Terrazzo flooring has a long and rich history that dates back over 1500 years. The word Terrazzo originated from the Italian word for “terraces.” It was created purely by chance by Venetian marble workers. During the 15th-century workers discovered a new use for discarded chips from slab marble. They began setting odd size marble pieces from paying jobs in clay to surface the terraces around their own homes. The results were amazing. Throughout time, the process evolved and we now use glass, granite and quartz along with marble chips.
The combination of beauty, durability and low maintenance has led to a renaissance in the use of terrazzo over the past decade. Today, terrazzo flooring continues to provide the ultimate in durability and low maintenance, typically lasting the life of the building.
Choosing carpeting over terrazzo flooring may be a cheaper choice now but over time it becomes just as expensive as a terrazzo floor if not more. Carpeting doesn’t last forever, while a terrazzo floor technically does. Terrazzo flooring is durable and typically outlasts the life of a building itself.
References
http://www.ehow.com/about_5336231_history-terrazzo.html
http://arcadianflooring.com/maintenance-bht.html#bht