[Cob] NEW EARTHEN FLOOR ON OLD CONCRETE FLOOR

[Amanda Peck]

I don't imagine it would be good on a wooden staircase or, for that matter 
on any staircase without something to put in the high wear areas.

After 20 years, a steel staircase up to the break room where I used to work 
showed a lot of wear in the middle of the treads--shiny and slick and 
slightly sunken in the center instead of textured and straight.  Yes I know 
that that was well-traveled by lots of people in boots, but it was also 
STEEL!

For the other, it would kind of depend on (at least) two things.  Whether 
they skimped a bit when they calculated loads for the second floor, and 
whether it really is well built.

Whether you can use linseed oil in the upstairs may be less important than 
whether you can not go up there as you allow your earthen floor to dry 
slowly over the course of days or a week.

..............
WiserOKC wrote (snipped slightly):

Can you put an earthen floor down on top of an upstairs concrete floor?  
Would it be too heavy?  For instance, would it be heavier than floor tiles?  
And can it then be finished off with linseed oil and sealant if the person 
is actually living in the townhouse?  Can it be done on a wood staircase?