Terrazzo flooring is a composite material poured in place or precast, consisting of chips of marble, glass, or other aggregate set into an epoxy or cement matrix, then ground and polished to a seamless finish. Terrazzo has a documented history spanning more than 2,000 years and a performance record to match.

This page is the North Central Terrazzo Association’s reference for architects, interior designers, and building owners evaluating terrazzo: what it is, how it performs, how to specify it, and where to find a qualified regional contractor.

What Is Terrazzo?

Terrazzo is a composite flooring and surfacing material composed of chips of marble, granite, glass, or other aggregate set into a binding matrix of epoxy resin or Portland cement, then cured, ground, and polished to a smooth, seamless surface. Its origins trace to ancient Rome, where workers used discarded marble fragments set in clay to surface floors and terraces — a practice refined by Venetian craftsmen in the 15th century and industrialized in the early 20th century with the introduction of electric grinding equipment.

Today, two primary systems are specified: epoxy terrazzo, a thin-set (nominally ¼″ to 3/8″) resin-based system prized for its design range and vibrant color saturation, and cement-based terrazzo, a thicker, more traditional system suited to exterior applications and heavy-traffic interiors.

• For a full breakdown of composition — matrix, aggregate, divider strips, and finish — see Defining Terrazzo.
• For a direct comparison of the two systems, see Epoxy or Cement: What’s the Difference?
• Watch the following “What is Terrazzo” playlist from the NCTA YouTube channel for more details.

What Design Possibilities Does Terrazzo Offer?

Few flooring materials offer the design range of terrazzo. Aggregate selection alone — marble, quartz, granite, recycled glass, mother of pearl, synthetic chips — produces a color palette wide enough to satisfy virtually any design intent, from neutral and monolithic to high-contrast custom patterns. Divider strips in brass, zinc, or aluminum allow designers to render logos, site maps, directional graphics, and freeform geometry directly in the floor surface, with no material substitution required.

• For an in-depth look at the aggregate options driving terrazzo’s color range, see Colors of Possibility.
• For design inspiration around geometric patterning, see Geometry in Our Floors.
• For the latest in design, see the 2025 NCTA award winners in the annual National Mosaic and Terrazzo Assn. Honor Awards for excellence in terrazzo flooring design and construction.

How Does Terrazzo Perform on Sustainability and LEED?

Terrazzo is one of the few flooring materials whose sustainability credentials are structural rather than additive. Longevity, low maintenance energy, and zero-VOC composition are inherent to the material, not the result of post-production certifications.

Both cement-based and epoxy terrazzo systems use zero-VOC materials. The cured floor exhibits little to no off-gassing over its service life, contributing to LEED v4 Indoor Environmental Quality credits for Low-Emitting Materials. On the materials side, terrazzo supports LEED v4 Materials & Resources credits through recycled content (recycled glass aggregate, pre- and post-consumer content) and regionally sourced materials.

• For the full breakdown of applicable LEED v4 credit categories, see Terrazzo & LEED.
• For more information and downloadable guides, see the National Mosaic and Terrazzo Association (NTMA) website page on Sustainability and LEED.
• For practical guidance on supporting LEED, see one of our most popular videos.

How Does Terrazzo Perform Over Time?

Terrazzo floors installed in the 1920s remain in active service in schools, government buildings, and transportation facilities across the country — a performance record no comparable flooring material can match. The material’s low lifecycle cost follows directly from this durability: terrazzo requires no replacement cycles, no adhesive re-bonding, and no grout remediation, and routine maintenance consists of damp mopping and periodic resealing. The higher upfront cost per square foot compared to vinyl or carpet is offset over a 40-year horizon, at which point terrazzo’s total cost of ownership is consistently lower than any periodically replaced alternative.

• For information and project case studies of terrazzo flooring built for the ages, see Longevity.
• For terrazzo flooring care, see Terrazzo Maintenance
• For a case study explaining why terrazzo’s longevity is a key consideration, see this video on the renovation of the Cathedral of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux:

What Do Architects Need to Know for Terrazzo Specifications?

NCTA members follow the specification standards established by the National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association (NTMA), the authoritative source for terrazzo technical data, system details, and installation requirements across all terrazzo types, including epoxy, sand cushion, bonded, monolithic, and rustic. Successful terrazzo projects depend on early coordination between the design team, general contractor, concrete contractor, and terrazzo contractor, particularly regarding substrate preparation and divider strip placement, which must align with the concrete’s structural joint pattern.

• For the complete system specifications, see Terrazzo Specifications.
• For design-phase coordination guidance, see 3 Tips for Project Success and Divider Strips: Form and Function.
• For a description of terrazzo aggregates and an infographic on the primary types of terrazzo flooring aggregates, see Know Your Terrazzo Aggregates.
• For a look behind the scenes of terrazzo installation, view this short video showing the intricate process of mixing, hand-troweling, and grinding.
• For a history of terrazzo and how architects have specified terrazzo over time, see our video interviews with four terrazzo masters and their work at McCormick Place.

Where Is Terrazzo Specified by Building Type?

Terrazzo performs across virtually every commercial building category, and its specifications — system type, chip size, divider strip configuration, surface finish — vary by occupancy and use. Below are the nine building types where NCTA members most frequently work.

• Education — Terrazzo’s seamless, non-porous surface resists the high-traffic, chemical, and microbial demands of K–12 and higher education facilities, while its design flexibility supports campus branding and wayfinding graphics.
• Healthcare — The absence of grout joints eliminates moisture traps and microbial harbors; combined with zero-VOC composition, terrazzo meets the stringent hygiene and indoor air quality requirements of clinical environments.
• Transportation — Airports, transit stations, and intermodal facilities require floors that can absorb extreme foot traffic across decades without replacement; terrazzo’s service life routinely exceeds the building’s first renovation cycle.
• Corporate — Custom aggregate blends and inlaid logos make terrazzo the preferred choice for corporate lobbies, entrance pavilions, and collaborative spaces where brand identity and durability must coexist.
• Government — Publicly funded buildings benefit directly from terrazzo’s low lifecycle cost; many original government building terrazzo floors remain in service after 60–80 years.
• Religious — Terrazzo’s capacity for intricate geometric patterns, custom color fields, and symbolic inlay work makes it the material of choice for sanctuaries and gathering spaces that warrant architectural permanence.
• Entertainment — Theaters, performing arts centers, and arenas require a floor that performs under variable loads and crowd volumes without degrading aesthetically; terrazzo does both.
• Retail — Brand-aligned floor designs, resilience under rolling and point loads, and ease of cleaning under food-service conditions make terrazzo a strong specification from flagship stores to food halls.
• Convention Centers / Arenas — Large-format terrazzo installations take full advantage of the material’s ability to accommodate complex patterns at scale, with no seams or transitions across expansive floor plates.

Find a Terrazzo Contractor

NCTA member contractors are regional terrazzo specialists operating across Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and surrounding Midwestern states, all meeting the proficiency and continuing education standards established by the NTMA. To identify qualified contractors in your project’s geography, visit Locate a Terrazzo Contractor; for guidance on evaluating candidates, see Selecting a Contractor.

Page maintained by the North Central Terrazzo Association (NCTA). For technical questions, contact info@ncterrazzo.com or call (312) 975-2574.