Terrazzo tiles floor

The charm of the terrazzo tiles

In many residential distinguished buildings internal residents paths and parking areas feature, on the floor, fascinating compositions in terrazzo tiles.

Ornamental motifs and decorative bands a little worn by time do not diminish the charm.
Perhaps it is their preciousness a little decadent to transmit at every step the feeling of being in contact with a material that ancient history knows quite something.

Born at the end of the 800, in conjunction with the advance of concrete in common construction, the tiles guard actually a constructive wisdom already started with the Venetian floor cast and worked in opera (terrace), elastic and able to integrate perfectly with the vertical and horizontal structures of the ancient buildings.

If this keeps the formal aspect, represent, however, shapes and sizes, an interesting evolution. The classic format 20x20 cm can indeed be a viable alternative to a floor of industrial production, when you want to preserve the authenticity and the peculiar character of a building that is more than a century old.

Project for a flooring in terrazzo tiles

Product of forerunner recycling (because they are made of splinters derived from the crushing of marbles of different origin) the tiles are also, at least partially, environmentally friendly and, therefore, a vintage trend.

In a recent speech that I followed as a designer and Director of Works, I made to replace, in the lobby of an apartment building in the center of Rome, the original Trani marble floor, with a carpet in terrazzo tiles.

The choice was driven by the presence of the same material on the floors of the apartments and the desire of the Customer to make the space more formally continuous.
The installation took place by glue on screed well leveled, dry, free from dust and deposits, after a thorough evaluation of the possible presence of moisture.

Spaced approximately 1 mm apart the tiles have been beaten and leveled during installation and then let it sit for a few days before proceeding with the necessary finishing operations: grouting, plastering, sanding and polishing.

You can also purchase pre-polished tiles, ready for installation; in this case I prefer to make use of opaque elements not finished.

The choice was driven by the need to replace some damaged materials to various floors of the building in which the conditions of the flooring, stained and uneven at times, however, required a subsequent surface finish.

Cleaning a terrazzo tiles floor

As the tiles are handmade product sensitive aspects hygrometric and can manifest even at later stages, the formation of mold, outcrops and surface deposits, as well as color variations.
It is good that the installation takes place in environments subject to high humidity.

A floor tiles must be cleaned with mild detergents and can be treated with stain-resistant and protective products, provided you preserve the intrinsic life and the ability to adapt, gently and slowly, to the different conditions of the environment in which it is inserted.

Some proposals for terrazzo tiles flooring

In addition to a wide range of solid colors can finally choose decorative elements isolated or to compose, as well as bands with classic patterns inherited from a sample, such as chains and weaves.

I report two references for the supply of tiles: Grandinetti from Marche region and MIPA from Modena.
The first one is a company that was born in San Severino in the Marche region, in the early '900, in an area rich in raw materials just perfect for the production of tiles.

Over the years, it has chosen to set up its own brand on the quality craftsmanship of the product, paying attention to the materials used, the attention to detail, the choice of elegance that has always dwells in timeless classic.



The MIPA realizes its marble-chips floors entirely in Italy, using natural raw materials and at the same time environmentally friendly processes, resulting in tiles that combine craftsmanship with technological performance. The products of MIPA are indicated for floorings to be made from the scratch, but also to supplement existing situations, realizing real restoration operations.

With M+A+P Design Studio, Laura Renna and Studio Charlie, the company has developed a line called Contemporaneo, with a strong appeal to the latest trends, ensuring even an audience more attentive to the dictates of the avant-garde design to choose for your house, a solution in terrazzo tiles.