Terrazzo floor and stairs.

by Ryan S Thu Mar 13, 2014 12:11 pm

I was asked if we could clean a stair case at a property We bid on. I told them I have not done this floor before, and understood it is a sensitive floor covering to cleanjng. I mentioned I knew a lot of really smart guys who cleaned this type floor and if their advice leads me to believe we can clean it for ya we would.

So can I and what products should I use.

by OneBlueSummer Thu Mar 13, 2014 5:17 pm

Nothing strong, what condition is it in, is it matte polished, is the grout sand or? Low psi and as close to neutral as possible. Do u have a squeegee wand spinner or just glided wand do u have a hard surface hand tool or glided hand tool.

by Ryan S Thu Mar 13, 2014 5:28 pm

OneBlueSummer wrote:Nothing strong, what condition is it in,
It's dull and dirty traffic pattern

is it matte polished, is the grout sand or?
Not sure about the answers to these. Doesn't look like sand. Not sure what matte is.

Low psi and as close to neutral as possible.

S/O is neutral. Would that be fine?

Do u have a squeegee wand spinner or just glided wand do u have a hard surface hand tool or glided hand tool.

i can get a hold of a hand tool.

by Davey Cracker Thu Mar 13, 2014 7:06 pm

Give that SOB everything you have!!!..........you will not hurt it.

Terrazzo, is nothing more than Concrete with stone chips mix in to it while it's being poured........and then there's also A new generation Terrazzo 'tile', that's made from concrete and recycled glass chips.

I'll post pics and more info later tonight on Terrazzo jobs I've done............cleaning and polishing. wink

I assume it's Commercial setting, or is it Residential??..........got any pics of the floor?........that would be helpful to provide the best possible advice. wink

by milspec6 Thu Mar 13, 2014 7:13 pm

Don't see that stuff in my area, but it normally takes awhile before the trends reach us. I would like to learn more about this one...murphy's law says that I will run into one next week now.

by Ryan S Thu Mar 13, 2014 7:17 pm

Yes it's a stair case in a commercial building. I knew I should have snapped a few pics. Does to shine on its own or what?

by Davey Cracker Thu Mar 13, 2014 8:26 pm

milspec6 wrote:Don't see that stuff in my area, but it normally takes awhile before the trends reach us. I would like to learn more about this one...murphy's law says that I will run into one next week now.

If you haven't yet, you prob just don't know what it is (no disrespect meant) wink

, because most of the time I say it's 50-80 years old, and usually found in older municipal, city, county type, bank buildings, court houses and stuff like that.......I'd bet you've seen it before.

by Davey Cracker Thu Mar 13, 2014 8:38 pm

Ryan S wrote:Yes it's a stair case in a commercial building. I knew I should have snapped a few pics. Does to shine on its own or what?

Yes definitely need some pics, can you get some tomorrow??

Ok real quick like...............

No, it dose not shine on it's own, it's ground smooth then polished after it's installed....errrrr actually poured (like concrete).

Unless it's the newer type tiles like I mentioned in my last post. This stuff is pre-made into tile squares and polished in the factory, and ready to be installed/set for 'finished' flooring, like ceramic tiles. wink

Alright, more to come later, when I'm finished working on my TM! Very Happy

by milspec6 Thu Mar 13, 2014 10:38 pm

Davey Cracker wrote:
milspec6 wrote:Don't see that stuff in my area, but it normally takes awhile before the trends reach us. I would like to learn more about this one...murphy's law says that I will run into one next week now.

If you haven't yet, you prob just don't know what it is (no disrespect meant) , because most of the time I say it's 50-80 years old, and usually found in older municipal, city, county type, bank buildings, court houses and stuff like that.......I'd bet you've seen it before.

Okay, I know what you are describing now. What I have seen has a high polish to it, didn't figure it to be a concrete base.

by milspec6 Thu Mar 13, 2014 10:53 pm

After reading up on this type of flooring (never cleaned it before), since it is made of marble chips and glass in a concrete bed, would you approach it the same as a marble floor?

by OneBlueSummer Thu Mar 13, 2014 11:05 pm

Just get a white Polish pad from homedepot or janitorial place take the center punch out, a towel, and try some SO on a couple of spots and see what happens. And take pics..
Marble Ya just treat it like I descibed low heat low paid near neutral cleaner and go from there. Using harsh stuff on marble and other polished stuff will take off the shine or hone... then your stuck buying some diamond pads..

by carpetdaddy Fri Mar 14, 2014 5:03 am

Make sure it is polished and not waxed/finished. I have seen and worked on several million sq/ft of terrazzo across the country. I would say that at least 95% of it was finished not honed. If it is honed and you are not re-grinding it, use a neutral cleaner with a red pad then mop it with clean water, then buff it with a white pad. If it is finished then strip it and refinish. dancing

Then do the banana dance.

by Ryan S Fri Mar 14, 2014 11:22 am

by carpetdaddy Fri Mar 14, 2014 1:44 pm

Can't be sure without testing it, but looking at the traffic pattern on the landing it looks like it't waxed.

by Ryan S Fri Mar 14, 2014 2:08 pm

So should I use stripper and then wax it after cleaning.

by carpetdaddy Fri Mar 14, 2014 7:34 pm

If it is wax yes strip it, clean it thoroughly coctail

with a strong cleaner, then clean it again with a neutral cleaner, then refinish it. If they don't want it waxed (which on the stairs I don't recommend waxing) then just clean it thoroughly with a strong cleaner, then clean it again with a neutral cleaner. Feel free to call me anytime (c) 410-441-0345 if you need help.

by Ryan S Sat Mar 15, 2014 1:41 am

cool, thanks Joe. I like the natural finish my self. Cause I feel wax on stairs is much to dangerous when slippery. I will post the results and step by step. thanks for the help RC

by carpetdaddy Sat Mar 15, 2014 7:27 am

Test it to see if it is wax - as you are walking down the steps to the landing pour a little stripper on the floor of the landing on the left side where it looks a little brownish/dirty. Rub you finger tips in the stripper if it feels slippery it's wax. To be really sure wipe it up with a clean towel. If you get a dull spot on the floor and residue on the towel - it's definately waxed. Assuming it is wax - strip it, clean it, then wax it with 4-5 coats. Otherwise try to talk the people into just letting you strip it and clean it and not apply wax. It will be easier for them to maintain and keep looking good.

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