SB: Earthen Floor and Water (was Re: SB: SB Questions)

["Scott Willing" <willing@mb.sympatico.ca>]

> * If the plumbing underneath it gets a leak (as just happened to a
> neighbor of mine with a concrete slab), you don't have to concrete
> saw/jackhammer up the whole thing and re-pour. Chances are that you'll
> be able to remove a small portion where the problem is, then re-lay it
> to match.

PMFJI

Having lived through some plumbing disasters and now living in a 
house without plumbing...

For a long time I swore that if I got to build a house to my own specs, I'd 
want it to be virtually impervious to plumbing mishaps, so that I could 
even hose down interior floors if I felt like it. That fit nicely with my 
assumption, at the time, that I'd go the concrete slab route.

However I've since learned about the idea of an earthen floor and 
earthen plasters and find it very appealing. (Mostly but not exclusively 
for environmental reasons.)

So, forgive the earthen floor newbie question, but do earthen floor 
people do something special in kitchen / bathroom / laundry areas? 
What happens if you dump a bucket of water? Mud floor? (Geez, I 
sound like my mother...)

I presume that some sort of finish is applied to seal the surface to a 
degree, and I think I've seen linseed oil mentioned. I just used linseed 
oil for the first time last summer to finish a small outdoor wooden 
structure (again, for environmental reasons; I wasn't keen to use some 
chemical concoction). Isn't it highly flammable? I understood from the 
notes on the container that a linseed oil-soaked rag can even combust 
spontaneously.

You know... I should probably just check the archives. I really haven't 
researched this thoroughly.

But if you feel like giving forth, I'm readin'

-=s

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from the list, send a message to:
   <strawbale-unsubscribe@crest.org>

or for the digest to:
   <strawbale-digest-unsubscribe@crest.org>

Please send any list administration questions to
strawbale-owner@crest.org