Earthen Floors: A Modern Approach to an Ancient Practice

Sukita Reay Crimmel has installed over 20,000 sq ft of earthen flooring in the past decade. As well as presenting extensively on this exciting technique, she founded From These Hands, a green and natural building company located in Portland Oregon which specializes in earthen construction. Sukita is also the developer of Claylin -- the first commercially available ready-made earthen floor product in North America. She holds a Bachelor of Science in environmental studies and architecture from the University of Oregon. She is considered one of the preeminent experts in the emerging field of earthen floors. James Thomson is a workshop facilitator with House Alive, one of the leading natural building training organizations in the country. His early experiences with alternative, mainly owner-built natural building projects grew into his current interest in integrating these practices into more conventional, urban homes. Since beginning to include earthen features, including floors, in sustainable renovations, James has become passionate about this satisfying, practical technique. He has lived on (or near) earthen floors for most of the past 10 years.

Foreword by Paula Baker-Laporte and Robert Laporte Acknowledgments Introduction SECTION 1 About Earthen Floors Chapter 1: The History of Earthen Floors Chapter 2: Understanding Earthen Floors SECTION 2 Materials and Tools Chapter 3: Materials Chapter 4: Tools SECTION 3 Preparing for the Pour Chapter 5: Making the Floor Mix Chapter 6: The Subfloor Chapter 7: Preparing the Work Area SECTION 4 Installing the Floor Chapter 8: Pouring the Floor Chapter 9: Finishing the Floor Chapter 10: Living on, Maintaining and Removing an Earthen Floor SECTION 5 Beyond the Basics Chapter 11: Artistic Touches and Other Techniques Chapter 12: Floor Experiments Chapter 13: Using Radiant Heat Chapter 14: The Future of Earthen Floors Conclusion Appendix A : Glossary Appendix B : References Appendix C : Resources Appendix D : Building a Compacted Gravel (On-Grade) Subfloor Appendix E : Oil and Wax Safety Notes Index