Earthen Floors: A Modern Approach to an Ancient Practice [Book Review]

Earthen Floors: A Modern Approach to an Ancient Practice
Earthen Floors: A Modern Approach to an Ancient Practice

“Earthen floors are ubiquitous in most of the world. They are the most accessible type of flooring to a vast portion of the human population. In the modern world earthen floors are still something of an oddity to most people, that is until they step foot on one. And then they are hooked for life.

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Stabilized Caliche Floors

Report on how to make cement stabilized caliche earth floors
Report on how to make cement stabilized caliche earth floors

Caliche: calcium carbonate formed in the soils of semiarid regions.

“I sifted the caliche through a chicken wire sieve to get rid of the larger material. This leaves a good size aggregate for a 4-5inch think pour, thicker floor better against moisture too (when the pour is too thin less ,than 3″, the mix will crack more, when setting).

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Adobe Block Floors

Adobe block floors are among the lowest cost, all natural, easiest to install floor options.
Adobe block floors are among the lowest cost, all natural, easiest to install floor options.

Readers often ask our advice about the most practical floors for do-it-yourselfers. If you’re building your own sustainable home, I suggest building floors on grade. This eliminates the need for posts, beams, floor joists, subflooring, toxic glues and other materials used to build typical wood framed floors.

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