Floor Care · Guide
Under a lot of yellowed, waxed, tired-looking floors in schools, courthouses, and old commercial buildings is terrazzo, a surface built to last a century. Restoring it almost always beats replacing it, and the transformation is dramatic. Here is how restoration works and how to think about whether it is worth it.
The result is the stone itself shining, no wax involved. How we deliver it is on the terrazzo service page.
| Restore | Replace | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Lower; work the existing slab | Much higher; demo plus new install |
| Downtime | Shorter | Long, disruptive |
| Character | Keeps original, often historic, terrazzo | New look, original lost |
| Lifespan after | Decades more from a proven floor | Decades, but starting over |
Because terrazzo is so durable, the slab is usually still sound under the wax. That is why restoration is the default recommendation and replacement is rare.
Terrazzo can be repaired, not just refinished. Cracks are cleaned and filled, and chips or holes are patched with matching material and blended into the polish, so repairs largely disappear. Uneven tiles or sections (lippage) are ground flat during restoration. Structural cracking, as opposed to cosmetic, should be evaluated by a structural professional before refinishing.
Traditional terrazzo uses a cement matrix; modern terrazzo often uses a thinner epoxy matrix. Both are restored by grinding and polishing, with the method tuned to the matrix and aggregate. Older buildings typically have cement terrazzo, exactly the kind that has been buried under wax for decades and responds dramatically to restoration.
Terrazzo restoration is priced per project, by the floor's condition, size, and how much grinding and repair it needs, so it is scoped on assessment rather than a blanket rate. The key economic point stands regardless: restoring a sound, century-capable floor almost always costs far less than replacing it. Afterward, maintenance is simple and wax-free, neutral-cleaner mopping or auto-scrubbing and periodic re-polishing, ideally on a maintenance program so it never slides back under buildup.
Related: terrazzo floor care, marble and stone polishing, dust control, and maintenance programs.
Have terrazzo hiding under old wax? Get a terrazzo assessment and see what is under there.
Almost always. Grinding, honing, and polishing remove decades of wax, stains, scratches, and etching and bring the original terrazzo back.
Old wax and coatings are stripped, then the surface is diamond-ground, honed, and polished, densified, and sealed, so the stone itself shines without wax.
Restoring is almost always far cheaper, because the durable slab is usually still sound under the wax and tearing it out for a new install is expensive and disruptive.
No. Modern terrazzo care is polishing and sealing, not waxing. Wax yellows and dulls it; if your terrazzo is waxed, it can be removed and the natural finish restored.
It depends on size and condition, since grinding and multiple polishing passes take time, but it is typically scheduled in sections to limit disruption.
Yes. Cracks are filled and chips patched with matching material and blended into the polish. Structural cracking should be assessed by a structural professional first.
Properly maintained, terrazzo can last the life of the building, which is why restoring it is usually a better investment than replacing it.
It is priced per project by condition, size, and the grinding and repair needed, so it is scoped on assessment. The constant is that it almost always beats replacement on cost.
Tell us your facility, floor types, and square footage. We'll scope the work and send a written quote. Not sure what you have? Send a photo and we'll tell you.