Installation Information

The standard Terrazzio package is a palletized, corrugated container that contains up to 840 square feet of tile and weighs 2500 pounds. WARNING: Individual boxes of Terrazzio weigh 180 pounds. Heavy boxes should be opened on the pallet and tiles moved separately.

This package is to be delivered to the job by a forklift capable of carrying a 2500 pound pallet. Terrazzio Tiles are to be handled on the job by a hand operated hydraulic pallet dolly or placed on a rolling dolly. Either method allows the installer unlimited mobility and ease of handling during installations.

Terrazzio is a tough floor tile but requires care during handling and installation to prevent damage to corners and edges. Terrazzio is manufactured from natural marble chips that are crushed to specific sizes and quantities. The chips are then embedded in a colored resin matrix.

The concrete sub-floor shall have been placed and finished for a minimum of 28 days prior to beginning installation and shall have a smooth, hard machine trowelled finish.

If the installation is over a concrete slab that is not machine trowel smooth, remedial action must be taken to bring the surface condition of the slab to a smooth, even condition.

Any oils, waxes, curing compounds or other materials on the surface of the concrete that could inhabit the strength of the adhesive should be removed.

If the floor irregularities are minor, a Portland cement—latex based patching compound should be carefully trowelled over the irregular area and allowed to dry thoroughly prior to installation.

If the irregularities are severe but the concrete surface is hard and sound, a self-leveling compound should be used to produce a hard, smooth surface.

If the irregularities are severe but the concrete surface is hard and sound, a self-leveling compound should be used to produce a hard, smooth surface.

If the irregularities are severe but the concrete surface is hard and sound, a self-leveling compound should be used to produce a hard, smooth surface.

If the concrete surface is irregular and is not hard enough to resist penetration of a sharp metal instrument such as a screwdriver, an underlayment board should be installed over the concrete surface in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions prior to installation of Terrazzio.

If the concrete surface is irregular and is not hard enough to resist penetration of a sharp metal instrument such as a screwdriver, an underlayment board should be installed over the concrete surface in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions prior to installation of Terrazzio.

Wood:

Installation of Terrazzio over new or existing board type or plywood floors can be professionally accomplished, but care in the preparation of the surface must be taken to assure there is no flexing or deflection in the surface when normal foot traffic or concentrated loads are applied to the surface.

Terrazzio is designed to conform to minor variations in floor elevation (1/8" in a five-foot radius), but it is not designed to withstand continuous flexing caused by deflections of the substrate. If it is not possible to eliminate such flexing, Do Not Install Durastone Terrazzio Tile.

If the wood substrate is structurally sound and flexing as described above is not a problem, Terrazzio can be professionally installed after the following preparations are completed:

Install a 5/8" high-density particleboard underlayment over the board or plywood surface by glue-mailing with coated nails on 12" centers over the entire surface of the underlayment board and on 6" centers around the perimeter of the underlayment board. A high quality suitable glue should be applied to the entire underside of the board prior to nailing.

After the board is completely nailed down, each nail should be 1/16" below the surface of the board and joints. Depressed nail heads should be filled and scraped smooth with a putty knife.

A latex joint compound is to be applied in the joint of the particleboard. After allowing the latex joint compound to thoroughly dry, the entire surface to receive Tile should be sanded to a smooth, even surface with a floor-sanding machine.

Application of Adhesives and Grout

Terrazzio is a thin terrazzo floor tile, and it depends on the structural and surface integrity of the substrate for its support. This is unlike rigid terrazzo, quarry tile or other flooring surface requiring adjustment of elevation through leveling of the flooring with a mortar bed. Therefore, it is important that the adhesive be applied smoothly and evenly so areas of heavy adhesive concentration do not cause unevenness under the Terrazzio Tile.

We recommend Latapoxy 300 Epoxy Adhesive and Latapoxy SP – 100 Stainless Grout for Floors N’ Walls to install Terrazzio.  This information can also be found at www.laticrete.com.  Below you will find a complete list of the Laticrete setting materials that should be used for the installation of Terrazzio.

Thin Set Epoxy Installation Instructions.

Thin Set Epoxy Grouting Instructions

Thin Set Industrial Epoxy Grouting Instructions

One Step Thin Set Mortar for Walls and Floors

Bagged Thin Set Mortar to be used with Latex Additive for Superior Bonding.

Super Flexible Latex Additive.

For straight cuts use a black adhesive Masonry Blade or a Diamond Blade made for marble. For cutting curves use an abrasive Jig Saw Blade. Terrazzio can be cut from the face or the back, but care must be taken to protect the polished marble face.

Grout Joints

Terrazzio must be installed with a minimum grout joint of ¼". We recommend Latapoxy SP-100 Stainless Grout. Care should be taken to keep the polished surface of Terrazzio clean before the epoxy grout begins to set.

Flooring Joints

When crossing an Expansion Joint or Construction Joint in the substrate, a rubber base expansion material should be used with the Terrazzio Tile floor above it. Do Not Tile over an Expansion or Construction Joint.

Care must be taken to store all tiles flat. Terrazzio is a flexible tile that will bend. Examine each tile down both edges to make sure the tile is flat. If the tile is not flat, it can be shaped back to the desired flatness by applying a little heat to the tile then gently pressing the tile over a sawhorse. Do Not Break the Tile while shaping it.   Simply, shape the tile to the required flatness.

Roll each section of newly laid Terrazzio with a 100-pound roller or "tap" the tile firmly into the mortar with a beating block. Rolling the tile or tapping it into place with a beating block is mandatory to place all of the edges on an even plane.

Make a careful visual check of the floor area that has just been installed to be sure that all edges are firmly embedded and held secure in the mortar bed. Also, check the surface of the tile for any protrusion which may indicate an imperfection in the substrate that needs correcting, or a foreign object that may have inadvertently adhered to the tile prior to placement.

Sealing Terrazzio

After Terrazzio has been installed, all surfaces should be fully dry and free from any dirt or loose foreign materials, adhesive, grout, oil or grease.  Scrub oil soaked surfaces with a strong degreasing compound per labels instructions.  Remove all traces of the degreaser by scrubbing the area with a brush and a large amount of clean water.  Flush the entire area again with clean water and allow to dry completely.  Note:  This product will seal out water and other stains, but will not correct moisture problems coming within the sub-floor.

When Terrazzio is fully dry you may proceed with the application of the Sealer.  This sealer will bring out the natural patena of the marble used in Terrazzio.  The Sealer to be used is Stone Sealer, clear #08610, manufactured by Valspar Corporation of Wheeling, IL.  Coverage will be 600 to 800 square feet per gallon.  Do not thin the Sealer.

After the surface is completely clean and dry, apply the sealer with a brush, roller or low pressure garden type sprayer then mop the sealer into the Terrazzio Tile.  The first coat will soak into the stone rapidly.  Apply a second coat while the surface is still wet, but do not flood the tile, work the sealer into the stone.  Wipe off all surplus sealer from the surface before the sealer dries.  Don not build a surface film or try to build gloss with additional coats.  Clean up is with warm water.

Allow the sealed Terrazzio Tile to fully dry overnight.  

Terrazzio Final Finish

After the sealer has dried for a full twelve hours a final finish must be installed.  We suggest three coats of Show Place by Johnson's Wax.  Show Place is a high gloss, high solids (25%) floor finish that provides exceptional durability under heavy traffic conditions.  Extra ordinary responsiveness to spray buffing that rejuvenates the floor back to its superior initial gloss.  Average coverage is 2,000 to 2,500 square feet per gallon.  The drying time is 45 minutes to an hour. 

Apply three uniform coats using a clean mop.  Allow one hour drying time between coats.  To enhance the Show Place gloss, spray buff each coat and buff with a high speed buffer.  This should be done by professional floor maintenance personnel.

After application of the final Show Place finish, your Terrazzio floor is ready for pedestrian traffic.