Refinishing terrazzo

[1991Syclone]

I know this isn't technically in the garage, but someone might have some tips. My wife and I just bought a small 1970's era house that had carpet over terrazzo. I've pulled the carpet and thankfully the underpadding wasn't glued down and there are no stains on the floor, it's just dull.

Has anybody refinished terrazzo floors? I don't have the cash to hire a pro to do it and with the condition they're in they don't need much work if any. Just looking for some tips to bring the luster back to them.

 

[dcs Inc]

The equipment needed wont be found at home depot. It will need to be polished. gene

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Scylone: It might be worth trying some polymer wax with buffer.
May at least get you through until you can get it done proper.
http://legacyindustrial.net/cart/hd-7960-polymer-coating-wax-p-219.html

 

[theoldwizard1]

So what do you do when the carpeting was put down with tack strips that were power nailed to the floor ?

 

[1991Syclone]

So what do you do when the carpeting was put down with tack strips that were power nailed to the floor ?

1) Take pry bar and pull up tack strips. 99.9% came up leaving the nail in the terrazo.

2) Use 4 1/2" cutting wheel and lop of the tops of all nails. This leaves maybe 1/8 to 1/4" of the shank sticking up

3) Take grinder and grind shank down level with the floor. I'll try to get some close ups of it, but the remnants of the nails blend in with the terrazzo.

Besides, since they are all around the perimeter of the room, typically you'll have some piece of furniture against the wall and you won't see it. For the metal transitions, I had to grind the head of the nail down as much as possible and pop the strips off. That's where the biggest break outs were.

The flooring under the carpet is nearly brand new. A little mop action and it will look great. The galley kitchen and garage entrance are the worst for dirt, but a magic eraser managed to clean it up pretty good.

 

[dcs Inc]

Try to coat the exposed nail shanks. They will rust. gene

 

[lagoe46]

The process as I understand it is not too differernt than the way a granite countertop is polished. I have not done it personally, but I remember a buddy of mine had a shop that at one point in the 50's was a Studebaker showroom. He discovered the terrazzo floor and polished it up. At that point I know that he went to a flooring place and they had the products needed to bring back the luster. They did it and it came out great. Here in NYC alot of the public schools have terrazo, any local janitor can give you pointers!

 

[rsanter]

it will be the same as putting a polish on the concrete floors.
if the floors are in good shape but a little dull you have 2 options depending on how dull they are.

1 have a guy come in and do a fine dimand grind to polish it up. this shouldnt cost too much as it will only be 1 or 2 passes with a fine diamond tips

2 go get an industrial floor wax and put it on, the final polish on all those floors was the wax

bob