---
title: "Terrazzo versus mosaic flooring"
subject: "Building Technology"
chapter: 7
key: "semester_6/building_technology:terrazzo-vs-mosaic"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/terrazzo-vs-mosaic
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Terrazzo versus mosaic flooring

Building Technology · Chapter 7: Flooring

- Asked in: 2076 Bhadra, 3 marks
- Video: [MOSAIC FLOORING VS TERRAZZO FLOORING || Building Construction || Civil Engineering || Tricks](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1iqAy9RmOA) — JEN SAAB
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/terrazzo-vs-mosaic
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/building_technology/chapter-7

## Question

Differentiate between Terrazzo and Mosaic flooring.

## Short answer

Terrazzo uses cement with marble chips uniformly spread; less skilled, moderate cost. Mosaic uses small marble/glazed pieces set in patterns; requires skilled labour, more costly, decorative.

## Answer

Both are in-situ decorative floors of cement and stone, ground and polished.

| Point | Terrazzo | Mosaic |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Cement with marble chips mixed into the topping | Small marble, china or glazed pieces set in a pattern |
| Pattern | Random chip pattern | Planned pattern or design |
| Chip size | 6-12 mm chips, uniform | Pieces of varied size and shape |
| Topping | 6-12 mm thick, mixed and spread as one layer | Pieces pressed into a thin (about 3 mm) layer of cement paste |
| Labour skill | Less skilled | Skilled workers needed |
| Cost | Moderate | More costly |
| Finish | Smooth and uniform | Decorative, like a carpet |
| Use | Hospitals, schools, offices | Temples, halls, decorative spaces |

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Which has a random chip pattern?
   A. Mosaic
   B. Both planned
   C. Terrazzo
   D. Neither
   Answer: C. Mosaic has planned design. (Key point: Pattern)

2. Which has a topping of 6-12 mm?
   A. Mosaic
   B. Both
   C. Neither
   D. Terrazzo
   Answer: D. Mosaic is about 3 mm of pieces. (Key point: Topping thickness)

3. Which needs more skilled labour and is costlier?
   A. Mosaic
   B. Terrazzo
   C. Both equal
   D. Neither
   Answer: A. Terrazzo is moderate cost and less skilled. (Key point: Skill)

## Related in Building Technology

- [Construction of terrazzo flooring](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aterrazzo-flooring) — Building Technology, chapter 7, asked 4×
- [Construction of mosaic flooring](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Amosaic-flooring) — Building Technology, chapter 7, asked 2×
- [Ground floor with mosaic tiling and external wall](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Amosaic-ground-floor-wall) — Building Technology, chapter 7