Tampa Terrazzo Restoration Terrazzo Restoration Questions from Tampa Homeowners
Short answers to what Tampa homeowners ask about terrazzo floors, from the first look under the carpet to keeping the floor clean afterward. The prices here match the pricing page and both estimators.
If your question is about a specific mark on the floor, the problems section has a page for each common one, with a check you can do yourself. If it is about whether your house has terrazzo at all, our property-record guide shows how to read your house’s county record. And if you already know you want the whole floor done, terrazzo restoration walks through the full job from start to finish.
Still not answered? Use the quote form and ask. Photos help: a closet corner with the carpet folded back and the worst spot with a coin beside it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to restore terrazzo in Tampa?
A full grind, hone and polish typically runs $5 to $9 per square foot. Carpet and glue removal adds $2 to $3 per square foot, tile and thinset removal adds $4 to $6, and patches are $75 to $250 each. Most houses with 1,000 to 1,500 square feet of carpeted terrazzo land between $7,000 and $18,000.
What years were Tampa houses built with terrazzo?
In a pull of 1,103 Hillsborough County property records, every house listing terrazzo flooring was built between 1954 and 1970. None of the 595 houses built in 1973 or later listed it. If your house is concrete block from the mid-1950s through about 1970, check under the carpet.
How do I check under the carpet without wrecking it?
Pick a closet corner. Grab the carpet with pliers right at the corner and lift it straight up off the tack strip, then fold it back a foot or so. Look for a speckled surface of stone chips and, if you are lucky, a thin metal divider strip. Press the carpet back down onto the tack strip when you are done.
Can a home inspector tell me if a house has terrazzo?
Usually not. The InterNACHI Standards of Practice say an inspector is not required to inspect floor coverings or to move carpets or rugs to look at the floor underneath. If it matters to your offer, ask the seller for permission to lift one closet corner.
Do I need a permit to have my terrazzo restored?
Normally no. The City of Tampa lists floor covering among work that needs no building permit regardless of cost, and Hillsborough County lists floor coverings as exempt too. After flood damage in a Special Flood Hazard Area in the unincorporated county, cosmetic repairs still need a Substantial Damage Packet sent to the county for review.
Does Florida license terrazzo contractors?
Not as a separate trade. Florida Statutes 489.117(4)(a) bars local governments from requiring a license for decorative stone, tile, marble, granite or terrazzo installation. Ask any contractor for proof of insurance and for a description of the method they use.
Is the black glue under my old vinyl tile dangerous?
It might be. The EPA lists vinyl floor tiles and the adhesives used with them among products that may contain asbestos, and tells homeowners not to sand or level asbestos flooring. Have the black adhesive tested before anyone grinds it. A negative test means it grinds off with the rest of the surface.
Can terrazzo be saved after it was under storm water?
Almost always. Cement terrazzo is stone and cement; it is the carpet, pad and vinyl on top that are ruined. The floor needs a thorough rinse to remove salt and silt, time for the slab to dry, and a moisture check before sealing.
Will all the stains come out?
Most surface marks come out in the grind, including tack-strip rust and carpet pad dye. Pet urine and old oil that soaked deep into the cement usually fade and may not fully disappear. The NTMA restoration specification says all staining in existing terrazzo may not be possible to remove, and we will tell you which spots are which before you sign.
Will I be able to see the patches?
From standing height, usually not. Up close, yes. Patches are matched by chip color and size, but the NTMA notes that matching existing aggregate may not be exact because marble is a mined product. Patches blend best when the whole floor is ground at the same time.
Can we stay in the house while you work?
Usually, yes. We work room by room, grind wet or with vacuum shrouds, and move furniture as we go. It is noisy and the house will feel like a job site for the length of the work. An empty house is faster and cheaper.
How shiny will it be?
As shiny as you want, within reason. Stopping in the middle grits gives a soft satin. Going up through the fine resin-bond grits gives a gloss you can see the ceiling fan in. The shine comes from the polished stone and cement, not from a coating.
What should I clean terrazzo with afterward?
Dust mop to get the grit off, then damp mop with water and a pH-neutral cleaner. The NTMA care guide says not to use degreasers, bleach, vinegar, ammonia or other household chemicals on terrazzo. Vinegar is the one that catches people; it etches the cement.
How often does terrazzo need resealing?
It depends on traffic and cleaning, but a kitchen and entry wear their sealer faster than a bedroom. When water stops beading and starts darkening the floor in the busy paths, it is time. Resealing a restored floor typically runs $1.50 to $3 per square foot.
Can you match a missing section where a wall used to be?
We can fill it with chips and matrix chosen to match, and the NTMA approach is to run a replacement to the nearest divider strip or a jagged edge rather than a straight line. Up close the new section will read slightly different from the old floor. The wall gap page has the details.
Do you work in Pinellas County?
No. We work in Tampa and Hillsborough County: Town 'n' Country, Carrollwood, Temple Terrace, Forest Hills, Brandon, Plant City, Apollo Beach and Sun City Center.