Russian Bath - The Second Mother

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

Modern trends in the construction of a Russian bath

In the minds of Russian people, the bathhouse is more than just a place to wash. She acts as a great place for relaxation and communication. A regular visit to the bath helps to restore mental balance, relieve the feeling of fatigue and stress. From time immemorial, people went to the bathhouse and consolidated this tradition, which continues to exist today.

It's no secret that the construction of baths is a very difficult job, and you need to take it seriously. If you don't rely on yourself, entrust the construction to professionals. Now there are many firms doing this.

The construction of a bath is a multi-stage process. It is in many ways similar to the construction of a summer cottage, therefore, before starting construction, a project should be developed, which will take into account the planning features of the internal premises and draw up an estimate according to which you will begin to purchase the necessary materials for construction and finishing. Each stage of the construction of a bath requires increased attention and adherence to technology, as well as the use of refractory and fire-resistant materials.

The main step in the construction of a bath is the choice of wood as a building material. Wooden baths are usually erected from chopped or rounded logs with a thickness of 180-240 mm. In terms of environmental friendliness and heat, they occupy the first positions among baths and saunas made of other materials.

As a rule, a standard sauna consists of three rooms: a steam room, a washing room and a changing room. Their size and configuration can be varied as desired. The steam room is sheathed with clapboard. It is advisable not to use conifers to decorate a pair of rooms, since resins are released at elevated temperatures. Linden or aspen is usually used to decorate the twin compartment. These rocks do not contain tar, which can cause burns at high temperatures.

The basement of a bath is quite often performed according to the same principles as the foundation of a residential building. If the soil is stony on the site, and the structure of the bath itself is strong enough, then the foundation can be replaced with materials made of oak, resistant to decay processes. Safety in the bath is also ensured by the use of well-dried logs, pre-impregnated with antiseptic solutions and substances that increase resistance to high temperatures.

Recently, baths built of brick or stone have become especially popular. Aspen and linden are used as building materials for the ceiling. The use of these types of wood allows you to increase the thermal insulation properties of the ceiling and the resistance to moisture. The floor in the bath is designed in such a way that a drainage system is built into it, with the help of which water is removed. The windows in the bath rooms are made small, and the doors have a high threshold and narrow dimensions. Ventilation and water supply systems are also developed in advance.

The stove has increased safety requirements. If a traditional wood-burning stove is used in the bath, then for its operation it is necessary to stock up on firewood. Such an oven heats up the steam room for a longer time compared to electric ovens, which are quite popular recently. In addition, to ensure the fire safety of the bathhouse, plastering of the stoves is a mandatory requirement. Of course, this does not apply to modern electric ovens. Although, I must say that many lovers of a traditional sauna heater do not accept these innovations, believing that without the smell of smoke there is no real atmosphere of a sauna.

A bathhouse on a garden plot, consisting of a dressing room, a shower and a steam room, is placed in the part of the garden plot opposite from the country house. It is heated by a stove, into which firewood is placed from the dressing room. For relaxation, a wide bench is placed along one wall in the dressing room, and an additional folding shelf is reinforced above it on hinges. Between the dressing room and the steam room there is a washing room, where a boiler with water heated by an oven is installed, as well as a washing bench. In each room during washing, a strictly defined temperature must be constantly and without much effort maintained:

• in the steam room 50… + 55 ° С;
• in a soap room (shower room) - about + 40 ° C;
• in the locker room - not lower than + 21 ° C.

Types of roofs for a bath

When building a bath, you should think over everything to the smallest detail. Particular attention should be paid to the construction of the roof. There are two types of roofs: flat and pitched. But the variety of these types depends on the wishes of the developer.

Let's talk about pitched ones. They are divided into attic and non-attic. Attic roofs are usually cold, without insulation. The attic can be either cold (over unheated rooms) or warm (over heated ones, respectively). Pitched roofs are divided into several types:

• the most common and most frequently used are single-slope (they rest on two outer walls of different heights) and gable (they rest on two outer walls of equal height);
• there are also half-hips (also gable, and the upper parts of their end walls are cut in the form of a triangle); hip (their end slopes are made in the form of beveled triangles, and the side slopes are in the form of trapezoids);
• tent and mansard roofs (rather complexly designed types of roofs, not recommended in the construction of baths).

When choosing a roof for a bath from a bar, you should pay attention to single-slope or gable (single-pitched, with a slope of no more than 5% are the most economical and convenient, and gable is good to do if you need to use the attic space). If the bath with a total area of no more than 12 m2, then it would be most correct to make a single-slope roofless covering, with larger areas it is advisable to make a double-slope one.

It is worth taking care of the interior decoration of the bath. After all, the interior decoration is able to give it beauty and warmth, fill it with pleasant smells and intricate designs. Traditionally, wood trim is used in the bath, since it is not only able to decorate its interior, but also allows you to spend time there with health benefits. For this type of finish, planed hardwood planks such as alder, aspen or linden, which do not contain resin, are usually used.

If funds allow, then exotic tree species can also be used, such as the Canadian hemlock, sedrella, meranti. If you need to give the bath a magnificent interior look, then it is worth finishing with red Canadian cedar, but the resin must be removed first, then the bath will take on a unique look. Bathrooms are decorated with any kind of wood without additional staining or cladding.

It should be noted that the unprofessional decoration of the bath, even if it was done with the maximum of applied diligence, is often the main reason for the need to re-perform all the work. In other words, if you strive to make a very beautiful steam room, but do not delve into the technology, you can pay for your own carelessness and again spend money on all finishing and building materials. If a wood-burning stove is installed in the steam room, then part of the room must be finished with non-combustible materials, such as tiles or bricks are suitable; to decorate the space, you can use their various forms and combinations.

In the bath, it is also necessary to think over the location of shelves, benches and benches, since they are the most important elements of its interior decoration. Their sizes and shapes are primarily determined by the dimensions of the steam room. The interior decoration of the baths presupposes, on the one hand, the beauty of the bath benches, benches and shelves, and on the other hand, a sufficiently high level of functionality. They should not creak, wobble, have sharp edges and rough shapes.

For shelves, benches and benches, it is best to use materials from trees such as poplar, aspen or linden, as they dry well, do not heat up much, do not burn, and do not contain resin. Do not forget about the arrangement of the dressing room - the place where you need to place bath accessories, linen cabinets, shoe racks, wood and water. Harmony in the interior decoration of the bath will create an atmosphere of warmth and tranquility that will hide you from the daily hustle and bustle and give you a rest in silence, and bath procedures will bring great pleasure and help to cope with many ailments.

Dispelling the myth of the bath

Many people think that a strong steam room is only for very healthy people, and for those who, for example, have heart problems, it is not suitable. But this is absolutely not the case. A little time in a hot Russian bath will not harm you, but benefit. The main thing is just to keep track of time and take into account the recommendations of doctors.

Correctly selected wood species, the organization of proper ventilation and air circulation in the steam room serve to relieve the shock that the body receives through the touch. Shock is the body's reaction to a high temperature, at which all organs begin to work in overload. In small quantities (individually for everyone), this is only useful: adrenaline is produced, the body's protective reserve is turned on, immunity is strengthened, and an intensive cleansing of the body occurs.

In the bath, everything is subordinated to one idea - to get good steam, good for health. At the same time, the temperature in the steam room can be quite high. None of the types of rest has such a cleansing and healing effect as rest in a bath. If you regularly visit the Russian bath, then you are guaranteed a quick recovery of strength, increased mental and physical performance. Plus, you'll sleep like a baby and your general well-being will improve fairly quickly.