What is a terrazzo floor?

Terrazzo is a durable type of flooring made from marble chips embedded in cement and polished to a high sheen. Modern versions can include materials such as onyx, glass, metal, granite and even mother of pearl.

Terrazzo began in Northern Italy during the 15th century when mosaic artisans swept marble chips out onto their terraces, or terrazzi. The chips were pressed in the surface and polished over time simply by walking on them. Later, workers began to embed the chips in a clay base, which was more stable, and learned to polish them, creating the Terrazzo floor.

This type of flooring is durable, versatile, made from natural materials, easy to clean and bacteria resistant.