How to Make Packed Earth Floors
A packed earth floor is also called a rammed earth floor and is made by creating a mud solution and tightly compressing it. After the floor is packed down, installers seal it with multiple layers of a water-resistant substance to make it more durable. The result is a floor that looks similar to natural stone and actually has a semi-polished appearance. Home owners can make their own packed earth floors, but the process takes a while. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Gravel
- Rake
- Pumice or perlite
- Concrete mixer
- Sand
- Clay
- Garden hose
- Soil compactor
- Straw
- Shovel
- Trowel
- Linseed oil
- Bucket
- Mop
- 30-mil plastic (optional)
Instructions
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1
Pour a 4-inch layer of gravel onto the floor smoothing it out evenly, if you live in an area with high annual rainfall. If you live in a cold climate, install at least 4 inches of pumice or perlite in the same manner to add insulation.
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2
Fill a concrete mixer with a combination of one part gravel, one part sand and one part clay. Turn the mixer on and allow the ingredients to combine thoroughly. If desired, you can mix the materials by hand, but it takes much longer.
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3
Spread the mixture onto the floor until it is 3 inches thick. Even out the top of the floor surface with a rake. Spray it with water from a garden hose just until the surface is damp. Place a soil compactor at one side of the floor and turn it on. Move the compactor slowly across the entire surface of the floor.
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4
Empty the mixer and refill it with six parts of sand, two parts of clay and one part of chopped straw. Allow the materials to combine and then add water a little at a time until the mixture looks like thick concrete.
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5
Spread the mixture onto the floor surface using a shovel and then use a trowel to smooth it out to a 1/2- to 3/4-inch thick layer. Continue until the entire floor is covered. Then wait until it dries completely and no damp spots are visible, which can take two to three days.
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6
Open a can of linseed oil and pour it into a bucket. Insert a mop into the oil and apply it to the floor until the entire surface is covered. The entire floor must moist, but do not allow puddles to form. Allow the floor to dry for 24 hours.
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7
Apply three more coats of linseed soil, allowing each to dry thoroughly before applying the next. After the final layer is applied, wait another two to three days before using the floor.
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Tips & Warnings
If your area has high levels of radon, install a 30-mil plastic barrier first to prevent the gas form seeping up into the home. Contact your county health department to determine if radon levels are a concern.
Do not use boiled linseed oil, which contains toxins.
