HISTORIC SOLUTION TO MODERN ISSUES
As sustainability continues to affect specification choices, more developments are turning to terrazzo flooring. Martin Wroe of Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings discusses.
glossy marble detail it met the requirements of the £6m development in Greenwich.
This project highlights the key benefits of a terrazzo flooring system, benefits which are well understood but perhaps not specified as often as they should be.
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Terrazzo is produced from processed resin binders, pigments and fillers, and more than 50% from recycled materials such as glass, or leftover granite or marble chips from stone processing plants. The aggregate itself often comes from local sources, reducing the carbon footprint of a build, whereas other traditional flooring systems may use imported stone or other materials.
Terrazzo flooring is a composite – a mix of resin with aggregates which give the product such variety in its design. Intended to be a durable, hardwearing and highly decorative flooring solution, the resin is mixed with coloured marble, granite chips or other approved aggregates. During production, the mix is ground and polished to reveal the pattern of the aggregates which contrasts with the coloured epoxy.
As well as being aesthetically pleasing, terrazzo flooring is durable, wear-resistant, stain resistant and designed to be easily cleaned – the flooring offers a seamless finish, easy to clean and with limited numbers of joints.
Such a system is ideal for use in areas and facilities with high foot traffic, such as airports, stadiums, schools and hospitals. Due to the unique aesthetic finish of these systems, terrazzo is often used in high-profile developments.
A SEAMLESS RESULT Sherwin-Williams, for instance, supplied more than 1,000m2 metres of epoxy terrazzo to the Greenwich Visitor Centre at the Old Royal Naval College. The project required a fresh and modern floorcovering which would be durable enough to withstand the daily footfall it would receive.
The solution was RS Terrazzo, a four-part component, heavy duty epoxy system containing decorative aggregates and stones. In a method common to this system, the terrazzo was laid at 10mm thick, ground and polished down to 8mm and finished with a clear surface seal.
Once installed, the product was a seamless floorcovering free from joints (apart from any movement joints) and with its bespoke Stirling Grey base, with black, grey and white
20 | SCREEDS & RESINS
It can be the higher initial cost of installing a terrazzo flooring system which may cause a less expensive system to be preferred. However, this can be a false economy.
Data from the US body the National Terrazzo & Mosaic Association (NTMA), demonstrate these savings in a stark light.
For instance, the average installed cost per square foot for vinyl sheets was found to be £29 approx ($2.98 per sq ft), while the cost per meter for epoxy terrazzo was £140 ($14 per sq ft), almost five times more.
There are stark differences in the life expectancy of terrazzo flooring versus other systems – 20 to 25 years is common, with simple re-polishing or re-sealing – using water-based products – perhaps after ten years.
Its green credentials are also impressive. Thin set epoxy conforms to the EU’s solvents Emissions Directive which will add to the green credentials of the systems.
As the finished flooring is non-porous, it means moisture and radon gas cannot penetrate, promoting healthy indoor air quality.
The installation process itself also means there is very little waste – the terrazzo prepared for installation can be measured accurately and as much or as little as is required can then be prepared.
Terrazzo floors are crucial when considering green credentials such as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
As architects and specifiers demand longer-lasting products with ever-greater green credentials, terrazzo is clearly an ideal solution.
protectiveemea.sherwin-williams.com www.tomorrowscontractfloors.com
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