| Terrazzo is one of the most time-tested of | | | | contractor with a specialty in the |
| building materials. It was used in palaces, | | | | installation of high-end terrazzo projects, |
| courtyards, assembly halls, villas and | | | | was involved in this creative flooring |
| bathhouses during the height of the Roman | | | | project, which included a food court with a |
| Empire. Many of those ancient structures are | | | | multi-colored, highly focal terrazzo floor |
| still intact. When the ruins of Pompeii were | | | | design.This food court had beautiful shapes |
| unearthed, the forgotten terrazzo floors were | | | | which were achieved by pouring the terrazzo |
| virtually undamaged. Terrazzo is an historic | | | | into waterjet-cut aluminum forms. This was a |
| and very strong, enduring -- and endearing | | | | project that included intricate images that |
| flooring product.The National Terrazzo and | | | | had to be re-created in terrazzo to exactly |
| Mosaic Association defines terrazzo as "a | | | | replicate the artist's original |
| material consisting of marble, granite, onyx | | | | drawings.Retail construction executives |
| or glass chips in Portland cement, modified | | | | should know about waterjet technology. The |
| Portland cement or resinous matrix. The | | | | process is a computerized, cold cutting |
| terrazzo is poured, cured, ground and | | | | technology that can cut most materials into |
| polished. Typically used as a finish for | | | | any two-dimensional shape. Marble, granite, |
| floors, stairs or walls, Terrazzo can be | | | | porcelain, ceramic, linoleum, sports |
| poured in place or precast."There has been a | | | | flooring, vinyl, and all metals are excellent |
| renaissance in the usage of terrazzo over the | | | | materials for the waterjet process. Waterjet |
| last decade. According to Jim Belilove, | | | | cutting does not heat, harden or distort |
| president and CEO of Fairfield, Iowa's, | | | | metals. Those are some other reasons why the |
| Creative Edge Corp., "Terrazzo is now offered | | | | aluminum forms into which terrazzo was to be |
| with an epoxy matrix. This is stronger than | | | | poured at Coastal Grand Mall's food court |
| the cementitious material which was the | | | | were best cut by waterjet.Anything that can |
| traditional binder. Epoxy doesn't crack, can | | | | be drawn on a computer can be cut by |
| be offered in many more and much brighter | | | | waterjet. Many materials like stone, |
| colors, the color does not fade, and curing | | | | porcelain, and stainless steel cannot |
| time is much less. Terrazzo with an epoxy | | | | economically be cut into complex shapes in |
| matrix can also accommodate larger chips ... | | | | any other way. Terrazzo is more versatile |
| and the thickness of the material, even for a | | | | than most developers or designers can |
| major industrial application, can be just 3/8 | | | | imagine. For example, it can be poured onto |
| inches thick."Additionally, with computerized | | | | many different substrates, or right over |
| waterjet technology, shapes into which the | | | | existing floor materials such as concrete, |
| terrazzo are poured can be cut perfectly over | | | | vinyl tile, ceramic/porcelain tile or even |
| and over again," Belilove says. "As a result, | | | | wood.It is still ideal for any retail |
| designs for stores or malls can be duplicated | | | | construction project, particularly those that |
| quickly and without worrying about the visual | | | | have heavy foot traffic.Harri Aalto is |
| differentiation from one hand-formed shape to | | | | cofounder and Creative Director of Creative |
| another."A good example of a major retail | | | | Edge Master Shop, a leader in the |
| installation which featured waterjet | | | | architectural design community. He designs |
| technology can be found at the Grand Coastal | | | | many of the company's projects, including |
| Mall in Myrtle Beach, S.C. T.B. Penick & | | | | Terrazzo Floors. |
| Sons, Inc., the San Diego-based general | | | | |