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Green Architecture Mar 17, 2008

Smart Green Home Design Option - Earth Floors

Earth floors, sometimes called adobe floors, are pretty cool. I had some pals put one it and I've done the planning for my own, although, in the end we went with different flooring. If you're interested in a good looking, inexpensive, earth friendly (literally) floor than an earth floor could work for you.

Basics of earth floors:

Earth floors are made of a mix of about 20% clay with silt, 80% aggregate, and cement can be added to improve durability. This dirt mix is laid on crushed rocks and the surface is sealed with both a hardener and a surface cover like linseed oil. Some people even incorporate hot water tubes embedded in the floor to provide heating, and other design elements are worked in as well, such as tone and shade.

Benefits of earth floors:

Extremely low in cost - about one dollar per square foot is typical, and that includes labor. I actually know a family who pulled it off for less.

Looks very nice - which is of course a personal taste issue. I think they look great though. They also feel nice, a wee bit soft, but not too soft.

You're barely putting any strains on the environment when you install an earth floor. It doesn't create pollution, or a big energy loss, and the materials you don't use for the floor can simply be recycled into the earth. One major downside of construction of any sort is the waste it creates. Earth floors just don't create the same waste.

Not a lot of upkeep involved. Your floor can be swept, mopped, and spilled on with no issues.

Down-side of earth floors:

Really labor intensive. You build an earth floor layer by layer, slowly. This is actually why we didn't end up using this technique, on our own house. Had we been able to set aside more time, it would have been ok, but earth floors take a lot of work.

Not many professionals in home building know how to do them, so you're looking at finding a specialist contractor, doing it yourself, or hiring an outside business. Note that it's not impossible to do it yourself, it just take a while to install.

If you're not a professional, or expert on earth floors you could make some vital install mistakes. Nothing that's going to ruin your home, but you might miss a step that makes your floor truly durable. When incorrectly done, earth floors can be easily scratched or chipped.

The best way to learn about creating earth floors is to attend a building of one, or a workshop on installation, it's way better to learn hands on.

For instance, near where I live there was a Three-Layer Earthen Floor Workshop that just happened, and in New Mexico it was easy to find a workshop too. The avaibility of something like this is going to depend on where you live. Check with local community centers, building supply shops or your chamber to find out more.

If you just want more info, most books on adobe, straw bale, or cob homes have a earth floor component. Take a look at the following resources:

The Harder They Come: Unstabilized Floor Using Road Base

The Sourcebook for Green and Sustainable Building

How To Pour A Rammed Earthen Floor/Adobe Floor

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