Terazzo is a composite material made from mixed chips of marble, granite, quartz, glass, and other suitable materials in an concrete and polished to provide a smooth elegant finish. The result is stunning and adds a touch of premium luxury to many homes. Keeping it that way requires some maintenance, including regular sealing.
If your terrazzo pavers or tiles need some work, but you’re not sure where to start – we’ve got you sorted. As your stone cleaning, sealing and restoration experts, we’ve put together a complete guide with everything you need to know about sealing terrazzo.
Do terrazzo tiles need sealing?
Absolutely. Sealing terrazzo floors is vital to protect your investment. It also brings out the true beauty and colour, offering a more premium look than unsealed stone.
Sealing terrazzo enhances the appearance, offers maximum stain resistance by adding a protective sealer, and increases its longevity so you and your family can safely enjoy your sealed surface for years to come.
How often should I reseal terrazzo?
Over time, your sealer will wear off from foot traffic and regular cleaning. There are factors that may influence how quickly this will happen (like how heavily you use the area, surface exposure to the elements, the kind of sealer you used last time) but as a rule of thumb we recommend resealing terrazzo every three-five years.
Regular resealing is your best defence against environmental factors and constant use. If you notice your terrazzo is looking dull, yellowed (from aged existing sealer, or unsuitable cleaning products), or if there is an increase in staining; it’s time to reseal.
Choosing a suitable sealant
You can’t just use any sealer on terrazzo and expect it to perform well – let alone look good. Consider when choosing a sealant:
- Is this product designed for the surface I have? If it’s not designed for use with terrazzo, don’t grab it. At best, it may not work as well – at worst, you risk damaging your tile with an unsuitable product.
- Is this the best sealer for how I use my outdoor area? This is where the different finishes, and solvent vs. water-based sealers, come into play. For example, penetrating sealers can enhance slip resistance.
Mr Blastit uses high-quality penetrating sealers from Guard Industry for the majority of our terrazzo sealing jobs.
Related: What Sealer Should I Use?
How to seal terrazzo
We would advise you to get the professionals in from the start. Working with the experts means they have the best equipment and proven experience, which saves you time, stress and often stops you from wasting money on the wrong products.
If you would like to go the DIY route anyway, here’s how to do it.
1. Pre-sealing: Check your safety gear
You will be dealing with chemicals during the prep and sealing process, so you need to make sure you are wearing appropriate PPE. You should also make sure pets and children are kept well away from the area, particularly if you plan to use a solvent sealer.
2. Clean & prepare your terrazzo floor
Remove surface dirt and grime with a pH-neutral cleaner. If you have existing sealant on the floor, you will need to remove this first. You will need to remove all residues and wait for the surface to dry before moving on.
3. Apply the terrazzo sealer
Ensure you are using a high-quality sealer that is suitable and recommended for terrazzo. Keep in mind that penetrating sealers go deeper into the surface, while topical formulas form a layer that can easily flake off and make the surface slippery.
Apply the sealer evenly and make sure to cover the entire floor, including grout surfaces. Follow the instructions on your product carefully. If doing multiple layers, thin coats will be better than one thick coat.
4. Allow terrazzo sealer to dry
You’ll need to follow the manufacturer’s guide for drying time, but you should let the sealer dry completely before resuming use as normal. Once dry to touch, heavy use of the area should be avoided for at least 24 hours to ensure the sealer has fully set.
Maintaining your terrazzo flooring
By keeping up with regular maintenance, you may be able to extend the life of your flooring (or at least stop damage from spills, debris etc.) Unlike sealing, regular cleaning and maintenance of your tile is easily done with just a few materials that are easy to source.
You can use a broom to get any loose debris off your terrazzo, and follow this up with a pH-neutral cleaner for a deeper clean. Or, once the debris is gone, you can simply use a damp mop or cloth to clean your terrazzo. You should avoid:
- Anything acid-based
- Harsh alkaline products
- Coarse manual cleaners like scrubbing pads
- Wax products – some people will try to get shine back with these, but they can make the tiles slippery
You’ll also want to spot-clean any spills as soon as you can; particularly from acidic things like tomato sauce, wine, or fruit juices.
If you have furniture on your terrazzo floors, you should consider replacing the feet with rubber feet or using rugs under heavy items. This will help prevent them from scratching the floor as you move or use them. Similarly, you may find peace of mind in placing a rug in high traffic areas to help prevent scuffs.
Can you use vinegar to clean terrazzo?
You should never use vinegar, ammonia, or any all-purpose home cleaning products, to clean your terrazzo. This is because carbonates (e.g. marble, travertine, limestone and terrazzo) react to acidic cleaners (like vinegar) to create carbon dioxide, which shows on the surface of stone as etching.
What happens if you don’t seal terrazzo?
You will likely see your tiles start to degrade faster. In outdoor applications there’s a lot to protect your tiles from; weathering from UV, unwanted growth like lichen, moss or mould, and then regular use on top of that. This can lead to dullness, discolouration, staining, even chipping and cracking.
While terrazzo is generally considered weather-resistant, our harsh Perth conditions can eventually degrade even the most durable of stone without proper precautions like regular cleaning and sealing.
You chose this beautiful material for a reason – sealing terrazzo is the best way for you and your family can enjoy that beauty for longer.
What if your terrazzo needs extra TLC?
If your tile is damaged and needs fixing before it can be sealed, you likely need a terrazzo restoration service.
Mr Blastit’s stone restoration services have 3 levels to reflect the level of restoration you might need:
- Full restoration – resurfacing, cleaning out ingrained dirt, and polishing with optional honing and grinding to level edges and grout joins.
- Light restoration – removes shallow scratches, cleans deep dirt, and polishes to restore beauty.
- Maintenance cleaning – if you don’t have issues with scratches or uneven flooring, you may simply need a deep clean to make sure all the ingrained grime is gone before sealer is applied. This process bring your stone back to its original glory and allow the sealing product to really adhere to the stone.
Once the terrazzo has been restored and is completely clean, a penetrating sealer can be applied to increase durability and enhance the natural look.
Choosing professional services
When you’re tossing up whether to apply sealer yourself or call the professionals, ask yourself this:
- Are you willing to research and purchase all the necessary materials, including safety gear and pre-sealing cleaners?
- Does your surface need deep cleaning or restoration before a sealer can be properly applied?
- Will you be able to set aside the time to do this job yourself?
- If it doesn’t turn out well… are you willing to go through the process again to fix it?
There are lots of jobs around the house that are fine for DIY enthusiasts. However, when it comes to sealing terrazzo, it’s much easier and safer (for yourself and your family) to get the job done by the terrazzo cleaning and sealing experts.
Just like there’s plenty of DIY advice out there, there are plenty of operators to choose from when it comes to sealing stone surfaces in your home. Be picky! You need someone with the experience, expertise and the right gear to give you that premium end result.
Discover the Mr Blastit difference
Mr Blastit is a fully insured, family-owned and operated small business catering to clients across Perth metro. areas, plus Pinjarra and Mandurah. Our trained technicians have the thorough understanding, training and experience to get any terrazzo job done right, with minimal disruption to your schedule.
Sealing terrazzo doesn’t have to be a big hassle – you can trust Mr Blastit to provide highest quality services and a result you’ll love. Call 0419 350 332 or email us today for a free, no obligation quote.
