Terrazzo floor is beautiful, durable, and incredibly customizable. After installing your new flooring, though, it is important that it is maintained properly over time. Regularly sealing and polishing your floor will help it stay looking great for years to come. However, you’ll need to know a few things before you start to ensure that you’re not doing more harm than good.
Clean It First
Before you can polish the floor, you’ll need to clean it. If the floor is relatively clean, a dust mop might be all you need here. However, if there is heavier soiling, use a specially formulated terrazzo flooring cleaner with a pH between 7 and 10. Clean the floor thoroughly with a soft mop, and then dry it completely.
Reseal
The next step is to reseal the floor. Always seal your terrazzo floor after cleaning it to ensure that it has the protection necessary to last. Ideally, you’ll use a terrazzo-specific sealant, but you can use a sealer that’s designed for natural stone, as well.
Polish Type
One of the most important considerations here is that you use an actual terrazzo floor polish – a product specially formulated for this type of floor. Terrazzo is made from Portland cement, mixed with chips of marble and sometimes other materials (glass, for instance), to achieve its unique look. Therefore, you cannot use the same polishing compounds or tools that you would on a solid stone floor, such as marble.
Buffer Speed
You also need to ensure that you do not attempt to polish the floor at too high of a speed. Set your buffer on low, and take your time. Work the polishing compound into the floor slowly. After buffing, make sure to sweep up the dust the process creates. Use a dust mop to do this, not a wet mop.
What to Expect
Do not expect polishing to leave your terrazzo floor with a high gloss. This flooring material only takes a slight sheen. Excessive polishing will only damage your floor.
At Trend Terrazzo, we specialize in creating visually stunning, highly-durable terrazzo floors that stand out from those of the past. Our flooring is stain resistant, does not require sealant, and requires very little in the way of everyday maintenance and care. We invite you to call us today to learn more about our flooring products. Call us at 1-863-655-0164.
