flooring originally created to utilize remnant marble and glass chips, consists of a concrete base mixed with various aggregates all polished down to reveal cut sections of stone, glass, and more. It gained popularity in the US in the mid 20th century as a durable flooring option for commercial spaces (lobbies! airports! department stores!) and was used in some forward-thinking modern homes as well. It is making a comeback today, this time with notably louder and larger patterns. I’m guessing most of you though, like me, are after that classic mid century terrazzo look featuring smaller rock aggregate and earthy colors. Mid century terrazzo floors were most often poured and polished in place, but if you are working on a raised foundation and want a cheaper, DIY-friendly install, terrazzo tiles can make those terrazzo dreams come true!
You can find more information on our web, so please take a look.
Here is a quick reference list of the terrazzo tile sources I’ve found within the US…
Cle Tile – A very classic 60’s looking terrazzo, with small round aggregate and neutral colors. These ship from Southern CA:
Concrete Collaborative – One of the OG companies of today’s terrazzo revival, selling both tile and slab, with showrooms in several cities across the US.
Eso Surfaces – Beautiful terrazzo tiles and slabs featuring bold colors and chunky patterns. Endless options in rainbow colors, including yellow and aqua! They do custom orders (and sell breeze blocks too). Located in Southern CA.
True Terrazzo / Ivy Hill – Several online sites, including Wayfair, Home Depot, and Tile Bar sell this terrazzo under different names (I can confirm from samples that they are all the same terrazzo and we personally ordered our bathroom floor terrazzo from Home Depot – the black and white!). Small chip aggregate in jagged shapes. Some great options at a great price, with low flat rate shipping:
Riad Tile – Three great tile options, including a black with white chip. Showrooms in TX.
Wausau Tile – The best price I have found and a huge selection, with an especially amazing sale section if you only need a small quantity! Located in WI.
Costco via Korel Tile – Random, but Costco sells tile online and they have a few random terrazzo options for a great price featuring stone, glass, mirror, and even shell aggregate. These are very polished, with a glossier finish than the others on this list:
Notes:
I’ve found tile prices range from around $7-$15/sq ft, cheaper if you can find seconds or remnant sales.
Shipping can be as expensive as your tile order so factor that in. While some suppliers offer low flat rate shipping (Home Depot is free if you ship to your local store), others charge actual freight. To give you an idea, a quote from Wausau to ship 150 sq. ft. of tiles from WI to CA was around $400.
Beware of printed terrazzo patterns on porcelain, often called “terrazzo look” tile. True terrazzo will be concrete.
Terrazzo may need to be sealed depending on use so pay attention to the manufacturers instruction.
Terrazzo can be used on shower walls, but it is generally too slippery for shower floors as is. However, tiles can be cut down into smaller pieces, grooved, or given an anti-slip coating to meet correct COF for shower floors. Notice the difference in sheen of the tiles below:Wishing all of us well on our terrazzo journeys!
This post contains affiliate links, which means that I may receive modest compensation from purchases made through certain product links. See here for more information and thank you so much for supporting my weirdo hobby blog!
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When it comes to kitchen countertops, the trinity of marble, granite, and quartz are still the first things that come to mind. Given their highly desirable combination of beauty, durability, and prestige, this should be no surprise.
Given that they are the most popular options for premium countertops, though, one can understand that choosing any of the three can feel a bit “basic”. Those with an eye for something a bit more distinct and unique just might find terrazzo countertops to be the perfect fit.
In this article, we’ll be showing you everything you need to know about terrazzo countertops to help you decide if this is the right material to use for your kitchen.
In its simplest description, terrazzo is a composite material that is made up of an aggregate that is worked into a matrix that binds everything together into a predetermined form when it dries and cures.
The aggregate material is made up of one or more types of crushed rocks, glass, or other materials, while the matrix material is usually some form of epoxy or cement. We will examine these material choices in more detail in the next section. Although its unique appearance makes it appear quite modern, terrazzo has actually been around since before the 1800s, with the most notable example of this being a paving technique used in Italy called seminato, which used a similar process of topping formed cement with a layer of decorative rock fragments (usually marble).
Source: Canva.comBeing a composite material, one of the strong suits of terrazzo countertops is how versatile it can be in terms of design.
Just a simple change in the materials used to make terrazzo can produce a dramatically different look to fit different preferred styles. Some of the variations in terrazzo countertops that you will find on the market include:
Terrazzo can have all manner of different aggregate materials, with the ‘traditional’ selection being a mixture of marble and glass. Quartz terrazzo is also a fairly common choice, and you may also find examples with crushed seashells.
Low maintenance. The smooth and resilient surface of terrazzo countertops makes it easy to maintain—just regular cleaning will keep it in top form for many years.
Eco-friendly. Most, if not all terrazzo is made with aggregates of recycled stone, glass, and other materials, ensuring their manufacture has little environmental impact.
Difficult installation. Because of the unique way that terrazzo is made it can be quite difficult to install without the help of a professional contractor, which is not only time-consuming but also fairly expensive.
Difficult to repair. although terrazzo is generally durable, it is similar to marble and granite in that they can chip if not installed correctly—and compounding on the previous point, trying to repair chipped-off terrazzo can be pretty costly.
Talking about pricing when shopping for countertops can be quite difficult as, depending on the exact specifications that you’re looking for and where you plan to be shopping, the prices for different materials can vary quite widely.
That being said, terrazzo countertops tend to be more affordable on average than granite or marble countertops, but more expensive than acrylic, steel, concrete, and travertine tops.
Although more bespoke countertop designs can drive up the price of terrazzo to match the more premium options on the market, terrazzo still outperforms the others in terms of its much easier and cheaper maintenance.
As we covered in a previous section, terrazzo is prized for its resilience and durability while also providing a very distinct and customizable look.
Terrazzo countertops are more than able to compete with more premium options like granite and marble in terms of heat resistance and resistance against chipping while also being lower in cost on average.
Sealing these countertops are generally not required (although this depends on certain factors as explained below), but applying a sealer every few years or so can dramatically extend its lifespan.
Generally speaking, how easy it is to maintain terrazzo countertops mostly depends on the type of terrazzo that you have. The key characteristic to look out for here is porosity, as this dictates how susceptible the terrazzo is to dirt and how often it will need sealing.
In this regard, epoxy-based terrazzo is more desirable than its cement-based counterpart because of its lower porosity, needing a sealant to be reapplied less often (or even not at all).
Both types are generally pretty easy to clean as they are very smooth materials. The only thing you really need to look out for is your use of chemicals—specifically avoid any harsh chemicals when cleaning terrazzo countertops as they can eat away at the material.
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