Arim-Inc. -Terrazzo: Hotter Than Ever in 2018
PALISADES PARK, N.J. (PRWEB) April 09, 2018 -- Terrazzo tastes are trending to the top, becoming firmly entrenched in the public zeitgeist! In the 2018 Pinterest Global 100 report, an analysis of the over 100 billion “ideas” on the popular Web site, “Terrazzo” ranked third in the Home category, with a four-fold year over year increase in saves of +316%.
Understandably renowned for the artistic freedom it offers innovative architects and designers, terrazzo also exhibits unrivaled performance, with intact installations that are hundreds of years old.
Affordability
Terrazzo’s extreme durability and ultra-low-maintenance requirements mean that even pricier installations actually cost less on an annual basis than alternatives such as wood, carpet, vinyl sheet, vinyl tile, and porcelain or quarry tile.
In fact, the real-world savings of a terrazzo install can begin to accrue even before the epoxy has dried. A good example is the Pittsburgh International Airport Airside Terminal, winner of the National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association’s coveted Job of the Year Award for 2016. Equal parts art exhibit, history lesson, and public thoroughfare, the 70,000-square-foot installation was handled by Roman Mosaic and Tile of Manheim, PA using terrazzo aggregates from Arim-Inc of Palisades Park, NJ.
Roman Mosaic’s operations manager Doug Wilczek used terrazzo’s unique properties to craft the construction process in a way that would yield immediate savings to the customer: the citizens of Allegheny County. “We were able to install the new terrazzo floor over existing structures with zero issues,” says Wilczek, eliminating the cost and mess caused by removing old tile, marble, and concrete.
Environmentally Sound
The aggregates used to form the terrazzo are derived from a bevy of materials, ranging from quartz and marble to mother-of-pearl and glass—and recycled material is equally as suitable as newly produced. The use of terrazzo can in some instance translate into LEED points for those seeking to adhere to green-building standards.
What’s more, terrazzo doesn’t require harsh chemicals, steam, or even extremely hot water to keep clean: its non-breathable surface means that simply sweeping and mopping with warm water is typically all that’s required.
A Healthful Alternative
Terrazzo is unsurpassed in its ability to deliver an interior space that is inhospitable to bacteria, as well as to the spores and fungi that cause mold and mildew. In a 2006 report published by the Asthma Regional Council titled “Health Considerations When Choosing School Flooring,” terrazzo was rated as the “Much Better” choice for Halls and Entries, Classrooms, Libraries, Cafeterias and Restrooms and Kitchens.
“It’s hardly an exaggeration to say that the grout you see in many types of flooring will never be as clean again as it was when it was installed,” says Hamza Kahn, Arim-Inc. Relationship Manager. “With terrazzo, achieving that level of cleanliness and sanitation is really just a few mop strokes away because it is inherently stain-resistant and doesn’t give microbes a home where they can grow.”
For the Art of It
Terrazzo contractors work from an incredibly broad palette, enabling them to realize an architect’s vision by enabling levels of detail, color, and perspective that are unrivaled by any other medium. Roman Mosaic’s Wilczek, recalling the sprawling murals he helped create at the Pittsburgh International Airport, notes that “we were able to copy the artist’s very detailed designs…with terrazzo, the new floor could be designed to have any color or pattern imaginable.”
Of course, there might be some debate over just what constitutes great art. But what’s beyond debate is that no matter how you look at it—economically, environmentally, hygienically, and yes, even aesthetically—terrazzo is a great value.
It’s easy to understand why Terrazzo is trending strong in the public Zeitgeist!
Nilgun Bandari, Arim-Inc., https://www.arimstone.com, +1 646 541-9385, [email protected]
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