When you think of an ‘earthen’ floor, you might very well think ‘dirt’ floor! You would be correct in a way, but here is what the new Health Centre floors are really made of.
The floor has a wood base, then a radiant heating system was installed, mudded into place with a coarse clay and straw base, and then a clay, sand and chopped straw top was added. This layer is made with all local materials which are what is termed ‘low- embodied’ ingredients.
To harden this coating, the contractors add oil – a combination of three types of oil – that is spread four times, covering every inch of the floor. The oil mixture acts as a hardening agent. Then, when the covering is set, the floor is varnished to seal it. This is particularly important for a healthcare space because there should be no cracks, joins or edges in the floor. If there were like there would be with laminates or wood flooring, those cracks and joins can collect mold, mildew and germs which can affect air quality, trigger allergies, and impact overall health.
This floor type is a great medium to transfer the radiant floor heat – so there will be no cold feet when the nurses rise each morning!
