Application

Walls And Base

Terrazzo walls and bases often referred to in the industry a s vertical terrazzo and cove bases are designed to provide a seamless, highly sanitary, and visually continuous transition from the floor up the wall.Rather than utilizing precast units, a poured-in-place cove b a s e is typically formed directly on-site to wrap the bottom of the wall. To achieve this, installers apply a scratch coat of modified cement or epoxy matrix onto a wire lath or stable backer board. Metal divider strips, including a specialized rounded toe strip at the floor junction and a cap strip at the top terminal edge, are mechanically fastened to establish the height and profile of the base, which usually stands 4 to 6 inches tall.

Once the framing layout is secure, the vertical terrazzo mix is prepared. Because gravity works against a standard fluid floor mix, the vertical slurry uses a slightly stiffer consistency with a higher concentration of the binding resin or cement to ensure it adheres to the wall without sagging. The mixture is hand-troweled onto the vertical surface, packed tightly into the radiused corner of the cove base, and finished flush with the metal cap strip. For expansive accent walls, specialized lightweight epoxy formulations are heavily favored over cement, as they offer superior vertical cling, reduced overall structural weight, and unlimited vibrant color matching capabilities.

Finishing vertical surfaces and bases requires a specialized, labor-intensive approach compared to flat floors. Because large, heavy floor grinders cannot be used, technicians utilize smaller, hand-held pneumatic or electric angle grinders equipped with diamond-grit pads. The surface is kept wet during this process to control dust as the faces of the marble, or glass aggregates are carefully exposed. After the initial rough grind reveals the aggregate design, the vertical face is grouted to fill any pinholes, allowed to cure, and fine polished perfectly smooth texture. The final step involves thorough cleaning and the application of a penetrating sealer, creating a durable, impact-resistant wall surface that resists moisture and is incredibly easy to sanitize.