Drawing of the shelf in the steam room. Bath shelf: what is it and what is it used for? Aspen is the most affordable material

The bathhouse is a wonderful place where both soul and body rest. Many homeowners build such structures on their plots and spend a lot of their free time in them. An important role is played not only by the well-built construction of the bath, but also by its internal arrangement.

Peculiarities

If it was decided to put a bathhouse on your site, then you should remember that it should be as comfortable as possible. To do this, it is necessary to competently equip the resulting structure, equipping it with all the necessary components.

Elements such as shelves are very important for a sauna building. These parts are designed to be installed in a steam room. Most often they have several tiers..

Their design features, first of all, depend on the area of ​​the room and its height. It is customary to place shelves for a steam room either along one of the walls, or near two walls. parallel to each other. There are also corner structures., in which the arrangement of the tiers is completely different.

A feature of the sauna shelves for the steam room is that they cannot be installed next to the windows, if any, in the room. This can lead to unfavorable consequences - under the influence of high temperatures, the glass can break, and its fragments can injure people sitting on the shelf.

In real Russian baths, shelves with three tiers are usually installed. It is also known from physics lessons at school that heat always rushes upward, so it is always cooler on the lower shelf in the steam room than on the upper one.

When designing shelves for a steam room, it must be borne in mind that an adult must fit freely on the upper tier without resting against the ceiling - this is another important feature that should not be underestimated when equipping a bath room.

A high-quality shelf in a bath should have a low thermal conductivity, otherwise it will be impossible to be on it, as it will get very hot in a steam room. That's why similar structures are made of wood, not metal, because it gets hot very quickly.

Also, well-made shelves made of suitable materials can easily withstand high temperatures and their drops. In such conditions, these structures do not deform, rot or collapse.

There are many options for the location of the shelf in the steam room. It is possible to build a suitable structure for a room of any layout and footage. For example, for a compact steam room it is permissible to make corner benches that take up little free space, but at the same time remain convenient for a comfortable pastime of users.

Shelves can be ordered from a specialist store. Typically, such structures are costly to consumers, especially when made from appropriate materials. If there is no need for extra spending, then you can make the shelves yourself. To do this, you need to strictly adhere to the step-by-step instructions and use good materials and tools in your work.

Device

In another way, the shelf is called a shop. This is due to the fact that it is a structure of benches with different heights, arranged according to a special scheme.

The standard design of these elements consists of two main components:

• Frame... Such an element of the bath shelves acts as a basis for fixing fixed flooring boards or as a support for collapsible floorings. As a rule, the frame of the shelves is made of support racks, which are similar to the legs of a standard bench. These parts are interconnected by means of transverse jumper boards. Less often, the shelf frame is made according to the principle of a stair stringer. Steps are attached to such a base.

Users who prefer to steam in dry steam conditions (according to the well-known Finnish technology) often build structures without additional supports in the form of a railroad shelf attached to the partitions of the steam room.

• Flooring... Another component of the shelf is the flooring. It is a base of boards filled with a step of 1-2 cm. As a rule, the flooring is fixed on the bench frame. Sometimes the necessary parts are nailed separately, making a structure resembling floor traps. If the flooring is not fixed on the frame, then it is very convenient to remove and ventilate it outside the steam room. This component performs the function of a seat, a couch and a podium for a bath attendant who works with a broom.

The flooring of the shelf can be different. It can be equipped with backrests, side details, special bath pillows, as well as elements designed to take the most relaxed lying position.

Materials (edit)

The steam room shelves must be made of well-crafted and quality materials, free from damage or serious defects.

When choosing wood for the manufacture of a shelf, several important factors must be taken into account:

• the material must have a minimum thermal conductivity, otherwise the bench will be very hot - it will be uncomfortable to sit and lie on it;
• there should be no resin in the wood - it will stand out at high temperatures and stick to the skin;
• the wood must tolerate high humidity without problems, otherwise the shelves will not last long in a steam room.

Below are the options for wood, from which it is better to make such structures.

Linden

To create high-quality shelves, this material is used quite often. At high temperatures, wood gives a very pleasant natural aroma, which has a relaxing effect on the human body. It is also worth noting that linden is a light material, so the benches are not very heavy as a result.

They are easy to install - it doesn't take much effort. Linden can be processed without problems, as it does not have a high density. In addition, benches made of this kind of wood retain an attractive appearance and a perfectly smooth surface for many years, which is especially important for a shelf.

Before making linden bath shelves, it is necessary to dry it thoroughly, otherwise the structures may darken over time.

Aspen

Another popular material for making a shelf is aspen. This tree species also has a positive effect on the human body and has healing properties. In addition, aspen is inexpensive, so almost every buyer can afford it.

It is believed that aspen furniture neutralizes negative energy and also restores human strength. This material perfectly cleans the air in the bath, so many experts recommend using it.

Aspen shelves will serve faithfully for many years without causing any problems. Such furniture does not require complex maintenance from homeowners, since it is practical.

However, aspen has one serious disadvantage: this material is prone to rotting of the fibers located in the inner part.

In order for the benches to be of high quality and reliable, it is necessary to carefully choose the wood for their construction. Doubtful materials that are damaged or rotted should not be used.

Poplar

Poplar is a good choice for making a shelf. Its wood is very soft and pliable. In addition, this material is lightweight. Poplar can be whitish or light brown.

Such wood makes very beautiful pieces of furniture, as well as decorative carved details.

Alder and black alder

The shelves can also be made of alder. This type of wood is characterized by its resistance to wear and temperature extremes. In a steam room, such material will not deform, crack or lose its visual appeal. Even after a few years, alder remains light. If you need to install a darker shelf in the steam room, then you should use a special black alder for its manufacture. This type of wood has been used since ancient times in Russia in the construction of baths.

Alder differs in that it has a rather thin and uniform structure. In addition, this material meets the main requirement - it has minimal thermal conductivity. Sitting or lying on the alder bench will be as comfortable and safe as possible, since it hardly gets warm.

Abashi

It is an African oak that boasts excellent strength characteristics. Shelves made of this sturdy material are not afraid of temperature extremes or heavy loads.

In addition, African oak benches have a beautiful and expensive appearance. Abashi is not subject to decay. On the surface of furniture made from this wood, stains, darkening and other defects do not appear over time.

The African oak shelf will not crack and will last for many years. At high temperatures, this wood species gives off a very pleasant and mild aroma, which has a positive effect on the human respiratory system.

As for the shortcomings, here it should be noted the possibility of darkening of the wood in some places, if it is used for a long time in conditions of high humidity.

Maple

For the manufacture of bath shelves, it is permissible to use a species of wood such as maple. The main advantage of this material is its high strength. It is not easy to break or damage a maple shop. For this reason, many consumers choose this material for the construction of shelves.

In addition, maple is relatively inexpensive and lasts a very long time without causing any hassle. This material is resistant to wear and tear. Working with maple is easy - it is easy to inject and can be handled without problems... Such wood has a homogeneous structure, in which there are no pronounced fibers. The main advantage of this material is that it is not afraid of high humidity and very rarely cracks. The most valuable is the "bird's eye" maple, as well as "sugar"... Such wood has a beautiful structure.

Forms

Sauna shelves can have various shapes:

• Stepped... Such saunas are most common. With a similar structure, the shelves are installed on one wall, and their arrangement takes place according to the principle of steps. A multi-tiered structure can have two or three floors. As mentioned above, the traditional model for a Russian bath is a three-tiered bench. In such models, the shelf at the very top is much hotter than at the lowest level.
• Corner... The second most popular are corner shelves. Such designs are most often chosen by the owners of small baths with the same compact steam rooms. In such conditions, the corner bench takes up a minimum of free space.

In corner structures, the shelves are equipped in such a way that the upper and lower parts are adjacent to one partition, and the intermediate component is arranged on an adjacent wall.

• Collapsible... Collapsible benches for a bath are considered very convenient in operation. In such designs, the upper and lower shelves are removable. Thanks to this structure, the wooden elements of the steam room are dried much easier and faster.
• Folding... To expand the available space in the steam room, you can use the fold-out shelves. Such designs are ideal for those cases when several people are resting in the bath at once. In other words, folding benches are called compartment shelves. The principle of operation of this bath furniture is very simple: if necessary, the uppermost tier is raised towards the wall (just like a shelf in a train compartment) and also lowered to its original place.

Design

Do not think that the shelves are unremarkable furniture for a steam room, on the design of which there is no need to work. In fact, such designs can look stylish and interesting, transforming a bath room.

Designers argue that in the conditions of the steam room there should be no lush color combinations. But a combination of wood species with different shades is a good solution.

For example, shelves can be built from boards of contrasting shades, beautifully echoing with each other... Of course, it will be more difficult to make such furniture, but it will decorate the steam room.

If the owner is a lover of non-standard and fresh solutions, then he should turn to decorating the shelf with light. LED lighting installed under a bench or in a box under it will become a spectacular design technique.

The backlight color in this case can be any: calm blue, and daring red, visually making the steam room even hotter, or green. The choice of a suitable diode strip depends on the preferences of the owners.

If there is no need to install LED strips in the sauna, then you can turn to spotlights and install them around the perimeter of the room - right above the seats. Thus, you can focus on the neatly made benches and make the steam room a little lighter.

The corner benches look nice and fresh, in which there is a large seat with a wavy edge at the top. Such designs look modern and stylish, softening the corner of the steam room.

Some craftsmen make very elegant shelves for the steam room, in which the upper tier smoothly flows into the lower one. The manufacture of such benches cannot be called very simple and fast, but their design can transform a room.

In the steam room, U-shaped "multi-storey" benches with a separate back, attached directly to the wall behind the longest seat, look good. These designs not only look aesthetically pleasing, but are also sturdy and reliable. They look especially attractive in one ensemble with wooden basins and brooms.

Blueprints

If it was decided to make a shelf for a bath with your own hands, then first you need to draw up a drawing of it. To make an understandable scheme, first of all, one should take into account the dimensions of the room, the location of the future structure, as well as the height of the ceiling in the steam room.

In order to translate your plans into reality, you should familiarize yourself with the standard dimensions of such structures:

• To lie on a shelf with knees bent at the legs, you need a bench 1.5 m long.
• The 1.8 m bench will allow any average user to lie down on it without bending their knees. In this case, a lot depends on the individual parameters of a person - sometimes a two-meter bench may not be enough.

• The shelf can have a minimum width of 40 cm. This parameter most often belongs to the lower tier, which is usually used as a footrest. It is convenient to stand on such a step, but you can also sit down.
• Most often, bath benches are 60 cm wide. This parameter is optimal, but not quite suitable for vaping in a lying position.
• To sit down (with legs tucked in) across the bench, you need a construction with a width of 90 cm. A user with any physiological parameters can lie on such a bed.
• The widest is a wooden shelf with a size of 150 cm. It is convenient not only to sit but also to lie on it.

Of course, there are other options for the parameters of benches for the steam room. However, experts recommend making or ordering structures whose dimensions exceed the minimum values. If the steam room has a sufficient area, the dimensions of the shelves can be increased.

When designing shelves for a bath, it is important to take into account the installation height of all constituent elements:

• 1.1-1.2 m- experts recommend keeping this distance between the lowest step and the second shelf.
• 40-60 cm- this gap is optimal if it is performed between the first and second shelves.
• 20 cm- This is the minimum permitted distance that should be left between the floor and the step at the very bottom.
• 1.5-1.8 m- these dimensions are the minimum for the length of the bath shelf.

When drawing up a design for the design of a steam room, you need to pay special attention to the layout of the shelves in the room:

• Along one of the walls of the room in 1-3 rows, while the shelves can be installed one above the other.
• There are also L-shaped designs. In such variants, any number of steps is possible. For example, there may be two or three along each partition. The top and bottom parts can be located along the longest wall, and the middle part along the shorter adjacent one.
• There are also models in which there are two parallel structures located along the walls that are opposite each other. Such options resemble a compartment in a train carriage. These shelves can be either symmetrical or uneven with signs of asymmetry.

After that, it will be more convenient for the owner to choose the optimal solution. Moreover, you can correctly calculate the required volume of lumber, based on the size of the benches.

It is not difficult to draw up a project of bath benches - for this you just need to take into account all the parameters and the proposed location of the structure. If you have doubts about the correctness of your actions, then it is better to hire specialists who will prepare a finished drawing.

How to do it yourself?

You can make shelves for a bath with your own hands. So that the result does not disappoint, you should strictly adhere to the step-by-step guide, and also use high-quality materials and tools in your work.

Below is an instruction on how to make shelves using the example of a steam room with dimensions of 2.5x3 m.

• First of all, it is necessary to competently prepare the wood for further work. To do this, the boards need to be properly processed - sanded and prepared for the corners.
• It is imperative to cover the lumber with protective antiseptic compounds. Such funds will prolong the life of the bath shops. Treated wood is not susceptible to decay and cracking, so this stage of work should not be neglected.

• For example, in a steam room with dimensions of 2.5x3x2.5 m, it will be possible to arrange benches only along a long wall. For the frame frame, the shelf will need bars with a section of 50x70 cm.
• Workpieces should be made in the amount of 12 pieces with a length of 1.1 m, as well as 6 pieces with a length of 0.9 m.
• To make the tier below, you will need 6 half-meter parts and 6 bars 1.5 m long.
• You will also need 3 boards to make a shelf. These components will be needed to connect the racks of the upper and lower tiers.
• Using three tie boards, you can knock down a neat U-shaped structure.
• After the arrangement, the resulting structure should be attached to the wall. It is recommended to mount the shelf using special wooden pads (cubes). These parts will protect the surface of the bars from moisture.

• From the set of racks prepared for the lower level, you need to assemble and knock down a single frame of the L-shaped structure. In the future, this structure should be docked with the posts of the upper step and securely fixed on it.
• At the end of the work carried out, on the prepared frame frame, you need to lay the boards related to the upper and lower tier.
• The decks should be made of a planed board with dimensions of 20x120 mm and a length of 3.5 m.
• To fix the flooring to the frame, you need to use special wooden nails or pins.
• It should be borne in mind that under the conditions provided, the total height of the shelves can be approximately 1.5-1.6 m.

Below is a variant of installing bath shelves using a special Finnish technology.

• First of all, it is necessary to measure the length of the wall along which the benches will be installed. From the obtained values, approximately 20-30 mm should be subtracted. This must be done so that there is a gap between the shelves and the walls of the steam room.
• After that, you need to move on to creating the wireframe. To do this, you first need to make the main frame. Its length is already known, but you need to choose the width yourself.
• To choose the appropriate width of a rectangular frame frame, it is necessary to take into account the size of the steam room, as well as personal preferences - it depends on the width of the structure how much free space users will have to relax in a sitting or lying position.

• Then the frame needs to be fastened in the corners - for this it is recommended to use special metal corners. After that, the structure should be pulled together using bolts or self-tapping screws. It is better to carry out such work in the inner part of the shops.
• Intermediate crossbars should also be installed. Experts advise to adhere to a step of 50-60 cm when installing them.
• After completing the assembly of the frame, make sure that it fits seamlessly into the available space.
• The next step is to fix the support frame on the walls, the length of which corresponds to the width of the shelves themselves. At this stage, it is important to secure the two pieces of wood at the same height.
• Then you need to make sure that all the parts are fixed correctly - a building level is best for this (it is recommended to use a bubble or laser tool).

• To fix the supports, you need to use screws or self-tapping screws. Fastening should be done at 2-3 points.
• It is also necessary to take into account such a moment: the longer the bed, the more fasteners there should be. Experts recommend keeping a step of no more than 40 cm between the fasteners.
• The lower beds must be secured with a slight protrusion relative to the upper elements. The length of the protrusion in this case must correspond to the width of the lower flange.

To leave the necessary ventilation gaps in the structure, thin sheets of plywood must be placed on the outside of the bed.

• Then the frame structure must be placed on the installed beds. To make the structure stronger and more reliable, you should additionally attach the frames to the wall with screws or self-tapping screws.
• After that, it is necessary to put the flooring on the frames. In this case, it is permissible to lay the boards longitudinally or perpendicular to the frames.
• At the end of this work, it is important to close the space left between the top and bottom shelf.
• You also need to assemble the back over the upper tier: you can use a ready-made structure or make it yourself. To do this, you should vertically nail the slats to the partition, the thickness of which is 1-2 cm. In this case, you should adhere to a step of 40-60 cm. Then you need to fix the boards on the slats.

Finishing work

To decorate the received bath benches, you can use special varnishes and impregnations. Such compounds will protect wooden structures from decay and destruction. It is worth noting here that ideally the wood in the bath should not undergo any processing - you just need to sand the material.

If the room has good ventilation, then the wood in it will not deteriorate and lose its visual appeal.

If high-quality ventilation in the bath is not provided, then it will not be possible to do without special protective compounds.

To protect the wooden shelf from decay and deformation, you can use some useful tools:

• Acrylic based varnishes... Acrylic varnishes, which are not afraid of dampness and moisture, form a special moisture-protective film on the surface of the tree. The structure of such funds does not change in any way, even if the room temperature is +100 degrees. For this reason, acrylic varnishes are allowed to be used in a Finnish sauna.

• Impregnations... Antiseptic impregnations are designed to prevent the appearance of mold and mildew on wood. In addition, such compositions make the natural material more resistant to moisture. Impregnations differ from varnishes in that they penetrate deeper into the structure of the tree, thereby providing it with comprehensive protection.
• Bleaches... Such special compounds are used to bleach darkened wood.
• Wax solution or linseed oil... Many experts advise treating the finished shelf with a wax solution. An alternative to this remedy is flaxseed oil. Such products should be applied to the tree in two layers. One layer of oil dries in about 8 hours.

If you need to make shelves not in three, but in two tiers, then you need to take into account that the height of the lower level from the floor should be about 50 cm, and from the top - 90 cm.

A technological gap must be left between the decorative finish of the floors and the benches. Its size is usually 4 mm on each side, while it is necessary to take into account the expansion coefficient of the tree when it swells.

To handle the shelf, you cannot use aggressive chemicals - at high temperatures and their drops, such compositions will emit toxic substances, accompanied by an unpleasant odor. As a result, the person may develop a serious allergic reaction.

For the manufacture of frame bases, experts recommend purchasing a beam of 50x70 cm... In addition, so that the wood does not dry out, the thickness of the board should be about 4 times less than the width. When making a frame, it should be additionally strengthened. To do this, you can connect all the supporting parts using boards from below and from above. It is recommended to put on special rubber pads on the legs of bathroom furniture - with such details of the shelves it will not scratch the floor or slip on damp boards.

If the steam room in the bath cannot boast of a large footage, then it is permissible to build a lower shelf in the shape of a triangle in it. Such structures should be placed in the room in such a way that one leg does not fit snugly against the wall, and the other against the adjacent shelf.

Most often, the lower part of the shelf structure is not fixed in any way. Thanks to this solution, the floor under the structure can be cleaned, and it dries more efficiently. If the bottom of the bench is too heavy and heavy, then special runners can be built under it. moving along rubber guides.

The use of self-tapping screws during the design of the shelf allows you to firmly and reliably fix the resulting structure. In addition, it will be possible to freely disassemble the bath furniture in order to dry or replace any part. When calculating the required amount of materials, it is important to remember technological indents.

It should be borne in mind that the shelves for the Finnish bath are always equipped with a back made of boards. This detail is needed so that the visitors to the bath do not burn their bodies against the hot wall sheathing.

Highly it is important to polish the boards for the flooring of the shelf... The surface of these elements should be perfectly smooth and neat - sitting or lying on benches with burrs and knots will be uncomfortable and even dangerous.

It is not recommended to use coniferous wood for the manufacture of the shelf., despite their environmental friendliness and pleasant aroma. These materials, when exposed to high temperatures, release a resin that will adhere to the skin.

The shelf width should not be less than 0.4 m... If you build a narrower structure, then it will be impossible to sit or lie on it - there will not be enough space. When making the shelf, use special hardwood fasteners.

It is permissible to refer to stainless steel parts only when constructing a frame base, which will later be covered with boards. This is due to the fact that metal fasteners can get very hot in the steam room and you can accidentally burn yourself if they are on the surface.

Most often, the shelves are made three-tier.... Of course, you can also build two-level furniture. Models with a large number of levels are not worth constructing- it will be almost impossible to sit on them without touching the ceiling if all the work is done correctly.

It should be borne in mind that the number of frame parts directly depends on the thickness of the bar. The shelf must be strong enough and durable enough to seamlessly support the weight of several people sitting on it at the same time.

How to care?

Many homeowners are wondering how to maintain a bath shelf. You can keep these structures clean by doing the following:

• it is forbidden to use any modern cleaning agents and aggressive chemicals for washing and cleaning the shelf;
• experts say that the best tool for cleaning a shop in a steam room is laundry soap;
• if there is serious contamination on the benches, then it is permissible to turn to abrasive material for its mechanical removal.

The steam room should always be clean and tidy, since in these conditions a person takes care of his health and hygiene.

Beautiful examples

A bath shelf is not always simple and inconspicuous. Sometimes such designs transform the room, making it more comfortable and welcoming.

For example, a three-level light wood corner shelf with a rounded edge will look amazing if you integrate spotlights with upward light into its back. This beautiful furniture looks harmoniously in an ensemble with a compact stove with an open stove in the shape of a pipe.

The three-level bench looks very beautiful and fashionable, in which the inside of each step is equipped with blue or blue LED backlighting. The backrest located above the seats should also be supplemented with a diode tape. To dilute the "sea" glow, corner lamps with warm yellow lamps can be installed above the shelf.

A light wooden shelf, installed along one wall, will look great in a small steam room, in which one of the partitions is decorated with masonry. The remaining surfaces of the room can be made less noticeable - they can be sheathed, for example, with clapboard.

The shelf, assembled from boards of different shades, will look very original in the steam room., especially if different parts of its design are made curly - cut at an angle. The resulting structure should be supplemented with warm wall lamps above the backrest and a white or yellow LED strip located inside the seats.

For a bath in a slightly sloppy rustic style, you can build a rough shelf made of dark wood with a pronounced structure. Of course, the surface of the wood must be well processed and finished, regardless of the style chosen. Such designs do not need to be supplemented with LED strips.

"Furniture" in the bath does not shine with any decorative delights. Its main goal is maximum functionality and providing travelers with full comfort. It is customary to make any benches or shelves in a bathhouse from natural wood - this is an ideal material for a steam room, which is highly environmentally friendly, easy to process, and has a traditional and very attractive appearance.

You can easily make shelves in the bath with your own hands. Thanks to the simple design of such a kind of "furniture", even a non-professional will be able to produce it in a short time with high quality and much cheaper than if the shelves were bought in a store or made to order at a factory.

Peculiarities

A traditional country bathhouse cannot be imagined without shelves: often multi-tiered, reminiscent of a wide staircase. In another way, such shelves are called canopies. They are an integral part of any steam room.

A shelf, or canopy, is a wooden flooring- a kind of elongated multi-tiered bench located along one or several walls of the room. So that you can relax in the steam room, such shelves are made with the expectation that even a large tall person can lie on them calmly. In addition, the multi-tiered shelf allows vacationers to independently choose the most comfortable temperature regime for them.

Sauna shelves can be divided into three types. The most common option are shelves used as benches; they are suitable for both small steam rooms and roomy large rooms. Loungers are not as popular as benches, but they are also found in a variety of baths. And, finally, the third type of bath shelves - sun loungers. They practically do not differ from beach sun loungers, and they can be used with equal success both as a couch and as an armchair, which makes them very functional, although far from the traditional design of a bath.

The design of the shelf is extremely simple. Decorative elements are not welcome, as they can cause injury, and they simply knock out of the traditional external design of the steam room. The simplicity and small selection of shelf shapes can be easily explained: it is customary to allocate a small room for a bath, which can be easily, quickly and economically enough and without spending extra resources to warm up. Therefore, the most beloved by masters is the ordinary rectangular shape of the shelves.

Material selection

Before proceeding with the manufacture of the shelf, it is worth taking a closer look at the materials, wood, from which they can be made. Not all tree species are suitable for making sauna furniture out of them. After all, they will have to endure temperature drops and, in principle, a very high temperature regime. Add to this the increased humidity, and it becomes clear that few breeds will be able to withstand such extreme conditions.

Suitable breeds must have three main properties. Firstly, such boards must be resistant to ignition (accordingly, the content of various kinds of resinous compounds in them should be minimal), high temperatures and humidity. Secondly, in order for those who have a rest in the bathroom to sit and lie comfortably on them, they should not have high thermal conductivity. And thirdly, in order to avoid the detachment of chips and the appearance of splinters in the resting place, the rocks should be very dense and not layered.

Several varieties of trees are most suitable., which can be literally enumerated on the fingers. Most often it is customary to use linden, aspen, larch in the manufacture of shelves. But using conifers (unless, of course, the tree has previously undergone special processing, of which the master is sure) is strongly discouraged. Indeed, due to the resin content, conifers are not only combustible, but also respond to high temperatures by releasing these very resins, which can cause thermal burns.

Linden boards are very easy to process, pleasant to look at, and also resistant to all kinds of stains. They hardly rot or crack, and when heated, they begin to exude a pleasant woody smell. In addition, linden is very easy to process, and it is inexpensive relative to other varieties of wood. The only thing that can be considered a drawback is that with prolonged use in rooms with high humidity, the tree begins to darken.

Aspen boards are generally considered one of the best materials for the production of sauna furniture. This is also a very budget option, which is distinguished by its durability. Initially, this tree is not very knotty, therefore it is not very difficult to process it. Unfortunately, the main drawback of this material is its predisposition to rotting fibers inside the timber, which is imperceptible at first glance. Therefore, you need to carefully approach the choice of such boards.

The most expensive, but convenient and popular material for baths is the African oak - abashi. This material, which is presented in colors of both dark and light tones, has amazing strength and poor thermal conductivity: it heats up very slowly, and therefore protects those resting on abasha shelves from any, the slightest burns, even at very high temperatures. This material, which is important, is also resistant to mechanical damage, and hence one of its main disadvantages - the difficulties associated with the initial processing of abasha beams and its high cost.

Sometimes birch boards are also used as a material. This wood is not distinguished by increased strength, it does not survive high humidity, it is prone to rotting and the formation of fungi. Of course, with correct and consistent processing, the characteristics of birch increase significantly, but in any case, it is not recommended to use it in a bath.

Despite the fact that experts advise avoiding conifers in the interior of the baths, cedar can be a good material for the regiments. Like all conifers, cedar produces resin, so its boards must be treated in a special way, that is, completely free of any resinous substances. At the same time, the cedar will not lose the pleasant smell of natural wood. It is resistant to decay processes, strong and durable, and its surface has a peculiar woody pattern.

Preliminary removal of resinous elements will allow using any coniferous wood for the shelves. If the owner is not afraid of the difficulties in finding properly processed boards, then the furniture can be made from spruce or pine. However, in no case should pretreatment be neglected, otherwise, under the influence of high temperatures, the minerals and resins contained in conifers will begin to literally flow out of the boards in the most literal sense.

Larch shelves are often quite a profitable solution. It almost does not emit resin, has a pleasant sweetish smell and a very beautiful wood pattern. The only drawback is its high thermal conductivity: it will not be easy to sit on such a shelf in a hot steam room.

The wood pattern itself is a great decoration for the steam room. so no paint is used for the shelves. Moreover, when exposed to high temperatures, paint can begin to flake off and release toxic substances. And to protect wooden products from the formation of fungus, mold and decay processes, you can use a variety of water-based impregnations: they are resistant to high temperatures and perfectly protect the wood.

The main requirement that applies to all types of trees, whichever is ultimately recognized as the most preferable: there should be no knots on the selected material or they should be removed without the danger of weakening the strength of the structure.

In addition, it is very important to make the correct calculation of the selected material. The minimum cross-section of the timber that will be used to create the supporting frame of the future shelf should be 50x70 mm. Boards that are planned to be used to connect parts of the supporting structure must have a cross section of 20x80 mm or more. The thicker the timber is, the better, because the more weight it can withstand, and this is very important for multi-tiered structures. For the flooring, thinner and narrower boards with a thickness of 10 mm or more are chosen.

Sizes and shapes

The dimensions of the shelves depend, of course, on the size of the room, which it was decided to take as a bath. For a steam room, complex tiered structures in three steps are often chosen, however, a traditional Russian steam room should have two rows of shelves. In addition to tradition, this is the simplest and most convenient option in order to build it yourself.

In general, the size of the shelf is determined depending on the average height of the bath visitors.

Height

The minimum height of the room in which the steam room is located is 210 cm, otherwise the formation of steam and heating of the room may not flow correctly. The shelf (or its middle part, if we are talking about a multi-tiered structure), in turn, should be located approximately at the same level as the thumb of the hand down. Consequently, its average height will be about 80 cm.As for the upper tiers, the distance between the uppermost shelf and the ceiling should not be less than 120 cm: this will provide the visitor with a sufficient amount of space, regardless of whether he will enjoy bath procedures sitting or lying down ...

In some compositions, the height of the shelves themselves is determined by slightly different values. So, the lower tier from the floor must be at least 30 cm in order to provide the furniture with maximum natural ventilation. It is better if the average height of the shelves is on average 40 to 60 centimeters, although in the end it depends on the number of shelves.

Length and width

According to the standard, the minimum long shelf, which should provide comfort for a person lying on it with legs bent at the knees, is about one and a half meters. If the size of the room allows, then the length of the shelf increases to 1.8 m: this size will allow the person to lie down without bending his legs. But each person has his own height, therefore, the optimal shelf length is considered to be 220 cm.

The minimum shelf width is 40 cm. As a rule, such dimensions have a shelf located on the lower tier. It is very rarely used for sitting, mainly its purpose is to serve as a footrest for the resting person. But if necessary, the lower shelf can become a place where you can cool off perfectly after the heat of the upper tiers.

The most popular bench seat size is 60 cm. This width allows you to sit comfortably in the sauna, but, unfortunately, it may not be enough for comfortable lying. Therefore, the most comfortable width is 95 cm. On such seats, a vacationer can sit across the shelf, legs tucked in, or can lie quietly.

The dimensions shown here are usually sufficient for a tall and large person to sit comfortably on a shelf. If the room of the bath room allows, then the furniture can be large - in the end, it all depends on the individual needs and wishes of the owner of the bath. Another thing is that taking sizes smaller than those indicated is categorically not recommended, because in this case the shelves will be simply uncomfortable.

After the main dimensions of the shelves have been determined, you can proceed to consider the various forms of this design.

Stepped canopies- This is perhaps one of the most popular types of furniture for a steam room. The shelves are arranged along one of the walls in several tiers - usually in two or three tiers, so that the degree of heating increases with increasing height. The uppermost tier should be located above a heating boiler or traditional stove, but at the same time, the above distance of 120 cm should remain between it and the ceiling in order to ensure maximum comfort for the seated person.

Corner or L-shaped curtains- this is also a fairly common version of the interior composition of bath furniture. Wooden shelves are located on one side opposite the heating boiler or stove, and on the other on one of the free walls. The height of such shelves can be selected individually, therefore this is the most successful option for small rooms in which functionality must be combined with space saving.

Coupe canopy- this is not the most popular design option for the interior space of the bath, but in itself it is very interesting. In addition, such a composition is spatially extremely beneficial for small spaces. Two shelves are located opposite each other - just like in ordinary compartment carriages of trains. Just like on trains, the upper shelves can be made folding, this will also help to save space.

Usually, the frame, which subsequently needs to be covered with floorboards, is constructed from support posts, which resemble the original legs of a bench, connected by jumper boards. However, the shelves can be made without legs - then the main support will be on the walls to which the furniture will be attached.

The flooring itself consists of densely packed and carefully polished planks, the back of the seat is built on approximately the same principle. The distance between them should be from 1 to 2 cm. An interesting and beautiful solution, by the way, will be the installation of a multi-colored backlight in the gap between the boards.

Sometimes, separately from the bed, a special, most often removable, headrest is also made. This wooden device gives the opportunity to the resting person to sit on the couch with true comfort, allows you to relax the muscles of the spine and neck. The design of the headrest itself is simple and does not contain many elements: if you wish, you can also assemble it yourself along with the shelves.

Multistage

At first glance, the arrangement of the shelves may raise some questions, for example, why they are in most cases a multi-stage design.

The reason is, in fact, very simple. When heated, water vapor and hot air rise, while the temperature near the floor is much lower. Thus, each user will be able to independently choose which temperature mode it is more convenient for him to be in: at the bottom, where it is not so hot, or at the very top of the steam room "pyramid", where the temperature is highest. Therefore, if the owner of the steam room decided to make shelves with his own hands, then it is strongly not recommended to retreat from the usual stepped structure.

It is worth noting that in small steam rooms, the lower tier is often located almost at floor level, which allows you to create natural ventilation and make it the most effective. It is also important to remember that the upper tier will be made wider than the lower ones (so that it can be used as a couch), while the distance to the ceiling from the couch should not be less than 100-120 cm.

Location

After the dimensions of the future shelf are determined, you can start planning the location of the bathroom furniture. It is worth remembering that, for example, in a traditional Russian bath, it is customary to steam while lying down, and the shelves consist of one or two tiers. Another thing is the Finnish sauna, in which visitors, as a rule, take a steam bath while sitting. There should be at least three tiers, which means that the distance from the lower tier to the ceiling should be much greater.

A correctly drawn up diagram before starting installation work should greatly facilitate the work of the master. and later will allow those who have a rest in a sauna or steam bath to enjoy the steam room with maximum comfort. On the diagram, it is worth displaying all the dimensions of the room, and also note where the equipment, door and window openings are located.

It is worth taking into account many nuances, such as the fact that curtains cannot be installed under walls with windows, because due to hot steam and high temperature, glass can crack and injure vacationers.

The shelves can have a kind of frame legs, on which the flooring will be stuffed. However, this is not a prerequisite, but only one of the options. You can make shelves without racks, then the wooden frame will be attached directly to the wall.

It is important to remember that the shelves should never fit snugly against the walls. After all, free air circulation is very important for wooden bathroom furniture, which ensures the tree is completely dry and protects it from the processes of decay and the formation of fungus and mold. Therefore, during the installation process, a gap of about 10 cm is left between the flooring and the wall (previously pieces of timber are attached to the wall, to which other frame elements are subsequently attached). The self-tapping screws, with which the fastening is made, should be carefully sunk into the wood so that their caps do not remain on the surface.

This is not to say that the options for the shelves are very diverse, however, if necessary, depending on the size of the bath room, you can choose the most suitable furniture. For small spaces, for example, space-saving options can be found. Folding shelves, which are made in the manner of shelves in trains, will do. Another option is folding or pull-out shelves. When assembled, they look like part of a wall and take up almost no space. There are also removable shelves, which, if necessary, can be brought into the steam room and put in place, or can be removed.

Step by step guide

As already mentioned, the shelves are not at all difficult to make with your own hands. It is enough to look at the approximate drawings, grasp the general principle and draw up your own scheme, taking into account the dimensions of the bath room.

In order to process the source material and build the desired structure from it, you will need to stock up on a certain set of tools. It should include a tape measure, a hacksaw for wood, a hammer and mallet, a drill and a screwdriver, a chisel. Wooden nails are preferable for fixing the flooring. After all, metal nails will inevitably heat up and can ruin all the fun for vacationers. You can, of course, fix the boards with screws from the back of the structure, but this is rather difficult, unreliable and, moreover, requires a very accurate calculation, which a professional may not be able to make.

The number of supports required for the frame that will be able to withstand the finished shelves is determined depending on the final thickness of the wooden planks. So, if it was decided to take a board 22 centimeters thick, then the supports will be placed at a distance of 60 centimeters from each other.

Adequate wood should be procured according to a drawing prepared in advance., the tree itself must be of high quality, not have cracks, traces of decay and all kinds of chipping and pods - the boards must be planed and sanded. It is recommended to take wood of the same species for the support posts of the frame and flooring.

The thickness of the flooring boards is selected individually, depending on their width. The best option is when the thickness of the board is four times less than its width.

The tree itself must first be carefully prepared: the material should not have clearly visible defects and any defects, knots, cracks and chips. In addition, it is customary to take wood of the same species for the frame and flooring.

There are several options for assembling a multi-tiered shelf, they do not differ much from each other and follow general principles. Below is just one of them - a traditional rectangular shelf.

Frame fabrication

The frame in the case of a shelf performs the most important supporting function; it is a base on which a flooring made of similarly finished boards of fixed or removable flooring is fixed. These support bases in appearance and in their purpose resemble the legs of an ordinary shop.

To make the frame, a large wooden bar is used., the size and section of which is determined in each case individually. However, most often, in order to assemble the frame of the future shelf, it is advised to take a dozen pre-prepared beams with a total section of 5 by 7 cm, as well as (if it was decided to make a shelf with legs) 5 boards that will act as racks.

These support legs must be installed in a vertical position and held together by rows of cross braces. Sometimes the frame can be equipped using the staircase kosour method, and a very rare option is the installation of bath shelves without supports, immediately attaching them to the wall (as a rule, this is typical for Finnish saunas or baths built using similar technologies), and the seats and sun loungers for to this, they look like shelves and sunbeds attached to the walls, found in train carriages.

Mounting

After the base of the frame is prepared for installation, it is time to directly attach the structure to the wall of the bath. The benches must be fixed with the obligatory observance of a gap of about 11 cm.

First, the frame of the upper tier is assembled. It is not forbidden to use self-tapping screws so that the frame does not fall apart. Then the first of the rows of bearing racks is attached to the wall, the distance between them is from 60 to 85 cm. At the very top of the bar a "step" is formed so that it can be fastened "into the lock".

Opposite the bearing supports, a second row of racks is installed, and their tops are united by a transverse beam. For reliability, the structure is assembled with metal corners, and then the supporting supports are "tied" with boards. The next levels are created in a similar way.

For flooring, thin, narrow boards are usually taken. This will provide them with the ability to quickly dry out after using the steam room, which means once again protects against possible rotting.

Installation

Finally, when the frame of the future shelf is assembled, it is time to install it in the bath room. Previously (to provide the shelf with better stability and additionally protect it from moisture), special rubber gaskets are placed on the lower parts of the bars.

Then it is time to install the floorboards on the frame. You should start attaching the base for the seats from the bottom tier of the frame, while leaving small gaps of 1 to 2 cm between the boards.This is necessary to drain excess condensed water and provides free air circulation inside the wooden shelf, due to which the structure will dry quickly, and the possibility its destruction due to internal decay processes caused by high humidity will be significantly reduced.

It would be preferable to fill and fix the boards to the frame with wooden nails or pins. If, nevertheless, nails or self-tapping screws are used, then they must either be located on the inner side of the flooring, or they must be "sunk" in the wood, deepened by a few millimeters to prevent thermal burns for vacationers, which can ruin all the pleasure of bathing procedures.

Not always, but the vertical space between the floor and the seats of the shelf can also be sheathed with rows of boards. However, it should be borne in mind that although this design looks attractive, in fact, it will only complicate air circulation and complicate the cleaning process.

To ensure the most efficient drying of the seats, you can give preference to removable structures. Such a loose flooring serves as both a seat and a couch. It is easy to remove it from the established place and take it out to dry. The same principle is used to make seat backs, headrests - a kind of bath "cushions", as well as all kinds of devices that help the bather to take the most relaxed position, for example, placing his legs at the level of the head, or even higher.

Treatment

The final stage will be the processing of the resulting shelf with special compounds that will make it more comfortable to use, as well as provide it with a longer service life. It is generally accepted that in a traditional steam room, wood should not be processed in principle, it should be carefully sanded. Indeed, with good ventilation, there may be no need for additional strengthening of the wood fiber, but extra insurance will never hurt, but it will be able to guarantee the furniture a long and high-quality service.

The shops first of all (in fact, many craftsmen recommend doing this procedure with the boards at the very first stages of preparing the frame in order to soak the tree from all sides) must be impregnated with powerful antiseptics. After all, constant contact with humid and very hot air will inevitably contribute to the destruction of the tree. In addition to rotting, mold can form on the tree and fungi and many harmful organisms can develop.

One of the impregnation options can be natural impregnations, for example, plain linseed oil turns out to be the most budgetary and affordable option.

Antiseptic agents are often used as impregnations., which give the wood moisture resistance and impregnate it through and through. At first glance, an unexpected solution may be the use of bleaches: these special compounds not only protect the wood, but also, in the event of darkening, return it to its original color. In addition, there are also special formulations intended for direct use in the sauna.

However, in no case should you use chemicals and varnishes as an impregnation, and you should also not paint the wooden flooring with paint. In conditions of high humidity and constant temperature changes, such substances will inevitably begin to decompose and release a variety of toxic substances. In addition to the unpleasant smell, which can turn the steam room from a resting place into a real torture, these substances can cause headaches and allergic reactions.

Naturally, before applying any reinforcing composition to the tree, the boards must be carefully sanded with sandpaper, cleaned of dust and debris left after sanding, and only then proceed to impregnation.

The first and most important rule, which should be strictly observed, is the mandatory drying and ventilation of the room after each session in the steam room. This will help protect wood furniture from the harmful effects of excess moisture. By the way, the sauna stove will also help to dry the room, if, after the completion of the water procedures, it is left working for a while.

When airing the room, it is worth opening all doors and windows., while covering all containers with water and tanks with lids.

A bath is a room in which, like in a bathroom, it is necessary to maintain cleanliness and carefully monitor internal hygiene. Of course, high temperatures protect the steam room from the appearance of all kinds of microbes and bacteria in it, but they are not able to protect the room from the appearance of dirt. Regular cleaning cannot be avoided. It will be necessary to wash off the remnants of dirt remaining on the shelves after the procedures, traces of condensation.

After the end of the bath procedures, it will not be superfluous to wipe the surfaces with a dry towel even if there is a backlight. This will not remove moisture that has managed to be absorbed into the wood, but will greatly facilitate the drying of the outer surface of the shelves, which means it will also speed up the drying inside the tree.

At the same time, given the specifics of the bath room, that is, its mostly wooden design, it is impossible to use chemical cleaning agents in the steam room. The best option turns out to be a simple laundry soap. It will be useful to use soft brushes. If there is heavy dirt on the wood that is not easy to remove, you can use sandpaper.

Also, in order to better protect the internal fibers of the boards from wood, it is necessary to re-impregnate the wood with special compounds, because over time they can evaporate.

We devote this page entirely to the analysis of a single practical question: what dimensions should we make in the baths? And, as usual, we will not be able to give you universal numbers, because the dimensions of the shelves in the bath usually depend on three things: the type of bath, its size and, say, the height of the bather. But knowledge of the patterns is enough to select the optimal dimensions for a particular steam room.

Listen to the article

About terminology

However, you will have to start by clarifying exactly how the places for sitting and lying in the steam room are called. In the singular we say "shelves", not "canopy" and not "shelf", but in the plural we say "shelves" (emphasis on "and" - regiments), not "shelves" and not "canopy".

IMPORTANT! What do you call a yacht ... Google will give you such an answer to your request. Ask illiterate - get materials written by illiterate people who, most likely, do not understand the subject at all.

Differences for Russian baths and saunas

We have said so many times that in any national bath everything is thought out to the smallest detail, more precisely, that there are no trifles at all. Temperature, humidity, air exchange rate- the quantities are so strongly related to each other that a change in one leads to a violation of conditions as a whole. How are the shelves connected to this?

Yes, directly. At different heights from the floor, the temperature will be different, under the very ceiling - the hottest, the hottest air and steam from stones accumulate there, if the owner practices a Russian bath. But do you need to make shelves under the ceiling? But to whom how - the Finns will be in the subject, but the Russians have no need.

Therefore, the way it should be the height of the benches in the bath depends on their number, and the quantity depends on whether it is a bath or a sauna.

The simplest option is when the dimensions of the shelves in the steam room of a Russian bath are determined by their single-tier arrangement, that is, these are one or two loungers (the latter is possible only in a spacious steam room), on which it is convenient to lie down in full growth, and this is somewhere 2.0-2.2 m with shelves 90 cm wide and 75-90 cm high from the floor.

ATTENTION! The height of the shelves in the bath from the floor when choosing a single-tier option is determined either as the height of the upper edge of the stove + 10 cm, or according to the height of the bath attendant, who will most often steam - measured from the knuckle of the thumb to the floor.

This shelf may be accompanied by a movable footstool, which has a height of, say, 40-45 cm, that is, approximately half the height of the shelf. With such a bench, the structure becomes conditionally two-tier, because it allows those who wish to sit on the bench as on the lower tier.

In general, from what has been said it is clear that For a Russian bath, the most important thing is to have a reclining place, convenient for the soaring and steaming.

The steam room itself should be arranged in such a way that the steaming broom freely picks up the steam accumulated under the ceiling and lowers it onto the body of the steamer.

Perhaps, if the ceiling is high make the structure two-tier, that is, so that the bather with a broom stands on the lower tier (in the structure described above, he stands on the floor).

Sauna differs from the Russian bath in the high (90-100 degrees) temperature of dry air (humidity 5-15%), which is the main means of heating the body - in the Russian bath it is heated with steam ... People come to the sauna to sweat. And it happens better where there is less humidity and higher temperature, that is higher from the floor.

BY THE WAY! It is better to sweat while sitting, so the Finnish shelves are narrow and three-tiered.

In general, it is clear that Russian shelves are wide and with minimal tiers, and Finnish ones are narrow and up to the ceiling 🙂

What are the optimal sizes they should be in a Russian steam room and a Finnish sauna?

If you yourself have decided what type of steam room you have, and want to know what are the optimal dimensions of the shelf in a bath of this type, then for you we have divided the information for baths and saunas.

Height in the steam room of the Russian bath

Above, we have already said a little about the fact that for a single-tier shelf, the optimal height is 75-90 cm... Two conventional tiers are obtained by adding a mobile bench. But much more often the choice is stopped on a stationary structure consisting of two tiers.

For clarity of the description, we suggest considering the picture below:

You can see rather narrow shelves in the bath, the height of which is different from the one recommended above: top 95 cm, bottom 40 cm... The steamer has two options here - either to stand behind the lower shelf and steer the one lying on the upper without approaching, or stand with your feet on the lower shelf in order to get closer to the steamed one. Well, it's hard to say if it will be convenient for everyone. And 70 cm is, however, neither ours nor yours - you will have to sit more deviated, lie - a little more comfortable than 60 cm 🙂

IMPORTANT! Still, we insist that the height of the benches in the bathhouse in the steam room should have an anatomical correspondence to people who most often steam others. That is, do it to the knuckles of his hand.

What should be the height in the sauna

But here there is much more freedom in choosing the height of the shelves: the dimensions are determined only by the comfort of the seat, and ergonomically, this value is determined by measuring the distance from the floor to the bend of the leg of a seated person.

Thus, you can first take measurements, say, for adult family members, then decide whether this will be the maximum value or the arithmetic mean, and then simply make the desired number of tiers with a step by the selected value.

Example: if you get a figure in the area 45 cm, then the first shelf will be 45 cm, second 90, third 135. However, doubts arise about the third: it is worth taking into account the advice that it would be nice to keep the distance from the ceiling to the upper shelf 120 cm or so. But then we will have a ceiling 135+120=255 cm, and this is not applicable to all saunas.

Well, 220 cm - this is a more real ceiling.

What width should be in the bath

This is not an idle question either. because it matters how far behind the back is the support- in one case, we sit comfortably, in the other - the angle of inclination of the body is no longer what we need.

For someone who is lying down, the width of the shelves in the steam room is also of great importance - when the shelves are wide, no problem, and when it is too narrow, it turns out that there is nowhere to put your hands.

Therefore, what the width of the shelf in the bath should be, again, depends on the main use of the shelf - lying or sitting.

Since here we are talking about a Russian bath, for a shelf in a bath, the optimal size in width will be 90 cm.

IMPORTANT! At the same time, it should be understood that you cannot sit leaning back, with such a width. A possible sitting position is either pulling up the legs on the shelves, or reclining with support on the back.

Sauna steam room width

In the sauna, it is enough to make shelves in the bath with a width of 40 cm for sitting with a straight back or 60 cm for a comfortable reclining seat.

IMPORTANT! Those who make the dimensions of the shelves in the steam room of the bath the same as mentioned above will not be able to steam on them lying down. Therefore, this option can only be recommended to lovers of a classic sauna, or to those who soar themselves, sitting on a shelf.

Length

It goes without saying that the main determinant of length is the size of the particular steam room. Most often, owners do construction from one wall to another using the walls as an attachment point for the support bar. The latter is not considered correct, but it is practiced quite often (the danger lies in the decay of the contact point).

However, in fact, there is also a choice in length. Pay attention to the picture below: it shows dimensions that can be interpreted as the relationship between body position and shelf length.

Distance between shelves of different designs

There is one on our website, which describes in detail what kind of shelf designs can be used in a bath. Here we will restrict ourselves to telling briefly about the principle of the device of a particular design, and how it affects the occupied space.

Corner

By placing the shelves in the shape of the letter L, you can more rational use of the space of a small steam room... This corner design is suitable for both baths and saunas.

The length of each shoulder can vary as you please, but a fairly common option is where the long side is a full-fledged lounger where you can stretch to full height, while the short side is a more compact place where you can sit half-sitting. However, it all depends on the size of the steam room - the short side is also often pulled from wall to wall.

If at the same time there is a desire to make a reclining place on the short side, then it is worth considering option with footrest which allows you to draw them out. The options are shown in the picture above.

How are the tiers of the corner benches for the baths arranged? There are no fundamental differences in the device of the corner shelf from the direct one. All recommendations for length and width given above apply to it.... The distance between the shelves is considered here only vertically. You need to focus on the height from the popliteal fold to the floor - this is the distance between the tiers.

Direct

In this case, a parallel arrangement of benches along two walls is assumed (variation is a U-shaped construct). Such a choice is possible only in sufficiently spacious steam rooms, if an arrangement in two or three tiers is also assumed. However, the single-tier version is also suitable for a medium-sized steam room.

The distance between two shelves at opposite walls will depend both on the length of the wall separating them and on how wide each of them is. But during the design, it should be assumed that the space between the shelves should be sufficient. to move two people... This is a quantity of the order of 80 cm.

Folding and removable

The hinged design does not differ in size from the stationary one. It's just way to save space, or freeing it for cleaning.

It is worth noting that the choice of it removes the restrictions for steam rooms with a minimum area. Of course, in this case, the wide shelf should be folded up, if there is still a tier under it.

Removable ones differ from folding ones in that only the flooring is removed - this is done for the convenience of drying and cleaning. But the frame is often made stationary, so there is no reduction in the occupied space. The dimensions of this variety, again, will depend on the area of ​​the room and the type of bath.

Retractable and movable

In the article mentioned above, we already talked about the fact that creating a convenient retractable structure in a bath is quite problematic due to the tendency of the tree to swell (if you make guides from it). In this regard we tended to prefer movable benches, which can be used as the lower tier, and the rest of the time stored pushed under the upper shelf.

Height benches can range from 20 cm (they are usually used as a climbing aid or footrest) to a standard height 40-50 cm like a normal seat. The width is still the same - 40-60 cm (no more, because it is unlikely to be used as a sunbed). The length is arbitrary, the maximum is a little less than the top tier, so that you can easily slide under it.

For those interested in self-manufacturing and protection

Now that we have found out what sizes are the shelves in the bath, it is worth mentioning that on our website you can read other materials, with drawings and instructions, in which we cover the following topics in detail:

• on how to make shelves yourself (to be written).

Useful video

Finally, we suggest watching a video, which dynamically tells about everything related to correct shelves Along the way, mentioning the most common mistakes when implementing them:

That's all for now. Write, if you have any questions, comment - we are pleased to receive responses, but we will still try to accumulate for you the most useful information about everything related to the bath.

In contact with

When drawing up a plan for a future bath during its construction, it is necessary to determine the optimal dimensions of the steam room, on which not only a comfortable stay, but also the safety of people there depends.

The steam room is the main room in the bath, so its length and width, ceiling heights, shelf dimensions must be selected correctly. The dimensions of the steam room depend on the type of bath being built: the budget option, as a rule, combines a washing room and a steam room, and in a more comfortable one, these rooms are separated. Accordingly, their standard steam room sizes will vary.

The optimal size of the steam room depends on several factors:

• the overall size of the bath;
• the number of people simultaneously in the steam room;
• the dimensions of the sauna stove;
• type of structure and size of shelves, the principle of their location.

The height of the steam room is the most important parameter to be determined. The quality of the steam depends on this parameter. The steam room should not be too low in order to have a sufficient volume of steady steam. In a steam room with a too high ceiling, steam will be consumed irrationally, therefore the recommended ceiling height is from 2.2 m to 2.4 m.In this case, you should focus on the growth of the tallest family member, because at a height below 2.1 m, people with growth above average, it will be uncomfortable to be in the steam room, moreover, there will not be enough fresh air, and the steam will quickly evaporate. But, if you make the ceiling 2.5 m high, then the fuel consumption and the time for kindling the stove will increase, because the volume of the steam room will increase by about 0.5 m3. At the same time, the entire volume of useful hot steam will accumulate not where the soaring ones are, but under the very ceiling. The height of the steam room door should be standard (65-70 cm by 170-180 cm), always with a high threshold to reduce the access of cold air outside.

Lenght and width

The determination of the size of the steam room should be carried out at the planning stage, together with the size of the bath itself. At the same time, the dimensions of the steam room should not be too large, otherwise it will take a lot of fuel and time to warm up the air. To correctly calculate the optimal length and width of the steam room, you need to decide on its type:

1. Steam room for one person.

It can be presented in two versions: for one person with a seat and with a full shelf. In the first case, the steam room may not have a window, it has a single-tier small shelf, and a heater. It is ideal for in-house saunas, for Finnish saunas. The optimal size in this case is 1150-1200 mm along the wall with a heater, and 840-850 mm along the wall with a shelf.

Steam room for one or two people

If the bathhouse for one person provides a recumbent shelf, the length of the walls can be 1800 mm, and the width - 1050-1100 mm. A single-tier couch should be equipped with a step in order to use it as a seat if necessary.

1. Steam room for 2-3 people.

The size of the steam room for two or three people depends on how it will be arranged - square or rectangular. The length of the walls of a square steam room must be at least 1150 mm. This shape allows you to place the entrance in the corner, the stove next to it, and in the remaining two adjacent walls you can place corner shelves with accommodation for two or three people. If the steam room is rectangular, the size of the long wall can be 1450-1500 mm, the short one - 1300 mm. this is a common option, especially for small saunas, when a double sitting lounger is used, located in two tiers or in an angular manner.

1. Steam room for four or more people.

The steam room for 4 or more people provides for the size of the long wall 1800-2000 mm, short - 1400-1500 mm with a rectangular shape. On the long side, there are usually two-tiered or three-tiered shelves on which you can sit and lie. For a large sauna for four, the optimal size is 2500 mm by 2000 mm, without taking into account the dimensions of the heater and the area it occupies.

Shelf dimensions

The size of the beds should be comfortable for a person, both in length and in width. Also important is the height of the shelves and the distance between them and the ceiling.

The width of a regular seating shelf should be 40 cm and a length that fits the room. In order to sit on a shelf with raised legs, its size must be up to 90 cm wide. The length of the bed varies depending on whether to lie on it at full height or with bent legs: in the first case, you can make it 150 cm long, in the second - at least 180 cm, taking into account the possibility of equipping it with a headrest.

If the steam room is equipped with a three-tiered bed, the lower step should be the narrowest, and the upper one the widest. At the same time, the width of the bottom one should be 40 cm, the width of the other two - within 60 and 90 cm. Three-tier, as well as two-tier shelves, can be located in the form of an angular structure, along one wall or opposite each other. The distance between the upper couch and the ceiling should be at least 1 m so that you can easily get up from it. The distance between adjacent shelves should be kept within 30-40 cm. Between the lamellas of the shelves, it is necessary to leave gaps of 3-4 mm for free air circulation, as well as quick drying after bath procedures.

If the washing room and the steam room in the bath are separate rooms, in relation to the dressing room they should be 1.5x1x2 m.

In order for the floor in the bath to heat up faster and to retain steam for a long time, it must be done 5 cm higher than the heater and 20 cm higher than the washing one.

For the convenience of taking bath procedures by the elderly, it is recommended to install for them a special shelf with a width of at least 50 cm and a length of 180-200 cm.

For one person who washes in the steam room, there should be 1 m2 of usable area, from which 1 m2 of the area of ​​the heater is subtracted, including a small space around it.

If the steam room is equipped with a window, then its dimensions should not exceed 50 cm in length and width, so as not to release a large amount of hot air.

The most common fasteners screws are used for wooden shelves (canopy, ward, floor). The use of nails is not recommended by professionals as they do not provide adequate strength. If it is necessary to disassemble the shelves, difficulties arise, since it is very difficult to remove them without mechanical damage. Disassembly is easy with screws. You can easily remove them to update or replace them with new ones.

If possible you need to fix the boards from the inside of the shelf... This method of installation allows you to completely hide the screws, which helps to neutralize the risk of burns on the hot metal while vaping. If such a fastener cannot be formed, you must first make a hole for the head of the fastener.

After installation, close the screw with a wood pin, then wipe with an abrasive cloth.

A simple work algorithm is used to create the frame:

1. Marking is made for the extreme rack. Rubber gaskets need to be placed and reinforced on the racks.
2. The two uppermost beams are pre-installed. They should be fastened to the wall and uprights.
3. The top beams, which fit on the two sides of the structure, must be attached to the uprights and top beams.
4. The front uprights must be positioned and supported. The extreme side beams are attached to them.
5. The front beams, which close the structure and make the overall look like a frame, need to be installed by fastening them to the nearest vertical and adjacent beams.
6. It is necessary to check the correct, even position of the frame. For this, a level and a tape measure are used.
7. The lower frame is assembled in the same way as the upper one, the correct position of the beams is controlled.
8. It is necessary to check the compliance with the measurements, once again inspect all the corners and jumpers using a level. After making sure that the work is done correctly, the builder can attach lintels made of thin beams to the frames.
9. All screw fasteners must be tightened until they stop.

Correct installation of the shelves is very important for convenience when vaping and caring for the steam room. If the cladding is made both on the side and on the front sides, then access to the floor is completely closed, which complicates the cleaning of the room. Partial cladding is recommended so that hygiene standards can be easily observed.

All details you need check for damage, the marriage is immediately postponed. All elements must be attached from the inside. Difficulties can be presented by the installation of boards placed horizontally. You need to try to fix as many boards from the inside as possible in order to make the minimum number of fastenings using the plug with pins.

In some cases, the option is convenient when the horizontal side is initially sheathed with boards, after which all the others are attached.

Making a shelf (shelf) for a bath with your own hands.

Schemes and drawings of shelves (canopy) in the bath for self-production.

Construction device

The shelf in the bath is often called a bench by the common people. They are called so for a reason, since the whole structure is a flooring of benches, which differ in level. Any design of a shelf for a bath consists of two fundamental parts:

1. Frame is necessary for the correct anchoring of boards for non-removable flooring, it is also used to support a collapsible flooring system. For its construction, support posts are required, they can be compared to the legs of a bench.

The racks are connected with large boards, which serve as jumpers necessary for the correct, even position of the shelf. Very rarely, they are built according to the kosour principle, which serves as the basis for the installation of a flight of stairs. If Finnish technology is used, then when creating the frame, there is no need to install supports, since the entire structure can be attached to the walls of the steam room.

2. Flooring it is constructed from thin planks, which are pre-made absolutely even by grinding. Their thickness is about 2 cm. It is recommended to choose the material for making linden or aspen. Boards are packed in compliance with a small pass. The flooring is attached to the frame or to the ladders, which must be separately assembled and installed on the floor.

If the flooring is not fixed, it can be taken out into the fresh air for ventilation in the summer. Together with the flooring, you can build backrests for seats, devices for raising the legs to a certain height, sidewalls of the shelves.

The steam room is usually built in small sizes, since the smaller the room, the lower the heating costs and the faster it warms up to the required temperature for vaping. To equip a steam room well, you need simple, even furniture. Ladders for climbing the shelves are often large, have 2-3 steps.

If possible, you can set aside the required area for the construction of a chaise lounge or sofa, often rounded in shape.

If the bath area is too small, it may not be possible to create a lower shelf of a standard shape and size. In this case, you can build a triangular shelf. You should get an isosceles triangle, one of the legs of which must be attached to the wall, and the second is adjacent to the adjacent shelf.

Sauna shelves are always multistage... This is due to the simplest laws of physics. Hot air gradually rises upward, part of it escapes outside through the ventilation, and the rest is reflected from the pre-installed roof system, therefore it returns and remains at the top of the building. Gradually, the upper part of the room becomes much warmer than the lower one, so everyone has the opportunity to choose the optimal temperature for themselves, sitting on a particular shelf.

When constructing the shelves, the traditional staircase configuration should be followed. With each vaping, a person will be able to independently choose a strong steam or a fairly moderate atmosphere. In addition to this aspect, the bottom shelf is of particular importance. With its help, the attendant can easily climb higher tiers or use it as a podium for a comfortable approach to the person receiving the procedure.

If the bottom shelf is not intended to be used as a retaining element, then the distance from the floor to it must be at least 30 cm.

In the steam room shelves can be installed on both two and three sides... A large number of them will allow you to invite more guests to the bath. When planning the structure, it is necessary to take into account the possibility of free movement. Being in the steam room should not cause traumatic consequences.

Another video on how to make shelves in a bath.

Corner shelves

The shelves in the bath can be not only horizontal, but also made with two perpendicular sides. Corner shelves are often constructed by stitching several blocks from boards. Steam rooms look elegant, where shelves are built in tiers on one side, and the corner shelf is located only in the bottom row, smoothly framing the nearby wall, smoothing the corners.

For a large steam room it is possible to provide for the arrangement of the tiers of the shelves parallel to each other, and between them place one lower shelf, which will be fastened to the neighboring ones, being for each corner. You can use it as a bench, stand, put various objects on it. It will be located opposite the entrance.

The size of the shelves in the steam room

1. About half a meter will be required for the minimum height of each shelf in the steam room of a Russian bath. Such dimensions will be suitable for an adult with bent legs lying down.
2. For most people, the minimum length of the shelf (canopy) in the bathhouse is 1.8 m. With this arrangement, you can lie at close range, but you will not have to bend your legs. It should be remembered that there are people above this mark, so additional space when designing will not hurt.
3. The minimum shelf width in the bath starts from 0.4 m. There will be enough space for a bath attendant using a broom. There is an opportunity to sit on such a bench, but it will be inconvenient to bathe on it.
4. Most often, a width of 0.6 m is chosen. Most people can easily fit on such a shelf, but many will not find it particularly comfortable.
5. A width of about a meter will suit almost everyone. Even overweight people can easily fit on a bench with such dimensions.

Video - we make shelves in the bath.

Shelf boards

The boards for the shelves (canopies) in the bath are made of various materials, there is a wide selection of them:

1. Aspen... Excellent moisture resistance, no reaction to temperature rise. Cracks are not formed, the color does not darken. A bathhouse with such beds is a relatively cheap option, therefore it is available to a large number of the population. The main disadvantage is a predisposition to rotting from the inside.
2. Alder... Resistance to mechanical damage, high moisture resistance. The thermal conductivity is quite low. It has been used as a material for the construction of baths for a long time.
3. Linden... Minimal roughness, light color. It holds its shape well, since it does not have the ability to crack and dry out. The structure is quite soft, so this material is suitable for painting on wood, which can be useful for decorating a bath.
4. Maple... It is used when linden replacement is required. Differs in hardness, it is not prone to deformation.
5. Poplar... The wood is quite light and soft. Shades are soft, palette from light brown to medium. It can be used to create decoration details, as it perceives well many finishing materials.
6. Abashi... The color is creamy or slightly yellow. African oak is used in the decoration of any details of the bath. Resistant to humidity and high temperatures, thermal conductivity is quite low. The material is durable, the structure is smooth. The oak is easy to work as it does not contain knots.

How to cover the shelves in the bath

To ensure that there are no burns when wood and leather come into contact, special coatings must be used. They are quickly absorbed into the wood and do not externally change the color of the shelves. Wood always has a relatively low thermal conductivity, it does not heat up so as to cause a severe burn, however, when varnishing and maintaining a high temperature in the steam room, there is a very high probability of getting a burn.

Applicable bath shelf oil... Before applying them, the wood must be completely clean and dry. To do this, use a sponge or brush. Sometimes it is necessary to re-impregnate. After applying the oil, you need to leave it to absorb for a day, then wipe off the excess with a dry cloth.

A high-quality coating in the bath serves not only as protection against overheating, but also prevents the absorption of various stains into the wood. There is no need to clean the tree with a hard brush, thus maintaining its original appearance.

To create shelves with your own hands, you should choose high-quality materials, follow the sequence of construction work, check the quality of their implementation at every stage.

To create a comfortable, aesthetic and safe steam room in the bath, try hard... Reliable shelves will last a long time and will not require replacement.