Earthen floors: Floors made out of dirt
Lots of eco-friendly flooring options out there these days, from carpet made from recycled soda bottles, to bamboo, to cork.
How about a floor made out of dirt? That's right. Dirt. Earthen floors are just what they sound like according to an article on Triple Pundit: Dirt compacted with straw or other fibers, stabilized with natural oils.
Here are some of the benefits:
On the disadvantages, earthen flooring is labor intensive and it is more easily scratched than tile or cement.
Another huge disadvantage is that there are few contractors experienced in installing earthen floors. Here is a tutorial from ehow on building your own, but beware, it's rated "Challenging."
How about a floor made out of dirt? That's right. Dirt. Earthen floors are just what they sound like according to an article on Triple Pundit: Dirt compacted with straw or other fibers, stabilized with natural oils.
Here are some of the benefits:
- Relatively inexpensive
- Attractive looking
- Minimal to zero pollution
- Up to 90% lower embodied energy than finished concrete.
On the disadvantages, earthen flooring is labor intensive and it is more easily scratched than tile or cement.
Another huge disadvantage is that there are few contractors experienced in installing earthen floors. Here is a tutorial from ehow on building your own, but beware, it's rated "Challenging."
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