Terrazzo Glass Chips: Guide for Architects & Designers

TERRAZZCO has been a trusted supplier of aggregates in the terrazzo industry. As the only terrazzo manufacturer to source, crush, and process its own chips, we provide convenience and quality materials to contractors in need of terrazzo, glass, or marble chips for their projects.

Terrazzo glass chips are crushed, and recycled glass aggregates are used in place of (or alongside) marble chips in epoxy terrazzo flooring. They come from post-consumer and post-industrial bottle glass, window glass. and mirror. They let light pass through or reflect off the surface, giving the terrazzo floor depth and sparkle. TERRAZZCOs offer a wide range of recycled materials in different sizes and colors.  Check out the following recycled aggregates we crush daily:

Need to Order Crushed Glass?

Get Started By Submitting an Online Request.

What are terrazzo glass chips, and why do designers choose them for their designs?

Glass chips are one of the many terrazzo aggregate options, crushed and graded into aggregate sizes, and set into an epoxy resin matrix to create a decorative, durable flooring surface. Designers choose it over marble for one main reason: color range.

Marble chips are limited to the natural hues quarries produce. Glass comes in a vast range of colors from cobalt blue, emerald green, red, clear, and other colors. These are colors no stone aggregate can match.

Terrazzo itself dates back to 15th-century Venice, where workers set discarded marble into cement to build inexpensive, durable terraces. Glass entered the mix after the 1970s, when epoxy resin was introduced and allowed for better design flexibility. Epoxy terrazzo is thinner, lighter, faster to install, and non-porous. These attributes let glass become an important feature in today’s modern terrazzo designs.

How are terrazzo glass chips made?

Terrazzo glass starts as waste: bottles, windows, and mirror sheets collected from recycling and waste facilities. TERRAZZCO crushes and processes glass in-house, grading it into standard aggregate sizes and then delivering it to the job site for terrazzo installation.

Everything is done in-house. Most terrazzo suppliers buy their chips from a third party and resell them. TERRAZZCO is a the only terrazzo manufacturer that sources, crushes, and processes its own aggregates, meaning tighter control over consistency, fast turnaround on projects, and one phone call instead of three for any color or size needs.

Terrazzo Glass Sizes

Most terrazzo manufacturers will carry aggregates varying in different sizes. Terrazzo glass chips are graded in the same sizing system as marble chips. Sizes at TERRAZZCO are available in fines, #00, #0, #1, #2, and #3.

Aggregates can go up to size #7, which is referred to as Venetian Terrazzo. If planning an epoxy terrazzo flooring, we do not recommend exceeding a size #3 aggregate due to the epoxy terrazzo floor being 3/8″ in thickness.

Clear Glass #0

Clear Glass #1

Clear Glass #2

Terrazzo Glass Colors

Terrazzo glass chips range from clear to vibrant colors like cobalt blue, green, yellow, orange, and red, to dark colors like black and amber glass. These are colors that are not available with natural stones.

Some behaviors to consider when evaluating your palette:

• Clear glass takes on the resin’s color. It’s translucent, so a red matrix makes clear glass look red, a blue matrix makes it look blue. Use it when you want aggregate and field color to blend into one seamless surface.
• Mirror chips reflect.  Mirror chips throw back light off the surface, which adds sparkle to any terrazzo floor design.
• Light glass in dark resin needs a design minimum. Under repeated point loads from foot traffic in heels, dropped tools, or rolling carts, clear or light-colored glass aggregate set in a dark matrix can fracture and develop a frosted, crystallizing look over time. It’s rarely a problem in light-colored resin, where the effect doesn’t show. In dark resin, keep light glass to a minimum, paired with marble or colorful glass.

Why is terrazzo with glass chips a sustainable choice?

Terrazzo with glass chips is sustainable because it’s made from post-industrial waste that would otherwise go to landfills. The floor can comprise recycled materials up to 75% material by volume.

LEED Points to consider:

• Recycled content credits: LEED’s Materials & Resources category awards one point at 10% recycled content (by cost) and a second at 20%. Mix designs with glass chips clear both thresholds.
• Regional materials credit: Aggregates and resin sourced within 500 miles of the job site count toward LEED’s regional sourcing credit. TERRAZZCO is crushed and manufactured domestically, which keeps that 500-mile radius realistic for most U.S. projects.
• Indoor environmental quality: Epoxy terrazzo systems use zero-VOC resin, supporting indoor air quality credits. TERRAZZCO epoxy resin is compatible with any aggregates.

Can you mix glass chips with marble chips?

Yes. For more floors, glass with marble chips produces a stronger, more durable result than glass alone. It’s a common approach for many terrazzo installations today.

• Strength: Marble adds a denser, harder component to the mix, which holds up well under heavy commercial traffic.
• Hardness pairing: Aggregates of similar hardness wear evenly together. Mixing materials of different densities risks one component settling differently from another during the pour.

Adding Terrazzo Glass to Your Mix Design

You can make your terrazzo floors more environmentally friendly by selecting an epoxy terrazzo system made entirely of recycled crushed glass chips. Whether you are designing a terrazzo floor, countertop, or stair design, glass chips have their advantages when it comes to sustainability. Using glass as the main component of your terrazzo floor can contribute to U.S. Green Building Council certified LEED points. One or two LEED points contributed to use of recycled contents.

A terrazzo contractor can install an epoxy terrazzo floor consisting of all terrazzo glass chips. For a stronger and more durable floor, it is advised to mix glass chips with marble chips.

Projects Featuring TERRAZZCO Glass Aggregates

If you are looking for a durable, long-lasting, and low maintenance floor system, then epoxy terrazzo may be the right choice for your building project. To highlight what we’ve mentioned so far, we’ll demonstrate the beauty and artistic styles of epoxy terrazzo flooring incorporating TERRAZZCO terrazzo glass chips.

Mirror Glass

TERRAZZCO crushes 100% post-industrial mirror glass. It is one of the most common recycled products we supply in modern terrazzo projects. When added to a terrazzo floor, the mirror glass chip sparkles across the surfaces.

Clear Glass

Another common glass chip for terrazzo flooring is clear glass. This aggregate is perfect if you are looking to blend the aggregate with the epoxy color. For example, clear glass will appear red if a red epoxy resin is selected. Pictured is a healthcare facility. The mix design blends together clear glass with single-sided mirror and cobalt blue glass.

Cobalt Blue Glass

Glass offers vibrant color choices. A favorite among flooring contractors is Cobalt Blue Glass. Pictured is a terrazzo floor with a logo design that utilizes Cobalt Blue Glass as the main component that adds beautiful details to the design.

Amber Glass

Amber Glass is also a common glass color used in terrazzo. Pictured is how the glass chip appears with marble chips in both a lighter and darker resin color.

Auto Green Glass

Focusing on other vibrant colors. Terrazzo contractors can find a variety of different shades among glass chips. Auto Green Glass is a lighter green glass that TERRAZZCO supplies. Pictured is a hospital lobby that utilizes Auto Green Glass as part of its overall floor design.

Other Glass Colors to Consider

TERRAZZCO supplies a wide color range for contractors to purchase. If a terrazzo floor calls for a specific shade of color, a TERRAZZCO representative can assist clients in obtaining a terrazzo chip. Here are other examples of projects the feature unique color blends.

Contact Us For a Quote