"Track That Mud In!" Earthen Floors Are Hot
by Alex Pasternack, Beijing, China on 02. 8.07
Okay, so forgoing hardwood or carpet in favor of dirt and mud may seem like going to extremes in the name of treehugging. But who can resist flooring that is this attractive, comfortable to walk on, heat-absorbing, and earth-friendly? The Times has a piece today on the growing buzz over rammed earth floors.
They are part of a small movement interested in “natural building” on the fringes of green architecture [The US Green Building Council doesn't even mention earthen floors in its current guidelines]. But they consider green architecture to be overly focused on energy efficiency, while they are concerned with the eco-friendliness of the entire process. The idea, according to Lloyd Kahn, a former shelter editor of the Whole Earth Catalog, is to use “materials that have as little processing as possible, like dirt, straw and bamboo.”
Because the floors can sometimes prove troublesome (high heels and table legs can cause cracks) a slowly growing number of "natural builders" like Bill and Athena Steen, both of whom grew up in adobe houses in the southwest, are working on making the floors "crack-free, solid, and really serviceable." (Mr. Steen’s canonical guide, “Earthen Floors,” is out of print, but an updated version is to be posted to the couple’s Web site, Canelo Project, within a few months.)
As durable as can be, among the greatest appeals of rammed earth construction (as also evidenced by this recent Architectural Review "Emerging Architecture" nominee) is the ease of getting rid of it -- and re-sourcing it if need be. And then there are the thermal benefits. The high density and low thermal conductivity of earthen materials makes them passive solar devices, easily capturing and retaining heat during the day and releasing it at night. But as warm as earthen floors are, there's no denying their cool factor. “When people walk in, they don’t say, ‘Oh, nice floor,’" says one natural builder. "Everyone gets down on their hands and knees to admire it.”
See Green Builder's sourcebook for information on natural builders near you. Landerland offers a DIY guide and House Alive offers general tips.
I grew up in an adobe home that had mud floors in 4 of the major rooms, including a high-traffic hallway.
Once tamped, treated, and sealed, they're very durable. I don't ever remember having to do work on our mud floors. My parents have owned the home since 1970, and the floors are still in great shape. That's 37 years, which probably means they last longer than wood.
They are very beautiful and warm in the winter. They are also really easy to make. Sand, Clay, water, tamp, sealer, done.
Similar floors have been used in adobe homes for who knows how long (hundreds of years, I'm sure).
Would be nice to not have to sweep the floor...So if your doggie poops, it's good for your floor - and you shouldn't pick it up? Hmm. Interesting idea.
Learn more about earth as a building material, in which approximately 1/2 of the population of the planet live, work or worship.
http://www.eartharchitecture.org
When I build my own home, I want a room that has a large sky light so that I can grow grass on the floor. The room might have a chair, and perhaps a foot stool. I don't know if the logistics of the plan would pan out, but i can still dream, right?
Martin said "That's 37 years, which probably means they last longer than wood."
My home has oak floors laid on hand-hewn beams that have lasted since the 1840s at least. The building was a water-powered mill in the 1700s, was converted to a home in the 1920s, and it still functions just fine. 37 years is NOTHING to a well-made wood floor; people comment on how beautiful the time-worn planks are all the time.
I like adobe floors, especially the modern sealed ones, but let's not overhype them please.
Yeah, I second the motion to not knock wooden floors ... I work in a building built in 1683 with a wooden floor and staircase. It is open to the public six days a week and thousands of people walk across them every month. They survive and only require slight maintanance once every 75 to 100 years.
Here in the UK, you will regularly see wooden floors that have survived several hundred years with little (or no) maintanance ... how long do dirt floors survive without proper care?
Dirt floors are an intriguing alternative to traditional floors, and I'm encouraged that this sectors of flooring industry is continuing to be creative in terms of the efforts offering customers alternatives. I think what Cory said is important in terms of understanding that wood flooring isn't necessarily the Evil Empire - they last and don't need to be replaced as often as other flooring choices. There are a lot of misconceptions there, I think. But, I've been reading a lot about dirt floors, and am beginning to move past my own misconceptions about them.
Thanks to Sewdough for the link. I'll have to do some more reading!