For architects, engineers, and developers in the Southeastern United States, the question is not if a major hurricane will make landfall, but when. States along the Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coast are more vulnerable to hurricane weather, particularly from mid-August to October. While much attention is paid to roofing systems, windows, and building structure, one component often gets overlooked: the flooring

At Concord Terrazzo, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, we are positioned as the closest terrazzo supplier and experts for many vulnerable coastal communities. We see the impact that leads to the demand for durable materials and critical rebuilding decisions made in a storm’s aftermath. The choice of flooring material is often an aesthetic or budgetary decision, but it can be a fundamental risk mitigation strategy. We’ll discuss how terrazzo becomes a resilient solution for buildings today.

The High Cost of Failure: Beyond the Storm Surge

In areas affected by hurricanes, the immediate threat transitions from wind to water. Category 3 “black water” from the storm surges, which contains dangerous toxins and bacteria, enters buildings, wreaking havoc on interior finishes. Porous materials and flooring systems that absorb moisture, such as carpet, laminate, and even some concrete, become liabilities. The result?

• Months of Downtime: While the structure stands, the interiors cannot be used.
• Exorbitant Remediation Costs: Complete tear-out, disposal, and replacement of flooring and often wall bases and drywall.
• Business Interruption Losses: For commercial properties, income lost during repairs can exceed the cost of fixing the damage.
• Health Liabilities: Mold can cause serious health problems.

According to FEMA, in its P-55 Coastal Construction Manual, flood-damage-resistant materials like concrete, terrazzo, ceramic tile, and rubber are recommended for areas below the Base Floor Elevation (BFE). These flooring systems are proven resilient designs that enable a building to be restored and reoccupied in days, not months.

The Terrazzo Advantage: The Right Flooring for Today’s Weather-Prone Regions

Epoxy terrazzo is built on top of a structural slab, providing unmatched performance under extreme conditions.

1. Impermeable Waterproof Surface: Made with epoxy resins, epoxy terrazzo forms a seamless, non-porous barrier. Floodwaters cannot penetrate it. There are no grout lines to crack or joints to separate. After a storm, the floor remains intact. Buildings can clean and restore the floor to its original state, without the need for replacement or worrying about hidden moisture.

2. Mold-Resistant: As a non-porous surface, epoxy terrazzo is resistant to microbial growth. This natural resistance supports healthy building design and is especially important for hospitals, schools, and other living facilities that may serve as emergency shelters after the storm.

3. Unmatched Durability Against Debris: With high compressive strength and abrasion resistance, terrazzo is impervious to the sand, grit, and physical debris brought in by storms and the subsequent cleanup. Terrazzo won’t scratch, stain, or deteriorate under harsh conditions; therefore, the floor remains functional and attractive for decades.

4. Life-Cycle Value & Insurability: Epoxy terrazzo is a great investment for any building. With a 75+ year service life, near-zero maintenance cost, and elimination of replacements, it translates to the lowest total flooring costs for buildings. For building owners and insurers, specifying terrazzo reduces future risk, a factor that positively influences asset valuation.

TERRAZZCO Projects Built to Last

Buildings exposed to hurricanes gain a significant advantage from terrazzo flooring. In most cases, terrazzo floors that are submerged simply need polishing and refinishing after the storm. When installed in such facilities, terrazzo is built to endure and stand the test of time.

At Concord Terrazzo, we manufacture and supply TERRAZZCO Brand Products, with a full range of epoxy terrazzo materials, including epoxy resin, aggregates, and precast terrazzo; we partner with terrazzo contractors in states like Louisiana, North Carolina, Florida, and other Southeastern states to address the challenges a hurricane brings.

Project: Hurricane Florence Recovery Package

• The Situation: When Hurricane Florence struck the Carolinas in September 2018, it arrived as a large, slow-moving Category 1 storm that brought record-breaking rainfall to the region. In the days that followed, catastrophic river flooding washed out roads and destroyed homes and businesses. Wind gusts topping 100 mph compounded the destruction, leaving widespread structural damage and setting off a massive multi-million-dollar recovery effort centered on resilience and the construction of new, improved facilities to replace those lost.
• Challenge: More than 800 facilities around Camp Lejuene and Cherry Point faced damage from Hurricane Florence, requiring a $1.2 billion repair and $1.7 billion replacement program
• TERRAZZCO Solution: For five buildings, terrazzo was selected as a resilient solution for the future. TERRAZZCO supplied all the materials required to install the terrazzo floors
• The Resilience Dividend: The facilities are now marked as “storm-ready,” with flooring that is a cornerstone of its continuity-of-operations plan. They have peace of mind knowing that even in a flood scenario, their floors won’t be a source of failure.