Tables, canopies, benches in the bathhouse made of solid wood create coziness, exude a subtle aroma and energy, and contribute to relaxation. Making furniture for dressing rooms and steam rooms requires a serious approach. Before making a shop in a bathhouse with your own hands, they select the type of wood, study the assembly methods. The bench can be the beginning of the independent design of the entire interior of the bath.
Wood species used for shops
Raw wood, immediately after cutting and cutting, will warp under the influence of high temperature, products will change geometry, warp. The moisture content of the material at the time of manufacture should not be higher than 15%.
When choosing a board, lumber with fallen out and knots, darkened areas is rejected. The number of knots also plays a role in the smooth processing of the wood. The boards to be purchased should be free of rot, mold, microcracks.
The type of wood is chosen according to the indicator of thermal conductivity, taking into account the moisture resistance of the breed, paying attention to the strength and hardness of the material.
Linden
Refers to the classic wood options for furniture in a steam room, heated linden gives off a pleasant honey scent. The pliable rock belongs to the category of soft materials, therefore it requires preliminary processing from moisture. Linden perfume is considered a natural antiseptic.
Wood does not conduct heat well, so at high temperatures you can lean against it without risk of getting burned. Products breathe, that is, they let steam through. Linden wood is able to increase the separation of perspiration, which is important for a bathhouse. The disadvantage is the ability of the material to darken over time.
Birch
Belongs to the group of medium-dense rocks, does not heat up when heated, resists moisture absorption. The durable material is well suited for benches. Requires ventilation from time to time, so small wooden benches are preferable. Older tree trunks are more difficult to handle.
There are about a hundred species of breed; pubescent and drooping birch is used for the bath interior. The beautiful color ranges from light brown to light yellow, sometimes with reddish colors. The scent has antibacterial properties, the tree does not emit resinous components.
Pine
Affordable and inexpensive medium density material. A pine tree sauna bench is not built in the steam room, but is placed in the dressing room and dressing room, since it emits resinous substances at temperatures above + 40 °.
In the washing and shower rooms, the temperature is not high, therefore the resin in the wood composition prevents moisture saturation, does not allow the development of rot and mold. Low thermal conductivity, wood maintains an acceptable level of touch comfort. It is easily sawn, planed, jointed, glued well, joined with nails and screws. For decoration, use a stain to show the pattern.
Required tools
For cutting boards, it is better to use electric tools, with them the work is easier and faster. You can use a hand saw and a plane.
Prepare tools for assembling a bench for a bath:
- miter saw;
- screwdriver with nozzles;
- electric milling cutter;
- a grinder with a set of attachments;
- hammer, mallet (for wooden fasteners);
- tape measure, level, construction square.
Brushes of different sizes, rollers and a ditch are needed for surface finishing and preliminary impregnation of wood.
Varieties of benches for a bath
The simplest bench consists of a seat, legs, struts and a back. It is not recommended to make a bench in the form of a board with two legs along the width of the bench, since it will not last long and will not be comfortable for sitting. The second important characteristic is stability, so that the participant in the ceremony, crouching from the edge, does not turn over with the bench.
Sauna benches are best made of boards of medium thickness, since solid timber takes longer to dry after moistening. The seat is made so that the minimum gaps of up to one centimeter remain between the bars or boards. The gaps are used for water drainage and drying.
Single-tier structures
Compact simple benches are made stationary or portable. In the steam room, seating places are arranged with a width of 40 cm.If the room is small, for one person, it is enough to increase the width to 90 cm, make the length by height, and a bath bed will be ready. The width is made for a specific person so that in a horizontal position on his back he can put his hands along the body.
Single-tier benches put a stand between the walls or prefer the L-shaped model, if the dimensions allow. The height of the benches is made so that the knees of people do not protrude above the pelvis, therefore, too low benches are not welcome. High benches are inconvenient because the legs will not have support. According to the norms, you need to make the seat height at the level of 30 - 50 cm for adults.
Bunk bench
Increasing the leveling of benches increases the functionality of the bathroom furniture. A person can lie at a higher height, then go down and sit on a bench. The width of the benches remains the same as for a single-tier structure.
Bunk benches are usually made stationary. The support frame is attached to the wall, and the side posts are tied with crossbars. There is an option to make the lower part portable so that it can be removed to dry after use. Access to the second level is done from the bench on the first floor or a staircase is provided from one edge.
Stepped design
The system is designed for the arrangement of small steam rooms. It is easy to get on the upper benches, standing before that on the lower bench, as if on a step. The benches are mounted one above the other, while the upper ones are calculated for lying.
Stepped benches are placed near a blank vertical surface, where there are no hoods and windows. In order not to get burned, take into account the distance between the bench and the stove, if it is located in the steam room, and not in the dressing room. If the steam room has a sufficient area, stepped structures are placed opposite each other for simultaneous use by a group of people.
Three-tier construction
The arrangement of the shelves in 3 levels is optimal for large steam rooms. In this case, each person chooses the position of their choice. The lower levels are used by those who do not require strong heating, the higher levels are occupied by those who want to steam, lying in extreme conditions.
The bench on the third floor is made the widest, and the length should be at least 180 cm. They climb there using a stationary fixed ladder. The upper shelves of the third and second tier are securely fixed to the common frame, the elements of which are attached to the wall. The side supports also have additional stiffening and strength elements.
How to build shops yourself
Before you make a bench in the bath with your own hands, create a drawing of the future product with an indication of the dimensions. The boards are put in order using a planer and a sander.
Step-by-step instructions for assembling a bench without a back:
- cut the lumber in accordance with the sketch;
- a milling cutter is smoothed along the edge of the seating part;
- the boards are laid out on a plane with the bottom up, measured from the ends by 20 cm, the bars are fixed across;
- spacer rails are mounted to the racks at a height of 15 cm from the floor;
- the legs are screwed to the transverse bars on the seat;
- cut the crosspiece to size and screw it on.
Craftsmen use wooden wedges, pins, but for beginners, metal fasteners are allowed. It must be driven so that there is no contact of the body with the hardware, otherwise you can get burned.
Finishing and decor
Already sanded boards and bars are placed in the structure, so the surface of the finished benches is subject only to finishing. They use special compounds that give a beautiful appearance, prolonging the life of the wood in difficult conditions.
There are many natural products on sale for painting the steam room benches. Natural remedies work best as the coating will be exposed to high temperature and humidity. The painting is carried out before the bathhouse begins to work. So the composition will dry and harden in gentle conditions, which will increase its strength.
Care advice
In the evening, after using the steam room during the day, they clean all the rooms of the bath. Puddles, leaves from brooms are removed on the floor. To reduce humidity, ventilate the shower room, steam room, dressing room. Remaining water in the room will prevent the multi-tiered benches from drying out, which cannot be removed to fresh air.
Sometimes it is necessary to steam the room without visitors, bringing the temperature to + 100 ° C. This will destroy harmful microorganisms, traces of which are not yet visible on the surface.
Means of protection
For the protective coating of benches in the bathhouse, it is not allowed to use varnishes and paints on a synthetic basis. In case of heat, volatile substances evaporate from the surface and enter the human respiratory organs. There are formulations with natural ingredients that will protect wood from rotting in humid conditions, but will be safe for people.
They use antiseptics with the possibility of using them in baths and saunas, about which there should be an inscription on the package. It is recommended to buy products from Tikkurila, Senezh, Neomid and other common brands.
Impregnations based on natural wax work effectively, which repel moisture from the area of the tree. Means do not bring danger to a person at any temperature. Manufacturers give different recommendations on the frequency of processing, but on average, such impregnations are carried out 1 time in 2 - 3 years.
