Understand the Basic Care of Terrazzo Floor:

Terrazzo Floor

Traditional terrazzo flooring is made of cement and marble chips on the surface. It gives an amazing look to the floor along with unbeatable durability. The cement section is porous and instantly absorbs the minor stains. The better version and modern form of terrazzo flooring is made of synthetic resins. Synthetic resins like urethane and epoxy which act as binders in alternative to cement which don’t stain easily. While installation process, a penetrating sealer needs to be applied to new flooring. This sealer is important to seal all the minute cement pores. Occasionally, you need to reseal the surface to add life to it.

Terrazzo floor is made of marble chips as well as glass and other aggregates professionally embedded into the tinted cement. One of type of terrazzo flooring we come across today are actually similar to the 1700s. Then it was used in Italian homes, schools, offices, sidewalk and stores.

In fact, today terrazzo floor installation can be very costly. It must be professionally mixed and poured over the specially designed surface. further then it is levelled and thoroughly polished. This is the story and step of new floor installation but what about old ones. Traditional or old terrazzo flooring with good health condition is quoted as architectural gem. This is exactly the time where floor care becomes a need and hiring a floor care service provider an essential. One of the best advantages of terrazzo floor is its easy maintenance.

What’s the Need of Terrazzo Floor Maintenance?

Regular terrazzo floor cleaning and care can lead to lifelong healthy floor. Certain criteria of care and restoration of floor can add potential life to the surface.  You can easily get certain guidelines in market and on Google suggesting you tips and tricks for floor care. This floor is very easy to clean and maintain.  With few easy steps, you can directly reduce potential problems related to the surface. Regular care will even help to maintain the aesthetic value of the terrazzo floor for long time.

Understand Your Terrazzo Floor System:

There are three basic types of binders used to hold grip on marble chips or other used products in the formation of terrazzo floor. Originally, cement products were used, then polyacrylate modified cement. Now the most common product used today is epoxy resin.  All the terrazzo floor systems contain marble and other materials which have direct surface exposure. Marble chips have low porosity of the absorption. Others products used may have no or little porosity.

•                     Portland Cement Systems: 

The portion of terrazzo floor system which benefits from the basic protection is the Portland cement binder. Most of the sealers will even assist you in taking care of the marble chips and other used mass.

•                     Epoxy Resin Systems: 

The binder for epoxy resin systems is mainly non-porous. Floor sealers assist in adding protection to the chips and other products. This system generally enhances terrazzo floor aesthetics.

Although every system has same role of strong anchoring the marble chips, glasses and other aggerates used into the layering, maintenance steps are very common to all the terrazzo floor installations.

Things to consider in Terrazzo Floor Care:

 

Terrazzo Floor Care

When it comes to taking care of terrazzo floor, you need to be very particular about certain things. Proper selection of floor cleaning chemicals, products like mop and buffs plays a very crucial role. These minor factors directly affect the health of the floor. Few of the things you need to be careful about are:

•                     Terrazzo Floor Cleaning Chemicals

Clean complete surface as often as required to keep dirt, grime and sand off the clean terrazzo floors. You must know that soil directly acts as an abrasive and cause damages to the floor.

Always prefer to use only neutral liquid cleaners (those having pH balance 7 that are neither acidic nor alkaline). Use a commercial cleaner for best result made especially for the terrazzo. In fact, all-purpose household cleaners, detergents and wax removers contain usually alkalis, and must not be directly applied on terrazzo. For regular terrazzo floor cleaning, use one cup of mild or neutral cleaner properly mixed with three gallons of water. Then further, apply over the surface as per the instructions labelled on floor cleaner bottle.

•                     Mop and Buff:

Using a wet mop with proper neutral terrazzo floor cleaning solution. Permit the solution to settle over the surface for 10 to 15 minutes. After the solution is settled on surface, then carefully mop up the contaminant-filled solution. Regularly keep on changing the water in which you are rinsing the mop. This helps you to remove all dirt, grimes and soil from the upper surface of the terrazzo flooring. Always remember to keep the surface wet throughout the floor cleaning operation. Otherwise, the consequence might be pathetic. The dissolved soil and dirt will settle back onto the surface after drying. When the surface is completely dry, slowly buff it using an electric floor polishing machine. This buffing machine usage is optional else you can use normal scrubbers. Buffing process helps you to restore the natural shine and sheen on your floor.

Preparation of Terrazzo Floor Before Polishing:

terrazzo floor cleaning

With quality cleaning and polishing steps, however, terrazzo floor can develop an amazing shine. To preserve and protect the floors and reduce damage risk, select supplies mainly designed for cleaning terrazzo.

Step 1:

Clean the floor using damp mop to wash off all dirt before polishing. Prepare a mixture of PH-neutral terrazzo floor cleaner and water into a bucket as per the manufacturer's instructions. Gently apply the mixture to the surface using your clean mop.

Step 2:

Mop the surface with a clean, wet mop to remove the settled floor cleaner and dirt. Permit the floor to dry overnight after all cleaner is removed.

Step 3:

Apply a terrazzo sealer to the floor. Collect the sealer in a container, then apply it to the terrazzo floor using a soft bristle brush or roller. Further wipe off excess sealer. Again, allow the floor to air dry before heading.

Step 4:

Get a commercial buffer from nearby store. Add soft polishing pads to the buffer. Use white or any other light colour pads to avoid hard-to-remove stain.

Step 5:

Spread PH-neutral polishing powder over the terrazzo. Switch on the buffer machine and run it across the surface, professionally covering the complete surface. The floor polishing powder will build a slurry as it chemically works as its way onto the surface.

Step 6:

Clean the floor with damp mop and remove any residual powder. To gain ultimate shine, you can use buffer machine once again.

Conclusion:

To understand the more prospects of terrazzo flooring, stay connected to the Manmachine Solutions. We are here to care your floor. To get amazing treatment regarding floor, visit us at https://www.manmachinesolutions.com/.