Earthen floor
An earthen floor, also called an adobe floor, is a floor made of dirt, raw earth, or other unworked ground materials. It is usually constructed, in modern times, with a mixture of sand, finely chopped straw and clay, mixed to a thickened consistency and spread with a trowel on a sub-surface such as concrete. Once dry, it is then usually saturated with several treatments of a drying oil.
Benefits[edit]
- Variety of colors, textures, and materials
- Can be installed over nearly any subflooring
- Integrates well with in-floor radiant heat tubing
- One of the cheapest flooring methods, green or otherwise
History[edit]
Earthen floors were predominant in most houses until the mid 14th century in Europe, and persist to this day in many parts of the world.[1] In medieval times, almost all peasant housing had earthen floors, usually of hardpacked dirt topped off with a thin layer of straw for warmth and comfort.
In China, most cottages and smaller houses also had earthen floors, made of rammed earth and sealed with raw linseed.[2]
Earthen floors were used in ancient Greece,[3] and in many other countries in ancient times.
Earthen floors, along with stone and sometimes wood, were used as threshing floors.
Construction[edit]
In modern times, most earthen floors are often laid over the top of a subfloor of tamped gravel or cob or adobe, and then a mixture of clay, sand and fiber are mixed and leveled onto the subfloor. The finished layer can be 1/2 to 2 inches thick, and once dry is sealed with a drying oil (like linseed oil). Earthen floors can be laid over the top of previously installed wood floors but weight can become an issue.
Finishing[edit]
A drying oil like linseed oil is usually used to seal the floor and protect it from wear and tear. A final coat of a wax sealing finish (perilla oil or floor wax) can be used to increase durability and lustre.
References[edit]
- ^ Gies, Frances & Gies, Joseph, Life in a Medieval Village
- ^ Mitsu,Ahn , Developments in History: China
- ^ McAllister, Marian Holland; Bradley A. Ault (2005). The Excavations at Ancient Halieis: The Houses: The Organization and Use of Domestic Space. Indiana University Press. p. 103. ISBN 0-253-34710-6.
External links[edit]
