Restoring Your School's Terrazzo Flooring: Step By Step

Terrazzo flooring has been popular for centuries, dating back to ancient times. It gained prominence in 15th-century Venice, where marble remnants were repurposed to create affordable flooring. It didn’t make its way to the United States until the late 19th and early 20th century.

If your school has terrazzo floors, consider yourself lucky. It’s a popular flooring choice that brings beauty and originality to any space.

Like any flooring, terrazzo can wear down, crack, or need restoration. That’s where the terrazzo floor restoration experts at ACT Restoration come in. We use our time-tested process of restoring terrazzo floors in schools to help you save money and avoid replacing entire floors.

We’ll walk you through our process so you understand what to expect and how your floor restoration project will impact your school's daily functioning.

Steps to Restore Terrazzo Flooring

Restoring terrazzo floors involves four primary steps: inspection and assessment, grinding, polishing, and sealing.

These steps will help revitalize your floors and extend their lifespan between polishings.

Inspection & Assessment

ACT Restoration will evaluate the condition of your terrazzo floors, including inspecting for signs of wear and tear. When we examine and assess the condition of your terrazzo floor, we look for underlying damage, staining, dullness, and evidence of any previous treatments.

Remove Existing Coatings or Residue

Before we begin the restoration process, we remove any existing coatings or residue left on the floor. Using specialized stripping agents, any substances present on the floor will be cleaned.

For example, using too much cleaner on the floor can leave a sticky residue. We can clean that up before grinding.

Repair Cracks or Damage

Minor cracks in terrazzo flooring can become major issues if not repaired properly. Using color-matched epoxy or resin, we will fill cracks to help ensure a seamless finish.

Clean the Floor

Another step that must be taken before grinding is giving the floors a final cleaning to remove dust, debris, or other particles. These can interfere with the grinding process, so it’s best to start with a very clean surface.

Grinding

Grinding is done after the assessment. We use a specialized grinder that removes the thin top layer of the floor. Grinding removes surface-level defects and prepares the floor for the next step. This can be a messy job, but ACT Restoration ensures the area is spotless before moving on.

Polishing

Polishing a terrazzo floor involves using a special machine and pads with varying grit levels to polish the floor, restoring its original beauty. As the grit levels pads get finer, the shinier your floors will look. The final product is a high-gloss finish.

Sealing

Sealing is the final step of restoring terrazzo floors. ACT Restoration will apply a special sealant coating, which will protect the newly restored surface from damage. It will also be easier to clean. Once the sealant is dry, you will have beautiful, shining terrazzo floors.

How Long Does Terrazzo Floor Restoration Take?

The time required for terrazzo floor restoration can vary depending on the space's size and its current condition. A typical room, such as a classroom, could take around 6 to 8 hours. For larger areas, it could take a week or more.

To minimize downtime within the school, the restoration process can be conducted during the summer or holidays. That way, the process is not disruptive to classes and will not block hallways or rooms while school is in session.

How to Maintain Terrazzo Floors

Maintenance for terrazzo floors is fairly simple. Regular cleaning with a soft broom, dust mop, or vacuum can help remove dirt and dust from the floors. Any spills should be wiped up immediately. If you need to clean with a mop, use a mild detergent, avoiding harsh chemicals, which can damage the sealant.

Every few years, consider hiring a professional terrazzo floor restoration company to polish and seal the floors to keep them looking great.

Contact ACT Restoration Today for Terrazzo Floor Restoration in Minnesota

To keep your school’s terrazzo floors in pristine condition, contact ACT Restoration today for terrazzo floor restoration services. Our team has many years of experience handling the restoration of different floor types, including terrazzo, natural stone, and concrete. With expert help from us, your terrazzo floors will continue to stand the test of time.

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