Terrazzo is a composite: chips of marble, granite, quartz, glass or other stone set in a binder, then ground flat and polished to expose the chips. It has been laid in floors for centuries and has come back into bathrooms because the speckle hides water marks and dust, suits warm and cool colour schemes, and gives a plain room some life without a busy pattern.
The word "terrazzo" now covers three quite different products, and choosing between them is the main decision.
The three types
Cement-based terrazzo tiles
The traditional product. Chips are mixed into a cement binder, cast into tiles, cured, then ground and polished at the factory. The pattern runs through the whole tile, so it can be re-honed and polished if the surface wears or is marked.
- Thicker and heavier than porcelain, which affects how the floor is built up and whether the substrate can take the load.
- Porous. The cement matrix and marble chips absorb liquids and must be sealed.
- Acid-sensitive. Vinegar, lemon, many scum removers and some shampoos can etch the surface.
- Often ground or lightly honed after laying to remove lippage between tiles, which adds a step and some dust to the job.
Resin (epoxy) terrazzo
Chips set in an epoxy or other resin binder. It is mostly poured and ground in place as a seamless floor in commercial buildings, though resin terrazzo tiles and slabs exist. It is thinner and less porous than cement terrazzo and comes in brighter colours, but it is a specialist installation and less common in a home bathroom.
Terrazzo-look porcelain
A porcelain tile with a terrazzo pattern printed into the glaze or the body. This is what most people are looking at when they see "terrazzo tiles" in a bathroom display.
- Very low water absorption, so the tile face does not need sealing.
- Not acid-sensitive in the way real terrazzo is, which makes cleaning simpler.
- Lighter and thinner, and laid like any other porcelain tile.
- Wide choice of chip sizes and colours, including finishes rated for wet floors.
- The pattern repeats, and on a glazed tile the edge does not show the chips, so cut edges on external corners need a trim or a mitre.
Choosing chip size and colour
Chip size changes the character more than colour does.
- Fine or micro chips read almost as a textured plain colour from a distance. They suit small bathrooms, walls and people who want a calm room.
- Medium chips are the classic look and work on floors and walls.
- Large, irregular chips make a strong statement. They are best on one surface — the floor, a feature wall or a vanity top — rather than everywhere.
The background matters too. A warm white or sand-coloured matrix sits well with timber vanities and brushed tapware; grey matrices lean cooler. Pull one or two colours from the chips for the grout and the paint, and let the other surfaces stay plain.
Slip resistance: state it carefully
A polished finish looks best dry and is the most slippery when wet. For bathroom floors, and especially shower floors, choose a honed, matt or lightly textured finish.
In Australia, tiles are tested and classified for slip resistance under an Australian Standard, usually expressed as a wet pendulum rating and sometimes a ramp rating. Rather than relying on a sales description such as "suitable for bathrooms", ask the supplier for the tested classification of the exact product and finish, and have your builder or designer confirm it suits wet, barefoot use in your room. Shower floors generally need a higher rating than bathroom walls or dry areas. Smaller tiles on a shower floor also give more grip because there are more grout joints underfoot.
Sealing real terrazzo
Cement-based terrazzo is sealed with a penetrating sealer after it is laid, ground and cleaned, once it is completely dry. Some installers apply a second coat, following the product label. Reseal when water no longer beads on the surface and starts to darken it — high-traffic floors and shower zones need attention sooner than walls.
Avoid film-forming sealers that sit on the surface of a wet-area floor unless the tile supplier recommends one; some can reduce slip resistance and wear unevenly.
With terrazzo-look porcelain, only the grout needs sealing, and epoxy grout avoids even that.
Cleaning and care
- Use a pH-neutral cleaner for all types. On real terrazzo, a stone cleaner is safest.
- Keep vinegar, lemon, acidic scum removers and bleach off real terrazzo.
- Use soft mops and nylon brushes, not abrasive powders or scourers.
- Squeegee and ventilate after showers, as with any tiled bathroom.
- Wipe up spills of coloured products, hair dye and some skincare quickly on real terrazzo before they soak in.
Our guide on how to clean shower tiles and grout covers safe cleaning methods and what never to mix.
Pros and cons
Real cement terrazzo — pros: genuine, through-body material; can be re-honed rather than replaced; very durable when maintained; a depth that printed tiles do not quite match.
Real cement terrazzo — cons: heavier and thicker; must be sealed and resealed; etched by acids; more labour to lay and finish; generally dearer to buy and install.
Terrazzo-look porcelain — pros: low maintenance; no face sealing; wide range of slip-rated finishes; lighter; laid like standard porcelain; generally the more economical route.
Terrazzo-look porcelain — cons: the pattern can repeat; cut edges show plain body on glazed tiles; cannot be re-honed if the glaze is damaged.
Installation points
Whichever you choose, terrazzo goes on over a cured waterproofing membrane in the wet areas, with an adhesive that suits both the tile and the membrane. Heavy cement tiles need a sound, flat substrate; rectified porcelain allows narrow joints. Plan the set-out so large chips are not cut into slivers at doorways and niches, and decide early whether external corners get a mitred edge or a trim.
Getting it laid properly
Terrazzo is only as good as the floor under it. Our tiling and wet-area finishes page covers slip resistance, grout choices and set-out, and bathroom renovations explains the full rebuild. Real terrazzo and porcelain lookalikes sit at different points in a budget; see the bathroom renovation cost guide for rough bands. If you are on the Northern Beaches, we can measure up and quote it.
Questions people ask before they commit
Are terrazzo tiles good for bathrooms?
Yes, with the right product. Terrazzo-look porcelain is the low-maintenance choice for most bathroom floors and walls. Real cement-based terrazzo tiles also work but must be sealed, kept away from acidic cleaners and given a surface finish with suitable slip resistance where they will get wet.
Is terrazzo slippery when wet?
A polished terrazzo surface can be slippery when wet. Honed, matt and textured finishes generally perform better. In Australia tiles are tested and classified for slip resistance under an Australian Standard, so ask the supplier for the tile's wet slip classification and check with your builder or designer that it suits a wet bathroom floor or shower.
Do terrazzo tiles need sealing?
Real cement-based terrazzo tiles do. They are sealed after installation and resealed periodically, because the cement matrix and marble chips are porous and acid-sensitive. Glazed terrazzo-look porcelain does not need the tile face sealed, although cement grout between the tiles still benefits from a grout sealer.
What is the difference between terrazzo and terrazzo-look tiles?
Real terrazzo is made from chips of marble, glass or stone set in a cement or resin binder, then ground and polished, so the pattern runs through the full thickness. Terrazzo-look tiles are porcelain with the pattern printed in the glaze. They are lighter, less porous and easier to care for, but cannot be re-honed.