About This Career

Applies a mixture of cement, sand, pigment, or marble chips to floors, stairways, and cabinet fixtures to fashion durable and decorative surfaces.

This career is part of the Architecture and Construction cluster Construction pathway.

A person in this career:

• Measures 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.
• Grinds surfaces with a power grinder, or polishes surfaces with polishing or surfacing machines.
• Cuts metal division strips and presses them into the terrazzo base for joints or changes of color to form designs or patterns or to help prevent cracks.
• Blends marble chip mixtures, places into panels, and pushes a roller over the surface to embed the chips.
• Modifies mixing, grouting, grinding, or cleaning procedures, according to type of installation or material used.
• Spreads, levels, or smooths concrete or terrazzo mixtures to form bases or finished surfaces, using rakes, shovels, hand or power trowels, hand or power screeds, or floats.
• Washes polished terrazzo surface, using cleaner and water, and applies sealer and curing agent according to manufacturer's specifications, using brush or sprayer.
• Grinds curved surfaces or areas inaccessible to surfacing machine, such as stairways or cabinet tops, with portable hand grinder.
• Positions and secures moisture membrane and wires mesh in preparation for pouring base materials for terrazzo installation.
• Fills slight grinding depressions with matching grout material and hand-trowel for a smooth, uniform surface.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 50 lbs., sometimes up to 100 lbs. You will need a lot of strength at this level.
• Work in this occupation involves bending or twisting your body more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves kneeling, crouching, stooping, and/or crawling more than one-third of the time
• Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
• Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
• Using muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring
• Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching
• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Exerting oneself physically over long periods of time without getting out of breath
• Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects
• Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

• Regular working hours and limited travel