Like all great things, terrazzo flooring restoration in Manhattan, NY, has humble origins. Let’s go back a few centuries and discover the history of terrazzo flooring. The burgeoning flooring industry of 15th-century Venice, Italy, gave rise to innovations. Masons and artisans were trying to find ways to make use of scrap marble.
Through experimentation, the workers would mix pieces of marble into clay and grind them down into a comfortable surface. The novel aesthetics of the flooring caught on, and thus “terrazzo” (Italian for “terrace”) was born. The workers would finish the flooring with goat’s milk and let the true colors of the terrazzo shine through and create a walking surface that was meant for the Italian nobility.
In the early twentieth century, innovations in manufacturing and finishing allowed terrazzo to be produced quickly – and with more customization options. Electric grinding enabled flooring with a smooth and almost mirror-like finish. At around this time, Portland cement was becoming an industry standard and this material could be dyed with the terrazzo to create striking color combinations.
Over time, epoxy became the popular binding agent for terrazzo floor manufacturing. This allowed makers to add different materials other than marble bits, such as glass, metal, and seashells.
Terrazzo has been around for centuries, yet new and exciting developments are always on the horizon for this material. Consult with your local terrazzo flooring restoration company to learn more about this enduring flooring type.
