Giacon Terrazzo Ltd are members of the Sustainable Business network

Sustainability of Terrazzo

Terrazzo flooring has a long and rich history that dates back over 1500 years. Terrazzo, from the Italian word for terraces, is one of the original recycled products – created centuries ago by Venetian workers utilizing the waste chips from slab marble processing.

Today terrazzo flooring continues to provide the ultimate in durability and low maintenance, typically lasting the life of the building. The combination of beauty, durability, and low maintenance has led to a renaissance in the use of terrazzo over the past decade. The demand for terrazzo is increasing in many markets, from performance driven institutions such as schools, airports, and hospitals, to the designer driven markets of retail and commercial buildings. Terrazzo is the ultimate choice when evaluating finishes on a life cycle basis.

In recent years the construction industry has begun to focus on the environmental impact of many construction materials. The evaluation of products in the “green movement” encompasses many elements, which must be weighed on a scale of relative importance. These elements include the longevity of the material, the composition, maintenance, recycled contents, embodied energy, and the “cradle-to grave” environmental impact.

Durability, Heritage & Refurbishment

Sustainable construction is at the core of green construction. Terrazzo floors have an outstanding record of durability and performance dating back over a thousand years. The floors will typically last the life of the structure. In many older buildings, the floors can be restored to their original lustre at a fraction of the cost of replacing the finish.                  

Andrew Giacon is a third generation terrazzo worker in New Zealand. He has acted as a consultant and manufacturer for terrazzo in many heritage projects e.g. Auckland War Memorial Museum, St James centre, Auckland Train station. It is always a pleasure to restore beautiful terrazzo, some of which his grandfathers created. We can match existing terrazzo to allow expansion of existing sites if required.

Our cementitious terrazzo floors have extremely low maintenance costs. Annual stripping and resealing can utilize environmentally friendly water-based products. Routine maintenance includes dry and damp mopping, with an occasional spray buffing. In comparison, carpet requires energy intensive daily vacuuming and periodic steam cleaning.

 

At Aotea centre we recycled the existing marble. IT was removed, crushed and used in the new terrazzo floor.

Composition and Embodied Energy

Our Terrazzo is composed of naturally occurring aggregates, recycled glass and marble, locally sourced shells and processed cement. The remainder is colour pigments, and fillers.

Initial life cycle assessments of embodied energy appear extremely favourable due to the longevity and low energy usage for maintenance.

Recycle/Reuse Content COLLECTION OF MARBLE OFFCUTS AND WASTE MINIMISATION

Aggregates used in terrazzo are the most common sources of recycled content. Recycled Glass and Aggregates are available to be used.

ARE YOU LOOKING TO GET RID OF WHITE MARBLE WASTE?

IF YOU ARE A MARBLE FABRICATOR, OR ARE REMOVING MARBLE AS PART OF A PROJECT- WE WANT YOUR WHITE AND LIGHT GRAY MARBLE OFFCUTS. AS PART OF WASTE MINIMISATION SCHEME, WE WANT TO TAKE THESE OFFCUTS AND REUSE THEM. Please contact Adrienne on 0275049826 to arrange

Giacon Terrazzo Limited have our own crusher machine. This is used to recycle aggregates and glass to be incorporated into the manufacture of our terrazzo. In the recent renovation of the Aotea Centre we were able to recycle the marble pulled off the walls, crush it into aggregate and re-use it in the terrazzo flooring we laid.Aluminium divider strips may also incorporate recycled metal. If an underbed is utilized, the steel reinforcing will have recycled content. Cement used in cementitious terrazzo may also have recycled content.

VOC Off-Gassing and Indoor Air Quality

Cement based terrazzo systems are comprised of zero VOC materials. Terrazzo exhibits little or no off-gassing over the life of the cured floor. The non-porous, cleanable terrazzo finish does not support microbial growth, nor allow moisture to accumulate, helping to maintain a mould-free environment with improved indoor air quality.

 Regional Sourcing

Terrazzo is manufactured on-site minimizing post-commercial waste and transportation costs. By comparison, much of the marble and ceramic floor tile used in New Zealand is manufactured overseas and imported. Cement and sand used in cementitious terrazzo may be regionally sourced. Depending on the mix, Giacon Terrazzo Limited tries to use, wherever possible, aggregates and materials from New Zealand sources. Terrazzo has long been valued for its life cycle characteristics: low maintenance, durability, and indoor air quality - with recycled content being an additional attractive feature.

Water Recycling

We have our own water recycling plant. This enables us to reuse the water we use in our grinding process, to save water use. It also allows us to remove the slurry from the water and ensure it does not get into the water system,