Green Building Topics

Green Building Materials Guide

EARTHEN FLOORING

Considerations:

Earthen flooring is exactly what it sounds like – humble, natural earth can be compacted with straw or other fibers and stabilized with various natural oils to form attractive high-quality flooring.

Advantages of earthen flooring:

Eliminates construction waste – excess earth can be reincorporated into the landscape
Attractive, comfortable, slightly spongy surface, sometimes compared to leather
Inexpensive materials
Minimal to zero pollution – Earthen materials require only simple processing and little or no transport. Even when produced by a machine, a finished earthen slab is estimated to have 90% lower embodied energy than finished concrete. (Adapted from Adobe and Rammed Earth Buildings, 1984)
Durable with proper care, and repairable
Low maintenance, able to be swept or moist-mopped; properly sealed, stabilized earthen flooring is not dusty

Disadvantages of earthen flooring:

Labor intensive to install
High traffic areas such as entries or workspaces may require additional materials – such as flagstone – for protection
More vulnerable to scratching and gouging than hard tile or cement – but earthen flooring is more durable than vinyl because it is repairable.
Few local contractors are experienced with earthen flooring

Summary: Earthen Flooring

Earthen flooring can be a durable, inexpensive, environmentally sound, and uniquely aesthetic complement to a home or office. Because “dirt” is of course plentiful and locally available, earthen flooring virtually eliminates the waste, pollution, and energy necessary to manufacture a floor, and can save money.

Few local contractors are experienced with earthen floors, but the good news is that you can make your own floor with a little training, practice, and experimentation. One of the keys to a good earthen floor is the proper mixture of dirt, clay, and straw. (Stabilizers such as starch paste, casein, glues, or portland cement can be added for a harder floor.) Earthen floors are usually sealed with any oxidizing oil such as linseed or hemp oil.

For More Information:

ON THE INTERNET:

Natural Home Magazine (May 2003) “Feet on the Ground”
An excellent article on earthen flooring.

Greenbuilder Sustainable Building Sourcebook: Earth Materials
Specifications and installation

IN PRINT:

Earthen Floors (1996) by Bill and Athena Steen
This widely read pamphlet is a great resource, but was under revision and out of print at the time of writing. The authors can be contacted for updates at www.caneloproject.com

Many books on strawbale construction include sections on earthen flooring, including the following titles available through the Santa Cruz Public Library System:

The New Strawbale Home (2003) by Catherine Wanek - Catalog No: 693.997 WAN

The Straw Bale House (1994) by Athena and Bill Steen - Catalog No: 693.997 St8 (oversize)

Strawbale Building: how to plan, design, and build with straw (2000) By Chris Magwood and Peter Mack - Catalog No: 693.997

Buildings of Earth and Straw: Structural Design for Rammed Earth and Straw Bale Architecture (1996) by Bruce King - Catalog No: 693.2 KIN

TRAINING:

Solar Living Institute
Offers excellent hands-on training in earthen construction technologies, including earthen flooring.

Canelo Project
Training and literature from Bill and Athena Steen, widely recognized experts on natural construction.

Program Contact

Ecology Action

Phone: 831.426.5925
Fax: 831.425.1404
Email