FAQ Terrazzo
Terrazzo is a floor covering made of binder and aggregate, usually without joints, which has been produced since ancient times: Roman villas were decorated with it, and since the Middle Ages it has been particularly popular in private buildings in Venice.
The finished VIA terrazzo mixture consists of sand, lime and aggregate as well as the VIA binder.
The VIA Terrazzo comes ready-mixed, in the desired stone mixture, in a 25 kg VIA bucket to the construction site. It is mixed with water on site and then applied directly and evenly, trowel by trowel, to the prepared substrate. Avoid direct sunlight and draughts during installation. Coarse sanding can be carried out just one day later. See also the Video.
A bucket of 25 kg of terrazzo mix will cover approximately 1 m2 at a thickness of 1 cm. During the grinding process, approximately 3 mm will be removed, giving a final thickness of approximately 0.7 cm. This example applies to all terrazzo mixes with a grain size of 6-8 mm. A bucket costs 84.00 euros (net). In addition there is the cost of the processor and the hire of the grinding machine.
The application of VIA Terrazzo is practical and quick.
- Mix the ready mix from the bucket with water.
- Apply by the trowel to the load-bearing substrate
- Grind
- Impregnate
- Finished
No. The dried VIA Terrazzo is dry sanded.
For further details see Schleifleitfaden.
Yes. For further details see Schleifleitfaden.
After the terrazzo compound has dried completely - usually after one day - the rough sanding can take place. Depending on the desired slip classification, the medium and fine sanding is then carried out before impregnation. In total, between 3-4 mm are sanded.
Cavities are hollow spaces inside the material or dents on the surface that occur, for example, during the manufacturing process due to heat shrinkage in a hardening component. After rough pre-sanding, small cavities (hollow spaces) may appear due to air bubbles in the terrazzo mass. After hardening, cavities in the terrazzo are filled with a filler compound made from VIA pore filler and sanding dust and then sanded smooth. The VIA filler compound is applied with a jointing board before fine sanding.
Pores and cavities ≤ 2 mm in diameter are usually unavoidable and not subject to complaint.
a) Sanding grooves and pores visible from a normal viewing height (= 2.0 m) are permissible.
b) Pores and cavities ≥ 2 mm are not permissible after fine sanding.
Pores that have been filled with pore filler during the manufacturing process may reflect light differently than the stone aggregates. These optical differences are typical for the material, are due to technical reasons and do not constitute grounds for complaint.
VIA Terrazzo is not designed for outdoor use.
Yes. The requirements for the substrate must be observed.
The high stone density and the special selection of stone chippings ensure hard-wearing surfaces.
Terrazzo floors are becoming increasingly popular in modern kitchen areas. Thanks to the impregnation, which offers enormous protection against grease and stains, nothing stands in the way of their use in kitchens. However, one thing should be kept in mind: Citric acid, red wines or acidic juices should not stay on the surface for too long, otherwise damage can occur. If you wipe away small mishaps immediately, nothing will happen to the floor.
Terrazzo floors are extremely easy to maintain. Ease of maintenance is usually one of the main reasons for choosing a terrazzo floor. However, it is important to ensure that the correct cleaning products are used. Traditionally, soft liquid soap is used for cleaning.
On the VIA website, www.viamaterial.de, under the Service tab, you will find terrazzo installers who have already attended a VIA training course. If you do not find what you are looking for, please give us a call. It is also always possible to send your screed layer to us for training.
Terrazzo tiles at VIA are available in 2 different grain sizes. Terrazzo tiles with 3mm grit and terrazzo tiles with 6-8mm grit. The tiles have the dimensions 20x20cm. They are laid in the same way as the VIA cement mosaic tiles. The different patterns can be combined very well.
There is no general answer to this question. In general, however, it can be said that terrazzo is more suitable for large projects. This is mainly due to the fact that the rental of the grinding equipment has a positive effect on the size of the project. It is also possible to work with terrazzo using terrazzo tiles. This is often used when you want to give the seamless floor a design edge and make it look like a carpet.
In principle, historic terrazzo floors can be refurbished or repaired. From a technical point of view, this is possible, but the repair will not be completely invisible. This is because neither the same stone mixture of the historic floor is available, nor can the patina that has grown over the decades be achieved during the repair.
It is generally possible to carry out repairs using VIA Terrazzo.
The mixture T03962 is a specially developed VIA Terrazzo blend inspired by traditional historical terrazzo floors. It is often the perfect choice for the professional repair or extension of existing historic buildings and listed properties. Whether for minor repairs or large-scale additions – the VIA Terrazzo mixture is highly versatile and ensures a harmonious overall appearance that blends seamlessly with the existing surface. This special blend is available starting from just one bucket and can be tailored to your specific project. Upon request, you may also add colored aggregates from the VIA range to the mixture to more accurately replicate specific historical references or to create unique visual accents. Please contact us for more details.
Alternatively, you can browse the VIA terrazzo range to see if there is a mixture that closely resembles your existing floor.
We recommend ordering a terrazzo sample box with up to 3 blends to compare the VIA Terrazzo with your existing floor.
Once a suitable blend has been identified, we recommend getting in touch with us directly. In each case, the correct application method needs to be clarified, particularly with regard to the material properties. Historic floors are usually cement-bound, while VIA Terrazzo is a purely mineral-based product.
We look forward to your call at: +49 6743 93708-0
