Can You Refinish a Terrazzo Shower Floor?

The Rustic

• The rustic terrazzo floor is exclusively used outdoors. The only exception to this would be floors for an indoor sauna or shower. The shower floor here would use only the rustic sort of terrazzo because it is, for all intents and purposes, an “outdoor” environment. A shower floor must deal with the specific problems of being “outdoors” since it is both regularly wet and subject to fluctuations in temperature. The regular shower floor might remain at 65 degrees F most of the year but go up to 100 as the hot shower hits it for minutes at a time.

Shower Floors

• The rustic floor for a shower would be identical to the flooring used in many pools. The flooring around the pool—sometimes within it—is a mix of granite and gravel, using different stones to add color, and is held together by a concrete style “glue.” It can be expensive compared with other options. But for those with the money, it might be worth the price for the sake of the absence of maintenance.

Finish

• You should never finish or re-finish a rustic terrazzo floor. One of the purposes of spending the extra money for the terrazzo as opposed to the much less expensive fiberglass or tile is that you never have to finish it. It is built to be durable and take the punishment of foot traffic, constant moisture and temperature fluctuations. The shower floor would be no different.

Durability

• It is possible that a terrazzo technician will use a slightly less durable floor for the shower. It will always be “rustic,” but since it will never freeze or be trod on by heavy boots or other footwear, the typical heavy-duty rustic approach might be toned down. This does not affect the lack of finish. Only the indoor, “polished” terrazzo needs to be finished. Even there, it needs to be finished only once.