From the Back Cover
A COMPLETE STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO MAKING, INSTALLING AND LIVING WITH BEAUTIFUL, ALL-NATURAL EARTHEN FLOORS
"The authors successfully de-mystify the process of mixing, installing, finishing and maintaining an earthen floor in a way that will help novices and seasoned builders alike to produce floors that are the most beautiful, sensual and eco-friendly option available."
Chris Magwood, author, Making Better Buildings and cofounder, The Endeavour Centre
"The ideal mix of inspiration, experience, technique and instruction... this book makes a great contribution to the field on every level."
David Eisenberg, director, Development Center for Appropriate Technology
EARTHEN FLOORS are a beautiful, affordable, durable flooring option suitable for nearly any home. Earthen Floors: A Modern Approach to an Ancient Practice is a comprehensive, fully illustrated guide to this natural building technique, explaining 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.
Drawing on the combined knowledge of the most qualified earthen floor practitioners, as well as the authors' own substantial experience, Earthen Floors is the definitive resource for this exciting flooring alternative, perfect for everyone from the environmentally conscious do-it-yourself enthusiast to the veteran builder.
"Earthen Floors fills a long-standing gap in the catalog of natural building publications in providing reliable and thorough instruction in earthen floor construction... the most comprehensive and thorough resource on earthen floor technology available today."
Jacob Deva Racusin, author, The Natural Building Companion and co-owner, New Frameworks Natural Building, LLC
SUKITA REAY CRIMMEL has installed over 20,000 sq ft of earthen flooring, and is one of the preeminent experts in the emerging field of earthen floors.
JAMES THOMSON has spent a decade introducing students to the joys of building with earth with House Alive, one of the leading natural building training organizations in North America.
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.
