The Terrazzo Trend

Flowcrete India has seen a rise in the popularity of its seamless resin terrazzo range Mondéco thanks to a growing interest in this material combined with the quality and cost-effective nature of its floors.

The history of terrazzo dates back over five hundred years, and whilst some sources suggest it can be traced back to the ancient mosaics of Egypt, its predecessors are said to be resourceful Venetian mosaic workers, who found a useful way to reuse marble remnants by incorporating them into other flooring systems.

Epoxy terrazzo is ideal for commercial, industrial and institutional facilities, especially where durability, longevity and minimal maintenance are crucial. This flooring solution is often used in areas where there are high traffic levels combined with the requirement for a decorative finish that is easy to clean and maintain.

Because epoxy terrazzo is chemical and stain resistant, the material is also ideal for the non-processing areas of industrial sites, for example the lobbies and offices of chemical plants and food production facilities. It's equally well suited for sanitary environments, such as hospitals and health care centres, because of its nonporous, joint-free surface.

Terrazzo is seen as an expensive choice by the end user due to the initial cost involved for both the product and installation. Terrazzo installation requires highly specialised and labour intensive techniques that only a limited number of contractors have the capabilities to undertake. The scarcity of skilled contractors and the installation hours required contribute to terrazzo’s high cost compared to other resin floor chemistries.

Terrazzo’s installation rates may be high, but its maintenance and repair costs are minimal. The product is highly durable for approximately 30-40 years and if the total lifecycle cost involved is taken into consideration then terrazzo is actually a very cheap option, as it can last for generations with no replacement or repair outlays.

Flowcrete has a local manufacturing base in India for its Mondéco range, meaning that it has an advantage in terms of price and availability over competitors, who need to import products from other countries. What a few local suppliers make up in slightly cheaper options, they lack in quality - whereas Flowcrete India delivers both the desired finish and durability expected from terrazzo.

In addition to its long-life cycle, terrazzo aggregates, binders and finished flooring systems can contribute to U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) accreditation, under the LEED-NC rating system, version 2.2. This is thanks to several of terrazzo’s key properties, including:

• Typically lasting the lifetime of the structure (MRcr1.3 Building Reuse Credit)
• Using recycled materials such as salvaged glass, stone or marble aggregates (MRcr4.1 and 4.2 Recycled Content Credit)
• Using local regional materials within a 500-mile radius of the project (MRcr5.1 and 5.2 Local Regional Materials Credit)
• Avoiding landfills thanks to salvaged aggregates (MRcr2.1 and 2.2 Construction Waste Management Credit).

Additionally, cement based terrazzo systems are inorganic binders containing no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which earns additional points (EQcr4.1 Indoor Emitting Materials Credit 4.1 or 4.2). Terrazzo can also potentially gain further points under the Innovation and Design category for innovative performance in Green Building categories not specifically addressed by LEED. Extensive use of terrazzo as a predominant floor material can potentially result in an installation with a Life Cycle Analysis that exceeds that of other floor materials.

Aside from being cost effective, long lasting and sustainable, terrazzo is often chosen thanks to its design flexibility. Flowcrete India’s Mondéco range can be used to create unique floor areas including texts, logos and straight, geometric, flowing or rounded designs. In commercial environments, colours or logos can be used to mirror company branding or add an atmosphere of luxury into a space.

The Mondéco range consists of a number of different systems, providing designers with a choice of aesthetics, styles and benefits. The decorative collection includes Mondéco Earth, a seamless, highly attractive solvent free finish incorporating granite and flint aggregates and Mondéco Crystal, which utilises recycled clear crystal glass aggregates to create a shimmering lustre.

The other systems available to architects and designers are Mondéco Exotic, Mondéco Mirrazzo and Mondéco Splash as well as the temperature resistant, steam cleanable polyurethane terrazzo finish Mondéco TZ.  

Explore the entire Mondéco range by clicking here or get in touch with Flowcrete India today.