Expert Terrazzo Restoration Services in Los Angeles
Terrazzo Restoration by JK Marble Maintenance
Terrazzo is a composite material, poured in place or precast, which is used for floor and wall treatments. It is composed of marble, quartz, granite, glass, or other suitable chips. It is poured using a cementitious or polymeric binder (for chemical binding), forming a homogeneous mixture of chips, binders, and dust.
Metal strips often separate sections, or places where color or material changes in a pattern.
You can also sprinkle more chips on top of the mixture before it hardens.
The cured material is subsequently ground and polished to a high finish, or otherwise finished in such a manner as to result in a uniformly textured surface. “Terrazzo” is also frequently used to refer to any pattern that looks like the original terrazzo floors.
Contemporary varieties of terrazzo are made through a standardised process using epoxy instead of cement as a binder.
Use a pH-balanced cleaner to save terrazzo from harsh, acidic products that crack, scratch, or wear out old terrazzo, leaving behind an inhospitable surface when repairing or re-polishing.
Crack & Chip Repair: “Just because the terrazzo is damaged does not necessarily mean you should replace it.
Our expert artists’ hand touches every crack, chip, and blemish.
We apply high-strength epoxies in closely matched colors to your existing terrazzo aggregate and matrix.
We can make custom terrazzo patches for any larger areas of damage that match perfectly with the rest of the floor.
Our goal is to provide nearly invisible repairs, returning structural integrity and visual uniformity to your surface. Diamond Grinding:
Deeper scratches, extensive wear, and lippage (uneven tile edges) can be addressed with our more thorough diamond grinding process.
We gently grind off only the thinnest layer on the very top of your terrazzo using modern planetary grinders fitted with coarse-grit diamond pads.
This flattens surface ripples, producing a completely flat and even surface.
This is necessary for excessively worn floors and prepares the floor for the honing/polishing process, which will leave a clean and even surface.
Progressive Honing & Polishing:
“This is when you see the beauty of your terrazzo.
We are a multi-step honing and polishing system, finishing with the finest diamond compound.
Subsequent stages of polishing continue to flatten the surface, eliminating the grooves of the previous step.
Such a gradual process ensures that we can achieve your perfect level of shine, from a sophisticated, understated matte or satin finish to a fabulous, high-gloss, mirror finish.
We take great care in the process so that the bright colours and beautiful patterns of your terrazzo are allowed to shine through.
Penetrating Sealer Application: We also offer you a superior impregnating (penetrating) sealer to safeguard your freshly refinished investment.
These high-end sealers seep far into the terrazzo’s pores, as opposed to the surface-level topical sealants. It protects against spills and stains, and it also contains an additive that helps prevent dirt from being absorbed into your floor due to daily wear and tear.
Crucially, these sealers enable the terrazzo to ‘breathe’, which helps to avoid moisture problems and maintain the health and longevity of your lovely floor. Terrazzo Restoration
How to Make Terrazzo Floors Shine
With that in mind, there are three significant ways to shine your terrazzo floors. They are:
- Diamond polishing
- Polishing powder
- Recrystallization
Diamond Polishing Method
This method is one of the most popular ways to shine terrazzo flooring. It is highly preferred by most people who require terrazzo flooring renovation, thanks to its lower maintenance costs.
When you use the diamond polishing method to shine your terrazzo floors, you can be assured that they will remain shiny for a minimum of eight years, provided you conduct regular maintenance. The process begins with a planetary stone grinder.
Experts recommend using coarse-grit diamond abrasives to grind your terrazzo floors.
This can help you eradicate any unwanted scuff marks and scratches. Before starting the grinding process, ensure you have medium and fine-grit diamond bits.
The coarse bit is used first, followed by the medium bit, and then the fine diamond bit, once each bit has been able to shine the terrazzo flooring.
This process ensures you get a visually appealing result that will last a long time.
Using Polishing Powder
You can also use polishing powder to buff and polish your terrazzo floors. The powder is known for improving the glossy appearance of the terrazzo tiles.
If you choose to use this method to make the terrazzo floor shine, then the following tips can help:
- Select only a pH-neutral polishing power on your terrazzo floors. You can find this polishing powder at offline and online stores selling flooring renovation tools and equipment. Alternatively, you could also rent a buffing machine from your local flooring equipment merchants.
- Only use soft polishing pads on your buffing machine. To reinforce this point, use pads with a light shade only, as using darker ones could result in staining your terrazzo flooring.
- Use just a tiny amount of polishing powder at a time. Buff an area at a time till the powder is completely absorbed before moving on. Repeat this process on the entire floor.
- Clean the residual polishing powder using a wet mop. Once you have completed the buffing process, any remaining polishing powder should be wiped away using a damp mop. Let the floor dry completely before buffing it again. The waiting period and the second buffing can help you achieve a shiny finish that is visually striking.
Recrystallization Method
This process is a widely used method to make terrazzo floors shine. This process involves using the following:
- Grinding machine
- Steel wool pad
- Acid solution
After applying a small amount of the acid solution to the terrazzo flooring, use the polishing machine with a steel wool pad attached to spread the solution evenly over the surface.
When spread over the terrazzo floor, the acid solution provides a glossy appearance. The shiny appearance appears after crystallization due to the formation of a new layer of fluorosilicate calcium on the floor.
What Our Clients Say
"Ron was a pro and provided his concrete polishing services at a third of the cost of all the large companies. He and his associate were professional and created a work of art in my garage."
"JK marble brought life back to my marble kitchen island. Luis did a great job prepping and the results exceeded my expectations."
"We asked Ron to come over and give us an estimate on our terrible looking travertine tile. His team was professional, on time, and the results were amazing."