Earthen Floor Installation

This is the installation of a simple earthen floor made from clay, sand, straw, and cattail fluff.
Bellow are some affiliate links to tools helpful for this process. I receive a small commission if you buy through these links, at no cost to you.
Laser level: amzn.to/3UIkOLC
Cement mixer: amzn.to/3hbQPhu
Plastic trowel: amzn.to/3UWNv85
Wooden trowel: amzn.to/3VINuFE
Pool trowel: amzn.to/3FzIjm2
Get your Radical Gastronomy merch here: www.radicalgas...

[@Firedog-ny3cq]

I grew up in Northern New Mexico. The first house we lived in had mud floors. This was back in 1960. The finish coats were ox blood mixed with linseed oil. The color was a deep, dark red and was as tough as concrete. Beautiful floors.

[@radicalgastronomy]

I would love to do an ox blood floor! My understanding is that the Adobe mix contained fresh cow manure and wheat paste. I love that territorial style.

[@badawesome]

The Ox will not be happy. @@radicalgastronomy

[@LavenderLori406]

The floor LOOKS calm. It's so SO beautiful and I love that I could be grounded INSIDE my home.

[@radicalgastronomy]

It changes the whole vibe of the family.

[@amiramarzouk4284]

This is a real hard working man!!! The floors look great!

[@radicalgastronomy]

Thanks! This is the best kind of work. Do it once and enjoy for a life time.

[@RedandAprilOff-Grid]

Looks good! We love our earthen floor! We think the cracks add interest and texture. We stabilized ours by sweeping in fine dirt and then we sealed the whole thing with oil and wax.

[@radicalgastronomy]

I am cool with a couple small cracks, but I have some larger ones from the settling that I will fix. Plus, there is little information available on repair, so adding some would be good. Would you add links to your videos here, for others to watch? It’s great to have a few approaches to understand the concepts.

[@RedandAprilOff-Grid]

Sure! Here is a link to our video doing the bottom layer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXS5e4WXr7Bjl68

[@RedandAprilOff-Grid]

and here is our video showing the top coat and sealing of the earthen floor: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2HZeaywhdKNZtk

[@je-fq7ve]

i like your work. Since you have the laser level. I would have snapped a line around the room with a chalk line. then put the screed to chalk line and just use a torpedo level to bring it into level.

[@radicalgastronomy]

I hear you. I find this method works well with the thick material. It doesn’t float like concrete. Either way, though.

[@sandiverley1220]

The Dustcrete is amazing! I can’t wait to use this on my build. Thank you for sharing! This floor is perfect! I’m now even more excited to get underway!

[@radicalgastronomy]

Outstanding! Best of luck.

[@rbpytc]

To address the cracks, no need to remove material. You can pour a clay slip, even over the oil finish. Squeegee it flat and it will fill the cracks. Give it a month to dry, and fill any remaining cracks with more slip. Repeat until satisfied. Oil finish can be re-applied, and you get a neat 'crazing' effect to the already lovely floor. Great work!

[@radicalgastronomy]

Awesome. A little cattail fluff in that slip might help larger cracks fill without re-cracking, too.

[@MariaSousa-gd6zw]

Simplesmente lindo e confortável.

[@danielfranks6330]

Very nice job!

[@radicalgastronomy]

Thank you

[@maxi-me]

Awsome job! Thanks for sharing. I had considered just leaving the dirt floor that mother nature provided for us all but you can never seem to sweep up all the dust. I've now decided to remove all the dirt and just not have a floor. It's one less thing to worry about.

[@T0MME0]

I wonder, would adding some water to your dry subfloor layer you hand tamped help with the uneven compaction?

[@radicalgastronomy]

We began adding some water to it, but the clay just stuck to the jumping Jake tamper we tried to use. Ideally, with the right mix of clay, sand, and rocks, a road base should compact well even when dry. It would be a ton of work to mix all that material with water and “pour” it into place. This approach got really close to what I’m after. I think it will be flawless with a plate compactor, next time.

[@T0MME0]

@@radicalgastronomy Looks good, thanks for the info.

[@liveedgeaudio8826]

@@radicalgastronomy Would tamping in thinner lifts work better?

[@radicalgastronomy]

We tried, but the clay was too sticky. More sand in the mix would have helped.

[@TheEnigmaticmuse]

Would oiling the tamper help prevent sticking?

[@StarOnTheWater]

I want this in my house. Nobody does it in Germany, even though it is, of course, traditional (probably all over the world?). It can even be used with floor heating. Nor sure if it's legal here haha

[@radicalgastronomy]

It blows my mind how bureaucrats want to tell us what we are allowed to build our homes with, and how most people just go along with it.

[@TheEnigmaticmuse]

I see you mentioning building a main house. What are you going to do in your bathrooms? Ive been watching Tadelakt videos and it looks so beautiful!

[@radicalgastronomy]

I’d love to try it! I may do a tadelakt shower.

[@jenn1174]

Great energetics

[@radicalgastronomy]

It can be felt.

[@_SunRa_]

The whole place looks really beautiful ! Thanks for that informative video. I build a lot for myself and other people- I'm so tired of using toxic building materials...

[@radicalgastronomy]

Thank you. That toxic crap is quicker, and easier, but there is no substitute for the feeling of a natural build. There is some more footage of this building in my latest video, if you’re interested!

[@JohnboyCollins]

Brings to mind the absurdity of considering the cost of resources to be the same everywhere on earth yet we tend to make that assumption when we consider the economics of building.

[@bradleywhite9118]

You had me until 11:27, then a belief in fairies prevailed .....

[@radicalgastronomy]

You mean electricity? Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it isn't there. ;)

[@jimjones26]

I want to build a rammed earth home and do a earthen floor. Cannot wait to get started. Thanks for showing us this and telling us what you would have done different.

[@radicalgastronomy]

Sounds awesome. You'll love it.

[@RESMITHcarpentry]

I'm considering this type of floor as I think they are so beautiful. How do you find it holds up to furniture legs like chairs or tables?

[@rongray4118]

Love the floor! Looking forward to our modified Earthship style cabin having the same. Had a heart attack last month so I am in slow mode until the weather warms up. Love your Effort and Work and sharing all of it with us!! Blessings!!

[@radicalgastronomy]

Well here’s to a speedy recovery! The earthen floor is so nice to live on. You won’t regret doing it.

[@tomeubank3625]

How resilient is your beautiful floor to scraping and gouging by furniture; e.g., tables & chairs? If damaged, can it be repaired and/or "refinished"?

[@radicalgastronomy]

It is almost like concrete. We use area rugs under furniture that moves, like dining chairs, but the dogs claws have done no damage in the traffic areas. I’ll have a video on repairs, at some point. It should be as simple as mixing a new batch and floating it into damaged areas, then re-oiling.

[@dansisco3076]

This is the future of sustainable and toxin Free building! Very watchable enjoyable video..... thank you 🌏✌️

[@radicalgastronomy]

Hey thanks! Yeah, miss me with all that toxic gick.

[@solosailorsv8065]

Friend, please read your local Code and Permit requirements before you spend your valuable time and money. There are fewer & fewer places in the USA where this can Pass the Inspections. Codes are often defined by big business that make Manufactured (toxic) building products

[@prscustom2112]

I’m just learning about earth floors today… this is amazing!!!

[@alejandrapaz1786]

Thanks for sharing your experience. It's been very useful. Greetings from the Argentinian Patagonia.

[@radicalgastronomy]

I’m so glad! Greetings.

[@starkusmc1981]

Just found your channel. It's great to see all the work that goes into it and you talking about things you may have done differant. I'll be playing around with a few things to see what works in my area for a good build. Thank you.

[@PMGTV.]

Wax before or after oil? Can I mix oil and wax and coat at the same time? Not to be lazy but to better blend the oil and wax together? Thank you for sharing.

[@jasonlightfoot4145]

Are you in the San Luis Valley? If so would love to meet up and pick your brain. I just bought 40 acres out by Mosca and looking to buy a different property closer to Saguache. I will be trying some of these methods and would love to talk with someone who has already done it.

[@radicalgastronomy]

I’m over the hill in the NFV. Come on over and check it out. You can interview me and I’ll post it. [e-mail]

[@ericdpeerik3928]

Playing in the sandbox, at your age.... well done!

[@brentdobson5264]

Electromagnetic grounding ( yup ) feels good just to look at it ❤ !

[@radicalgastronomy]

Absolutely feels unlike conventional houses. It's calming to live in.

[@A2J_Tim]

you could have plummed in floor heat into that when you did it, In floor heat is the most efficient form of heat.

[@radicalgastronomy]

That certainly could be done.

[@roiad876]

earthen floor and radiant floor can be blended in together? or is it redundant?

[@radicalgastronomy]

Absolutely. Though a good passive solar design can use the floor as a heat battery, adding radiant tubing can be a great move. I plan to do this in the main house, and hook it up to solar collectors and a 600 gallon hot water bath. This will heat the floor, and the domestic hot water. There is some up front cost, but those are two big energy requirements eliminated, if you can swing it.

[@roiad876]

@@radicalgastronomy I'd like to get updates in your implementation if you do go for it, good luck.

[@radicalgastronomy]

@@roiad876 I’ll post videos of everything.

[@tedwardhall]

Brother the barefoot bit is golden Grateful to find your channel. Would love to be in touch about our passive build designs and credit your channel, we gotta document what we are doing Love dustcrete

[@radicalgastronomy]

I’m in. Let’s change the world.

[@MildlyCreative]

What's the song playing in the background? (The slide blues playing in the first 5 minutes)

[@radicalgastronomy]

Pale rider blues by Mini Vandals

[@MildlyCreative]

@radicalgastronomy Thanks, and for the quick reply, too.

[@frankhoffman3566]

I like the concept, but bags of clay powder are not cheap. Alternatively, you would need a supply of natural clay, but not all of that is of necessary quality. I suppose is someone is remotely off grid, making do with found resources would be necessary. I think the temptation and cost will often cause the default to a concrete slab floor - but I still admire the use of the ancient ideas

[@radicalgastronomy]

Most subsoil is suitable for this

[@FLOORINGUNIVERSITY]

THANKS FO THE LIME PUTTY VIDEO

[@suriyadunya9994]

How to do u insulate the bottom of floor. Does it get cold in cold weather? Is sand must mix in your technique? Whats the advantage. There is mud houses here built with clay and water only

[@radicalgastronomy]

There is a six inch (12cm) layer of lava rock for insulation. It works great. Sand is only required if the local soil doesn’t have enough.

[@roddoel1028]

Fine work, Great sound track.

[@boomdiddyah]

Beautiful! Are the floors rough? Or do mops easily glide over them?

[@radicalgastronomy]

A mop gliding finish can be achieved with 5 coats of oil and a wax finish. Wax would need to be reapplied about every two years to keep it that way. Ours is totally moppable, but it is not the same feeling as mopping tile.

[@killswitchstunta8269]

legendary video

[@radicalgastronomy]

Thanks!

[@FLOORINGUNIVERSITY]

MAN THIS GUYS GOOOOOD

[@apricotcomputers3943]

Look ma... NO CEMENT 😂

[@justesaint-louis864]

Hi to you. So glad I found your channel. I was searching for solutions for my cottage on my "also radical" homestead. so, your wood log wall are astonishing. Totally going to do that. But for your floor shown here would you do it in a 4b zone? How comfortable is your floor in winter time? Would appreciate your comment about this. Thank you very much. Hope to watch more videos.

[@radicalgastronomy]

I would absolutely do it in 4b, and would use the thermal mass heat storage potential to my advantage. Sun facing widows, or in floor heat, or a rocket mass heater makes the floor warm through the night. Insulate well and it will be your favorite part of the house. I really like lava rock for this, if you can source it. I’ll be building a rocket mass heater this season. Glad to know you’ll be here for it!

[@justesaint-louis864]

@@radicalgastronomy Absolutely, I'll check that. Thanks for your answer. Found that we seem to head in the same direction. Yes also checking for alternative way to heat my place. And cooking and preserving food also. I understood you were a professionnal chef. Very interesting I'll be following your videos. Thanks a lot.

[@carolewarner101]

Beautiful! Would've been very nice/helpful if you would've shown pictures of the cracking and settling issues you experienced. Would also be nice if you could post recipes of your mixes, but I'll go back through and take notes as I think you explained most of it pretty clearly. Thanks SO much for sharing this!

[@radicalgastronomy]

Thanks. I will do a future video covering the cracks, and their repair. Having mix recipes in the description is also a good idea.

[@carolewarner101]

@@radicalgastronomy I'll be on the lookout for it, thanks!

[@TheEnigmaticmuse]

So if you add lime to the mix, is it more difficult to repair if there is damage to it at some point?

[@radicalgastronomy]

It’s probably the same in terms of repair, but it may be more prone to crack. A lime stabilized floor is more rigid than a straight clay floor. I can’t speak with authority on the subject, as I’ve never tried it.

[@boardwalkbw7130]

Beautiful!!!! New Sub!

[@FLOORINGUNIVERSITY]

APPROVED

Why the cat tail fluff ? Is it for sheer strength and against cracks ?

[@radicalgastronomy]

It is. Typically, chopped, screened straw is used. The final look is a bit “corky”. I wanted a more leather-like finish, so I used the cattail. It worked pretty good.

[@boomchaka7762]

Is there a good substitute for cattail? I don’t have any in my area. Also do you think you could add color pigment to either the finish layer or the linseed oil sealant? Thanks and nice work!

[@radicalgastronomy]

Most of these floors have chopped, screened straw in the final layer. Natural pigments can be added to the clay mix, or you can seek out different colors of natural clay.

[@boomchaka7762]

@@radicalgastronomy awesome. Thanks for the reply!

[@lowellirish]

Really nice job!!!

[@radicalgastronomy]

Thanks!

[@keithtauber4153]

I admire anyone who can spend time on their knees. I have never been able to do that. I think I may have hurt them playing football in my earlier days. Now when I get on them they hurt me even with knee pads. Flooring is not something I can do. But this came out great. Hats off to you sir.

[@radicalgastronomy]

Oh man, I feel for you. Football is rough on the body. My sons played, and it cost them, too.

[@GotToThink4yourself]

Do you think a solar heated insert in the lower portion of the floor would work for heating?

[@radicalgastronomy]

Totally.

[@loveu8910]

If there’s no wax how do you clean it. Just by sweeping. What will happen if you mop it? Does it keep a lot of dirt?

[@radicalgastronomy]

The thing about linseed oil is that it forms a polymer when it dries. In fact, before vinyl flooring, there was linoleum. This was made by mixing fine sawdust or cork with linseed oil and applying that to burlap to make tiles. My floor needs another coat of oil, but it is totally sweep and moppable. You want to keep adding coats until water beads on the surface. Wax can certainly be added as a finish coat, if you want a glossier sheen, but it isn’t necessary. Even during mud season our floor cleans up beautifully. We mop it everyday.

[@GiGiRenea]

Doesn't the plastic or wax interrupt the grounding? I love what you've done btw

[@radicalgastronomy]

There are several tons of earth on top of the plastic, and it is in contact with the bond beam of the earlier structure. I haven’t tested it with a meter, but that would be interesting.

[@GiGiRenea]

@@radicalgastronomy could put it in a video.

[@radicalgastronomy]

@@GiGiRenea yup. This subject is wild. Just the mention of grounding causes some folks to straight loose their minds! 🤣

[@StArikAriel]

Earthen/clayfloors break quick when stuff falls on it. Cement only

[@GreyDeathVaccine]

Superb!

[@kingsgambit7734]

Is it just me or anyone else think radical gastronomy reminds them of a hollywood actor?

[@ShrimanYogaAndVedicAstrology]

Wonderful. Sustainable living.

[@Somewhere-In-AZ]

Thanks for admitting what mistakes were made and how you handled them. I love that. I want dirt floors and my kids think I’m crazy but I’m gonna do it anyway. 😆🤷‍♀️ They will see. The “Nito Project” guy is their age, and if my boys aren’t careful I’ll leave my house to him. 🤣😂

[@radicalgastronomy]

🤣👍

[@ГалинаМалина-е4и]

Здравия вам! Пол под ножками стульев, дивана не проваливается? Глина, она же не очень крепкая?

[@volleydave2012]

Yes, a concrete guy, so how far can you go?

[@jackiephi6310]

❤❤❤ that’s brilliant. I’ve wanted an urban floor for 50 years. I didn’t know about them until I was 10.❤❤❤ times running out

[@jackiephi6310]

Earthen floor , not urban floor. Sorry

[@Therehabanddocumentationguru]

Can you do this in moist environment? (Virginia)

[@TheEnigmaticmuse]

I've read you can add lime to the mix when constructing adobe homes in humid climates to stabilize it. Worth looking into.

[@petroHare]

How would this hold up the boreal forest of north eastern Ontario? I'd be concerned about snow melts and rain. Great info, thanks!

[@radicalgastronomy]

I would set ceramic tile into the Adobe, around the door, and leave muddy boots there. If we are talking about a porch, as long as it has adequate eve coverage to keep driving rain from pummeling it, it should hold up great. In a wet location, I would do 6 coats of oil and two of wax.

[@Player456-xy1gs]

My left ear likes this...

[@boardwalkbw7130]

I thought concrete had to be added?

[@radicalgastronomy]

If so, cracks are more likely, and cannot be repaired.

[@boardwalkbw7130]

So much fun learning all this...absolutely love your home@@radicalgastronomy

[@radicalgastronomy]

@@boardwalkbw7130 Thanks!

[@chrisrobbins1488]

How thick does an earthen finish need to be if you’re doing this on an existing concrete floor?

[@radicalgastronomy]

3/4” is enough

[@peteroshea4273]

Really interesting. Thanks for taking the time to video tape given you are already a one man operation I know that extra wasn't easy. TY

[@radicalgastronomy]

You are welcome. Video production is certainly an added workload, but providing some value for others in the process is worth it!

[@bus535joyfully3]

Love the barn doors too. Love all of it.

[@MisspokenOne]

Would you recommend it for a greenhouse?

[@radicalgastronomy]

I would, but I would wax it after the linseed oil cures.

[@haukbayer4510]

Great job. We work with a lot of clay cob mixtures in different applications, wall floor sealing. The tricky thing is the mixture of the filling materials like sand and that is something one has to test out at times. But good thing is that it can be fixed.

[@radicalgastronomy]

I certainly have learned that substrates are critical. Any tips for crack repairs?

[@haukbayer4510]

@@radicalgastronomy I've not dealt with oiled earth surfaces. My guess is that through the oiling of the cob changed the chemistry and properties of the material. I would create a similar test piece and cut a piece out of it. Then create a mixture either out of the cut out material and oil you used for this you would have to crunch the cut out material, or I'd create a mixture of the base earth material you used with oil and maybe some water and compact that into the slightly opened crack. To smoothen the surface I'd use a ceramic stone as used for Tadelakt (Maroccan chalk plaster). These are suggestions. I hope you have fun in creating a solution for your cracks. If you would live somewhere reachable for me I'd come but unfortunately the Ocean separates us.

[@YussefAmalK33n]

A good healthy laugh. No shoes! 😂

[@radicalgastronomy]

🤣

[@aa-eq7fv]

I swear he's Robocop

[@radicalgastronomy]

Stop resisting

[@VirginiaRichards-ut4di]

Wonderful!

[@radicalgastronomy]

😁

[@bikerfirefarter7280]

All very good, until he started waffling about 'electromagnetic connectivity' and 'grounding body polarity'.

[@radicalgastronomy]

You can measure this conductivity with a volt meter. There is published science supporting positive effects of direct ground contact. These are marginal studies due to the fact that there is no money to be made from doing them, but they suggest that grounding the body improves blood flow, promotes muscle recovery, reduces inflammation and improves mood. Here is an article with receipts: www.healthline.com/health/grounding#benefits Almost as fascinating to me is why some people are triggered by this idea. 🤔

[@bikerfirefarter7280]

@@radicalgastronomy N-rays and delusional BS. Conductivity can be measured with a multi-meter or other suitable means, but 'grounding' snake-oil is about as scientific/real as astrology and flerfing etc.

[@Krunch2020]

There are associations between just about everything. Any causal effect is so small it cannot even be measured. If you feel better barefoot and grounded then enjoy but don’t put it in a construction video. I’m sure a separate video on your opinions of science, health and politics would be quite popular.

[@bikerfirefarter7280]

@@Krunch2020 I've found that the vast majority of Joe-Public (and most officials/politicians) are willfully ignorant of science'/reality. So I'm not going to waste time/effort adding to accounts and literature that already more than adequately prove both issues of reality and fanatical willful ignorance. You cannot awaken someone who is pretending to be asleep.

[@g.e.boroush5176]

To add to what radicalgastronomy mentioned, here is some of the published science on the topic. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=barefoot+electromagnetic+grounding It's useful to remember that just because one doesn't know about a subject doesn't mean the subject doesn't exist. How about the role of mitochondrial chain links to mental health conditions? Ever heard of that? Doesn't mean it doesn't exist. That, too, can be found in the research stacks.

[@ptolemyauletesxii8642]

Thanks for that bit about electromagnetic grounding. Its somewhat embarrassing, but my polarity has been wonky ever since my quantum charging regimen got interrupted by fluctuating quark interference. Still, it's important to revitalize your capacitor resistance with a healthy dose of warble berry and ginseng body wax, making sure to do it when Jupiter is in helical alignment with Sirius and Dumbledore. I haven't slept as well as I do after a thorough wavering of crystal lattice lettuce modulated by my rheumatoid accretions. Happy reverberations!

[@badawesome]

What do you do when worms start coming up through the floor?

[@radicalgastronomy]

The layers of gravel make the ground under it inhospitable to worms and other ground dwellers. Plus there’s the vapor barrier. No worms, yet. Had some little ants, at first, but they moved on.