Terrazzo is a composite material produced by combining natural stone and a binder system, and for centuries it has touched the floors, countertops, and walls of architectural spaces. In recent years, terrazzo has been making a strong comeback in boutique residential, hotel lobby, and specialty store projects. The interest of modern design language in natural material has brought terrazzo back to the designers' agenda. At the center of this trend is the main component that determines the technical character of terrazzo, the aggregate. With three generations of supply experience, we deliver Saraylar (Marmara Island) origin calcite and white dolomite aggregate to terrazzo producers. In this article, we share the history of terrazzo, the role of calcite aggregate, white aggregate selection criteria, binder systems, and modern terrazzo applications.
The history of terrazzo took shape among the stone artisans of the Venetian Renaissance. In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, Venetian craftsmen produced a durable and aesthetic flooring material by combining the leftover pieces from marble cutting workshops with lime-based binders. This material first appeared in the courtyard floors of Venetian patrician homes, then in other Italian cities, and later spread to different regions of Europe. In the mid-twentieth century, with the interest of modernist architecture in natural materials, terrazzo became popular once again. In mid-century modern era buildings, in office lobby floors, in public buildings, terrazzo took its place with its distinctive matte textured surface. In the seventies and eighties, factory-made ceramic tiles and later large-format porcelain pushed terrazzo into the background for a while, but in the last decade, with the return of modern design to natural materials, terrazzo has entered the mainstream once again.
Calcite aggregate is the most frequently used material group on the aggregate side of terrazzo. Aggregate is the grain particles that become visible on the surface of terrazzo and is the main element that determines the visual character of the material. When the binder matrix is polished until it reaches the surface, the character of the terrazzo emerges through the color, grain size, distribution, and post-polishing character of the aggregate. Calcite aggregate is produced by sorting the fragments obtained during the processing of Marmara marble by size class. This circular use both enables more efficient use of natural resources and offers a consistently high-quality aggregate source for terrazzo production.
White aggregate selection criteria are the headings that directly determine the visual quality of the final product in terrazzo production. The first criterion is the whiteness value. The higher the CIE Y whiteness value of the aggregate, the purer the white that appears on the terrazzo surface after polishing. Saraylar marble calcite delivers high whiteness values thanks to its natural purity. The second criterion is the iron oxide ratio. Batches with an Fe2O3 value kept below 0.05 percent do not shift the whiteness tone toward a yellowish or cream tone. The third criterion is grain size distribution. The grain classes used in terrazzo production generally range between one and twelve millimeters; according to the design language of the project, a small grain gives a matte textured surface, while a large grain gives a graphic-character surface. The five to ten millimeter range is a common preference for the classic terrazzo look. The fourth criterion is the corner character. A crushed grain character determines the edge sharpness after polishing, while a softened grain character delivers a calmer distribution. The fifth criterion is purity, the batch should not contain clay, organic residue, or color-bearing minerals.
