An old kind of flooring is starting to make a comeback – earthen floor. The history of these floors dates back hundreds of years, but other materials like wood became the standard around the 13th century. When these floors were first used, they were made from hand packed dirt with a layer of straw on top for extra added comfort. Today the make-up has changed slightly, but the idea behind them is still the same. There are some real benefits of earthen floors, but there are also some downsides. But if you’re looking to change your flooring and can handle something a little radical, you might want to weigh the pros and cons.

New earthen floors are laid over an existing, common subfloor. The next layer is gravel tamped down to ensure the floor will be level. Next there is a layer of a mixture made up of clay, sand and fiber. The layers can vary in depth, but most earthen floors are between 1/8 inch and ¼ inch thick. If the layers are thin, they will dry faster but the thicker earthen floors are stronger but require a stronger subfloor. So far, the method isn’t all the different than the old earthen floor but modern floors have a finishing touch. The floors are applied with linseed oil then hemp oil. Lastly there’s a final cost of hard oil to make it shine and weather proof it. You can even find earth-friendly finishing oils and waxes from different manufacturers.

Benefits of earth floors:
• Less than a dollar a square foot to install.
• It can be installed over existing subfloor or wood floors.
• Comfortable to walk and stand on.
• Can be mopped and swept like other types of hard flooring

Disadvantages:
• Labor intensive, plus it may be hard to find someone in your area skilled in the process
• If installed in a high traffic area, you may have to install additional protection
• Scratches and dents more easier than other types of flooring
• If you don’t keep up on sealing, you may ruin the floor.

It’s an innovative “new” flooring that’s coming back in green construction and although it may not work for you, it does show out of the box thinking!