Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Poured terrazzo is mixed and installed on site by the installer. Our standard range samples are for precast material and for in situ terrazzo the recipe is almost the same, and the installer should prepare a sample area for approval to verify the colour and sign off. However, a lot of our clients benefit from the use of precast material these days, taking into consideration that the in situ option is dusty and difficult to manage on site. The precast material is easier and faster to install and also more consistent in its appearance than the material poured on site.

Near seamless finish can be achieved with precast terrazzo tiles in a few ways, by matching the grout colour with the base colour of the terrazzo tile, grinding the tiles after installation or buttjoin installing the tiles.

Yes. British standard BS 5385-5:2009 in relation to electrical underfloor heating systems use with terrazzo tiles, states that where electric underfloor heating is considered for use, the manufacturer of the system should confirm that the system is suitable for use with stone or terrazzo floors.

Yes. Wet underfloor heating system can be used. It is important that the system is commissioned correctly, below is an example: after installation you should leave the system switched off for 2 weeks, you then increase the temperature by 2 C° per day until you reach the desired temperature, say 22 C° and then reduce it by 2 C° per day and then leave it off for a further two weeks, before using every day.

Yes, terrazzo tiles can be used externally.

The standard range terrazzo is produced in large blocks, which are then cut into slabs, size depending on the range (MSCA and MSRA 305x124cm, MSCA SB 243x142cm, MSRM 183x123cm) from which tiles are cut in standard tile sizes or cut to size depending on the project.
Full size slabs need to be calibrated and careful consideration should be given to the programme, buildability and practicality on site if oversized slabs are being considered.

The terrazzo can be cut in slabs in different thicknesses depending on the project requirements.
For cement based terrazzo internal flooring 20mm thickness up to 70x70cm in size and 30mm thick for larger units. For external areas the thickness should be increased.
Resin terrazzo tiles for flooring and wall cladding are 12mm thick up to 60x60cm in size and 20mm thick for larger units.
For wall cladding cut to size panels, the thickness can be 20mm in any size within the slab dimensions.

Depending on the substrate and height of the wall that is being cladded, the tiles can be installed to walls with adhesive only or if the tiles are installed above head height, mechanical fixings may be required.

Depending on the substrate the terrazzo is being installed on (ply, cement board, etc.), the installer can recommend a method they are familiar with, it can be tile adhesive or silicone based adhesive or even mechanical fixings.

We can offer support with the installation of our terrazzo. If you don’t have an approved installer, we have teams of approved installers that are familiar with our material for both precast terrazzo tiles and in situ terrazzo that we can organise installation with.
We recommend that the installation is performed by bona fide installers.

Movement joints should be calculated by the project engineer. From our experience with high traffic areas, movement joints are usually required every 36sqm or 6m x 6m squares, depending on the actual site conditions.

The recommended grout line is 3mm according to British Standard, however some of our clients choose to install the tiles butjoined so achieve near seamless finish, especially with polishing on site. Careful considerations should be taken with regards to the correct substrate.

No. The tiles come factory finished in the finish required, ready to be installed. However if required, the floor can be polished post installation.

No. The cement based terrazzo is treated at the production facility with 1 coar for water and stain resistance. If there is a concern of excessive staining it’s highly recommended to seal the material further post installation.
For this purpose we recommend FILA Solutions, who have tested all of our materials. FILA Solutions products can be purchased through us.

Slip resistance is achieved by altering the surface of the material. The terrazzo can achieve PTV>25, PTV>36 or PTV>40 depending on the finish. Most commercial areas are managed floors where a PTV>25 would be sufficient.

Daily clean for worktops – Fila Brio
Every 2-4 weeks use Fila Refresh
(Both products are easy to use spray applicator)
Also, Fila Formula Marmo can be used to remove limescale and for periodic deep cleaning to remove stubborn stains.
Finally, Fila SR95 to remove any organic stain that’s hard to remove – wine, tea, coffee etc.

Yes. Terrazzo can be used with raised floors. It’s best to contact InOpera Group for advise on the correct build up.

The maximum tolerances for terrazzo tiles is ±2mm in size and thickness, but the factories are very precise and normally the tolerance is within 1mm.

Our advice is not to be too hung up on geology, but simply make sure the material is tested before it is tendered to be suitable for the application and advice your client that this is part of the cost of tendering correctly the project in question.