Earth, mud , dirt floor & Green foundations

[Ladydee]

Hello,

I want to build a 200-400 sqft workshop on my Az property. No snow, very dry there, Cactus country.

does anyone know about earth floors also called dirt or pressed dirt floors?

Some website say EVERY BUILDING from the Old NO Spanish houses had dirt floors that they used Linseed oil on to New England Victorians with Dirt floor Basements.

Others say these floors has a cement slab/foundation under the dirt.

1. Can I building a workshop (wood or metal) and use compressed dirt (earthen floor) as the floor without a sub-floor?

2. Can I later use that dirt floor as a sub floor and put wood or tiles on it? (Did the Spanish and Mexican House have tiles put directly in the dirt or did they use a cement foundation?)

3. Can I do what ancient homes/castles did and use stone like cobble stone or flagstone with pressed dirt as the flooring-- they say those house are like one big block of rock after so many centruies?


thank you for all you help. A full cement slab is out of my price range at the moment and I'd rather go with a wood kit and use a wood decking then go Metal and need cement.

thank you again,
ladydee

PS: I hope it's obvious I've never built anything, hense the kit, so please answer me like I'm hopeless, don't know the lingo, and am as stupid as someone who want to build like the Romans (ha ha on me, they used cement-- I know. better than ours too! No re-bar)

[Bud9051]

Not my field, but I think some reading about "adobe" may help you. A quick search on adobe floors turned up much.

Here is a link to start and I think you will enjoy where you are headed.

Green Home Building: Article about the Beuaty of Mud and Straw

Have fun playing in the mud, (adobe)
Bud