Table of Contents
| Mud flooring may be defined as the process of preparing mud paste and applying it to get a leveled and smooth surface. It is traditionally followed flooring and it is also environment friendly.
It is a type of floor that is majorly prepared by using mud with cow dung as binding materials. In the past times, people always used mud for flooring their houses. After that, they employ bamboo for its superstructure. |
1. Characteristics of Mud Flooring
Here are main characteristics of mud flooring are listed below:
a. Natural Insulation
Mud floors possess a very natural insulating character. It permits them to hold a uniform temperature. So, it can preserve warm air in the winter and cool during the summer season.
The mud house possesses the best ventilation system because of its porous form. If it is sunny outside, the inside temperature would be mild.
The house is ventilated due to these voids. These voids permit good air passage from the building. So, it maintains the temperature of the house.
b. Recyclability
In the modern era, environmental preservation is necessary. Mud buildings are a useful donation to our atmosphere to control global warming. Mud substitutes non-reusable material and supports reducing carbon emissions.
After breaking down the building, the mud can be reused again. Then, it evolves into a portion of compostable material.
c. Biodegradability
Mud is a fully eco-friendly material. The construction sector produces major benefits from such materials. Due to its disposable nature, it is the most suitable choice for industries. It ultimately reduces their cost by fast-decaying ability.
d. Carbon Foot Printing
Recently, it is an essential component of construction projects. Cement ejects carbon percentage. Mud reduces carbon fumes.
2. Mud Flooring Materials
The raw materials employed in the construction of mud floors objectives are the following:
a. Clay/Mud
It acts as the major component of mud floors. For example, murram, red soil, or yellow soil. To reach the desired floor quality, the soil is powdered perfectly.
b. Stiffed sand
It usually provides strength to mud. It also reaches cement aggregates.
c. Cow manure
It helps in the construction of the mud floor. The availability of manure creates an option for its usage in flooring.
d. Straw
Chopped and sifted straw is counted to stop floor cracking. Paddy straw is a common material.
e. Stabilizers
Stabilizers are counted on clay to alter its characteristics. It promotes the mud flooring’s tensile and shear strength. It also lessens the factor of shrinkage.
The most common stabilizers used for construction are:
a. Cement
b. Straw
c. Plant juices
d. Molasses
e. Animal urine
f. Oil
g. Cow dung
3. Reason To Choose Mud Flooring
The mud floors are selected due to the below features:
a. Most affordable flooring option.
b. Easy to construct.
c. Simple to maintain
4. Procedure of Mud Flooring
a. Choice of Materials
According to the project’s natural preference for materials is conducted. The major materials contain mud. The mud is used for the neat and strong flooring. It can resist tensile and shear loads.
The mud must be fine-grained. It is free of coarse sand or even gravel. The mud is soaked in water before setting the floor. The soaking process is concluded in 7 days.
b. Preparation of Bed
In the second stage, supply the floor with water to wet it suitably. First, adds a layer of hardcore stone or rubble layer. It contains thicknesses from 15 to 25 centimeters. This stoned layer creates a durable floor.
It authorizes to control of moisture. It does not permit rodents to make holes in the floor. The major problem of subterranean settling also decreases.
c. Making Materials Stable
Nowadays, building a mud house requires a good construction process. The materials are stabilized by providing stabilizers. These stabilizers assist to provide a fine look to a mud floor. The insertion of stabilizers enhances the quality of mud.
For example, Stabilized Compressed interlocking Earth Blocks (SCEB). It is a local mud that maintains a 5% cement addition. The concluded outcome is compressed. It creates material stability. Thus, it provides structural strength and water resistance.
d. Mixing Of Material
The chopped and sifted straw is added to the mud with water. Blend it, to create a consistent mixture of mud. After drying, straws control the surface from cracking.
e. Applying Mud Paste
The earlier mixed mud paste is involved in the prepared bed. The layer’s thickness is 10- 25 cm. It is most useful to spread the material in a single and uninterrupted layer.
f. Leveling the Surface
After laying the mud paste, the surface is leveled by compacting. The paste allows for compacting of the surface. There is no accumulation of water in this step.
Wooden instruments are employed for this operation. The thickness of the compacted material is around 6 inches. The tool marks must be removed while supplying. The extra mixture is extracted from the elevated portion.
g. Finalizing the Surface
A finishing coat is counted on top of a tiled floor and is also known as cow dung wash. The finishing coat is a mixture of cow dung and clay.
It is involved in a thin layer on the compact floor. Specific patterns may also mold on the mud surface. This step is optional. Most people neglect this task as a possibility.
h. Curing the Surface
This is the last step of mud flooring. Water is poured on the top of the floor. It can stop the fast drying of the floor.
Water spray keeps moisture distribution across the smooth surface. Its interval may be regular. The floor is likely to damage if this approach is ignored.
5. Maintenance of Mud Flooring
Mud floors do not keep their fine look after 1-2 weeks. So, they usually require preservation. For its more acceptable condition, the mud floor can be supported by keeping the following actions:
Maintenance is an essential requirement for the mud floor to maintain good condition. The floor should obtain a thin cow dung wash. It drives the finalized look of the floor. It can be accomplished once a time in a week.
Due to the use of a finishing coat on the floor, the floor is regarded as unclean. It happens sometimes.
6. Advantages of Mud Flooring
The major advantages of Mud flooring are as follows:
a. It is simple to maintain.
b. It is eco-friendly flooring.
c. Unskilled manpower can complete mud floors.
d. Materials for mud flooring are efficiently available.
e. It withstands fire.
f. This type of floor is cost-effective.
g. This flooring can withstand extremely acidic environmental conditions.
h. There is an availability of heat insulation properties in mud floors.
7. Disadvantages of Mud Flooring
The major disadvantages of Mud flooring are as follows:
a. It can efficiently absorb moisture from the environment.
b. It isn’t strong enough to resist large loads and the life span is short.
c. It requires good maintenance.
d. It is negligibly water-resistant.
e. The mud floor is not long-lasting.
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