This is why I haven’t posted lately:
So, last year I built a house.
And this year my body built…another body! And now I’m just waiting for my body to release this baby. But there has been a little bit of work on the house. After Greg poured the finish layer of the earthen floor, it took a week or two to dry. And I was very, very excited to see that it dried without a single crack! Success!
I sealed the floor with four coats of a linseed oil blend I bought from landarknw.com. It was a bit of a splurge, but I wanted something completely non toxic. I didn’t want to be breathing in fumes from the boiled linseed oil and mineral spirits from our local hardware store, especially not while pregnant. Someone on a cob list serve had recommended LandArk’s Earth Finish for earthen floors, so I decided to give it a try. I ended up using just about one gallon, and even had a little extra to use on some of the wooden parts of the house, mainly the door frame and ladder. The floor turned out great! With each coat the color darkened until it reached a deep purplish red, and it seems to be very hard and durable. I’ve accidentally knocked my box fan into the ladder opening more than a few times. Each time that its fallen from the second story onto the earthen floor, it hasn’t even left a mark. And I’ve mopped it a few times, and it remains unchanged. I plan on waxing the floor soon, too, so it’ll be interesting to see how that affects the floor as well.
first coat of oil
the first floor..finally lived in!
I’ll post some more pictures soon…
Hey-I JUST saw you in the General Store last weekend but didn’t realize it was the writer of the little blog I’ve been following! You look gorgeously round little mama. Lots of good thoughts sent your way and next time I see you-I’ll say hi (I was sitting right beside the hostess stand with my dad, husband, and two little blond kiddos).
I remember seeing you , too! I seem to be especially aware of the mothers, children, and pregnant bellies around me now, and I remember seeing your “two little blond kiddos.”
Hopefully next time we run into each other, I’ll have a little one, too. Today is the 4th day past my “due date.” Sigh….
Danielle-
just when I think that house is looking awesome, you make it even more polisehd and awesomer! I never thought it would look so “finished!” You definately need to send some pics to one of those natural builder magazines, enter it in a contest or something.
Hope to make it out there sometime and see you and the house.
p.s. how’s the fan?
Hi Steve!
Ha! The fan surprisingly still works…
Hope everything’s going well, and maybe I’ll get to see you sometime soon!
Ahhh, you’re still so beautiful . . . And so is the house! Fully functional & ready for the new addition! Hugs to all three of you, Terry
wow that floor looks amazing! it’s good to know that land ark was worth the extra money, i will probably end up using their product as well when i build our house eventually.
i’ve commented on a couple other posts over the last year, but they never popped up–i’m curious if you got those other comments?
again, thanks for being an inspiration. every time i think i won’t be able to do this myself, i think about your house and say “YES I CAN!”
Long time reader and everything is looking beautiful! Especially you! I was 10 days overdue with my little man at the end of August into the beginning of September, so I feel your pain! Primrose oil, mama!! Like it’s your job! Like you really need unsolicited pregnancy advice from a total stranger, yikes. My apologies.
The home has turned out beautifully! It’s going to be so amazing to be snuggling your little bundle in your home built of love!
I used so much evening primrose the last week(s) of my pregnancy! My babes was 6 days late and it felt like 6 lifetimes. 10 days would have been awful!
Hello! I am building a straw bale/timber frame house with my family, and I am in the oiling process on our earthen floor section. We are using the same landark oil, and I was happy to hear that you had good success with it. Your little place looks awesome. It is such a joy to see what other natural builders are creating. Thanks!
Hi just wanted to say thanks for the tip on the sealing oil. I’m pregnant and trying to finish the floors on the house I’ve been building. Concern for the linseed oil fumes sent me google searching and I found your blog. Looks beautiful.