How to Install an Earth Floor

Earth floors--also called adobe or earthen floors--are growing in popularity for many reasons. Since they retain heat from the sun, they can potentially reduce heating costs. They also have less impact on the environment, and exhibit a natural, unique look. When created, earth floors are built up layer by layer and can include a radiant heat source in the base layer. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• tamper
• gravel
• finely screened clay
• sand
• straw
• steel trowel
• oxides, stains or colored clay
• broom
• linseed oil
• mineral spirits
• beeswax sealer or nut, fruit or tung oil

1. Prepare the ground by removing all topsoil and organic matter. Next, tamper the ground. Then lay a 12-inch bed of gravel and compact it well with a tamper. Make sure the base is level.

2. Mix 1 part finely screened clay to 3 parts sand in water to the consistency of thick cake batter. Add handfuls of straw. Pour over the gravel base in a 1- to 2-inch thick insulation layer.

3. Trowel to make it roughly smooth. When it is firm enough to put weight on the floor, rework the adobe with a steel trowel to press it together and bring the clay content to the surface.

4. Use a mix that contains a finer sand and chopped straw rather than whole straw pieces for the top layers. If a lot of cracking occurs, mix in more sand. Add oxides, stains, or pure colored clay to obtain different colors and shadings.

5. Install three more layers: one for a sub floor and two final layers. Make sure each layer is dry and firm before adding the next one. Sweep the floor between layers to remove dirt and dust. Dampen each layer before installing on top of it for good adhesion. Trowel and press the floor after each layer.

6. Seal with a coat of heated boiled linseed oil. Add three more coats of linseed oil thinned with odorless mineral spirits. For each subsequent coat, increase the thinner and decrease the linseed oil. Finish with a beeswax sealer or a coat of nut, fruit or tung oil.