Irregularities in Terrazzo tiles
Good to know before you order Terrazzo tiles
If you look closely at the Terrazzo tiles, you may find various irregularities. It is possible that a gravel chip has come loose in the middle of the tile or that the side looks a bit frayed. This may look like a production error, but it is not. It is inherent to a handmade Terrazzo tile and should be considered normal.The structure of the tiles is as follows; The base is formed by white or colored cement, the top layer is also this colored cement but then provided with an extra filling of colorful gravel, glass or marble chips. After the tiles are 'poured' into a matrix (mold), the top layer is polished to what looks like a Terrazzo tile. During the process of polishing and when removing the matrix, filling chips may come loose, and some cement may remain on the matrix, making the edges look a bit frayed.
In the past, a Terrazzo floor was poured in its entirety, which meant that there were virtually no seams visible; irregularities were filled/masked with cement. Because we now have Terrazzo tiles, the grout takes over this filling function. Holes and irregularities are filled and are then waterproof, just as the frayed edges that will form a beautifully smooth whole with a joint of only 2 mm. In other words; after the tiles have been grouted, the frayed edges will be virtually invisible.
Tips : Preferably use a non-contrasting colour joint but one that is close to the base colour of the tile, this will give you a nice even whole. Use the least beautiful tiles as cutting tiles or place them along the edges where you plan to place a skirting board. This way you keep your waste minimal and your result optimal!
