After a tiring and busy working week, it is very pleasant to relax in your own bathhouse. However, for the stay in it to be truly healing, the room must be properly equipped. Of particular importance is the interior decoration of the steam bath.
General information
After completion of the construction of the foundation, log house and roof, the decoration of the bathhouse, steam room begins. This is necessary not only for aesthetic purposes. Finishing the bath, steam room will provide additional tightness in the rooms. Carefully done work on the arrangement of rooms will prevent the appearance of dampness and, as a result, decay of surfaces. If the interior decoration of the steam room is not carried out correctly, then the room temperature will not be maintained at the proper level. As a result, there will be no pleasure from visiting, not to mention relaxation. Next, we consider the main options for finishing the steam room.
Materials
Finishing a steam room with your own hands is generally not accompanied by difficulties. However, certain knowledge and skills are needed. Therefore, if experience is not enough, it is advisable to consult with knowledgeable people. Finishing Russian steam rooms is carried out taking into account the peculiarities of temperature and humidity conditions. The materials used must be environmentally friendly, otherwise, when they are heated, harmful impurities can get into the air. A tree meets this requirement. The steam room decoration made using this material also looks very aesthetically pleasing. This, in turn, sets up relaxation and rest. Of particular importance is the thermal insulation of the room. For this, special materials are used. First, a thermal insulation layer of mineral wool is arranged. It is available in rolls or slabs.
Wood selection
Before finishing the steam room with your own hands, you need to purchase material. When choosing wood should pay attention to the quality of the elements. If it is supposed to finish with a pair of lining, then it must comply with the standards existing today. This material is graded according to natural defects. The flaws, in particular, include darkened, ingrown or fallen knots, fungus, tar pockets and more. It must be assumed that the less defects in the skin and the higher the quality, the more aesthetic the material looks. This, in turn, enhances the pleasure of staying in the bathhouse in general and the steam room in particular. Professionals recommend using hardwood cladding, as they do not emit tar.
Linden
Healing properties are not only for honey and flowers. Wood itself under the influence of high temperature spreads a pleasant smell. Lime board releases essential oils into the air. They have anti-inflammatory and bactericidal properties. Due to the high humidity in the room, the beneficial qualities of wood are preserved for a long period. It should be said that the essential oils secreted by linden are hypoallergenic. This makes wood a very valuable material. During decoration and subsequent operation, other advantages of the material are revealed. In particular, linden is easy to process, has almost absolute water resistance and low density.
Aspen
This wood has a pleasant light shade, moisture resistance, hygiene. Aspen is also not subject to deformation. It is considered an excellent material for decorating a steam room. Wood is not susceptible to decay in wet conditions. Aspen has a pleasant smell. At elevated temperatures, no tar is released from it. In addition, the material has the ability to clean the room from the "old" steam.
Alder
This tree species has been used for a long time. It was used in bridge construction in the manufacture of piles, in shipbuilding. This material also carries out the pairing. Wood is very attractive in appearance. Alder has a light coffee hue, which is "diluted" with marble veins. The room, decorated with this material, becomes exclusive and stylish.
Abashi
This is a fairly expensive breed of African tree. The pairing with this material is durable and reliable. Wood is resistant to moisture and heat. The undoubted advantage of the material is the variety of its shades. They range from cream to light yellow. Shades are pleasing to the eyes, and the interior as a whole looks stylish and interesting. Abashi wood is resistant to deformation and decay, it has high strength and low density. Due to the reduced thermal conductivity, the material, even when heated very much, does not burn the body.
Conifers
This wood can also be used when decorating a steam room. As a rule, select varieties that emit as few resins as possible. For example, a steam room can be decorated with Canadian cedar. This is a solid and expensive material that has, among other things, antiseptic properties. When heated, its dense wood with a complex coffee tint and original texture spreads a delicate aroma that can soothe, relieve stress and fatigue, and relax. In such a pair, the body is filled with strength. Canadian cedar is thermally and moisture resistant. Wood is perfect for luxury finishes.
Combined Options
A combination of several species of wood in the decoration looks original. For example, a combination of dark alder and light wood of abasha, aspen or linden looks excellent. Choosing a particular combination, you can achieve different results. The main thing is to use high-quality materials that are resistant to environmental factors.
Ceramic floor tiles
When finishing the base, the main task is to equip the slope of the surface towards the drain. Otherwise, the water will stagnate in the room. As a rule, ceramic tiles are used to finish the floor. This is a fairly economical and convenient option. First of all, it should be noted the simplicity in the care of the tiles. It is enough to wash it regularly using traditional products. Also, ceramic tiles are resistant to high temperatures and humidity. The material has all the properties that a coating should have in a steam room. To prevent slipping over the tiles, a removable wooden flooring, cork panels, mats made of natural fibers should be provided. It is undesirable to use synthetic materials in this case, since toxic compounds can be released when they are heated in the air.
Wooden floor in the steam room
Initially, the foundation is poured with concrete. On the screed after it is dried, brick columns are installed, the cross section of which is 25x25. Instead of concrete, there may also be a regular underlying layer of sand. Logs are laid on brick posts. For flooring, edged or grooved boards are used. They are laid on the logs. Wooden elements should be impregnated with antiseptic compounds. Processing will prevent the rotting process. In the steam room it settles down 15 cm higher than in the wash room. Wood flooring undoubtedly has many advantages. First off, it's warm. Secondly, the wooden floor is non-slip (unlike ceramic coating). In addition, the flooring will blend perfectly with wall cladding. However, it has a wooden coating and a minus. Material, unlike the same ceramics, wears out quickly enough.
Interior
An integral component of quality relaxation is considered aesthetic pleasure. In this regard, the steam room finish should be, among other things, beautiful. The original design can be created independently or attracted to this professional. In addition, the lighting system should be considered competently. For a small steam room, one lamp in a sealed enclosure will be enough. Do not install switches and sockets in the room itself. They must be mounted outside. To reduce the likelihood of a wiring fire due to a short circuit, the fixtures are built into the ceiling.
Special material protection
The steam room casing, located in conditions of constant humidity and elevated temperature, needs additional processing. For this, special impregnations are used. They include safe components that are harmless to the human body. Qualitative compositions do not affect the appearance of coatings. Under the influence of humidity and temperature, impregnations do not emit harmful compounds into the air. During processing and after it, during operation, unpleasant odors do not emit from the compositions.
What is not recommended for decoration?
Such materials as plastic, wood boards, pine boards, linoleum are absolutely unsuitable for indoor use. All of them are categorically not recommended in the decoration of the steam room. For example, linoleum and plastic begin to release harmful compounds, and pine - resin at elevated temperatures. Fibreboard and chipboard are also not suitable for steam rooms due to their hygroscopicity and instability to fire.