Earthen Floors (eBook)

A Modern Approach to an Ancient Practice

Sukita Reay Crimmel, James Thomson (Autoren)

eBook Download: EPUB

2014
288 Seiten
New Society Publishers (Verlag)
978-1-55092-561-6 (ISBN)

Infos

This fully-illustrated manual covers the history, use and maintenance of earthen floors and features a guide to installing this durable, cost-effective alternative from scratch. Constructed natural materials, this beautiful, sealed, nontoxic flooring option is suitable for nearly any home and makes a perfect project for the DIY enthusiast.

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Down and dirty a complete step-by-step guide to making, installing and living with beautiful, all-natural earthen floors For most of human history, people have lived in durable, comfortable buildings made from natural materials such as soil, sand, rocks and fiber. All over the globe, these ancient traditions persist; a quarter to a third of the world's population today lives in houses built partially or entirely of earth. Conventional Western building techniques using industrial materials may save time and create efficiencies, but these perceived savings come at considerable financial and environmental cost. As well as boasting a unique and beautiful aesthetic, natural building techniques are accessible, affordable and nontoxic. Earthen Floors: A Modern Approach to an Ancient Practice is the first comprehensive, fully illustrated manual covering the history, use and maintenance of this attractive, practical flooring option. This detailed, fully-illustrated guide explains every part of the process, including: Sourcing and harvesting materials Preparing the subfloor Pouring, finishing and sealing the floor Living with and maintaining your earthen floor. Because information on creating quality earthen floors was not previously widely available, there have been some negative experiences. Drawing on the combined knowledge of the most qualified earthen floor practitioners, as well their own substantial experience, the authors deliver the definitive resource for this exciting technique, perfect for everyone from the novice to veteran builder.

Autor

lt;p> 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.

Inhalt

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

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 1.4.2014
• Verlagsort: Gabriola Island
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Freizeit / Hobby ► Heimwerken / Do it yourself
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Gesundheit / Leben / Psychologie
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie ► Ökologie / Naturschutz
• Themenwelt: Recht / Steuern ► Wirtschaftsrecht
• Themenwelt: Technik ► Architektur
• Themenwelt: Technik ► Bauwesen
• Themenwelt: Weitere Fachgebiete ► Handwerk
• Schlagworte: Architecture • Building Codes • color washes • Earthen floors • eco conscious building • Eco friendly • Environment • Finishing • Green Building • Green Design • green remodeling • green renovation • harvesting materials • Home Design • Maintenance • natural building • Natural Materials • natural plaster • Nature • pouring • sanding • Sealing • sourcing materials • subfloor • Sustainable living • Tradition
• ISBN-10: 1-55092-561-X / 155092561X
• ISBN-13: 978-1-55092-561-6 / 9781550925616