Deliberate Words

What a Week! Matching the Past: Restoring Historic Terrazzo

Season 2 Episode 28

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0:00 | 22:45

Terrazzo may be one of the longest-lasting flooring systems in the built environment, but restoring it is rarely straightforward. 

In this episode, the team is joined by senior specifier Chris Ricke to discuss the unique challenges of refinishing historic Portland cement terrazzo, from matching decades-old materials and aggregates to deciding when restoration, patching, or contrasting new work is the better approach. Along the way, the conversation explores how resources like 4specs, industry associations, and early collaboration with specialty contractors can help project teams make better-informed decisions. It's a practical look at why preserving a century-old floor often requires as much expertise as installing a new one.