Carolina Park Elementary School is a new construction project involving the installation of an elaborate terrazzo design. Doyle Dickerson Terrazzo installed the terrazzo floor, which illustrates images of a tree with acorns hanging from the branches. The floor is an example of the design possibilities of epoxy terrazzo. Today schools consider epoxy terrazzo not only for its design options but also for its low maintenance and sustainable features. Schools can include their logos as part of the terrazzo design, or create an artistic masterpiece. We’ll take you step-by-step (with pictures) on how to install a terrazzo design similar to the one seen at Carolina Park Elementary School.

Surface Preparation

When installing a terrazzo design, the first step is surface preparation. Installers will bring in materials to the job site and begin work. Surface preparation is important in any terrazzo installation. In this process, the installers will look for any rising issues in the floor. Common issues to look out for is high moisture levels or uneven surfaces.

Divider Strips

Floor Layout

In this photo, the installers have designated which part of the building they will install the epoxy terrazzo design. Next, the installers added a flexible membrane, which is an epoxy system designed to prevent cracks from forming once the floor is completed.  Following the installation of the flexible membrane and moisture mitigation system, the installers will prepare a strip layout of the terrazzo design.  Using a waterjet, our drafting department cuts out aluminum strips according to the drawing specifications. Doyle Dickerson Terrazzo ships the strips to the job site where the installers will place each strip on the floor to develop a pattern or design. Divider strips act as a control joint but also serve to detect a color change in a terrazzo design.

Terrazzo Installation

Mixing Terrazzo Elements

Now with the floor layout in place, the terrazzo can begin adding epoxy terrazzo onto the floor. Before the pouring process, the installers will mix together a Part A resin and a Part B hardener, adding the necessary aggregates to create the terrazzo mix. For this terrazzo design at Carolina Parks Elementary School, a total of six colors are present. Soon enough, the installers pour the epoxy terrazzo matrix and spread one color resin inside the contour of the divider strip.

Creating a Terrazzo Design

After mixing and adding the correct resin color to the terrazzo design, the installers this rough surface depicting a tree sign. All they have to do now is to grind and polish the floor, creating a much smoother and attractive-looking surface. The installers must wait for the floor to cure before they begin the grinding process.

Terrazzo Design Layout Carolina Park Elementary School

The tree design takes up one space. In another room, the installer continues with the construction project by adding a second design, including a design layout displaying large leaves and a couple of acorns.

Filling in the terrazzo design with epoxy terrazzo mix

As you can see, the process is continued until the divider strips are barely visible after the terrazzo mix is poured onto the floor.

Terrazzo Floor after polished and sealed

Grouting

Before adding polish to the floor, the installers will look over the floor for any pinholes. If pinholes are present, an installer will remove these pinholes in a process known as grouting.  Once grouting is finished, an installer will add a nice shine to the floor with a polishing machine.

Completed Epoxy Terrazzo Floor

Sealer

To finish off the project, installers will add a water-based sealer to the terrazzo design. The sealer simply helps protects the floor from foreign matter in the long run. Depending on the sealer, sealers can add a level of light reflectivity, chemical resistance or slip resistance to the terrazzo floor.