Is sealing and curing treatment necessary for terrazzo floors?

Is it necessary to seal and cure terrazzo flooring?

"Is it necessary to seal and cure terrazzo floors?" This is a common concern among our clients. Whether their terrazzo floors are newly installed or have been in use, and what specific differences there are before and after treatment, we will evaluate and compare the performance differences between terrazzo floors and concrete sealant-impregnated flooring.

This evaluation continues to follow the standard criteria, comparing the mechanical, chemical, waterproofing, safety, aesthetic, and environmental performance of the two. Detailed descriptions and parameters are as follows.

I. Comparison of Mechanical Properties

Quartz stone flooring has a solid foundation in mechanical properties, yet it remains somewhat brittle with poor wear resistance. In the face of high-intensity construction environments, it often feels like it's "over its head," and surface glaze wear becomes particularly evident.

The "curing" effectiveness of concrete sealants significantly enhances the wear, pressure, and impact resistance of the tax mode. Generally speaking, cement ground surfaces treated with concrete sealants can achieve an approximate 27.3% increase in compressive strength and more than tripled flexural strength.

Section II: Comparison of Chemical Properties

On a micro level, the use of gravel and aggregates results in a more scattered structure of terrazzo flooring, allowing substances like acids, bases, water, and oil to take advantage and freely corrode the surface.

After treatment with concrete sealant, the polished marble flooring will exhibit a more stable chemical nature, effectively blocking the majority of foreign substances such as water, acids, bases, oils, juices, dirt, and algae.

Three: Waterproof, moisture-proof, and seepage-proof capabilities

The terrazzo floor structure has a high number of pores, which results in poor waterproofing performance. Detailed data shows that its water absorption rate can reach 8%, meaning a significant amount of water is absorbed into the ground after a single floor cleaning.

The primary function of concrete sealant is to harden the ground, yet it also boasts excellent waterproofing capabilities. After being sealed and cured, the ground's 24-hour water absorption rate can drop to 96%, which, although not completely waterproof, allows for an extremely minimal amount of water penetration. This is why engineers prefer to use concrete sealant during the construction of underground structures.

Section 4: Safety

In terms of slip resistance, terrazzo flooring has a poorer slip resistance compared to standard cement surfaces, with a coefficient of friction around 50; whereas, concrete sealant and hardener flooring offers excellent slip resistance, with a dry surface coefficient of 86 and a wet surface coefficient of 69.

Both ground surfaces are based on cement and are of the same A1 level in fire resistance, classified as Gao-level.

Anti-static protection: Polished stone floors using inorganic conductive phase materials can achieve anti-static properties, and the application of concrete sealant will not affect its performance.

Aesthetic Appeal

Polished terrazzo floors with the glaze layer still intact maintain a good luster; without undergoing curing treatment, they require frequent waxing to maintain this state, resulting in higher maintenance and upkeep costs. Terrazzo floors that have lost the glaze layer, however, resemble frizzy, tangled hair, with a very apparent lack of aesthetic appeal.

The outdated terrazzo flooring has been treated with a concrete sealant to quickly restore its former luster, offering a long-lasting effect that eliminates the need for waxing and refinishing in the future.