If you’ve ever walked across a sunlit hotel lobby floor, run your hand along a custom kitchen countertop, or stared at an eye-catching outdoor patio slab dotted with tiny, colourful fragments of stone, chances are you were looking at terrazzo. As someone who’s been in the terrazzo supply business for over a decade, I get asked all the time: “What even is terrazzo, and how is it made?” It’s not just a random mix of broken stone and glue, that’s for sure. The process is equal parts art and precision, rooted in centuries of craft, and every step matters to get that smooth, durable, eye-catching finish my customers rely on. Terrazzo
Let me walk you through the manufacturing process I use at our facility, from raw material selection to the final polished product. First, it’s important to set the stage: terrazzo isn’t a new trend. Ancient Mesopotamians mixed crushed limestone and clay to create decorative floors, and the ancient Romans refined the idea, using marble chips set in mortar for grand public spaces. But modern terrazzo, the kind we produce today, evolved in 1920s Italy, where artisans started combining waste marble scraps from quarries to cut down on costs—turning construction debris into something beautiful. That’s still the core of what we do now: we source high-quality raw materials, repurpose stone waste, and turn it into long-lasting surfaces for homes, commercial buildings, and outdoor spaces.
The first step in making terrazzo is raw material sourcing and preparation, and this is where the quality of your final product is set. I never cut corners here. First, we select the aggregate—those tiny chips of stone that give terrazzo its signature speckled look. Aggregate can be marble, granite, quartz, glass, even recycled materials like old wine bottles or ceramic scraps, depending on what the customer wants. For most of our projects, we use natural stone aggregates because they have a timeless, warm finish. We get these from quarries across the country, but we also source locally when we can, because it reduces our carbon footprint and supports other small businesses.
Once the aggregate is delivered, we sort it by size. Aggregate sizes usually range from 1mm (fine, like sand) to 20mm (large, chunky chips), and the mix of sizes is what creates terrazzo’s depth. Finer chips fill the gaps between larger ones, making the final surface denser and less likely to crack. I always tell my team that the right mix of aggregate sizes is like a well-made cake: if the flour is too lumpy and the chunks are too big, it won’t bake right. We also clean the aggregate thoroughly, because any dirt, dust, or leftover quarry residue will ruin the bond between the chips and the cement or resin we use later. We wash it in large rotating drums with filtered water, then let it dry completely in covered bins—moisture is the enemy here, because it will weaken the mix.
Next, we select the binder. There are two main types of binders used in modern terrazzo: cement-based and epoxy (resin-based). Cement-based terrazzo is more traditional, durable, and affordable, which is perfect for large commercial floors like office buildings or shopping malls. Epoxy terrazzo, on the other hand, is seamless, stain-resistant, and can be tinted to almost any colour, so it’s popular for kitchen countertops, high-end retail spaces, and outdoor areas where water resistance is key. We let our customers choose the binder based on their project’s needs, so we stock both types.
For cement-based mixes, we use Portland cement, mixed with water, and sometimes additives to improve strength, durability, and workability. For epoxy mixes, we combine a resin base with a hardener, following a strict ratio to ensure it cures correctly. The ratio is non-negotiable—too much hardener and the mix will be brittle, too little and it will stay soft and never fully cure. I’ve seen too many bad terrazzo jobs from teams that skip the right ratio, so we measure every part of the binder with digital scales, not just guesswork.
Now comes the fun part: blending and pouring the mix. This is where the artistry comes in. Once the aggregate and binder are ready, we mix them in large industrial mixers. For custom projects, like a client wanting a specific colour palette, we add pigments at this stage. Our mixers are set to a low speed to avoid breaking the aggregate chips—if we mix too fast, the chunks will shatter, and we’ll lose the varied texture customers love.
After blending, we pour the mix into moulds. Moulds are usually made of metal or fibreglass, depending on how big the terrazzo slab is. For custom countertops, we use smaller moulds, while for large floor panels, we use bigger, reinforced ones. We also add dividers at this step if the customer wants a pattern, like stripes or geometric shapes. Traditionally, artisans used metal strips called “dividers” to create these patterns, and that’s still a common practice—dividers not only add design, but they also help control cracking as the terrazzo cures.
Once the mix is poured into the moulds, we vibrate them to remove air bubbles. This is a critical step I never rush. Air bubbles trapped in the mix will leave tiny holes on the final surface, which can collect dirt, get stained, or even lead to structural weakness over time. We use large vibrator tables that shake the moulds gently for 5 to 10 minutes—long enough for all the air to rise to the surface and escape, but not so long that the aggregate chips sink to the bottom. After vibrating, we smooth the top of the terrazzo mix with a long, flat tool, making sure the surface is level and even.
Now the curing process begins. Curing is how the terrazzo hardens and gains its strength. For cement-based terrazzo, we cover the moulds with plastic sheeting to keep the moisture in, and leave them to cure for 7 to 14 days, depending on the thickness of the slab. Thicker slabs need more time to cure evenly. For epoxy terrazzo, curing is much faster—usually 24 to 48 hours, because epoxy hardens chemically, not through water evaporation. During curing, the temperature and humidity in our facility are carefully controlled. If it’s too cold, the mix won’t harden properly; too hot, and it will cure too fast, leading to cracks. I check the curing area every single day, because even a small change in temperature can ruin a batch. I’ve had a few batches go wrong over the years, and every time it’s been because of a mistake in the curing environment—so I take that part very seriously.
Once the terrazzo is fully cured, it’s time to demould and grind. Demoulding means pulling the slab out of the mould. This has to be done carefully—if we yank the slab out, it can chip or break, especially thinner ones. We use small hydraulic jacks to gently lift the edges of the mould, then slide the slab out onto a workbench. After demoulding, the raw terrazzo is rough, with uneven surfaces and exposed aggregate that’s not smooth at all. That’s why the grinding step is so important.
We grind the terrazzo with industrial diamond grinders, starting with coarse grits (around 30 grit) to smooth out the surface and level any high spots, then moving to finer grits (100, 200, 400, up to 3000 grit) to get that ultra-smooth, glossy finish. Each grit level requires multiple passes, and we clean the slab with a high-pressure water jet between each pass to remove the grinding dust. For large commercial slabs, we use automated grinders, but for custom small projects, like countertops, we hand-grind some parts to get a perfectly even edge.
After grinding comes polishing and sealing. Polishing the terrazzo brings out the colours of the aggregate and makes the surface reflective. For cement-based terrazzo, we often use a chemical polish that reacts with the cement to create a hard, glossy surface that’s scratch-resistant. For epoxy terrazzo, polishing is a bit simpler—we just use a fine-grit pad and a polishing compound to bring up the shine. Once polished, we seal the terrazzo to protect it from stains, water, and everyday wear and tear. The sealer penetrates the surface of the terrazzo, forming a barrier that keeps spills from soaking into the gaps between the aggregate and binder. For high-traffic areas, like shopping malls, we use a heavy-duty sealer that lasts 5 to 10 years, while for residential countertops, we use a more natural-looking sealer that doesn’t yellow over time.
Wait, I should mention a type of terrazzo we do called “monolithic” terrazzo, which is poured right on site, not in moulds in our facility. That’s a bit different from precast terrazzo, which we make in slabs. On-site monolithic terrazzo is popular for large floors, like hotel lobbies, because it’s seamless, no grout lines, so it looks like one big, continuous surface. The process for monolithic terrazzo is similar, but we have to prepare the substrate first—usually a concrete slab or a metal mesh base—then pour the mix directly onto it, vibrate it, cure it, and grind it on site. It’s trickier because we have to make sure the surface is level across thousands of square feet, but the end result is stunning.
Now, you might be wondering: how long does all this take? From start to finish, a standard precast terrazzo slab takes 3 to 4 weeks to make, including curing and polishing. Custom projects with unique patterns or recycled materials can take 6 to 8 weeks. It’s not a fast process, but that’s part of why terrazzo is worth it—unlike laminate or tile, it’s a permanent surface that lasts for decades, even centuries, with proper care.
Over the years, I’ve seen terrazzo go through phases: it was super popular in the 1950s and 60s, then fell out of favour in the 90s and 2000s because people thought it was old-fashioned, and now it’s back bigger than ever. Why? Because customers are looking for sustainable, durable surfaces that have character. Terrazzo is perfect for that—we use up to 90% recycled aggregate in many of our mixes, from marble scraps to glass bottles, so it’s a green choice. It’s also way more durable than tile or hardwood, resisting scratches, stains, and impacts. I had a customer last year who installed terrazzo in a busy café, and after two years of daily foot traffic, it looked almost the same as the day we finished. That’s the kind of quality I stand behind.
As a terrazzo supplier, I don’t just sell slabs or finished surfaces—I work with clients from the initial design, helping them pick aggregate sizes, colours, and binders that fit their budget and project needs. I’ve had architects come to me with a sketch of a custom pattern for a luxury apartment building, and homeowners come to me with a photo of a terrazzo floor they saw on vacation, wanting to replicate it. No job is too big or too small, whether it’s a 10-square-foot kitchen countertop or a 10,000-square-foot retail floor.
If you’re thinking about using terrazzo for your next project, or just have questions about the process, I’d be happy to talk through your needs. The best part of my job is seeing a project come to life—from the raw stone chips to the beautiful finished surface that people get to enjoy for years. Don’t hesitate to reach out to start a conversation about your terrazzo needs.
Blue Marble References
- Terrazzo Manufacturers Association. (2022). Modern Terrazzo Manufacturing Standards. TMA Publications.
- Smith, J. (2019). The History and Craft of Terrazzo. Journal of Architectural Materials, 45(2), 112-128.
- European Terrazzo Association. (2021). Sustainable Practices in Terrazzo Production. ETA Technical Report.
- Rossi, L. (2018). Cement vs Epoxy Terrazzo: Performance and Application Guide. Construction Materials Quarterly, 31(4), 56-62.
Xiamen Yigong Import and Export Co., Ltd.
As one of the most professional terrazzo suppliers in China, we also support customized service. With abundant experience, we warmly welcome you to buy high quality terrazzo for sale here from our factory. For price consultation, contact us.
Address: No.850-2 Xingxi Road, Houxi Town, Jimei District, Xiamen
E-mail: ella@xmyigong.com
WebSite: https://www.yigongstone.com/
