What Do Terrazzo Workers and Finishers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Terrazzo Workers and Finishers apply a mixture of cement, sand, pigment, or marble chips to floors, stairways, and cabinet fixtures to fashion durable and decorative surfaces. They also measure designated amounts of ingredients for terrazzo or grout according to standard formulas and specifications, using graduated containers and scales, and load ingredients into portable mixer.

Other tasks include:

• Grind surfaces with a power grinder or polish surfaces with polishing or surfacing machines.
• Cut metal division strips and press them into the terrazzo base for joints or changes of color to form designs or patterns or to help prevent cracks.
• Blend marble chip mixtures, place into panels, and push a roller over the surface to embed the chips.
• Modify mixing, grouting, grinding, or cleaning procedures, according to type of installation or material used.
• Spread, level, or smooth concrete or terrazzo mixtures to form bases or finished surfaces, using rakes, shovels, hand or power trowels, hand or power screeds, or floats.
• Grind curved surfaces or areas inaccessible to surfacing machine, such as stairways or cabinet tops, with portable hand grinder.

We asked Terrazzo Workers and Finishers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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63% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 56% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Terrazzo Workers and Finishers clean installation site, mixing and storage areas, tools, machines, and equipment, and store materials and equipment. They modify mixing, grouting, grinding, or cleaning procedures, according to type of installation or material used.

A typical day for a Terrazzo Worker and Finisher will also include:

• Move terrazzo installation materials, tools, machines, or work devices to work areas, manually or using wheelbarrow.
• Clean chipped area, using wire brush, and feel and observe surface to determine if it is rough or uneven.
• Wet concrete surface and rub with stone to smooth surface and obtain specified finish.
• Spread, level, or smooth concrete or terrazzo mixtures to form bases or finished surfaces, using rakes, shovels, hand or power trowels, hand or power screeds, or floats.
• Fill slight grinding depressions with matching grout material and hand trowel for a smooth, uniform surface.

We asked some Terrazzo Workers and Finishers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	43% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	43% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	60% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	8% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	7% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	20% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Terrazzo Workers and Finishers also position and secure moisture membrane and wire mesh in preparation for pouring base materials for terrazzo installation. They may also chip, scrape, or grind high spots, ridges, or rough projections to finish concrete, using pneumatic chisel, hand chisel, or other hand tools.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Terrazzo Workers and Finishers Sprinkle colored marble or stone chips, powdered steel, or coloring powder over surface to produce prescribed finish. They might also Repair concrete by cutting out damaged areas, drilling holes for reinforcing rods, and positioning reinforcing rods, using power saw and drill.

In addition, they Cut metal division strips and press them into the terrazzo base for joints or changes of color to form designs or patterns or to help prevent cracks.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Fill slight grinding depressions with matching grout material and hand trowel for a smooth, uniform surface.

To some Terrazzo Workers and Finishers, it is also their responsibility to Spread, level, or smooth concrete or terrazzo mixtures to form bases or finished surfaces, using rakes, shovels, hand or power trowels, hand or power screeds, or floats.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Terrazzo Worker and Finisher, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

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