Terrazzo Flooring Cost and Guide 2023

While there are a lot of different ways you can cover the floor of your home, Terrazzo is one of the more unique options. This technique has been around for thousands of years and has made a bit of a comeback in residential and commercial settings. It also shares similarities to traditional concrete or stone flooring as it’s made to last and can be installed indoors or outdoors depending on your needs.

The cost of Terrazzo flooring is something we’re going to touch on in our guide, and it’s one of the first things consumers have to consider with this style of floor. Due to its unusual constructions and the array of finishing techniques, pricing varies wildly in comparison to other coatings or coverings of this nature.

What is Terrazzo Flooring?

Terrazzo could technically be classified as a composite type of flooring. It’s made by using chips from other materials like quartz, granite, marble, or glass which is then mixed with a binding agent and poured. Usually that’s concrete or an epoxy-based resin, both of which are incredibly strong.

That’s the traditional method of producing this type of flooring, and it’s been around since the 1920s, although the general style has been around far longer. From courthouses to hospitals, there’s a good chance you have walked across Terrazzo flooring without realizing what it was.

Terrazzo Flooring Pros and Cons

With any type of flooring, there are positives and negatives to keep in mind. That rule holds true for Terrazzo flooring as well, so here are a few things you will want to consider before deciding to install this type of flooring in your home.

Terrazzo Flooring Pros

Terrazzo Flooring Cons

​Terrazzo Floors Cost

The cost of Terrazzo flooring comes down to two things – material and labor. This isn’t the type of flooring you can easily install yourself, and it’s not even in the same class as epoxy floor systems or concrete paint. Below we’re going to discuss what goes into the cost of Terrazzo flooring as that’s something you’re unlikely to find on an invoice from a contractor.

Terrazzo Flooring Material Cost

The “chips” or aggregate used in this type of flooring play a large part in how much Terrazzo flooring costs. Glass or shards of pottery won’t be expensive, but large chunks of marble and mother of pearl aren’t exactly cheap.

The percentage of aggregate can make a difference as well, so cleaner flooring that isn’t as busy will be cheaper than a slab filled with colorful stones. If you want an intricate design, you will need to consider the cost of things like metal dividers and dyes, as well.

Thinset is part of the material cost along with epoxy, and anything else your Terrazzo installer adds to the mix. That could include sand if they use a sand-cushion to install the flooring, but it all comes down to your subfloor at the end of the day.

If you are going to install Terrazzo yourself, this list of materials will grow considerably, but that’s not a good idea unless you are experienced with pouring concrete or Terrazzo flooring in general.

Terrazzo Tile Cost

As mentioned, tiles are the easiest option and the only real choice if you want to handle Terrazzo flooring installation on your own. That said, you’ll need to find a company locally that sells precast Terrazzo tiles as shipping isn’t cheap due to the weight of these tiles.

In our research, we found there are only a handful of companies online that carry Terrazzo tiles, so to say the options are limited would be an understatement. Prices range from around $8.00 per square foot for fairly basic concrete-based tiles to over $30.00 per square foot for tiles with metal or ornamental inlays.

Terrazzo Flooring Installation Cost

Labor is the other half of the price, and where things can get expensive. Depending on where you live, you may have trouble finding someone with experience pouring this type of floor. That makes properly vetting any contractor or “specialist” you hire extremely important, and you also have to consider the method.

Sand-cushion systems feature a slab of concrete with a sand layer while the Thinset method uses epoxy in place of concrete. Monolithic is an option as well if you already have concrete flooring and want to turn it into a Terrazzo style floor. Think of it like a concrete veneer. Some contractors may be able to perform one method, but not another and the price varies by installation type as well.

We found that you can expect to pay around $7.00 to over $20.00 per square foot to have Terrazzo floors mixed and poured on-site. While that’s a wide range, the price can vary significantly from one region to the next and based on the factors we mentioned in our flooring material cost section.

That’s just the labor as well, as the cost of materials can raise that to between $30.00 to $80.00 per square foot. With tile installation, your average will be anywhere from $20.00 to $60.00 for materials and installation. If you are interested in finding a professional in your area that can tackle Terrazzo flooring, check out our quote tool.

FAQ

Q: Can you use Terrazzo in other areas of your home?

A: Yes. Terrazzo is often used as a countertop or sink base and can be poured into forms, so your options are endless. You could even make a Terrazzo chair although it would be extremely heavy and quite expensive.

Q: Are Terrazzo floors easy to repair?

A: For a professional it is, but it won’t be cheap. While these floors are very hard to damage, fixing cracks or chipped concrete and making it look good is not something most homeowners can do themselves.

Q: What should I use to clean Terrazzo floors?

A: That’s a question best answered by whoever installs your flooring, but we can tell you to keep it simple. Don’t use anything abrasive that could damage the finish or you could end up with dull spots on your floor.

Q: Can any type of Terrazzo flooring be used outdoors?

A: Sealing flooring is key when the elements are a concern, but only concrete Terrazzo flooring should be used outdoors. Epoxy-based systems can have issues with heat and UV rays, so only use those types of floors indoors.