Tile Spotlight: Classic Terrazzo Tiles
Classic terrazzo tiles offer a luxuriously rich and timeless aesthetic in the home, whether they are used as a decorative wall tile or as a hard wearing floor tile. These incredibly durable tiles offer a sustainable approach to tile design and manufacturing as they continue to be made using traditional methods of using up assorted pieces of natural stones or coloured glass, by-products of their respective manufacturing industries. Our authentic Terrazzo tile collection includes an impressive variety of dynamic colours as well as chip sizes to choose from, allowing you to create bold features in your home. We explore these luxurious tiles and look at how they can be used in your next project to add a sense of pattern and energy!
The Origin of Terrazzo Tiles
Terrazzo materials have been spotted throughout history, especially in Ancient Egyptian mosaics. The creation of modern terrazzo tiles however, can be traced back to about 500 years ago in Venice, Italy. Wanting to find ways of using up otherwise wasted chips of natural marble from sculptures and architecture, Artisans of the era would gather up these pieces and add them to a wet cement mixture to create large, durable tiles. These tiles would feature an assorted scattering of natural stones such as marble or granite, along with bits of coloured glass. These first modern terrazzo tiles would provide an incredibly strong and long lasting finish, being used as a floor or wall cladding solution throughout the city. Modern terrazzo tiles continue to be made in this fashion, once again offering a strong and long lasting material that is suitable for a variety of applications in both residential and commercial spaces. Classic terrazzo tiles are an incredibly versatile option, offering immense longevity and strength.
Our collection of classic terrazzo tiles can be used in many different applications throughout the home, including as a bathroom wall tile. These dynamic pattern tiles will complement a range of different design aesthetics, from classic to contemporary, as they pair exceptionally well with a variety of different materials and colours.
Using Classic Terrazzo Tiles in the Home
Terrazzo tiles offer an incredibly versatile list of uses throughout the home, being a hard wearing and durable tiling solution. These luxurious tiles offer an ideal option as an interior floor tile throughout a home’s hallways, living spaces and kitchen, creating a sophisticated and timeless aesthetic that can easily complement any number of interior design styles. Classic terrazzo tiles are often popular for use as a bathroom tile or as a kitchen tile, adding a dynamic pattern to kitchen floors and splashbacks while allowing for a rich and charming complement to the space’s colour palette. Classic terrazzo tiles are also often used in covered outdoor spaces as a floor tile, effortlessly complimenting a range of different architectural styles and heritage home designs.
Looking After Terrazzo
Classic terrazzo tiles are made of an assortment of natural stone chips or coloured glass pieces that have been embedded into a cement tile. Both natural stones and concrete are porous materials, meaning that they can absorb liquid or powder spills which in turn may lead to staining or discolouration. Sealing your terrazzo tiles is an all important step in maintaining your luxurious new tiles as this will help guard them against staining. Upon receipt of your delivery of your tile order, it is recommended that the tiles are cleaned and dried before being sealed. Once the sealant has dried off, you can then start to lay your tiles. Sealing the tiles before laying them will ensure they are not damaged by tile adhesives or glues during the installation process. After the tiles are laid, they should be sealed again to ensure a quality finish. Terrazzo tiles are usually then sealed every couple of years or so (depending on their wear) to maintain their quality finish. For more information on caring for terrazzo surfaces, see our Resources page.
Unlike other tiling solutions, terrazzo tiles can be professionally rejuvenated when needed if they do happen to become stained or marked. This process involves the topmost layer of the tile being sanded off to reveal the unblemished layers beneath, breathing new life into your tiled surface. This quality further enhances the product’s longevity, as the tiles can be brought back to life rather than needing replacement.
Classic terrazzo tiles can be used in many different applications throughout the home, offering an incredibly long lasting and sophisticated design solution for floors and walls. These incredibly durable tiles are available in an endless amount of luscious colours along with varying chip sizes, allowing you to mix and match when creating your own unique colour palette in the home. Our Melbourne tiles store houses an endless collection of designer tiles sourced from all around the world! Visit us or shop for tiles online here to get stated on your design journey!
