[Cob] Earthen floor cracks--Help!

[GlobalCirclenet]

Well, Dorothy, it looks like we're not in Kansas anymore ;-)

paul at largocreekfarms.com
http://medicinehill.net
*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 9/14/2004 at 1:12 AM dorethy at juno.com wrote:

>I've just finished the 3rd layer of earthen floor.  The first, over a
>radiant heat coil system, was about 3 1/2 inches deep; the second, about 1
>1/2"; and the final (I thought!) layer about 5/8".  All went on well, and
>they all cracked a bit.  I wasn't worried about the first and second
>layer, but I don't know what to do now.  
>
>I was all set to put on 4 coats of linseed oil and have it done in two
>weeks or so.  This layer went down over 4 days, so the first one may be
>dry enough to walk on.  Alas, that probably also means that it is too late
>to add more mix and expect to be able to smooth over the cracks without
>ruining the lovely surface I had.
>
>I feel sure the mix did not have too much clay.  My recipe was 4 parts
>finely screened sand to 1 part clay, plus a couple good handsful finely
>screened chopped straw and a couple handsful strained horse & cow manure,
>with just enough water to be trowelable.  It's a dark, reddish chocolate
>brown, and I love it, but am so disappointed it cracked at every section
>line, almost; and I was so careful to roughen the edges and force enough
>mix into those joined edges.
>
>Any ideas?  Thanks!
>
>Dorethy from Kansas 
>
>
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