Terrazzo

The form of terrazzo used today derives partly from the 18th century pavimento alla Veneziana (Venetian pavement) and the cheaper seminato.

Terrazzo is also related to the technique seminato for which workers tossed larger marble chips into the cement that was then ground and polished.

Together, these methods create the generic form of terrazzo that involves pieces of stone that are bonded to a cement bed.

The invention of divider strips by L. Del Turco and Bros. in 1924 contained the cracking of terrazzo by allowing the material greater space to expand and shrink after installation.

This invention made terrazzo a durable and reliable material in addition to allowing for further design work within the floor.

Additionally, the electric grinding machine and mechanization of the production process cut down on costs and installation time, making terrazzo an affordable flooring option.

Art Deco and Moderne styles from the 1920s to 1940s favored terrazzo with the dividers allowing for straight or curved lines that increased the decorative potential.

[6] Archaeologists have adopted the term terrazzo to describe the floors of early Neolithic buildings (PPNA and PPNB, ca.

[citation needed] In the early Neolithic settlement of Çayönü in eastern Turkey about 90 m2 (970 sq ft) of terrazzo floors have been uncovered.

Terrazzo artisans create walls, floors, patios, and panels by exposing marble chips and other fine aggregates on the surface of finished concrete or epoxy-resin.

First, cement masons or terrazzo workers build a solid, level concrete foundation that is 3 to 4 inches (76 to 102 mm) deep.

For the final layer, terrazzo workers blend and place into each of the panels a fine marble chip mixture that may be color-pigmented.

While the mixture is still wet, workers toss additional marble chips of various colors into each panel and roll a weighted roller (100–125 pounds (45–57 kg)) over the entire surface.

Slight depressions left by the grinding are filled with a matching grout material and hand-troweled for a smooth, uniform surface; it is then cleaned, polished, and sealed.