[GSBN] earthen floors

Mon Jan 9 23:22:38 UTC 2012

Early on in the discussion, I took the liberty of posting Derek's questions
as a comment to the article, and asked for the author's response, which is
as follows:

 CHARLES J KENNY

12:13 PM ET

January 6, 2012

response<http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/01/03/paving_paradise#comment-922681>

I am justly accused of lazy linking. Below is a link to the underlying
paper by Gertler and colleagues, you'll see the effects I'm talking about
on p.21-22 ("We find high
elasticities for all the outcomes studied. The elasticity of parasites is
-0.78, which means that a 100% increase in cement floors would reduce the
presence of parasites by 78%. Similarly, we find that the
share-of-cement-floors elasticity of diarrhea is 0.49 and that
for anemia is -0.81." )

The paper uses a pretty careful discontinuity design, a later version was
deemed worthy of publication in the AER, but I'd welcome further comment on
percieved weaknesses.

http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=981822

On Mon, Jan 9, 2012 at 12:19 PM, Tracy Thieriot <tracy at tactileplastering.com
> wrote:

> So how do we take all of these testimonials and fine knowledge and address
> the reporter?  Of course encouraging a longer, more researched article.
>
> Tracy Thieriot
> Tactile Plastering
> 707-621-1484cell
> www.tactileplastering.com
>
> www.ochresandoxides.com
>
> Quoting Graeme North <graeme at ecodesign.co.nz>:
>
> I reckon that John has it absolutely right about reported health benefits
> of concrete  - I also feel much better when I get up away from the stuff -
>
> The positive effect of earth is very apparent when you walk on an earth
> floor  after being on a "c"  floor . After all, an earth floor is the only
> floor type that  I have ever seen where people take off their shoes, take a
> few steps, and then burst out smiling!
>
> Not to mention a character who came to my place, said "Is this an earth
> floor?" and then got down and kissed it!  (and No, he was not the Pope.)
>
> I would have stopped him if course if I had known that this was such risky
> behaviour!
>
>  - As you can see, I do not like the use of the "c" word when talking
> about floors.  Why use the "c" stuff anywhere you don't need to?  Keep it
> for where it is best used carefully in well-engineered high-strength
> applications.
>
> I've been making earthen floors for years - in various ways - either mud
> bricks laid up in earth mortar, or packed-in earth with an earth plaster.
> The addition of cow pooh in the last layer adds a marvelous silky feeling.
> Sealing with linseed oil (up to 4 litres per sq.m.) has worked really well
> unless humidity gets high when the floor can absorb moisture and turn
> sticky, so I now prefer to use tung oil as it forms more cross links as it
> dries performs better.
>
> An anti-capillary layer of compacted stone underneath, which might also be
> pumice if you want extra insulation, and a damp proof membrane of polythene
> not only prevents the ingress of water vapour, (which can have considerable
> pressure under a floor slab in some conditions) but also keep out radon it
> that is a concern.
>
> The reported earth floor health troubles from what i am guessing are damp
> and/or dusty and  poorly made floors strike me as an attempt to denigrate
> glorious mud. How dare they!
>
>
> And yes - isn't this network great - horray!    Thanks everyone.  As I
> have dealt with some serious health issues myself  it is one of the few
> contacts I have kept up.
>
>
>
>
>  Graeme "Mud Hut" North
>
>
> Graeme North Architects
> 49 Matthew Road
> RD1
> Warkworth
> tel/fax +64 (0)9 4259305
>  graeme at ecodesign.co.nz
> www.ecodesign.co.nz
>
>
>  On 7/01/2012, at 8:38 AM, John Swearingen wrote:
>
> Actually, despite Bob's touchy-feel-y analysis, I do recognize the health
> benefits of concrete floors.  Every time I'm feeling a bit ill, the first
> thing I'll do is lay out on a concrete slab. It seems to have mystical
> healing qualities, because no matter how bad I feel, I get right up almost
> as soon as I've laid down!
>
> John "Rebar Baron" Swearingen
>
>
> On Fri, Jan 6, 2012 at 11:30 AM, Bob Theis <bob at bobtheis.net> wrote:
>
>>       I don't see the point of the work and complexity
>> involved in earthen floors - other than the pleasure involved in pointing
>> at
>> the floor and saying it is dirt.
>>
>>   It's equivalent to the point of the work and complexity of a parquet
>> floor; the wood patterns delight the eye, and an earthen floor delights the
>> feet.
>>
>> Much of what we are doing in this movement is recognizing where tactile
>> pleasures lie in the built environment, and resurrecting some that we have
>> lost. If you want to be technical, we like the stuff beneath our feet to be
>> resilient. Concrete is not. Earth floors are that, but something more. What
>> could feel more natural than earth beneath your feet? Simple as that.
>>
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>>
>
>
> --
> John Swearingen
> Skillful Means Design & Construction
> 2550 9th Street   Suite 209A
> Berkeley, CA   94710
> 510.849.1800 phone
> 510.849.1900 fax
>
> Web Site:  http://www.skillful-means.com
> Blog:         https://skillfulmeansdesign.wordpress.com
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>
>
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-- 
John Swearingen
Skillful Means Design & Construction
2550 9th Street   Suite 209A
Berkeley, CA   94710
510.849.1800 phone
510.849.1900 fax

Web Site:  http://www.skillful-means.com
Blog:         https://skillfulmeansdesign.wordpress.com
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