Cob: Smelly earthen floor (OT)

[R Hays]

Anyone have any ideas or suggestions for Barbara?

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: SB: Smelly earthen floor (OT)
Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 15:49:10 -0700
From: Barbara Roemer <barbandg at onemain.com>
To: <strawbale at crest.org>

Balers,

Having had some unseasonably warm weather, we went ahead with the first
8"
of our earthen floor - gravel with fines, clay slip, chopped straw.  Now
that the weather has returned to 32-60 degree ranges, some mold has
appeared
in small patches on the surface, and the floor smells sulfurous.  Since
it's
a small area (bathroom remodel), it has no heat in the floor.  We could
set
up a propane heater, but isn't one of the by-products of burning propane
water?  And might we just drive the moisture into the cotton wall
insulation??  There are no windows to open yet -  plastic over the
openings.
I could wire up the exhaust fan or set up an oscillating one to keep air
moving.  There is an exterior door, but mighty cold out to be letting in
that much air.  Could also spray very lightly with vinegar and then
hydrogen
peroxide (the Natural Home recipe for disinfecting) in the hope of
killing
the molds.  Smells enough that I wonder if it's molding only on the
surface,
or if the deeper straw is rotting.  Any help readers could offer is much
appreciated.  Since it's an OT, please just post to me individually.

Barbara in Sierra foothills, CA