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

[billc_lists@greenbuilder.com]

Scott Willing <willing@mb.sympatico.ca> wrote:

>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.

Yep, this has been discussed a fair bit.  The archives are a good 
place to look.

The sealers used are often linseed oil and/or beeswax.  You might 
also consider a siloxane sealer as discussed recently in another 
thread about earthen plasters.  I don't know what the downside of 
that would be, as I don't have a lot of experience with siloxanes. 
They may work well on a wall, but will they work on a floor?   It 
appears that Bill Steen is in the States again, maybe he'll shed some 
light on this. Bill?

-- 
Bill Christensen
billc@greenbuilder.com

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