What is an Epoxy Terrazzo Floor?

This type of floor covering dates back to the 1500s making it one of the oldest varieties of decorative floor coverings. While traditional terrazzo is concrete based and creates a mosaic type look through the incorporation of pieces of marble, granite, and mortar, there are newer types on the market that offer added benefits to home and business owners. Pigment can be mixed to create a limitless selection of rich hues. Beautiful decorative aggregates can include marble chips, recycled glass, pearl, and synthetics. Borders, designs, and logos can also be achieved with this type of epoxy floor.

Where is an Epoxy Terrazzo Floor Used?

While this type of highly decorative flooring can be used in a large space in the home, for example a foyer, it is most commonly used in public areas where heavy traffic is an issue. Malls, universities, airports and sports complexes all require flooring that can handle a lot of foot traffic. They also want their floor to be eye-catching and appealing to guests making terrazzo an ideal choice. Because it is also very sanitary, hospitals and other health care institutions in addition to restaurants, often choose this type of floor covering. Pharmaceutical companies also use this kind of flooring system because of its ability to resist chemicals.

How is an Epoxy Terrazzo Floor Applied?

Epoxy terrazzo can be applied over a clean concrete surface and, while priming is optional, most manufacturers of this type of floor coating highly recommend it before the product is applied to insure a strong bond. An alternative would be to first install a membrane. It is then ready to receive the epoxy coating. First, the two components, the epoxy resin and the decorative aggregate, are mixed. Then, it can be applied to the concrete base. If you are creating a design where different colors of epoxy terrazzo are used, put down dividers. Dividers can also be used at the joints to prevent cracking. A trowel can be used to smooth the mixture and then it can dry overnight. After at least eighteen hours, the surface can be polished using abrasives of various grits until the desired amount of sheen is produced. Finally, a sealer can be applied. This will make the epoxy terrazzo floor resistant to chemical, oil, acid, solvent, grease, and water spills.

Special Features of Epoxy Terrazzo Floors

Because it is epoxy, terrazzo is very resilient, can stand up to heavy traffic. Newer versions of terrazzo resist chemical and other spills and have more strength and flexibility than the older concrete varieties. It is also lighter so it can be applied in large surface areas even in buildings with multiple stories. It cures quickly and is relatively easy to apply. You will not have to replace the terrazzo floor because of wear. There is no limit to the design possibilities with this type of floor thanks to flexible divider strips that can be formed by hand on the spot for simpler patterns or prepared in advance to create intricate shapes. With the ability to include recycled glass as a decorative aggregate, terrazzo floor is a “green” flooring option that is sure to please those who are environmentally conscious. It is also a very cost-effective flooring solution since it will last a lifetime.

Want to see what else is available? Check out all of the types of epoxy floors:

Epoxy Flaked Floor
Epoxy Anti-Static Floor
Self-dispersing Epoxy Floor
Self-dispersing Epoxy Floor with Quartz Sand
Self-leveling Epoxy Floor
Mortar Epoxy Floor
Graveled Epoxy Floor
Epoxy Terrazzo Floor

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Epoxy Terrazzo Floor

Most visitors to Epoxy Floors have no interest in and do not care about the technology of the product they are interested in buying. They simply want to find the best epoxy product to seal and protect their garage floor, workshop floor or wherever they may happen to want to apply this fantastic flooring solution.

But if you are interesting in reading more about the science of expoxy please read on because it really is quite a remarkable product with applications that go far beyond simple epoxy flooring for garages.

Technical Description of Epoxy

In chemistry terms, epoxy is a thermosetting epoxide polymer that cures (polymerizes and crosslinks) when mixed with a catalyzing agent or hardener. If you have used Bondo to fix dents in an automobile then you have used an epoxy resin. Remember the hardener you needed to add? Most common epoxy resins are produced from a reaction between epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A. When epoxies are mixed with the appropriate catalyst, the resulting reaction is exothermic, and the oxygen on the epoxy monomers is “flipped.” This occurs throughout the epoxy, and a matrix with a high stress tolerance is formed, and “glues” the materials together.

History of Epoxy

The first commercial attempts to prepare resins from epichlorohydrin were made in 1927 in the United States. Credit for the first synthesis of bisphenol-A-based epoxy resins is shared by Dr. Pierre Castan of Switzerland and Dr. S.O. Greenlee of the United States in 1936. Dr. Castan’s work was licensed by Ciba, Ltd. of Switzerland, which went on to become one of the three major epoxy resin producers worldwide. Ciba’s epoxy business was spun off and later sold in the late 1990s and is now the advanced materials business unit of Huntsman Corporation of the United States. Dr. Greenlee’s work was for the firm of Devoe-Reynolds of the United States. Devoe-Reynolds, which was active in the early days of the epoxy resin industry, was sold to Shell Chemical (now Hexion, formerly Resolution Polymers and others).

Applications of Epoxy

Epoxy resins are used in a wide variety of applications, including:

Paints and coatings – 2 part waterborne epoxy coatings are used as ambient cure epoxy coatings, valued for there adhesion to metal. Of course Epoxy resins are also used for high performance and decorative flooring applications especially terrazzo flooring, chip flooring and colored aggregate flooring. This is what you will use for the epoxy floor in your garage or workshop.

Adhesives – Epoxy adhesives are a major part of the class of adhesives called “structural adhesives” or “engineering adhesives” (which also includes polyurethane, acrylic, cyanoacrylate, and other chemistries.) These high-performance adhesives are used in the construction of aircraft, automobiles, bicycles, boats, golf clubs, skis, snow boards, and other applications where high strength bonds are required.

Electronics – Epoxy resin formulations are important in the electronics industry, and are employed in motors, generators, transformers, switchgear, bushings, and insulators. Epoxy resins are excellent electrical insulators and protect electrical components from short circuiting, dust and moisture. In the electronics industry epoxy resins are the primary resin used in overmolding integrated circuits, transistors and hybrid circuits, and making printed circuit boards.

Marine – There are two main areas of marine use. Because of the better mechanical properties relative to the more common polyester resins, epoxies are used for commercial manufacture of components where a high strength/weight ratio is required. The second area is that their strength, gap filling properties and excellent adhesion to many materials including timber have created a boom in amateur building projects including aircraft and boats.

Aerospace – In the aerospace industry, epoxy is used as a structural matrix material which is then reinforced by fiber. Typical fiber reinforcements include glass, carbon, Kevlar, and boron.

Wind Energy – Epoxy resin is used in manufacturing rotor blades of wind turbine. The resin is infused in the core material like Balsa, foam & reinforcing media glass fabric. The process is called VARTM i.e. vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding. Due to excellent properties & good finish, epoxy is most favoured resin for composites.

This should offer you a good technical background behind the science of your epoxy garage floor.

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The Technology Behind Epoxy

There is a wide variety of epoxy floor options depending on your specific needs. Here are some brief descriptions of some of the more poplar options for epoxy flooring:

Epoxy flaked floor

Create a textured look with an epoxy flaked floor. In addition to being a decorative choice, they are a very durable and easy to clean making them highly preferred for high traffic areas. A final coat of seal can be applied to make the floor even more resilient and also to prevent skidding. Flaked floors are popular because they don’t show the dirt as much as solid color floors. There are an endless number of color choices to select from and laying a flaked floor is not that difficult. Even if the surface underneath has flaws, imperfections are not that noticeable due to the textured quality of this type of floor. It is hard to make mistakes with this type of floor. Even if too many chips are added, those that don’t stick can be easily swept away after the floor dries.

Epoxy Anti-Static Floor

Mainly used in factories, laboratories, warehouses, and in areas of industrial and commercial manufacturing, the epoxy anti-static floor is a specially designed coating system. It is used to protect the surface of the flooring, making it easy to keep clean and maintain. This type of flooring enables a healthy, clean, and pleasant workplace environment.

There are many types of epoxy anti-static floor coatings available ranging from general-purpose coatings to specialty coatings. While the general-purpose coatings offer chemical resistance, the specialty coatings are better suited for a harsher chemical environment. The flooring is also available in many colors, enabling one to match the flooring with the surroundings.

Self-dispersing epoxy floor

There are a number of types of epoxy floor coverings that can protect the areas of your building that see high traffic. One such type is the self-dispersing epoxy floor covering. This type of floor covering is often used in warehouses and other facilities where heavy machinery such as construction equipment and forklifts make up a large part of the traffic on the floor. Self-dispersing epoxy floor coverings are durable and tough, and can handle the extra weight of such vehicles.

Self-dispersing epoxy floor with quartz sand

Epoxy is a polymer with many uses due to its high durability. A self-dispersing epoxy floor with quartz sand is an excellent choice for those who need a floor that will experience heavy usage and minimize the potential for slips. Epoxy is a powerful adhesive, which can contribute to producing a floor that is both long-lasting and easy to maintain, and is useful for homes, offices, or industrial structures. Quartz, an extremely strong material, is a perfect match for epoxy. Together they provide an very durable surface, stronger than concrete, and available in a variety of colors.

Self-leveling epoxy floor

A self-leveling epoxy floor is a copolymer modified cement topping that doesn’t shrink. It can be used on many different types of surfaces including concrete, tiles, rubber, and vinyl sheeting. This kind of epoxy floor is easy to use because it is one component and comes pre-proportioned. It hardens quickly and provides a great bond to prepared substrates. One ingredient in self-leveling epoxy floors prevents the liquid polymer from freezing making it easy to store and prevents damage to the product in shipping.

Mortar Epoxy Floor

A mortar epoxy floor can be used with great success in a number of circumstances. Restrooms and animal care centers are great places to take advantage of the mortar epoxy floor and its water-resistant qualities, while high-traffic areas or warehouses with forklift use can benefit from its high physical strength. The mortar epoxy is made from a mixture of epoxy resin, soy-based additives, and finely ground aggregates. The fine aggregate can often be made from recycled glass, so these ingredients, along with mortar epoxy’s ten-year service life, make it a highly sustainable building product.

Graveled Epoxy Floor

The most decorative of the epoxy floors, graveled epoxy floors are often used if a company or organization wants a logo, brand mark, or school mascot incorporated on their floor. They are more complicated to lay but are very slip resistant due to their rough texture. The gravel comes in different sizes and colors leaving limitless creative possibilities. Very tough and resilient to wear and tear, this style of epoxy flooring is low maintenance and can be used in a wide variety of settings.

Epoxy Terrazzo Floor

Create a work of art over an existing substrate with an epoxy terrazzo covering. It is an easy way to make geometric patterns, themes, and fancy designs in any color. This process is mostly used on commercial floors where owners are looking for a decorative touch on a high traffic area. Designs created with epoxy terrazzo can be embellished with small pieces of marble, glass, and plastic chips. The compound for epoxy terrazzo is environmentally friendly and lasts for many years despite wear and tear. It is easy to clean and maintain making it a healthy choice for public places that are looking to promote a sanitary environment.

As you can see your options abound when it comes to selecting an epoxy floor. Check out more of our Epoxy Floors website to learn about how this can make a great DIY project.

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