An Architect’s Guide to Terrazzo Samples

Considering epoxy terrazzo, but haven’t worked with the material before or undecided on the overall appearance?  Terrazzo samples are a perfect way of previewing building materials before using it in a project. With the rising popularity of terrazzo today, many architects and owners are seeking terrazzo contractors for a design consultation – many of them experiencing terrazzo for the first time. To help architects with their decision-making, we developed an Architect’s Guide to Terrazzo Samples, highlighting the benefits of requesting a terrazzo sample.

Samples help you better understand the material

Terrazzo may be the first material choice on some architect’s list, but later determined it may not be the right material for a project. In vice versa, an architect may have never considered terrazzo before, but could later determine that the material’s benefits are exactly what they were searching for all along. The bottom line is terrazzo samples can be a way of understanding the material first-hand.

Samples offer the ability for anyone to touch and feel the material. After receiving a sample, an architect can get a better indication if the material is durable enough or is a good design match. It’s a great way to also expand the imagination as well. After evaluating the sample, new possibilities may emerge. You could see yourself using terrazzo for countertops or installing terrazzo in a restroom, extending the original plan.

Digital samples are not always the same

With the emergence of the digital age, viewing samples online has never been more convenient and easier. But don’t let that fool you. In a time when architects are working diligently to meet deadlines, it may make sense for some architects to request a sample brochure sent directly to their email inboxes. With thousands of terrazzo samples available online today, we highly suggest requesting a sample for good reasons.

One reason is analyzing the sample’s design. Does the hard sample look identical to the online sample? Also, another reason to request a hard sample is to decide if the mix design is exactly how you imagined it would look. Do you like the aggregate? How about the resin color? When a terrazzo sample is not exactly what you have hoped for, it is not the end of the world. The design flexibility of terrazzo is so tremendous that you can really find the right match in aggregate and color by testing out multiple designs.

Comparing competitor’s samples

Requesting terrazzo samples also allows architects to review different manufacturer’s materials. Terrazzo has a long life cycle; therefore, it is a long-term investment. While terrazzo is great for any surface, there may be one sample that stands out among the rest. This is also the time to look into the sample for any potential issues or seek more information about the product.