The situation has been repeated over and over again: Homeowners rip open the old carpet to find a beautiful terrazzo floor underneath and say, “Now what?” Your floor is likely to be dull, stained, and full of holes from those pesky carpet tacks. It may seem like a big job with a lot of headache, but terrazzo flooring restoration doesn’t have to be so painful. It’s a fairly simple process that just needs a little care and knowledge to back it up.

Terrazzo is a mixture made up of marble chips and concrete or epoxy. Knowing what your terrazzo floor is made of is the first step in determining the best course of action. This will determine a variety of factors, from what materials you should use to patch any holes or cracks you find, to what products are safe to use to clean your terrazzo floor.

This is an important point to mention first. There are hundreds of products on the market for cleaning terrazzo floors. But don’t trust that being on the shelf at your nearest Home Depot means the product is effective or right for your floor. There are many products that are not only inappropriate for certain types of terrazzo, but could also damage the floor. So be aware of which cleaners you choose to do your initial cleaning with, and consult a contractor if you have any questions or confusion regarding these chemicals.

In many cases, a good mop with warm water is enough to remove the dirt; then, after making any necessary repairs, you can polish the terrazzo. This will clean it without the use of chemical cleaners and is beneficial for many reasons. If you need to patch holes in your floor, a terrazzo technician will already have to sand the patch to match and level with the floor surface. Also, polishing terrazzo instead of using chemical cleaners is much safer for your family and the environment.

Terrazzo polishing involves grinding a thin layer into the surface of your floors. This removes any discolored or stained terrazzo from the surface and exposes a fresh, shiny coating. If you have any patches, you can be sure they will be even after you polish your terrazzo. The amount of glitter should also be completely even, and it will sparkle! Terrazzo restoration and polishing will give your floor a gorgeous shine. Do you want more good news? After polishing, your terrazzo floor will last a lifetime with proper maintenance.

Knowing the correct steps for proper maintenance is essential after terrazzo restoration. It’s beautiful now! It’s up to you to maintain that beauty and sophistication. This can be as easy as sweeping or dry-mopping the floor several times a week, applying a penetrating sealer to prevent staining, or having an annual professional cleaning. Your local area contractor is your number one resource for information, and he or she will help you determine a maintenance schedule that fits your particular floor. However, whichever way you go, sit back and enjoy your (well, sort of) new flat.