Terrazzo

    In 1924, improvements on the Galera led to the development of electric grinding equipment to achieve a fine finish. The technology of Carborundum stones on a rotating head, aided in advancing the grinding and polishing procedures to today's standards. When white Portland cement was introduced into this industry, it expanded the horizon of Terrazzo colors with the mineral color pigment additives. Now the spectrum of color for Terrazzo ws unlimited. During this time numerous chemical companies were developing cleaners and sealers to enhance the beauty of Terrazzo. In the last 40 years, new developments were achieved with the discovery of epoxies and acrylics. Rustic Terrazzo emerged, creating a unique surface that is especially designed for exterior sidewalks, plazas, terraces, pools, and stairways with unlimited use for decks and wall surfaces. You can choose from nature's color palette of stone that was created millions of years ago. The unique differences of Rustic Terrazzo is the texture created by the finished product.

    Soon American Terrazzo was created from the wealth of marble in the United States and American ingenuity advanced installation techniques. Ingenious individuals devised a method of using wood strips to separate the different colors of the marble chips. These strips were removed and the void filled with another material. These same people learned that adding marble dust to this material resulted in various colors. Thus, they could now create a design with this material. In later years 3/4" colorful marble cubes, known as Mosaic Tesserae, were used as the division strips for separating colors. These became a permanent part of the floor and added further aesthetics. Marble strips, one to three feet in lenght, were developed providing yet another permanent dividing strip. Brass divider strips became available in the mid-nineteen twenties replacing or offering a second choice to the marble cubes or strips. In the thirties, white alloy of zinc metal strips were developed and during Word War II due to the essential need for metal, plastic strips were developed. These strips were not only designed to separate colors, but they played an essential role in the control of localizing shrinkage in the Terrazzo topping, preventing cracks from marring the aesthetics of this beautiful surface. Soon advanced technology gave this industry various gauges of all these strips, resulting in the creation of elaborate and intricate patterns and designs.

    Gifted craftsmen brought the Terrazzo concept to America with them from Europe in the late 18th century, where Terrazzo was used extensively in monumental structures. (Our first President, George Washington, designed his Mt. Vernon home and selected Terrazzo for many of the rooms.)

    The workers soon advanced their technique for rubbing the surfaces by designing a long handle with a weighted end to which they could fasten their pumice grinding stones. Now they were able to rub the terraces in a more comfortable upright position, utilizing their body weight to provide the pressure to abrade the surface faster. This tool was named the "Galera." A smoother surface was achieved with this crude equipment and back-breaking labor, but it still lacked the true marble color that only resulted when the surface was wet. As years passed, workers discovered the milk from their goats brought out the true color of the marble when applied to the surface. The true color of the marble was retained when it was dry. This was the first Terrazzo sealer!

    Fifteenth-century Venetian mosaic workers began to use odd-size marble chips (remaining from shaping the stone tesserae) to surface the terraces around their living quarters. The uneven surfaces created, when the chips were set in clay to anchor them, convinced the workers that flattening the surface would produce a smoother surface more comfortable for walking. They began to rub the surface with handstone, achieving a flat surface.

Terrazzo, from the Italian word for terraces, was created several hundred years ago in Europe when Venetian workers discovered a new use for discarded marble remnants. Since that time it has become a logical, practical solution for contemporary design and construction. The beauty and versatility of Terrazzo offers today's architects and designers a contemporary flooring and wall material for interior and exterior use.