Is Terrazzo Still in Style, and What Is Terrazzo-Look Tile?

This guide skips the trend forecasts. It explains what terrazzo-look products are and what their product pages tell you. Then you can decide if the look works for your room.

What is the terrazzo look?

It's a speckled pattern. Small chips of different colours are spread across a plain base colour. Real terrazzo is a different material, made and installed its own way. The two FloorBox products in this guide are not real terrazzo. They copy the look:

• one is a porcelain tile with a terrazzo look;
• one is a vinyl tile with a terrazzo pattern.

Is terrazzo still in style?

We don't predict trends. Here's what the maker and the product page say. Planchers 1867, the maker of the Planchers 1867 Color Terrazzo Grey matte porcelain tile, 24" x 24", calls this tile "in vogue" on its own website. The FloorBox product page calls the collection "timeless." The better question is whether the floor suits your room, the upkeep you're ready to do and the way you live. The specs below help you answer that.

What is terrazzo-look porcelain tile?

The Planchers 1867 Color Terrazzo Grey matte porcelain tile, 24" x 24" is a porcelain tile with a terrazzo look. Its page lists these specs. Here's what each one means:

• PEI Rating: 4. PEI rates how well a tile stands up to foot traffic. A higher number means it can take more traffic.
• Slip Rating: R10. This is a slip-resistance rating. On this scale, a higher number means more grip.
• Water Absorption Rate: 0.5%. This is how much water the tile soaks up. A lower number means less water gets in. This one soaks up very little.
• Frost, Chemical and Stain Resistance: Yes. The page lists all three as Yes.
• Rectified edges, 9 mm thick (per the Planchers 1867 data sheet). Rectified means the edges are cut straight and square at the factory. This helps the tiles line up with thin grout lines.
• Use On: Wall & Floor. You can use it on a floor or a wall.
• Colour Variation: V3, moderate. Each tile looks a bit different from the next.
• Box: 15.5 sq ft and 70.55 lb per box. A box is heavy, so plan how you'll carry it.

The page says the tiles are "perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, and living areas."

What is terrazzo-pattern vinyl tile?

The Planchers 1867 Evolution Azura Terrazzo Grey vinyl tile, 12" x 24" is a vinyl tile with a terrazzo pattern, as its name says. (Its spec table lists the look as "Concrete.") Its page lists:

• Core: SPC (Stone Plastic Composite). The core is the middle layer. SPC is a rigid core made from a mix of stone and plastic.
• Waterproof: Yes.
• Wear layer: 20 mil (0.5 mm). The wear layer is the clear top layer that takes the scuffs. A thicker wear layer protects the printed pattern for longer.
• Underpad attached: EVA, 1 mm. A thin foam pad comes already attached to the back of each tile.
• Installation: Click Lock. The tiles click together at the edges.
• Grade Level: On, Above & Below. "Grade" means ground level. Below grade means below ground, like a basement. So it can go in a basement.
• Radiant Heat Compatible: Yes (Electric). It can go over an electric heated floor.
• Pet Friendly: Yes.
• Residential warranty: 20 years.

Porcelain or vinyl: which terrazzo look fits my room?

What that means for you:

• Choose the Planchers 1867 Color Terrazzo Grey matte porcelain tile, 24" x 24" if you want a hard tile you can also put on a wall. It is set in mortar, with grout between the tiles.
• Choose the Planchers 1867 Evolution Azura Terrazzo Grey vinyl tile, 12" x 24" for a basement, for a foam pad already attached, or for a click-together floor with no mortar.

To learn more about the labels, read What Are the Different Types of Flooring, and Which One Is the Most Durable? and Vinyl Plank or Vinyl Tile. For more on porcelain, see Ceramic or Porcelain.

Not sure which one fits your space? Contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Is terrazzo-look porcelain tile the same as real terrazzo?

No. The Planchers 1867 Color Terrazzo Grey matte porcelain tile, 24" x 24" is a porcelain tile that copies the terrazzo look.

Can I put a terrazzo-look floor in my basement?

Yes, with the vinyl tile. The Planchers 1867 Evolution Azura Terrazzo Grey vinyl tile, 12" x 24" is rated for on, above and below grade. Its page also lists it as waterproof.

Is terrazzo-look tile slippery?

The porcelain tile in this guide has a matte finish and a slip rating of R10. On that scale, a higher number means more grip.

Can I use terrazzo-look tile on a wall?

The Planchers 1867 Color Terrazzo Grey matte porcelain tile, 24" x 24" lists "Use On: Wall & Floor." The vinyl tile's page doesn't list wall use.

How do I choose between terrazzo-look porcelain and vinyl?

Start with the room. For a basement, or a floor with a foam pad attached, look at the vinyl. For a hard tile that can also go on a wall, look at the porcelain. The table above compares them line by line.