A step by step tutorial on making an earthen floor, sourced from a mix of materials, such as clay, sand, and straw, similar to cob and adobe. In this video you’ll see construction of an on-grade floor (sealed with oil), along with its foundation (insulated with pumice). Sukita Reay, author of Earthen Floors, demonstrates how it is done. For a lot more information check out Sukita’s website – http://www.claylin.com/
You can watch the video at www.youtube.com
I am interested in ways that I could increase the hardness or durability of the surface. Have you tried adding a small amount of cement or lime and compacting the floor similar to rammed earth but in a floor application?
I have not tried this, but I have seen earthen floors made by tamping them with damp ingredients.
Soil Cement is just ordinary concrete with the sand/gravel aggregate replaced by soil. This especially works well with rather sandy soil, but will also work with other soil types. The heavier soils with more clay content will probably require more Portland cement. Soil cement has been used to form walls, make floors, pave roads, stabilize river banks, etc.
Here is some information about formulas: Make it by mixing earth with Portland cement to the desired depth, add water and mix again. Tamp, and cover with plastic to let it cure properly. Use 6 to 16 percent cement by volume according to the density of the soil. The denser the soil (clay, for instance), the higher percentage of cement to use. Six percent translates to 1 part cement to 15 parts soil; 16 percent translates to 1 part cement to 6 parts soil.