Before you try anything: always speak to a professional before cleaning, treating or applying any product to your stone. Every slab is different, and the wrong product can cause permanent damage. Contact us or a qualified stone restorer first.
Quick answer
First degrease your terrazzo: a film of oil and cleaner is often all that is dulling it. If it is still flat, the surface has probably been etched. Small dull areas on polished terrazzo can be buffed back with marble polishing powder, but restoring the shine across a whole benchtop means professional honing and re-polishing.
First, check what you are dealing with
- Flat, slightly greasy look everywhere: residue.
- Dull patches near the sink, cooktop or where drinks are served: etching.
- Whole surface dull and slightly rough: worn finish needing professional work.
What you need
- Hot water and dish liquid
- Microfibre cloths
Step by step
Degrease first
Wash with hot water and a good squeeze of dish liquid, rinse with clean water and dry with microfibre. Residue from oils and cleaners is the most common cause of a flat-looking surface.
Professional re-polish for the rest
A terrazzo specialist can re-grind, hone and polish the surface and replace missing chips.
Keep it that way
Protection film over the freshly polished surface stops the dullness returning.
What not to use on terrazzo
- Waxes, furniture polish and "stone shine" sprays that coat rather than polish.
- Vinegar, lemon juice or "natural" citrus cleaners: they etch terrazzo.
When to call a professional
A terrazzo specialist can re-grind, hone and polish the surface and replace missing chips.
Understanding dull surfaces and lost shine on terrazzo
Terrazzo damage shows as dull patches across chips and binder, stained binder, and occasionally loose chips.
In cement terrazzo, both the cement binder and any marble chips react with acid, so spills can etch the whole surface. Epoxy terrazzo is much more resistant.
A terrazzo specialist can re-grind, hone and polish the surface and replace missing chips.
Good to know
Terrazzo dulls unevenly because the binder and chips wear at different rates. A specialist regrinds the surface flat before polishing.
Stop it happening again
Whether yours is cement terrazzo and epoxy (resin) terrazzo, repairing it fixes today's mark; protecting it stops the next one. Our clear Stone Protection Film sits over the surface, so acids cannot etch it and liquids cannot soak in, and its self-healing top layer shrugs off fine everyday marks. Choose Gloss for polished terrazzo or Matte/Satin for honed and matte finishes. The protection is identical. It is installed across Sydney with a 10-year written warranty.
How we protect terrazzo · Fixing etch marks · Dull surfaces & lost shine on every surface