Earthen floors are green building’s best kept secret. Though bamboo and sustainably grown hardwoods have gotten attention recently, green builders are now looking to earthen floors, which result in virtually no environmental harm, as the best green flooring option yet.

Earthen floors refer to a layer of substrate- dirt, sawdust, or flaxseeds - that is laid down on top of a layer of fine gravel, which is then covered with a layer of clay or sand. The final step is sealing the newly laid floor with a layer of linseed and hemp oil. The result is a porous, supple and durable floor at less than a dollar per a square foot (including labor).

To boot, all the ingredients are natural, and excess materials can be easily disposed of- in the backyard. Earthen floors are especially convenient for renovators, who would not even need to tear up their floors to install an earthen one; earthen floors can be laid down on essentially any hard surface, including old wood flooring, tile or linoleum. Earthen floors do absorb water and so require attentive cleaning. Though durable, earthen floors scratch more easily than tile, and may not stand up to a brood of kids running through the house. With that said, they are also easily repairable. Earthen floors offer up an exciting new- and super affordable- option in flooring for those seeking to go green.

Read more at ENN.