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Articles & Advice > All Tile Articles > The Versatility of Terrazzo Tile

The Versatility of Terrazzo Tile

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Terrazzo tile is one of the most versatile tiling options available in the industry. Made by mixing marble, granite, quartz, or glass chips into a cement binder, terrazzo is cost effective, attractive, and one of the toughest products available when it comes to tiling materials.

Why Choose Terrazzo?
Terrazzo is an excellent tiling choice for a number of reasons. The first is its looks. Because terrazzo is made by embedding marble, granite, quartz or glass chips in a cement binder, it retains many of the aesthetic qualities of the non-cement additive. Often it achieves a look equally as stunning as pure stone or ceramic tiles at a fraction of the price. Secondly, because terrazzo tile is manufactured by mixing different elements together, you can choose almost any design or color for your tile project that you can dream of, including abstract decorative designs, official seals, and floor maps just to name a few. The sky is the limit when it comes to terrazzo design.

On a more practical level, terrazzo is also one of the most durable tiling materials on the market—much more so than its stone and ceramic competitors. Once sealed properly it is impervious to water and stain damage, it doesn't chip like other tile materials can, and can be used on both interior and exterior applications. And if the surface gets worn down over the years, it can be re-finished and polished to look like new again.

Application
From a construction standpoint, terrazzo tiles can be applied as traditional tiles or they can be mixed, poured, and finished directly on site, adding even more flexibility and options when it comes to design and installation. It's also up to 50% lighter than other tiling materials, making it particularly valuable for multi-story installations, especially buildings with large areas and multiple stories where the weight of materials can really add up. In fact, while terrazzo is a great product for homeowners, it is ideally suited for large office buildings and other public areas as well.

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Where is Terrazzo Best Used?
Because of terrazzo tile's incredible durability, it is suitable for just about any use you can dream up. It can be used outside or indoors as a flooring material, and it is great for high traffic areas such as lobbies, hallways and tiled outdoor areas for just this reason. On top of that, its water resistance makes it an equally good choice for kitchen and bathroom floors as well. In addition to flooring, its ability to repel water and stains also make it a popular choice for countertops, showers, baths, and swimming pools. Finally, as mentioned earlier, the fact that terrazzo is light weight and can be poured in large swaths instead of laid as individual tiles, makes it particularly suitable for large scale flooring projects in buildings and public areas. In short, any place you can think of where tile might be used, in addition to some places you wouldn't normally consider tile an option, terrazzo is an excellent choice.

If you're looking for a cost effective, durable alternative to ceramic or stone tiles, terrazzo tiles are the answer.

Matt Goering, formerly a carpenter and house painter, is a freelance writer for the home improvement industry who has published over 600 articles.

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