Life Cycle for a Lifetime

Found to be in good-to-excellent condition, the floors have required only repairs of chips or minor cracks and an occasional resealing, along with routine maintenance, to keep them performing beautifully for over a century.

“Terrazzo was obviously a good choice; 100 years later, we are still using it,” said Rebecca Nielsen, Historic Preservation Program Specialist and LEED Accredited Professional with US General Services Administration in Auburn, WA. “The terrazzo is in really great shape and looks great. We are proud of it and feature it.”

“Once terrazzo is in, it stays forever. It’s easier to maintain and clean than wood, and it takes a lot to damage it. It stands up to just about anything. As an added benefit, it’s pretty, and the designs and colors possible are limitless.”

At Portland’s courthouse, the only signs of age in the terrazzo today are slightly worn spots in front of the post office windows where lines formed for 40 years and a couple of settlement cracks.

“Otherwise, it doesn’t look worn,” Nielsen said. “You can’t tell it’s 100 years old.”

When the carpet was removed in Yakima’s courthouse in 2009, restorers declared the original terrazzo underneath “in relatively good condition considering the age.” They uncovered minimal cracking and a few deep scratches, along with small holes made by carpet tack strips. Careful color matching was recommended for minor repairs and refinishing.