Terrazzo is a composite surface made of chips of marble, granite, glass or other aggregate set in a binder of cement or resin, then ground and polished to a smooth, flat finish. It is one of the most durable floor finishes ever devised, and in recent years it has returned from the floors of old schools and shophouses to become a fashionable material for kitchens, bathrooms, furniture and wall tiles.
This guide traces where the material came from, explains the main types and how each is made, sets out the strengths and weaknesses, and looks at the practical issues of cracking, staining and maintenance in Singapore homes.
A short history of terrazzo
The modern form is generally credited to Venetian builders around the fifteenth century. The usual account is that workers set offcuts of marble left over from grander projects into a lime or clay base to make floors for terraces and their own homes, and the name derives from the Italian for terrace. They learnt to grind the surface flat to expose the chips and to seal it to bring out their colour. Earlier floors of stone fragments in a mortar matrix are known from the ancient world, so the Venetians refined an old idea rather than inventing it from nothing.
Italian craftsmen took the technique abroad, and in the twentieth century the arrival of electric grinding machines and metal divider strips made large, patterned floors practical. Terrazzo became the floor of choice for banks, airports, hospitals and public buildings, prized for its hard-wearing surface and the freedom it gave to inlaid designs. Many older Singapore homes, shophouses and public buildings have terrazzo or similar cast floors, and the related washed-aggregate render known locally as Shanghai plaster draws on the same principle of exposed stone in a cement matrix.
The main types of terrazzo
Cementitious, poured in situ
The traditional system. A mix of cement, aggregate and pigment is placed on a prepared base, usually a mortar bed over the concrete slab, then cured, ground in several passes with progressively finer abrasives, grouted to fill pinholes, and polished. It is thick, robust and repairable, but heavy and slow to install, and it requires specialist trades.
Epoxy or resin terrazzo
Aggregate is set in an epoxy or other resin binder and poured as a thin layer over a prepared slab. Resin systems allow brighter colours, thinner and lighter installations and faster curing. They are less tolerant of moisture coming up from the slab during installation and depend on careful substrate preparation.
Precast tiles and slabs
Terrazzo is cast in a factory into tiles, stair treads, countertops or panels, then ground and polished before delivery. Tiles are the most common form in homes today because they are laid like stone tiles with ordinary trades. The look is similar to poured work, with the difference that grout joints are visible.
Rustic and exposed-aggregate finishes
Instead of being ground smooth, the surface is washed or lightly abraded so the stones stand slightly proud, giving a textured, slip-resistant finish for external areas. Shanghai plaster belongs to this family on walls.
How terrazzo is laid and why strips matter
Poured work is divided by metal strips, usually brass, zinc or aluminium, set into the bed before the mix is placed. The strips have two jobs. They form the lines of the design, allowing different colours in each bay, and they act as control joints, giving the cementitious mix planned places to crack as it shrinks while curing and as the slab below moves.
Terrazzo is a rigid, brittle surface bonded to whatever lies beneath. If the slab cracks or moves, the finish usually cracks with it. Expansion and movement joints in the building structure must therefore be carried through the terrazzo, not bridged. Our guide to types of concrete cracks explains which cracks come from shrinkage and which from structural movement, which helps diagnose cracks that appear in the finish later.
After grinding, the surface is sealed with a penetrating or topical sealer appropriate to the binder. Cement-based terrazzo is porous until sealed; resin terrazzo is inherently less absorbent but still benefits from a protective finish.
Strengths and weaknesses
- Durability: a well-laid terrazzo floor can last for the life of the building and be reground to renew its surface.
- Design freedom: almost any colour combination and aggregate can be used, including recycled glass.
- Hygiene: poured work has few joints, making it easy to clean.
- Weight and thickness: cementitious work adds load and height, which matters in renovations where floor levels must match.
- Cold and hard: it is unforgiving underfoot and for anything dropped on it.
- Slipperiness: polished surfaces become slippery when wet; honed or textured finishes are better for bathrooms and outdoor areas.
- Acid sensitivity: marble chips react with acids, so lemon juice, vinegar and some cleaners etch the surface.
For a broader comparison with other hard floors, see our guides to types of flooring in Singapore and marble flooring, which shares many of the same care issues.
Terrazzo in Singapore homes
In HDB flats and condominiums, terrazzo-look tiles are the realistic option for most renovations, since they can be laid by tiling contractors with normal adhesive, including over existing tiles where an overlay is suitable. Poured terrazzo is rarer in homes and needs a specialist installer and enough depth in the floor build-up.
The humidity matters mainly through the binder and sealer. Cementitious terrazzo that is not sealed absorbs spills and can show dark staining and, in wet areas, mould in pores and joints. In bathrooms, a honed rather than polished finish gives better slip resistance, and the waterproofing beneath must be completed before the finish is laid. Resin systems on ground-floor slabs need the slab to be dry enough for the resin to bond.
Restoring an old terrazzo floor in a shophouse or landed home is often worthwhile. Grinding, filling and resealing can bring back an original floor, provided cracks are investigated first to confirm they come from shrinkage rather than ongoing movement.
Care and maintenance
Clean with a pH-neutral cleaner and avoid acidic or strongly alkaline products, which attack marble chips and cement matrix respectively. Wipe spills promptly, particularly oil, wine and citrus. Reseal cementitious terrazzo periodically as the sealer wears, and use mats at entrances where grit would scratch the surface. Worn or etched floors can be honed and repolished by a specialist without replacing the finish.
Frequently asked questions
Is terrazzo suitable for bathrooms?
Yes, with a honed or textured finish for slip resistance, a proper sealer, and waterproofing completed beneath. Polished terrazzo is slippery when wet and should be avoided on shower floors.
Why does terrazzo crack?
The cement matrix shrinks as it cures and the finish follows any movement in the slab below. Divider strips act as control joints for shrinkage, and building movement joints must be carried through. Cracks away from strips are worth investigating to see whether the substrate is moving.
What is the difference between terrazzo and terrazzo tiles?
Poured terrazzo is cast and ground on site as a continuous surface with metal divider strips. Terrazzo tiles are cast and polished in a factory, then laid like stone tiles with grout joints. Tiles are easier and more common in homes.
Does terrazzo stain?
Unsealed cementitious terrazzo is porous and absorbs oil and coloured liquids, and acids etch marble chips. A good sealer, pH-neutral cleaning and prompt wiping of spills prevent most staining.
Related reading
- Composite Decking vs Timber Decking in the Tropics
- Venetian Plaster: Types, Application and Durability
- Limewash Walls: How Lime Paint Works and Where It Fails
- Microcement: Pros, Cons and Where to Use It at Home
Seeing cracks in an old terrazzo or cast floor and want to know whether the slab is moving? Talk to our consultancy or get in touch.
