Terrazzo, taken from the
Italian word for terraces, is one of the most widely used flooring around. It
is widely preferred due to its durability and longevity even when it is used in
areas of heavy traffic. Those who are keen on the aesthetic appeal of their
flooring also often prefer this option as they also have an artistic appeal.
Terrazzo floors are created
using various sizes of crushed marble and granite chips. These are mixed in a
binder and are poured on the site itself. To achieve its clean, smooth look, the terrazzo has to be ground then polished
using diamond polishing pads.
These diamond abrasives are also used for the regular maintenance of terrazzo
floors when they start looking dull due to heavy traffic. A bit of polishing
and will certainly bring back the natural appeal of the terrazzo.
Floor Polishing Services – A Worthy Venture
If you offer home improvement
services, you can add floor-cleaning polishing to your list of services. As
long as you have a high performance polishing pad, you’re good to go. Diamond
polishing pads can be used on concrete, marble, stone, and terrazzo, so they’re
bound to be useful. If you don’t have one yet, you should definitely consider
investing, as your diamond
saw blades and core bits will not be enough if
you want to expand to floor polishing.
A Quick Guide to Terrazzo Floor Cleaning
When you’re ready for your
terrazzo floor-polishing project, start by removing any sealers that cover the
surface of the floor. A heavy duty wax stripper will do the trick. Once the
sealers are removed, rinse and scrub the floor to get rid of any excess dirt
and grease. Once the floor is all stripped and clean, you can now move on to
polishing the floor.
If you choose a good quality
polishing pad, the task of cleaning and reviving dull terrazzo flooring will
not be labor intensive. For terrazzo polishing, you will need wet polishing
pads as these are more abrasive and can thus make the work faster. If you use a
wet type, set it at the minimum speed of 150 rpm and a minimum head weight of
40 kilograms. If you notice a lot of soil and other residues, opt for an open
weave diamond pad, as this usually creates a finer finish.
Your Diamond Polishing Pads Collection
To make sure you are covered
for any application or need, however, make sure to buy different types of
polishing pads, from the coarsest to the finest.
Coarse pads will remove a thin
layer from the floor surface, which is ideal for deep cleaning severely stained
or scratched floors. Over time, using coarse pads repeatedly may cause the
flooring to be thinner than the original. As a rule, you should only use coarse
polishers only when it is really necessary.
Medium coarse pads, on the
other hand, will remove slight imperfections but will keep all the layers of
the flooring intact. This might be very useful in many of your projects.
Finer pads, on the other hand,
are used for making the surface of the flooring a bit reflective and shiny. In
other words, they are mostly used for finishing purposes.
Once you’re done polishing,
don’t forget to put a sealer over the terrazzo floors for added protection and
longevity.
