5 Things Designers Should Know When Planning a Terrazzo Project

In recent years, designers have increasingly turned to terrazzo for its durability, performance, and visual appeal. Its high level of customization allows designers to collaborate with clients and transform concepts into distinctive, built environments. Whether planning a terrazzo project for a hospital, a school, or a community center, it is well-known that terrazzo fits the needs of today’s commercial spaces.

And for many reasons. Terrazzo is durable, easy to maintain, and offers unique design capabilities uncommon with traditional flooring systems.  If you are considering using terrazzo for an upcoming project, we’ve listed 5 things designers should know when planning a terrazzo project.

Why Terrazzo Rewards Designers Who Plan Ahead

Every terrazzo floor is a one-of-a-kind composition: the matrix color, aggregates, divider strip layout, logos, and polish level all come together to craft a durable and highly decorative surface. This level of control is what makes terrazzo a designer’s material. It’s also what makes early collaboration with a terrazzo manufacturer important.

Terrazzo manufacturers serve as a creative partner for the designers to explore their ideas.

1. The Design of Terrazzo is Flexible

Designers’ flexibility in terrazzo means the designer controls every visual variable to create a single seamless floor. No other commercial flooring system offers this range of customization at scale.

In addition, designers can pair an epoxy terrazzo floor with terrazzo countertops, stairs, and wall base in matching or contrasting appearances.

2. Communication and Collaboration are Key to Success

Engage with the manufacturer at schematic design. Terrazzo floors often require more planning than other flooring materials.

By contacting a manufacturer early, the mix design can be approved, and allow time for the materials to be procured for the contractor. Early involvement eliminates risk.

What Early Collaboration Gets You:

• Mix Design Validation – The manufacturer can understand your design and confirm your choices are compatible before you commit.
• Budget Guidance – Aggregate selection can have real cost implications. Manufacturers can work with you to select materials that fit within your budget.
• Specification Language – Manufacturers provide spec-ready language for your project documents.
• Sample Development – Custom color matching and physical samples that are tailored to your client’s preference.

Working with a trusted terrazzo manufacturer like TERRAZZCO ensures you are specifying a material with guided input.

3. Know Your Material Options and Systems

The more knowledge you have about terrazzo, the better-informed decision you will make for your project.

Terrazzo dates back to the early 16th century. Terrazzo systems before the 1970s were cement-based; however, with the introduction of epoxies, the industry has shifted to installing epoxy terrazzo. About 90% of terrazzo today is epoxy-based. It is much preferred by terrazzo contractors as it is quicker and easier to install. Designers also approve of epoxy terrazzo for its speed of installation, artistic capabilities, zero VOCs, and recycled materials.

So how will this impact your project? We’ll discuss some key topics that can guide your design decisions when planning out a terrazzo project.

Is your project indoors or outdoors?

One of the most commonly asked questions by designers is whether epoxy terrazzo can be used outdoors. The answer is no. Epoxy terrazzo faces challenges when exposed to ultraviolet rays and heat exposure from the sun. Therefore, a rustic (cement) terrazzo system is recommended only for outdoor applications. But when considering terrazzo for indoor settings, there’s no better system than a thin-set epoxy terrazzo system.

What type of aggregates do you plan to use in your terrazzo design?

While selecting a matrix color for terrazzo is easy, aggregates can require more planning. When reviewing aggregates, type, size, and hardness are things to consider. Aggregates types include marble, glass, shells, plastic, pebbles, and other decorative chips for epoxy terrazzo. It is important to pair aggregates that have similar hardness. For example, marble aggregates should not be mixed with a softer aggregate like plastic chips as the plastic chips will float to the top and marble chips will sink to the bottom during the terrazzo installation.  Each aggregate will vary in price too; therefore, it’s important to discuss with the client their desired aesthetic and recommend suggestions by the terrazzo manufacturer.

What style of terrazzo floor are you looking to design?

And lastly, the size of the aggregate plays a role in the type of application used. As mentioned, with the industry shifting towards epoxy terrazzo installations, the size of the aggregate matters. Epoxy terrazzo is a thin yet durable flooring system that is installed at either 1/4″ or 3/8″ thickness. As a result, it is recommended to use aggregates graded at size 2 and smaller for poured-in-place applications. It’s possible to have go a bit large with Mother of Pearl and recycled glass chips because those chips tend to be flatter so they can fit into a 3/8″ thick system; however, it’s best to not include chips larger than the floor system itself. In recent times, modern terrazzo designs have displayed the use of Venetian chips, chip sizes #3 and above, which adds to the visual appeal of terrazzo.

Rule of thumb: As the aggregate size increases, so does the thickness of the terrazzo system as well as the cost.

4. How Do You Justify Terrazzo’s Cost to a Client?

Terrazzo’s upfront cost is higher than carpet or LVT, but focusing only on price per square foot misses the bigger picture. A more meaningful conversation is about cost per year of service.

Designers and architects find value in terrazzo for its aesthetics, durability, and ease of maintenance. What building owners may not always realize is that epoxy terrazzo is one of the most cost-effective flooring systems over the life of a building.

For projects designed with long-term use in mind, terrazzo delivers measurable value. Its durability significantly reduces the need for repairs, replacements, and ongoing maintenance, saving both time and money compared ot other commercial flooring options.

Here are other talking points you can discuss with the clients:

• Properly installed epoxy terrazzo lasts the lifetime of a building (75 years – 100 years)
• Maintenance is simple, requiring only routine cleaning
• No replacement cycles over the building’s lifespan
• A single-source system provides accountability when working with a single manufacturer like TERRAZZCO
• No risk of discontinued SKUs unlike tile or other modular materials
• Proven, consistent performance once installed
• Supports long-term branding through custom design

If the client pushes back on the terrazzo installation cost, you can reframe the question by asking: “If this building will be in use for 30+ years, what’s the cost of replacing carpet every 8-10 years, or tile every 15 years? Terrazzo is installed once.” This perspective helps clients understand the operational and financial impact of repeated flooring replacements, not just the initial expense.

Additionally, terrazzo manufacturers offer design consultations to help evaluate cost options early. With the right approach, it’s possible to tailor material selections to meet budget constraints while still achieving a durable, long-lasting terrazzo system.

5. Tile vs. Poured in Place

Epoxy terrazzo can come in two forms: tile and poured in place. Education is key to understand which system is right for you.

Poured in place involves an installation team creating the floor onsite. Epoxy resin and aggregates are mixed together and poured over a concrete slab and troweled at 1/4″ or 3/8″ thickness. Installers will then grind and polish the floor for a complete finish. In contrast, tile comes pre-finished at a manufacturer’s location and shipped to the job site for installation.

For large commercial projects, poured in place terrazzo outperforms tile products. Poured in place terrazzo creates a continuous bond to the concrete substrate, creating a seamless flooring system minus the grout lines commonly associated with terrazzo tiles. While there are 3/8″ epoxy terrazzo tiles on the market, designers have to account for the setting material which increases the overall thickness to 1/2″. The adhesive is placed on the back of the tile and laid across the concrete substrate. Terrazzo contractors like to give a fair warning to designers who select a tile product over poured in place terrazzo system for multiple reasons.

• Terrazzo tile cannot match the design capabilities of a poured-in-place terrazzo flooring system.
• There are greater risks that the tile may crack or chip during the installation process, which could delay project timelines
• It may be more difficult to replace tile later in the flooring cycle, in circumstances where a product is discontinued.

However, with a poured-in-place epoxy terrazzo system, any terrazzo contractor can easily repair and patch the terrazzo floor if damages occur. They can easily find matching epoxy and aggregates, and perform the work at a small fraction of the initial installation costs.

Regarding lead times, it is easier for a terrazzo installer to obtain epoxy and aggregate materials to complete a seamless epoxy terrazzo floor. Poured-in-place terrazzo even gives installers full control to work their craft. On the other hand, there are only a limited number of precast terrazzo manufacturers in the country. Designers may benefit from finding a stocked item through third parties but will miss out on the customization of the terrazzo design. Precast terrazzo is a hot commodity today as architects are looking to add more versatility to their buildings with stairs, countertops, wall base, and other custom designs. As a result, depending on the manufacturer, lead times to produce a customized tile product could take several weeks to start production. For terrazzo flooring projects, a poured-in-place system is recommended to meet project delivery and bring the best value to commercial buildings.

When planning a terrazzo project, cost also plays a factor in whether tile or a poured-in-place system is chosen. Because poured-in-place epoxy terrazzo requires professional installation, it is believed that it costs more than tile installations. That is not always the case. Depending on the manufacturer and the area of the install, poured-in-place epoxy terrazzo is affordable for building projects. It’s recommended to speak with an installation company to know the actual costs.