But, due to the fact that there is both high humidity and heat, unexpected troubles arise. The floors are most often affected. They are the ones who bear the maximum load. Deformation of the boards, mold and mildew can appear quite quickly. On the other hand, it is unacceptable to use in a bathhouse chemicals, as fumes can cause serious harm to health. The bathhouse should bring health and health to its owners good mood. It is important to choose correctly what to treat the floor in the bathhouse with.
The floor in the bathhouse is considered a place that needs to be given special attention. Floors are made only from boards or thick timber that have undergone heat treatment. The floor should lie on stable, thick joists. According to technology, logs must rely on a special brickwork. By observing these conditions, you can achieve the longest possible service life of your bathhouse floors.
Experts in the field of bathhouse construction do not recommend painting floors. The only place where this is allowed is the locker room. Another reliable option is finishing the floor of the wash compartment tiles. It is able to perfectly withstand all the negative factors that occur in the bathhouse. Wooden sheathing You can only lay it in the steam room.
It is advisable to make the lathing from coniferous trees such as fir, pine, spruce, alder. When heated, this tree is capable of releasing useful substances into the air of the room - phytoncides, which are very useful for humans when inhaled, and in a bathhouse, when the body is steamed, they are absorbed even by the skin. In addition, such wood has very low thermal conductivity, which helps to further maintain the temperature in the room. Another advantage of softwood is that it does not cause burns when touching these surfaces.
There are different opinions about whether it is necessary to treat floors various substances. There are many arguments and opinions. After all, building a bathhouse can be quite expensive, and you want this wonderful structure to last as long as possible. The most reasonable option is considered to be to process wooden floor solutions that will be as environmentally friendly as possible and will not endanger human health.
How to choose an environmentally friendly bath product
Among the many products for treating interior wooden surfaces in a bathhouse, there are not only effective ones, but also those that do not emit harmful fumes. These products include oil formulations. Their peculiarity is that they are absorbed into the wood and do not cover the surface with a film. This is a significant advantage, because thus, when contacting surfaces treated with this product, no burns occur. Funds for oil based process clean and dry wooden surfaces. The composition is applied with a brush. The time for complete drying of the solution is no more than a day. After this, it is recommended to heat the bath well.
You don’t have to treat the wooden floor surfaces with anything, but use heat-treated wood. Such material resists much better not only high humidity, but also temperature. In addition, there is increased protection against pests that can undermine floors.
Antiseptics for floors
In modern stores there are enough a large number of various materials for treating bath floors. Such materials include, for example, impregnation varnishes. They are diluted with white spirit and applied thin layer onto the surface of the wood.
There are various oils for impregnation. They appeared relatively recently, however, they have proven themselves very well. These oils are not only highly effective, but also have the most important property for humans - they are absolutely safe for health. The composition is able to penetrate deeply into the pores of wood.
Antiseptics are perhaps the best option on the market, as they protect the wood, including from damage by insects, which can cause significant damage to the bathhouse. In addition, floors are often susceptible to mold and mildew. There is a fairly large selection of antiseptics in stores. All of them are quite effective.
Protecting floors from rotting
Despite the treatment already carried out, there are times when the floors still begin to darken and rot. In this case, you need to take action as soon as possible. To prevent damage to the floors, it is necessary to regularly dry the bath. In addition, if you notice darkening on the floors, these parts need to be thoroughly dismantled and dried. Then the surface is treated with sandpaper. After this, treat the floor boards again with an antiseptic and dry thoroughly. The last step, is to treat the damaged area with wax.
Video
This video will answer frequently asked questions regarding bathhouse flooring:
Treating the floor in your bathhouse This is a very important point, because not only the durability of this structure but also the hygiene of the bath procedure itself depends on it. In most cases, the floor in the bathhouse is made of wood, so the methods described in the article will largely concern processing wooden floors in a bathhouse. How to treat the floor in a bathhouse so that it does not rot, we will try to answer this question in this article.
The very first thing you need to do is treat the floor antiseptics, this will help protect the wood from which your floor is made from rot, mold, stains and possible pests. You can read how to treat other elements of the bath by clicking on the link.
Treating the bath floor with antiseptic agents
There are a lot of antiseptics on sale, let's look at some of them and analyze their pros and cons. Particular attention should be paid to the environmental friendliness of these preparations, because the inside of the bathhouse will be processed. Therefore, health safety should come first here.
For example, the non-washable antiseptic NEOMID 430 ECO is used to treat floors in bathhouses, because it is intended for use in wet operating conditions. The ECO prefix in the name says that it is made from natural substances and will not cause harm to health. It will protect your bath floor for up to 35 years, 5 kg. This impregnation costs about 2000 rubles. Manufacturer NEOMID, Saint Petersburg.
Of course, imported materials are more popular; they are of better and safer quality. Therefore, Tikkurila Supi saunasuoja wood preservative is more suitable for these purposes. Treating the floor in a bathhouse with this product will help reliably protect it from blue stains and mold; in addition, the material repels dirt. Manufacturer: Tikkurila, Finland; similar impregnation made in Russia is available for sale. A 2.7 liter jar costs approximately 1000 rubles.
If you are treating the floor in a steam room, then these impregnations will be quite enough to keep the floor intact. The use of paints and varnishes in this room is strictly prohibited., because high humidity and temperature produce harmful substances that these materials contain before entering the air.
But you can safely treat the floor in the dressing room or rest room with additional varnish. True, the choice of paint and varnish material must also be done very carefully. You can only use varnishes intended for baths.
For example, acrylic sauna varnish PARADE L30 is a good option for treating the floor in a bathhouse. After all, it contains natural wax and protects the wood from moisture and other damage. Resistant to frequent washing, and most importantly environmentally friendly.
You can find out how to level a wooden floor from our next article; to do this, you need to follow the link provided.
The quality of wood allows you to create an optimal microclimate for a steam room and effectively retain heat, making it the most common material for the construction of bath structures. But such disadvantages as easy flammability, high susceptibility to moisture, susceptibility to damage by microorganisms and insects (fungi, rotting, etc.) dictate the need to treat boards, timber, and logs with special protective compounds.
Types and characteristics of various compositions
All compositions used are a special chemical liquid that has a disinfecting effect on the surface being treated, eliminating mold and dirt.
- Water-based acrylic-based compounds give wood dirt-repellent qualities, moisture resistance and reduce the likelihood of biological damage. It is preferable to use these products in the rest room and dressing room.
- Organic impregnations are characterized by high moisture resistance and the strength of the protective film they form.
- Compositions based on natural wax and urethane oils are absorbed to a significant depth, perfectly protect against the destructive effects of water, and give the surface a pleasant velvety feel. The disadvantage is the need to ventilate the room from the pungent odor for 2 days.
- Combined products increase not only the moisture resistance of the material, but also its fire safety.
Important! Impregnations used for bath floors should be odorless and emit no toxic substances.
Supporters of the use of completely natural materials can use waste from sunflower oil production to process wood. They are impregnated twice, with a three-day break. This is enough effective remedy, but somewhat inferior in quality to synthetic compounds, but significantly superior to them in terms of environmental safety.
Application of impregnations at the stages of construction and operation of a bathhouse
The use of antiseptics during construction allows you to extend the life of the building by 5-7 years. They pre-process all wooden elements - boards, logs, beams.
Attention! The only way to refuse the use of impregnations is to use more expensive material, which has undergone heat treatment.
During the operation of the bathhouse, the need for antiseptics remains. To wash surfaces, you can use products that are harmless to humans.
Bath floor treatment technology
Depending on the tasks, you can choose formulations with a tinting effect. The main thing when carrying out interior works- the absence of harmful components that can be released into the atmosphere. Impregnations for the floors of saunas and baths should not give the surface a slippery effect. Before starting work, you must carefully study the instructions and use protective gloves and goggles during the process for safety reasons.
The procedure for processing wood:
- Cleaning the floor surface from dirt and dust;
- Sanding wood if it has darkened;
- Optimal temperature for work - above +5°С;
- Applying impregnation in at least 2 layers using a roller, brush or spray gun in the direction along the fibers;
Advice! Crevices and end faces require especially careful treatment - this is where moisture is absorbed most actively.
- After finishing the work, the bathhouse must be heated and well ventilated.
Purchasing unknown products because of their low price in the future may result in harm to health due to the release of toxins from wood when heated - the cheapness may hide dubious quality.
When purchasing impregnations for a bath floor, you need to pay attention to the following factors:
- Material Condition:
- Fresh lumber;
- Wood without lesions;
- Partially damaged material;
- Surfaces with significant damage.
- Intended for interior work;
- Availability of a sanitary and epidemiological conclusion about harmlessness to people;
- Suitability for treating bath floors - when the skin comes into contact with it under conditions of high temperature and humidity, there should be no discomfort.
Finnish-made compositions, in particular Tikkurila, are considered the most effective. High-quality impregnation can increase service life flooring in a sauna for 10 years.
The peculiarities of using a bathhouse is the high probability of mold and mildew appearing on wooden surfaces. The reason for this is temperature conditions and constant humidity. In order to protect the walls and floor of the bathhouse from premature loss of properties, you need to know what is the best way to treat the floor against rot and fungus.
The emergence of microorganisms in the structure of wood is an inevitable phenomenon for a bathhouse. Even with the most careful preparation of materials before installation, over time they will lose their properties. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically carry out preventive measures to prevent the appearance of mold.
There are several processing methods that reduce the likelihood of destruction of a wooden surface. But before choosing them, all measures should be taken to passive protection materials. To do this, it is necessary to periodically ventilate the room, maintain normal level temperature. Taken together, this will increase the service life of building materials.
The following methods can be used for protection:
- Conservation. This method involves long-term exposure of wood to toxic substances. It can only be used in factory conditions;
- Antiseptics. Less effective than the one described above. The advantage is the possibility self-application protective composition.
- Silicate glue. Before use, it is diluted with water to the required degree of viscosity. Then the resulting liquid is applied to a wooden surface;
- Soda and vinegar. Damaged areas of wood are covered with soda, and then vinegar is sprayed on them. This is a temporary mold removal measure;
- Salt and boric acid. To prepare the solution you will need to dissolve 1 kilogram of salt and 50 grams of salt in 5 liters of water boric acid. Treatment is performed several times with an interval of 1.5-2 hours.
All of these methods are suitable if a small area of wood is infected. If the problem is global, factory means are needed to eliminate it.
Types of protective equipment
Traditionally, paints and varnishes are used to protect wooden surfaces. However, such products are not suitable for baths, since they are not intended for these operating conditions. In this case, the floor should be treated using factory-made antiseptics.
The determining condition for choice is the reliability and safety of the impregnation. After application, it should not only prevent the appearance of mold and mildew, but at the same time preserve all the properties of wood. There are several special liquids designed for specific use in the bath:
Neomid 2000
It contains synthetic pyrethroid, cationic substances, and water. Processing is carried out using a brush, roller or spray. Required condition is the use of personal protective equipment. The average consumption ranges from 100 to 250 g. per 1 m². Cost 200 gr. is about 480 rubles;
Senezh Sauna
After applying the liquid, a moisture-proof and airtight coating is formed on the wooden surface, which prevents the appearance of microorganisms in the structure. To treat 1 m² of surface you will need from 60 to gr. substances. The cost of a container weighing 2.5 kg is 930 rubles;
Ecosept 200
The main ingredients are salts of inorganic and organic acids. It can be used both as a preventive treatment and to remove microorganisms from the wood structure. The average consumption is from 150 to 200 g. per 1 m². The cost of a liter container is 650 rubles.
This is not the entire list of protective equipment for treating bath floors. Before choosing a specific composition, you must read the instructions for use in detail and follow all precautions during its application.
How to treat bath floors? This one worries a lot of people. The problem is complicated by the fact that the most common material for finishing these structures is wood, which has low moisture resistance. Many building materials are subject to accelerated destruction at high humidity and temperature. Even concrete requires special protection.
Features of the problem
The floor in the bathhouse under constant use is in quite difficult conditions, especially when it comes to the coating in the steam room. Here the material is exposed to water, saturated water vapor, which condenses on the walls and floor, and the temperature rises sharply to 60-70°C in a Russian bath and almost 100°C in a sauna.
The floor in the bathhouse is subject to rather difficult conditions during constant use.
The temperature in the sink is lower and there is no steam, but chemical exposure is added detergents. In addition, the soil also has a rather serious influence: water, especially during flood periods, can penetrate from below and flood the floor. It should also be mentioned that there is a huge difference in temperature inside the room and under the floor. In such conditions, they actively develop various microorganisms, fungi and mold, which causes the process of rotting of the material.
The need for special protective measures is beyond doubt. The problem is not whether the material needs to be protected, but how to treat the floors in the bathhouse from rotting. This task is complicated by the same specific bath conditions. The products used must not decompose when exposed to temperature and hot water, releasing substances harmful to humans. Many fillers become dangerous in a steam room: chipboard, plywood, polystyrene foam, and many paints and varnishes should not be used.
The products used must not decompose when exposed to temperature and hot water. How can you decide what to use to treat the floor in a steam room? The most popular material is wood, and it is wood that is subject to active rotting in humid conditions.
On a note! To protect the material, impregnation with maximum penetration of the antiseptic composition deep into the wood is most effective.
Can also be used externally protective coatings that give good results in other bath rooms except the steam room.
You shouldn't think that others flooring materials do not require protection. Concrete in a bathhouse can deteriorate quite quickly, so the task of how to treat a concrete floor in a bathhouse is no less important than protecting wood. When strengthening a concrete screed necessary supplements are introduced at the stage of mixture preparation. They increase the water resistance of concrete and prevent the destruction of metal reinforcement.
Principles for protecting wood floors
When deciding how to treat a wooden floor in a bathhouse, the following goals are set:
- Ensuring moisture resistance. All impregnating compounds provide different levels of such protection, but all are based on blocking internal channels, which prevents water from penetrating deeper. An important indicator is the depth of penetration of the substance into the wood.
- Antiseptic, antibacterial effect. Wood rotting is caused by the activity of fungi and wood-destroying microorganisms. The introduction of an antiseptic into the material does not allow these pests to develop.
- Fire protection. Wood is considered a flammable material, and given the presence sauna stove and fireboxes, increased resistance to fire becomes a necessary condition arrangement of the bath floor.
- Aesthetic properties. A side, but very important task of the impregnating composition is often changing the color tone of the wood. It can highlight the beautiful structure of the wood, darken or, conversely, whiten the material. Decorating abilities are included in most modern protective mixtures for processing wooden products. Of course, when considering how to treat bathhouse floor logs, this property does not play any role, which means you can choose more economical option. But when choosing how to treat the floor boards in the bathhouse that make up the top covering, it is advisable to take this possibility into account.
A side, but very important task of the impregnating composition is often changing the color tone of the wood Choosing compositions for wooden floors
To protect the wooden elements of the bath floor covering, the following products can be used:
- Paint and varnish products. In bath conditions, they can be used in all rooms except the steam room. They contain antiseptic ingredients that prevent rotting.
- Impregnating agents. Their protective properties are based on the presence of phytocides in the composition. With their help, logs and boards are processed.
- Antiseptics. These products are available in the form of solutions based on fungicides. Some compositions have increased toxicity, and therefore they must be coated with special varnishes or paints.
Various means can be used to protect the wooden elements of the bath floor covering. In construction, impregnating compounds are widely used, which must be used to treat all wooden elements without exception at the construction stage of the bathhouse. The following products are available in 4 categories:
- oil;
- water soluble;
- based organic solvents and with a combined base.
On a note! Often, drying oil is used as an impregnation, which penetrates well into the wood, and after drying and polymerizing, forms a protective film.
Among the branded formulations, the following products are popular:
- Tikkurila;
- Texturol;
- Woodex;
- BIO Z;
- Pinotex;
- Senezh Ognebio;
- Neomid;
- Aquatex.
Film-forming composition Natura (Teknos) The following compositions designed to protect wooden elements in the bathhouse are distinguished by their high environmental cleanliness:
- Water-soluble sauna product produced in acrylic base. With its help, a water-repellent polymer layer with heat-resistant properties is formed. In this case, the film is able to pass air through itself. The composition has antimicrobial properties, destroying pathogens of infectious diseases.
- Schwartz waterproofing impregnation prevents the development of fungi and mold formation.
- The film-forming composition Natura (Teknos) creates a translucent coating that can reliably protect wooden surfaces.
- Protective agent Supi Arctic (Tikkurila) has high water-repellent characteristics. At the same time, the composition provides an attractive appearance, spectacular shine.
Protective agent Supi Arctic (Tikkurila) A large group of protective agents are oil-based formulations. The following mixtures stand out: Supi Laudesuoja (Tikkurila), Sauna Natura (Teknos) and Rogneda. They are applied to dry and cleaned wooden surfaces with a brush or sponge. Drying time is 23-25 hours, after which you can heat the bathhouse.
Impregnation Aquatex Features of concrete floor processing
Concrete floor screed in a bathhouse is subject to serious damage under the influence of humidity and temperature. To strengthen concrete, special additives and impregnating compounds are used. The following groups of such funds are distinguished:
- Strengthening compounds. By impregnating the surface layer of the material, such products increase its strength. The principle of their operation is based on filling pores and microcracks, which ensures the solidity of concrete.
- Elimination of dust formation on the surface. The formation of cement dust on concrete floors is considered their major disadvantage. This effect intensifies after exposure to bath conditions. Special products form a protective layer that prevents dust formation.
- Moisture-repellent additives. This impregnation significantly increases the water resistance of concrete. At the same time, resistance to various chemical influences detergents and cleaning products.
What compounds are used to protect concrete floors in bathhouses? There are 2 main types: organic and inorganic impregnating compositions. Organic products have epoxy, acrylic or polyurethane base. Such substances have universal properties, ensuring the simultaneous performance of all the above tasks. The most common are polyurethane concrete impregnations.
On a note! Inorganic-based products work on the principle of converting soluble components into insoluble substances, which makes it difficult for moisture to penetrate and wash out concrete ingredients.
Concrete floor screed in a bathhouse is subject to serious damage under the influence of humidity and temperature It is this type of impregnation that provides resistance to aggressive substances. When using these products, you should remember that when they are used on the concrete surface, chemical reaction, which can change the appearance of the floor. When assessing the extent of such changes, you should first test the purchased composition on small area. Full floor treatment is carried out if whitish spots and stains do not appear.
The floor in the bathhouse is in extreme conditions. As a result of the influence of high humidity and temperature, both wood and concrete are destroyed. Modern impregnating compositions make it possible to effectively combat the destructive process, primarily rotting. It is important to choose the right product and carefully treat the floor. This procedure is carried out during the construction of the bathhouse or during its operation.
Floor in the steam room: choice of materials, design. Steam room finishing
The floor in the steam room performs several important functions. First of all, it ensures the safe movement of people. The steam room is always humid. Therefore, the floor must be non-slip to prevent visitors from getting injured. There are also sewer lines running under the base of the premises. The floor should be designed so that water is drained as efficiently as possible. In this case, the coating and all finishing materials inside the steam room will last much longer.
To arrange the floor in the bath room correctly, you need to familiarize yourself with the recommendations experienced builders. In this case, you will be able to do all the work yourself.
Materials
When considering how to make a floor in a steam room, you should start with the choice of material. There are two main options. In the first case, the floor is made of wood, and in the second, of concrete. Everyone chooses for themselves best type material.
A concrete floor will require more time and effort. It is also a more expensive type of material. However, the service life of a concrete floor is more than 50 years. It is believed that it is easier to install a wood floor. This material is cheaper. In this case, the work is done faster and easier. 
Wooden flooring lasts for 7-8 years. Despite such a short service life of the material, in most cases craftsmen prefer this option. It is quite possible to install a wooden covering yourself.
Wood selection
The quality of the steam room finish depends on the right choice wood This material must be well dried. The boards must not have defects, cracks or chips. Also, traces of rotting are not allowed. 
Deciduous wood is preferable for steam rooms. It is believed that such material has different action on the human body. For example, birch can energize bathhouse visitors, while aspen, on the contrary, removes negative emotions.
Birch is considered one of the the best materials for finishing the steam room. It is well treated with protective compounds. Larch is also considered one of the best options for a bath. This durable material. It tolerates temperature changes and high humidity well.
If processed correctly, linden can also be used for finishing. The listed materials are also used to make shelves in the steam room and create decoration for the ceiling and walls.
Leaking floor
A bathhouse, the steam room of which is finished with wood, can be of two types. The first option assumes the presence of gaps between the boards. The accumulated moisture will simply flow down. The second option for the floor in the steam room is called non-leaking. It is a little more complicated to set up.
A leaky floor is the simplest finishing option. There are gaps in the flooring through which water seeps into the soil. In this case, the sewerage system is not equipped. Only in underground space is it created drainage hole. Sometimes it is replaced with a special container that communicates with sewer lines. The floor insulation in the steam room is also not done. 
The presented flooring option is suitable only for southern regions and buildings that are used exclusively in the summer. In this case, the boards are not nailed to the joists. They are periodically removed and taken outside. Here they are dried and returned to their original place.
Non-leakage floor
A bathhouse whose steam room is created in accordance with all building codes, must be leak-proof. When creating its floor, the boards are laid in two rows. First, rough flooring is installed on the joists. They put it on top hardwoods tongue and groove wood. 
In this case there are no gaps between the boards. A layer of insulation is laid under the floor. The finishing surface should have a slight slope towards the drainage area. A hole with a siphon is installed here to drain water into the sewer.
To prevent the appearance of deflections in the wooden covering over time, supports are installed in the middle of the joist system. They can be brick or concrete. Wood can also be used for similar purposes.
Arrangement of the underground
The floor in the steam room needs proper arrangement of the space underneath it. If a leaky floor is created, the filtration properties of the soil are first assessed. If there is sand under the base of the bathhouse, it will be enough to pour gravel on it. The layer should be about 25 cm. The gravel will clean the wastewater before it enters directly into the ground. There must be a distance of at least 10 cm between the backfill and the joists.
If there are loamy soils or clay under the leaking bathhouse, you will need to install a tray to drain the water into the sewer. To do this, a clay castle is created under the floor. It should have a slope towards the sewer.
If the bathhouse is leak-proof, the base is covered with expanded clay. There must be a distance of at least 15 cm between it and the logs. This is necessary to create complete ventilation.
Beginning of work
The installation of the floor in the steam room involves the installation of logs. They rest on the foundation. Similar design characteristic of almost all modern baths. Creating a foundation and a sewage system under the floor allows you to meet the requirements of sanitary and hygienic standards. Otherwise, the room will eventually develop bad smell, A wood covering is destroyed.
After arranging the foundation, it is necessary to install logs on it. If the area of the steam room is large, you will need to build additional bedside tables. They will help reduce the gaps between lags.
For arranging the subfloor, hardwood is chosen. It is also possible to use slabs or thick boards for these purposes. Using self-tapping screws or the tongue-and-groove method, the rough flooring is attached to the beams. Next, a thermal insulation layer must be installed.
Installation of insulation
A wooden floor in a steam room requires the presence of thermal insulation. In this case, the room will warm up faster. Heat loss is significantly reduced. This allows you to save on energy resources.
The modern insulation market offers many varieties of materials. They differ in cost and technical characteristics. Mineral wool is best suited for arranging the floor in a bathhouse. This is an environmentally friendly material. It is able to reliably insulate a room without allowing heat to escape outside.
In order for the thermal insulation and the entire structure of a wooden floor to last a long time, it is necessary to lay a layer of waterproofing on top of the insulation. To do this, you can purchase glassine, roofing felt or a polymer membrane.
Finished floor installation
The floor in the steam room is installed immediately after installation of the rough base, mineral wool and waterproofing. To do this, you should prepare tongue and groove boards. Their thickness should not be less than 3 cm.
The boards should not be laid too tightly. If moisture gets on them, the material will swell. If there is not enough space for linear expansion, the wood will move. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to leave small gaps between the boards on the finishing surface.
It is also important to consider the direction of the growth rings. For adjacent boards they should face in different directions. With this installation technique it is possible to achieve a high level of evenness of the coating.
All finishing elements must be installed with the convex side up. In this case, the floor will be strong and reliable.
Final stage
At the final stage, the wood is treated with special solutions. There are many options for such products on sale. The master decides on his own how to treat the floors in the steam room. It should be an antiseptic that will prevent the appearance of fungus and rot on the floor surface. This solution is also used to treat two side and bottom side boards 
When laying the finishing coating, it is important to make a slope towards the drain hole. After this, you can scrape and install the skirting boards. You can remove irregularities on the surface of the coating manually. However, it is more advisable to use an electric planer for these purposes. Before starting such work, it is necessary to check whether nails are sticking out on the floor surface.
Wall and ceiling finishing
After arranging the floor, carry out Finishing work walls, ceiling, a door to the steam room and shelves are installed. In this case, it is also allowed to use wood and lining. It is used to decorate the ceiling and walls. A layer of insulation and waterproofing is also installed under the front covering. You should not purchase polystyrene foam or expanded polystyrene for such purposes. In a steam room, such insulation will release substances that are unsafe for the human body. 
It should be remembered that finishing the ceiling and walls in the steam room cannot be done with plastic, wood panels, chipboard, plywood, etc. Also not suitable for these purposes conifers wood They will release resin when heated. This will cause burns.
It is not recommended to cover the lining in the bathhouse with special means. When heated, varnish, stain or other similar coatings will release harmful substances and an unpleasant odor will appear. It would be simply unbearable to be in such a room.
Interior arrangement
After finishing the ceiling and walls, you need to install the door to the steam room. It can be made of special heat-resistant glass or wood. The first option is preferable. Glass allows you to create a stylish look inside the steam room.
The shelves in the steam room should be arranged in several rows. Deciduous wood is used to create them. The surface of the material must be well sanded. There should be no defects or chips on it. It is also unacceptable for metal nail heads to protrude from the surface of the shelves. At elevated temperatures, this can cause burns.
An important element of the bathhouse interior is the stove. There are many different models on sale. The stove can be wood-burning or have an electric heating element. Each owner chooses for himself the best option. Some owners prefer to build it out of brick right on site. It's easier for others to buy ready-made ovens made of steel or cast iron. An electric heating element does not imply the ability to pour water over hot stones. If the owners like a sauna with high humidity, they should prefer a traditional stone oven.
Room finishing options
Experts recommend not using too much wood when decorating the interior of a bathhouse. The steam room looks original, in which the lining is combined with tiles, plexiglass, natural stone. If you wish, you can seek help from a professional designer. He will develop original project interior It will be a pleasure for all visitors to be in such a room.
The decoration of the steam room should be done with taste. You should also pay attention to the choice of lamps. The steam room should be light enough. Lampshades can be made of natural wood or other heat-resistant materials.
It is very important to provide a ventilation hole inside the bath. Ventilation will prevent the appearance of dampness and pathogens. However, making a ventilation window inside the steam room is useless. It is best to arrange it in a dressing room or washing room. The steam room is ventilated when the door is opened.
After considering the technology, how the floor in the steam room is arranged, finishing and interior design takes place, each owner country house will be able to independently arrange a bathhouse correctly.
Deciding how to cover the shelves in the bathhouse
The bath shelves must be protected from high temperatures and moisture. After completing the interior decoration, the question arises: how to cover the shelves in the bathhouse, walls and other wooden elements. Should I use natural ingredients or cheap ones with chemical additives? Is it generally necessary to treat the shelves with something or can the wood be left unprotected? Readers will learn all this in this article.
Why is it necessary to protect all elements of the steam room?
A properly constructed bathhouse has high-quality hydro- and vapor barriers. Wooden elements: a bench for a bath, shelves, a table, etc. must also be protected from external harmful influences. This is especially true for the steam room, where it must be safe and durable.
The bathhouse shelf is sanded and covered with Tikkurila antiseptic. The steam room is the main room in any bathhouse; the shelf needs to be strong and safe. Exposure to hot steam and water makes the tree vulnerable, and without special treatment the canopy will last no more than 1 year. It is not customary to make a canopy made of anything other than wood in a steam room, and this material does not like water. If you take quality wood and spend correct processing, then the wooden structure will last a long time.
Initially, it is necessary to take into account the type of wood from which the structure is made. The shelves are made from aspen, which hardens when exposed to water, linden with a pleasant soft texture, it does not heat up at high temperatures, or alder. The latter is difficult to find in construction markets, so it is used less often.
Any type is not afraid of hot steam and is easy to process. The price of the material is higher than that of pine or spruce, but it is better to overpay once. There are several types of wood that are not very common in Russia, but are imported to us from southern countries. These include: abash sedela, ofram, miranti. They have a pleasant texture and are not afraid of moisture and steam. Their prices are high. They are used mainly in expensive finishing.
Any shelf, made from expensive abash or our linden, must be treated after installation special compounds for the steam room.
You can often hear user reviews that it is better not to process shelves at all. The fact is that incorrectly selected compositions can negatively interact with human skin at high temperatures. The shelves are simply sanded to a completely smooth polished surface. Experts are always debating whether or not to treat shelves. It is impossible to give a definite answer. It is bad not to treat wood, since in bathhouses with poor ventilation the shelves quickly darken and become moldy; it is also not worth treating with a low-quality composition. Everyone chooses for themselves, but if you decide to leave the shelves untreated, then high-quality ventilation is necessary.
Products for processing steam room elements
All compositions for processing the shelf according to their color can be divided into:
- Colorless.
- Colored.
Colorless ones include various impregnations, waxes, varnishes, and bleaching compounds. The latter belong to a separate group, since they are used in some cases when the shelves have darkened. It is not necessary to cover the entire surface, but only the affected areas.
Based on the type of coating, they are divided into: impregnations, coating compositions.
Varnishes for shelves
The shelf in the bathhouse is coated with water-based varnish. Coatings include varnishes. But it is not recommended to use any varnish to treat the shelf. When the temperature is high, it will release toxic fumes, and the high temperature will quickly destroy the surface. To process the elements of the steam room, special acrylics are used, for example from Tikkuril, Supi Saunasoja, Belinka. Steam room varnish has a natural base, is resistant to temperature changes and comes in many shades.
To the main advantages varnish coatings applies:
- The composition contains antiseptic substances, so there is no need to additionally treat the shelves before coating.
- At temperatures above 100°C they do not lose their quality characteristics.
- They create a film on the surface of the shelf that reliably protects the surface from water.
You can choose the color you want or use transparent.
Varnish is applied protective film in the following way:
The surface of the shelf is sanded starting from the large nozzle and ending with the smallest one - polishing. Use a damp cloth to clean the structure from dust and dirt, and then listen completely. The varnish can be applied with a brush or roller. It is important to coat all parts, so use a thin brush or sponge in hard-to-reach places. It is necessary to cover in two layers.
Apply the first layer of the product, slightly diluting it with water, so the color will be more even. If the varnish is colorless (glaze), it can be applied undiluted. The composition dries quickly, exact time indicated on the can of each manufacturer. The second layer must be applied after the first has dried.
During operation, the bathhouse room must be at least +5°C and the humidity must be at least 75%.
If you choose a varnish with coloring, then before coating it is recommended to treat a small board with it in 2 layers. This way you can make sure that the color completely triples.
Tools for processing are taken without rust and clean. If rust gets under the varnish, it will be difficult to remove it from there.
Impregnations and bleaches for shelves
Senezh impregnations for shelves. Among various impregnations and bleaches, Belinka sauna from a Slovenian manufacturer, our complex compositions Pirilax, Prime Thermo, Neomid 200, which protect shelves from moisture, fungi, mold and fire, are especially popular. Bleach is also used only for saunas and baths. It is often believed that a conventional bleach-based composition, such as Belizna, can be used as a bleach. But you should not do this, since bleach vapors are dangerous to humans, and contact with skin in a hot room can generally cause a 2nd degree burn.
Impregnations and antiseptics have a number of advantages:
- Does not change the appearance of the wood.
- Easy to apply.
- Dries quickly.
- Create comprehensive protection.
- It's inexpensive.
More details about Neomid 200 impregnation are described in the video:
Impregnation must be applied in the following steps:
- The shelf is cleaned and sanded.
- The surface is cleaned of dust after grinding.
- Apply the impregnating composition in 2–3 layers.
Each subsequent layer of impregnating compounds must be applied at intervals of 40–50 minutes.
If the shelf is not new and has already begun to rot or become moldy, you can use the Nortex compound, which can stop the destruction. To whiten blue stains, use bleach, for example from Belink “Doctor for Wood”. Apply the bleach with a sponge in one layer only to the darkened area. Complete whitening occurs within 1-2 hours. If one treatment was not enough, the product is applied a second time.
Features of applying protective compounds
Applying antiseptics and other complex products must be observed following some subtleties:
- It is easier to process the elements before assembly, so the most inaccessible elements will be protected, especially for shelves with complex closed structures.
- If you are afraid to treat the surface of the shelf, then during assembly only apply protective agents internal structure. The surface is simply ground and polished.
- All work is carried out in summer time years, when the air is dry and it will be easier to dry the steam room.
- You can use the treated shelf after 3-4 days, after it has completely dried.
- Not recommended for use various stains, drying oil and other chemical compounds.
- You should not purchase little-known compounds at a low price; the result can be hazardous to health.
If you use proven compounds and perform the work efficiently, then the shelves in the bathhouse will last for a long time. And its strength and beautiful appearance will decorate any steam room in a bathhouse.
How to make floors in a steam bath
When your own bathhouse is being built or overhauled, the floors in the steam room require special attention.
Floors must be durable, heat-resistant and little susceptible to moisture. Otherwise, they will quickly become unusable and will have to be completely replaced.
Necessary floor properties in a steam room
Independent installation of the floor in a steam bath requires compliance with basic rules. According to standard technological characteristics Bath floors in the steam room and sink should have the following properties:
- trouble-free drainage of used water;
- ability to maintain temperature for a long time;
- cleaning without special effort and the use of expensive household chemicals.
On a note! It is very important that the floors in the steam room do not create discomfort for vacationers.
Cold and slippery surfaces on which you walk with bare feet will spoil all the pleasure of bathing procedures. In addition, it is unsafe for health. Therefore, you need to carefully select the material and properly arrange the floors in the steam bath; what materials are best to use, how to carry out everything necessary work how to care for a finished floor in order to increase its service life - these and some other important issues will be covered in the proposed material.
What materials are needed
When planning to make floors in a bathhouse in a steam room with your own hands, you need to carefully study the installation technology and prepare everything you need. Regardless of the floor design and the planned finishing coating, you will first need to carry out preparatory work. To carry them out you will need the following materials:
- components of concrete screed - cement, sand, gravel;
- reinforcing mesh;
- rolled waterproofing material - roofing felt and/or polyethylene;
- insulation;
- wooden beam with a section of 30 by 50 mm, 70 by 100 mm and/or 50 by 80 mm, depending on the floor design and the planned finishing coating;
- board with tongue and groove with a tongue-and-groove locking connection - for non-leaking floors;
- flat board - for leaking floors;
- discharge pipes for waste water;
- siphon and grate for arranging a drain;
- antiseptic and other solutions for pre-treatment of wood;
- brick;
- pipes made of asbestos concrete composition.
To work you need to prepare the following tools and devices:
- tank for mixing the solution;
- construction mixer;
- scales and/or measuring container;
- wire cutters;
- tape measure, plumb line, level;
- hammer;
- technical knife;
- plane;
- grinder;
- sledgehammer;
- hammer drill or electric drill;
- hard brush.
Preparing the base for the steam room floor
When a decision has been made on what kind of flooring is planned for the steam bath, installation of the base for it begins. In this case, it is necessary to remember that you need to correctly calculate the angle of inclination of the surface to drain the water falling on the floor. You can find ready-made tables and others on the Internet. calculation materials for proper production of the floor structure.
After designing and manufacturing the base, it is necessary to install a pipe to drain waste water and select a location drain hole. It can be placed in the center of the room or against the wall. When placing the drain hole in the corner of the steam room, a special groove is mounted to it along the wall.
The most popular materials for flooring are concrete or boards. They can be used individually or in combined version. If a light frame bathhouse is being designed, the floor in the steam room can be made of tongue-and-groove boards or beams.
On a note! A combined floor made of wood and concrete is easier to install; it is especially strong, comfortable and durable.
How to make a concrete floor in a steam room
At the stage of arranging the foundation, it is necessary to install a drain pipe for waste water into it at an angle. A pit is built for the first end. The second end is passed through the side wall and brought to the septic tank, cesspool or sewer system.
Pit for drain pipe lined with brick or filled with concrete. For the latter option, it is necessary to pre-install the formwork. It is built from scrap materials. You can use used, but still quite strong old boards or boards.
When the installation is completed, the outside of the pit is filled with soil to about 2/3 of the height. The pipe must be completely filled. The soil needs to be leveled and compacted.
Next, a gravel cushion is laid out on a slope from the pit to the wall. Here the layer of bulk material must be made 2 times thicker. The pillow needs to be leveled and placed on top of it reinforcing mesh to maintain the slope angle.
Now you need to insulate the floor in the bathhouse in the steam room. To do this, a rigid insulation flooring is laid on top of the mesh. You can use sheets of extruded polystyrene foam. Before pouring the final concrete layer, reinforcing mesh is placed on the sheets and a roll of waterproofing is spread.
In another option, a rough concrete screed with insulating additives is poured. For example, expanded polystyrene crumbs. The required thickness of the screed is from 3 to 5 cm. After the concrete has dried technologically, a reinforcing mesh is laid on it.
The final screed is poured strictly according to the beacons to a thickness of at least 3 cm. For it, it is advisable to use ready solution or building mixture with the addition of microfiber. This will increase the moisture resistance and strength of the material.
The finished screed can be coated with liquid glass or liquid rubber. Another variant - ceramic tile. In this case, all seams must be treated with special compounds for tightness.
The drain hole is protected by a removable filter grid. This will protect against debris and random objects. Subsequently, the filter will need to be periodically removed for thorough cleaning.
The finished floor is made from boards pre-treated with special compounds. They are laid, leaving technological gaps for free drainage of used water.
On a note! It is better to make the board covering removable. This will allow you to freely remove it and reinstall it after drying, cleaning and minor repairs.
Accidentally damaged elements will not be difficult to replace.
The floor in the steam room is insulated from the outside
To make an insulated floor in a steam bath, you first need to lay a cushion of compacted soil. This will maintain the integrity of the foundation. The drainage layer on top of the clay is poured from a mixture of sand and fine-grained bulk material - gravel, crushed stone, pebbles.
A drainage hole for waste water is formed in the center. It must be deepened and filled with drainage mixture.
Logs for wooden floors are made from asbestos concrete pipes. With their help, free air circulation in the underground space is also ensured. The finishing coating is made of boards laid in increments of 5 to 7 mm to freely remove used water.
Floor without rough concrete screed
A floor of this design is laid directly on a strip or column foundation. The free space between the elements of the base of the building is filled with a solution of rough concrete. Instead, you can use a compacted soil pad.
In the center of the steam room you need to build a tray, connecting it to sewer pipe. This will make it easier for waste water to drain away. To make a tray, you can use boards or plastic. The base for it is one of the supporting elements of the foundation. A waterproofing material must be laid under the tray.
The final floor covering is made of tightly laid boards. The slope created during the installation of the floor ensures that waste water flows directly into the tray and then into the sewer pipe.
Horizontal floor in the steam room
In this option, the finished floor in the steam room is wooden bath laid horizontally. The drainage structure is installed in the free space between the rough screed and the finishing coating.
This design allows you to free the floors in the bathhouse, steam room and sink from used water. To do this, a drain hole is installed under the floor in the washing room.
The formation of the floor pie begins with laying the subfloor from the board. Then the logs are laid. A cushion of loose material is poured into the free space between them. In this case, it is necessary to form a funnel for the passage of water. It is placed under the future drain hole. A drain pipe is connected to the funnel from below.
Instead of a pillow, you can make a rough screed of concrete, to which insulation is added. In this case, the logs must be treated with an antiseptic and waterproofed.
How to insulate a wooden floor in a steam room
The installation of an insulated floor without a rough concrete screed begins during the construction of the foundation. For a non-leakage floor, sewer pipes must be installed at this stage.
The upper level of the subfloor must be raised above the soil level by 40-60 cm. This is ensured by installation brick pillars and/or walls. Logs (floor beams) are laid on them.
The next stage is waterproofing. This work is carried out after the walls are completely erected. First you need to compact the soil tightly in the free space of the foundation. After this, a roll waterproofing material is laid. It is best to use roofing felt.
Now you can lay the joists and cross bars for the subfloor. They have rough board flooring. A rolled vapor barrier is spread on top of it.
Next, mats or slabs are laid insulation material- mineral wool, expanded polystyrene, etc. On top of the insulation is a waterproofing sheet. If the material is laid in pieces, it is necessary to make an overlap 20 cm wide. All technological seams are protected with moisture-resistant tape.
The drain pipe is carefully guided through all layers of the floor pie and raised above the top edge of the insulation. A sheathing of boards at least 15 cm thick is made around it.
When laying the plank covering, its level along the walls must be raised. For this, a beam with a thickness of 3 to 5 cm is used. This will form the necessary slope in the shape of a funnel. This will direct the water to the drain hole. It is better to place it in the center of the steam room.
Instead of a drain hole, you can use a special tray installed along the wall or in the center of the steam room. In the first case, the floor is raised against the opposite wall so that water flows freely to the tray. In the second case, the floorboards are raised along two walls located parallel to the tray.
Finished floor installation
Can be laid on a finished base fine coating. The boards are pre-treated with special compounds to protect against microorganisms and mold.
The covering is laid tightly. It is better to use tongue-and-groove boards with a tongue-and-groove joint. As a result, a smooth, even surface is formed without gaps, cracks, etc. Skirting boards are installed along the walls. On top of the drainage hole there is a removable sheathing. Important! All technological gaps around the drain must be filled with sealant and additionally treated with a compound to increase moisture resistance.
Disposal of used water
With absence sewer main To drain waste water, it is necessary to equip a drainage well, drainage ditch or pit. For drainage well you need to dig a hole. Its depth should be twice the level of soil freezing in the coldest season. For a small family bathhouse, a drainage well measuring 90 by 90 or 100 by 100 cm will be sufficient.
At the bottom of the well you need to pour a cushion of loose material about 0.5 meters thick. You can use expanded clay, crushed stone, broken brick or fine gravel. The inlet for the drainage pipe is installed 20-30 cm below ground level.
Floor installation in the steam room frame bath or a bathhouse of a different design requires special attention, accuracy and careful adherence to all technologies. Learn more about how to make floors in a steam bath and which ones are better in the video offered for viewing.