skip to main content

Calling all terrazzo experts!

15 years ago

I am so tired of pouring money into my terrazzo floors. the first guy I used 8 years ago charged me $1000 to strip and wax(yuck!) my 1600 sq. ft. of terrazzo. I then got an excellent recommendation and had it redone (when the wax started scratching off). I believe it was about $2400. The finish was lustrous, and best yet, he did not use any wax! Then came Katrina and four inches of water. I called the same guy out and this time he charged me $4K!! Now, I'm having my kitchen gutted and need to clean under the cabinets because the new cabinets will fall just an inch short of the old ones, revealing a dark and dirty line where the old toekick used to be.

I've tried cleaning it myself using over-the-counter chemicals and some elbow grease, but to no avail. I tried calling the two remaining guys left in town and both are booked up for a month. (they charge about $4/sq. ft., so the job would cost me $800 for my smallish galley kitchen).

Does anyone know the proper way to deep clean terrazzo? What are the best chemicals to use and what machines can I purchase or rent for the job? I'm thinknig of using a hand held round sander with a 100 grit paper and moving up to 1300 grit, then buffing. what do you think? My contractor dry sanded with his rotary sander in one inconspicuous place, and it had very little effect. but we were testing it gently, to check how much pressure could be applied safely. (apparently a lot)

Please, your expert advice would be much appreciated!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

bill_vincent
15 years ago
You need to be real careful here. Use a different grit on part of the floor than what was used on the rest of the floor, and it'll show up as an either shiny or dull spot in relation to the rest. You'[re talking about starting with 100 grit and working up to 1300. Most floors FINISH at between 100 and 150 grit. Use 1300, and walking across that floor will be like ice skating! I know it's going to cost you, and you're going to have to wait. But it'll be money well spent and worth the wait. Refinishing terrazzo is not a DIY task. If all you were going to do was strip and reseal, that's a different story. In that case, you don't even need a sander. But from the sound of it, that's not what's needed here.
User
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you for your advice about sanding grit! At this point I think I'm leaning toward taking a chance with my own skills. I found a stone care line of chemicals on Galaxy Tools, made in Germany. The customer service there is remarkable and a few hours later I had already heard back from a rep. by email. I'm afraid to hold up this renovation process by waiting on the professionals. Living in dust, not being able to cook, and with cabinets and appliances all over the home is just too unbearable. Thank you again.
Related Discussions
Calling all wood flooring experts: brass inlay in engineered wood??
Q
Comments (14)
I understand your inspiration, what inlay are you actually wanting to use? The inlay in this picture looks like it is inset into the wood flooring . Almost like they routed (sp?) the item into the board after the boards were installed. If the inlay is set to go around the edges of the floor where walking is less likely to occur, I wonder if you can select a different style of inlay. Something that is not flat but is rounded maybe? that way the inlay can sit slightly above the wood and minimize some of the gaping. It is hard to make a judgment on this as we do not really know all the details. I am wondering if Schluter has a product that could offer a solution. Attached the Schluter catalog link below. Might be worth checking out. I do think that for what you want you are going to have to make some concessions. Do you want to pay the labor for someone to perfect the cut edges of the wood? Can you tolerate the imperfections for this look? The final solution is the one you'll be able to live with and be within budget. Either way that is a beautiful floor! I hope you keep us posted. https://sccpublic.s3-external-1.amazonaws.com/sys-master/images/hd9/h5a/8916622573598/Profile%20Brochure.pdf
...See More
Calling all Fiddle Leaf experts! What is wrong with my FLF?!
Q
Comments (11)
its called mechanical damage ... is it always outside... any windstorms in the last month ... cats.. dogs.. children .. you when you move it around.. shipping from grower to seller to you ... bottom line.. its nbd ... if its putting out new leaves.. take off the ugliest ... and if its mechanical ... then you sprayed form nothing.. its is preferred you actually find something to treat.. before you start applying any kind of goos... water when a plant needs water ... insert finger and find out ... whether or not every 5 days is reasonable.. is left to you to figure out .. its not really about what the media surface looks like ... humidity is rarely an issue ... but this doesnt look like that ... id think it would be more brown all over. .and rather crispy ... and just for the heck of it ... how about a pic of the whole ... did you just show us a few damaged leaves.. and the rest looks good??? ken ps: wait a minute.. down under ... you are just leaving summer... right... was it outside all summer long.. how bad was summer ... how windy ... etc ... but do keep in mind.. all plants shed a few of the oldest leaves.. and this often happens in winter ... the whole plant pic might help ....
...See More
Calling All Lilac Experts
Q
Comments (6)
I've seen plenty of this over years of growing Japanese and Korean lilacs. The general agreement among the people I've talked to is that it's freeze damage occurring sometime during the late fall to early spring. An opportunistic canker may have increased the severity of the injury as well. The wound doesn't present itself until the healthy part of the trunk has grown and the bark in the damaged area has dried out and started to curl back and/or slough off. So you usually won't notice it until mid-summer or later. Worth noting, I have only seen this so far on lilac trees planted in heavier soils. This could suggest that the afflicted trees have been possibly over-saturated heading into winter. From what I have witnessed, your tree should heal over as the top looks quite healthy despite the wound. It's basically wait-and-see now. The trees I've seen succumb to rot from this usually weren't very vigorous or healthy to begin with. This sort of injury also happens frequently on Norway maple and less commonly on sugar maple here in zone 4 Minnesota.
...See More
calling all quartzite experts.
Q
Comments (2)
My thoughts on porosity are you had better test for yourself in person as well as testing if it's real quartzite or not. If your yard won't let you test, break up with your love please.
...See More

Related Stories

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Expert Talk: Porch Swings Sway Into Sweet Life

By Lawrence Karol

Their lilting rhythms and tastes of the good life beckon. See how professional designers heeded the porch-swing call

REMODELING GUIDES Terrazzo Makes a Comeback for Floors and More

By Elements of Style

Popular from the 1400s through the mid-1970s, this mosaic material is staging a return in homes today — including in some surprising uses

FARM YOUR YARD How to Grow Vegetables in Containers

By Annie Thornton

Get glorious vegetables and fruits on your patio with a pro’s guidance — including his personal recipe for potting mix

FURNITURE Expert Talk: Dreaming of a Daybed

By Lawrence Karol

Whatever color, pattern or style flits through your fancy, today's daybeds let you have it — and practicality too

MOST POPULAR Pros and Cons of 5 Popular Kitchen Flooring Materials

Which kitchen flooring is right for you? An expert gives us the rundown

HEALTHY HOME How to Childproof Your Home: Expert Advice

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

Safety strategies, Part 1: Get the lowdown from the pros on which areas of the home need locks, lids, gates and more

DECORATING GUIDES Expert Talk: Designers Open Up About Closet Doors

By Lawrence Karol

Closet doors are often an afterthought, but these pros show how they can enrich a home's interior design

BATHROOM DESIGN Expert Talk: Freestanding Bathtubs Make a Splash

By Lawrence Karol

Professional designers explain why they chose freestanding tubs and how the style can enhance the design of any bathroom

DECORATING GUIDES Expert Talk: Lean or Hang Artwork?

By Lawrence Karol

Professional designers explain why a tilt is sometimes better than a nail for artwork around the home

TASTEMAKERS Ask an Expert: What Is the One Design Rule You Live By?

By Luisa Rollenhagen

Eight home experts share their top design rules

Sponsored

NME Builders LLC

2 Reviews

Industry Leading General Contractors in Franklin County, OH

More Discussions

cork floor in Idaho

8

Not happy with floor.

2

luxury vinyl floor with cork backing vs rubber backing

0

Should wood railing match floor or not?

7

Villa borghese / california classics

1