Parkside Architectural Tiles

Gain access to full account management, exclusive launches & events and no more form filling.

Begin Your Journey

R Ratings Vs PTV - Comparison & The Future Of Slip Ratings

Common Tile Specification Mistakes And How To Avoid Them

The Different Types Of Tile Adhesive Explained

Choosing Floor Tiles For High Traffic Commercial Spaces

What is PTV? Understanding Slip Ratings And How They Work

What Are Terrazzo Effect Tiles?

How Responsible Sourcing Impacts The Future Of Tile Design

The importance of listening to people, not just following standards.

Material choice as part of inclusivity, not an afterthought.

EDIB isn’t a “nice to have”, it’s a design imperative.

Collaboration underpins progress.

What resonated with us the most:

Our take on "EDIB: What does beyond bare minimum look like?" Roundtable event from Material Source Studio

Tiles Made for Commercial Spaces

Pantone Colour of the Year: Why Surface Design Matters More Than Colour

An Evening with Scott Brownrigg

Parkside × Mosa Tiles

Parkside joined Elemental London

Introducing Mixture - Only Available at Parkside

Latest News

Tile Painting with Alusid

EDI: How do we design for all?

NEWH UK Art Auction Event Round-up

Parkside Architectural Tiles Now Comes to Manchester’s Material Source Studio

NEWH UK Art Auction Event

Hackney Artist Coco Lom x Parkside at CDW24

Discover our commercial tiles

OFFICE, Westfield

VIP Lounge, The Cumberland Hotel, Marble Arch

US Pavilion Biennale

Athesys

Adriatic LNG

Piccolino, Wilmslow

Offspring, King's Cross

Youles Honda Motorcycles, Manchester

Apricity, London

Alliance Group NZ, London

Lead Architect

Emma Carter

Lead Web Developer

Dylan Brain

Terrazzo effect tiles are a popular style of tile and are most recognised for their multi-tonal appearance. These tiles create a distinct look as they feature coloured material fragments which are suspended within each individual tile. 

When installed as part of a wider floor or wall installation, the terrazzo effect is visually striking.

However, using real terrazzo tiles is not always the best fit for all projects. Instead, terrazzo effect tiles can offer the look of real terrazzo, but with enhanced specifications which increase the usage potential of terrazzo within commercial settings.

Here is an overview of what terrazzo style tiles are and how they can be used within your next commercial tiling project.

The terrazzo technique was first developed in the 15th century in Italy. 

Known as pavimento alla Veneziana or seminato’, terrazzo tiles originally provided a resourceful way of reusing discarded marble remnants, which would be mixed with clay or cement to create flooring options for living quarters and terraces.

It wasn’t until the 1890s that the global appeal of terrazzo tiles spread, as during this time Italian craftsmen travelled to America, where they introduced the style to a global audience.

To this day, terrazzo remains as popular as ever, offering the perfect blend of luxury and practicality. 

Used as a wall and floor tile option, terrazzo tiles are commonly found in the likes of airports, offices, hotels and retail stores.

Real terrazzo tiles are made from marble, quartz or granite and are set in cement or a resin binder. They are cured, ground and polished in a factory.

, there is a reason why using a replica of real terrazzo is often necessary, especially in commercial tiling projects.

While real terrazzo is admired for its beauty, it can also present drawbacks for commercial flooring installations. Specifically, real terrazzo can often lack the requirements to meet safety, durability and practicality criteria. 

Very thick, which may often require adjustments to the floor level

Slippery underfoot, which may mean the required slip ratings cannot be complied with

Far heavier than porcelain or ceramic tiles

Porous, making it susceptible to water absorption

More expensive than terrazzo effect tiles

When premium, heritage or architectural prestige is the priority

Your budget and timeframes can accommodate specialist installation

Specific ratings relating to material safety or performance are not required

Your commercial project calls for specific material specifications to be met (i.e. slip rating)

To gain the look of terrazzo but at a reduced cost

To benefit from large formats and a varied design palette

When fast installation and predictable results matter

Re-levelling the floor or bolstering the structural load of the building to accommodate real terrazzo isn’t feasible

For a highly versatile wall or flooring option built for commercial use

Terrazzo effect floor tiles have been engineered to meet certain specifications required for commercial flooring installations. They offer a durable and practical choice both in terms of material properties and aesthetics.

In particular, neutral toned terrazzo tiles, which feature colours such as white, cream and grey, offer a lot of versatility. Not only do these classic tones look stylish today, but they can adapt to decor changes over time as your building evolves.

Elsewhere, terrazzo effect tiles can also be produced with bolder pops of colour to create more of a focal feature in the room. The individual fragments found within the tiles can also be smaller or larger, allowing you to fully customise the impactfulness of your flooring design.

While less common than floor tiles, it is possible to find terrazzo effect wall tiles. They can be paired with the same style of terrazzo effect flooring for a cohesive look. However, terrazzo wall tiles also offer many material benefits for the likes of bathrooms, washrooms and kitchens, especially compared with using real terrazzo.

One of the best ways to use terrazzo wall effect tiles is in place of a splashback, which is why they are commonly found in wet environments. Like all terrazzo effect tiles, these wall tiles provide a distinctive look with speckled aggregate patterns.

The chip sizes can also vary from fine to bold. These fragments can be set in a range of background colours, including neutral pastels and richer colour palettes. 

With terrazzo effect wall tiles, it’s also common to find matte surface finishes as well as the traditional satin or polished look. 

Overall, terrazzo effect wall tiles are a fantastic way to inject personality, not to mention practicality, into interior design projects.

Terrazzo Effect Tiles - Commercial Performance Considerations

Pendulum Test Value (PTV) for slip resistance, especially wet PTV ≥36 for public spaces, toilets & entrances

These are common requirements, but the exact needs of every commercial project can vary. For any help on terrazzo tile technical specifications, please view our product listings or brochures.

Alternatively, our tile experts are available over the phone. You can also speak with us in person at our design studios in London, Leicester, Manchester and Glasgow.

In Search Of Tiles For Your Next Project? Shop Our Terrazzo Effect Tiles UK

At Parkside, our terrazzo effect wall and floor tiles come in a vast range of colours, shapes and sizes. Better still, 

our terrazzo tiles also have a low environmental impact

 to improve the sustainability credentials of your project.

On our website, you’ll find our full range of terrazzo effect tiles with samples available to order.

If you have any questions about our commercial terrazzo effect tiles, please 

 to speak with our tile experts directly.

What Are Terrazzo Effect Tiles?

/ Insights

Explore Other Insights

R Ratings Vs PTV - Comparison & The Future Of Slip Ratings

Start your Vision

London - Material Source Studio

Leicester - Design Studio

Manchester - Material Source Studio

Glasgow - Material Source Studio

About Us

Products

Projects

Insights

News

Our Team

Gallery

Contact Us

Sustainability

Careers

Awards

Technical Services

40 Years

Cookie Policy

Privacy Policy

Terms & Conditions

Events