The steaming process itself is constructed as follows: the hot stones are occasionally poured with water, after which the hot air rushes upward. Slowly cooling, the steam sinks lower, giving the steam room the proper atmosphere.
Due to the increased humidity of the steam room, the movement of air masses slows down significantly, which is why in the process of arranging shelves in the bathhouse with your own hands, you should pay attention to the following nuances:
- There should be a fairly large distance between the boards of the shelves;
- It is not recommended to sew up the side parts of the walls, as this will complicate the process of cleaning the floors;
- The seats should be tilted so that the water drains freely;
- There should be a gap between the shelves and the wall.
Installing shelves in a bathhouse with your own hands is a rather important and responsible process, the correct execution of which determines the future convenience of using the steam room. To make a shelf in a bathhouse with your own hands, there are certain rules and requirements that must be followed for the sake of your own safety.
In addition, it is worth remembering that the shelves in a Russian bath must withstand the rather harsh atmosphere of the steam room. To do this, you need to very carefully select materials for them. You should not give preference to coniferous trees, as they emit a large amount of resins; it is best to choose one of the hardwoods.
Types and design in the steam room
A simple bathhouse shelf consists of two elements:
- seat;
- Support bars in the form of thick racks. They are made of two beams installed along the width of the shelves. They are connected with jumpers every 50 cm.
Important! Pay attention to the fasteners of all structural elements, since open use of screws and nails is not allowed due to the risk of burns.
Over the years, the shelves in the bathhouse and their designs have changed. Today, there are several options for designing shelves in a bathhouse:
- Letter "G". With this placement option, the shelves are placed on two adjacent partitions in the bathhouse;
- Coupe. The most suitable planning method for baths of a small area, since in this case the bath benches are placed one above the other;
- Steps. Thus, you can place shelves in a steam room with your own hands if the room itself is spacious enough;
- Complex design of a shelf in a bathhouse. With this arrangement of shelves in a sauna or bathhouse, it is possible to install a retractable mechanism for the lower bench or a folding mechanism for the upper one.
Design elements of bath shelves
The bath shelf has another name - a bench. The benches come in different heights and are arranged according to a certain pattern.
They consist of two main elements:
- Frame , which is the base to which the flooring boards are attached. The flooring can be fixed or dismountable. The most common is a frame made of support posts that resemble bench legs, connected by wooden crosspieces. There is also another option, when the frame is made as a stair stringer, to which the steps of the shelves are attached. Sometimes the frame is built in the likeness of the frames in a sauna. In this case, there are no supports, and the frame looks like a railway shelf fixed to the walls of the steam room.
- Flooring made of well-polished linden or aspen planks. There should be a small distance of 1-2 cm between the planks. The flooring is either fixed to the frame or consists of separate elements. Loose flooring can be taken outside to dry. It can also be used as a seat, a couch or a podium for the bath attendant. In the same way as the flooring, the backs and sides of the shelves, headrests, and devices allowing you to lie down so that your legs are located at head level or higher are made. You can make a headrest for a bathhouse with your own hands, drawings are available.
As a rule, a steam room is small in size, since it is easier, faster and more economical to heat a small room to the desired temperature, so the shelves have a simple rectangular shape (read: “What are the optimal sizes of a steam room”). Usually the shelves in a steam room look like a staircase with 2-3 degrees. Such steps can be similar to chaise lounges or corner sofas with a rounded shape. However, something like this can only be done in a large steam room.
If there is not enough space in the steam room to build a rectangular lower bench, it can be made in the shape of a right triangle. It is located as follows: one leg should fit loosely against the wall, and the other against the shelf adjacent to it.
How to do it right: layout and location
It is necessary to install shelves in the bath along those walls on which there are no windows, in two or three tiers.
Information. It is best to arrange ready-made shelves for a bathhouse in the form of steps, since the air temperature rises closer to the ceiling, and with this arrangement, each visitor to the bathhouse will be able to choose the optimal temperature regime for themselves.
As mentioned earlier, there are several ways to arrange bath shelves, let’s summarize:
- You can place them along one of the walls in several tiers;
- You can arrange two structures along two supporting walls, creating the appearance of a railway compartment;
- You can even design the shelves in the letter “G” in several tiers, combining two design methods;
- There is also an option for this arrangement: place the upper and lower shelves along one wall, and the middle one along the other, parallel to it. Looks great in medium-sized baths.
One of the main rules is to install shelves in a bathhouse on walls without windows. The fact is that the constant movement of steam can simply crack the glass.
That is why owners of a steam room with windows have little choice in layout.
Step-by-step recommendations for making your own wooden bath shelf
Before you get started, there are a few key points to consider:
- What kind of things is it intended for storing?
- How important is it to use a certain type of wood, such as oak or linden;
- What is the maximum load-bearing capacity it should provide? The strength of the structure and, by the way, its weight will directly depend on its “carrying capacity”;
- Where in the space of the bathhouse it will be located;
- The characteristic features of the interior are determined with which it must be consistent or, as newfangled high-flying designers like to say, “rhyme.”
In defiance of newfangled designers of different heights, we present the “Lyra” bathhouse shelf, which will allow the owner of a bathhouse with such an accessory to be known among his neighbors as a great expert in the field of chamber symphonic music and, possibly, foreign rock. As part of the variation of the same “Horseshoe” shelf, you can constantly adhere to the tradition of preserving valuable bath items under the constant protection of this well-deserved Slavic amulet.
What is necessary:
- Board 500 mm wide, 750 mm long and 25 mm thick for the frame;
- Three strips 750 mm long, 60 mm wide and 25 mm thick, for decorating the internal set;
- Two boards 15 mm thick, 200 wide, and 400 long for use as the load-bearing plane of the shelf in horizontal projection;
- Copper busbar 35 mm high and 1 mm thick for edging;
- A set of hanging fasteners for installation at three points and standard wood screws for fastening elements together, 25 and 35 mm long.
- Jigsaw with blade for curved cutting;
- Compass, ruler, bubble level for marking and assembly;
- A screwdriver or screwdriver with a working part for the specific self-tapping screw used.
The main sequence of work is as follows:
- Using marking tools, the outline of a lyre or horseshoe is drawn along the outer dimensions of 500x750 mm.
- Using a jigsaw, the outline is cut out from the rear sight.
- An internal vertical set is being recruited.
- The horizontal set is outlined by a copper busbar.
- A horizontal set is mounted.
- If the shelf is made in the “Lyra” version, the outer contour is sanded and coated with transparent polyurethane varnish. In this case, tinting a quarter or half a tone darker than the original color of the wood is allowed. In the “Horseshoe” version, the outer contour is painted with decorative acrylic water-soluble paint in the color of natural metal. On the surface of the product you can imitate defects and fasteners in the form of nail heads forged by a village blacksmith.
- Seats for fasteners are marked on the wall, and hanging elements are fixed to the counter parts of the shelf. The product is mounted on a wall with horizontal control using a bubble level.
Basic Rules
It is best to purchase ready-made shelves for a bathhouse in the store, but here you can encounter a serious problem, since it can be quite difficult to find a structure of a suitable size.
When arranging shelves in a bathhouse with your own hands, you should remember the following:
- You need to use only high-quality materials. There should be no roughness on the surface of the bath seats;
- The number of supports depends on the width of the board;
- The shelf in the bathhouse must be fastened in such a way that the metal fasteners are hidden in order to avoid possible burns;
- In order to make the support of the frame for the shelf in the bathhouse more stable, it should be tied with boards both above and below;
- Do not forget that the volume and shape of equipped benches should be suitable for people of any size;
- The most important thing is the reliability of the design, since without it there is a risk of injury;
- Rubber pads must be attached to the bottom surface of all steps and legs;
- A gap of 10–12 cm should be left between the shelves and the walls of the steam room. This will ensure unhindered air flow;
- The thickness of the board for constructing the frame should be four times less than its width in order to speed up the drying process of the wood.
Step-by-step instructions and manufacturing stages
It is quite possible to make sauna shelves with your own hands if you follow a simple sequence of actions.
The most important thing is to pay due attention to the quality of materials, the reliability of fastenings, as well as the surface treatment of the benches.
Frame
The first stage involves installing the racks.
They ensure the reliability of the finished structure of the sun lounger.
For the top row, they usually use from four to six racks with a length of one meter and a cross-section of 1 cm (more precisely, you need to calculate based on the length of the beds).
You can fasten the racks to each other using wooden blocks, which are located along the entire perimeter of the bed. In order to securely fasten the racks to the wall, you should use the longest dowel screws.
Important! To arrange the racks of the upper shelf, you can use unpolished timber, the main thing is to make sure that there are no chips or cracks on it.
Bearing beam
After the racks are securely fastened, you can focus on arranging the directly supporting structure of the shelves in the bathhouse.
This is a very important step, since this design supports not only the weight of the people who will be on top, but also the weight of the shelf itself.
That is why the cross-section of the supporting beam must be at least 5x10 cm.
The top row of this design is installed across the length of the upper plane of the bed. The width of the step depends on the thickness of the boards used to arrange the shelf.
Attention! The thinner the top boards of the bath seat, the smaller the step between the supporting beams.
In order to ensure that all visitors to the bathhouse are comfortable enough, the width of the top shelf should be made at least 60 cm, optimally 90 cm.
Front surface
After the load-bearing structural elements are completely ready, you need to take care of the upper bed. The boards for it must be prepared in advance, that is, carefully sanded and processed.
The optimal thickness of boards for arranging the surface of a shelf is from three to six centimeters. They should be attached at a distance of 1-2 cm from each other. This is done to ensure unhindered circulation of steam and moisture.
Next, we’ll find out how to attach the shelves in the bathhouse to the frame. To ensure your own safety, it is recommended to use wooden wedges. They need to be inserted into holes previously prepared for them.
You can fasten the boards both along and across the sunbed. The second option is more economical, since in this case the installation of additional support bars is not required.
Important! Under no circumstances should you leave the caps of metal fasteners on the surface of the shelf, as this can cause burns.
In order to avoid danger, metal elements are driven 5-10 mm deep into the board.
Lower tier
The shelf located on the lower level must be installed at least 30 cm from the floor level.
This rule applies to those cases when the lower seat plays not only the role of a step for the bath attendant, but also the role of a sun lounger.
In order to install the lower shelf, you need to attach four wooden blocks to the posts of the upper deck. This quadrangle acts as a frame for a shelf in a bathhouse.
Next, the boards for the surface of the bench are attached using the technology described in the third stage.
Processing, impregnation
It's no secret that under constant exposure to high temperature and humidity, wooden elements in a bathhouse deteriorate very quickly. It is for this purpose that the final stage in finishing the shelves in the steam room is the treatment of all structural elements made of wood with special substances.
Information. To treat the shelves in a bathhouse with your own hands, you should use only environmentally friendly substances so as not to risk your life and health.
Regular flaxseed oil is considered an excellent protective agent against fungi and mold, which is why it has been used for many years to treat sauna shelves.
To treat the shelves in a Russian bathhouse with your own hands, use a solution of turpentine and beeswax.
Protective substances should be applied in at least two layers, but it is worth remembering that it takes about eight hours to dry one layer.
After complete drying, the bath shelves acquire a matte shine and a water-repellent surface.
To see this, look at the photo below. The wooden element on the left was treated with special protective substances, but not on the right. Therefore, it is always better to take care of protecting the shelf in the bathhouse with your own wooden hands.
Correct shelves in the Russian bathhouse.
First of all, it should be noted that the shelves in the Russian bath are called differently. I have seen such accents: shelves, shelves, shelves, shelves. Personally, I prefer to say regiments.
As I wrote in my article “The whole truth about the Russian bathhouse,” most bathhouses in our country are far from Russian bathhouses, but are essentially dry-air steam rooms or saunas. Therefore, the shelves in these baths have a design that is far from the shelves of the Russian bath. In most bathhouses, the shelves are arranged in steps on two or three levels. The width of the shelves usually does not exceed 500-600mm. This design of the shelves is due to the fact that in saunas and dry-air steam rooms it is not customary to lie on the shelves, but to sit. In this article I will only talk about the correct shelves in the Russian bathhouse. And I highly do not recommend widespread shelves in the form of steps on several levels in steamy Russian baths.
In the steam room of the Russian bath, on the contrary, it is customary to lie down and not sit. Moreover, the width of the shelves is usually selected from 850mm to 1200mm. On such wide shelves you can lie spread out, rather than huddle in narrow spaces. In a Russian bath there is no point in climbing under the ceiling, as in saunas or dry-air steam rooms. Because the principle of steaming in Russian baths is completely different. Therefore, the shelves in such baths are located on one, maximum two, levels.
What parameters should a canopy in a Russian steam bath have? First of all, it must be wide from 850mm to 1200mm. This allows you to lie comfortably on it. I highly recommend, don’t skimp on the width of the shelf! The length of the shelf should be at least 2 m, and preferably 2.2-2.5 m. An adult should fit comfortably on it while lying down, without resting his feet against the wall.
The thickness of the shelf board is selected according to the principle “the thicker the better.” The optimal thickness is 60-80mm. This is significantly thicker than the standard shelf boards sold everywhere. And they sell them because in saunas and dry-air steam rooms, the thickness of the shelf boards does not matter much. But in a Russian bathhouse, the thickness of the shelf is of great importance. The thicker the canopy, the more heat it can accumulate, and then gently release it to those lying on it. There is no need to lay anything on the shelves in the steam room of the Russian bath. The shelves are always pleasantly warm, but not scalding, like all the wooden surfaces in the steam rooms of the Russian bath.
A very important point is the height of the shelf. Many people believe that it is better to make the canopy higher. But this is far from always correct and justified. The height of the shelf is measured from the surface on which the steamer stands. If it stands directly on the floor of the steam room, then it will be off the floor. If a wooden ladder is provided in the steam room, then from the surface of the ladder. I consider the correct height of the shelf to be the one that corresponds to the height from the floor or wooden ladder to the level of the knuckles of the palm clenched into a fist with the steamer’s hand completely lowered. Usually it is 70-90 cm, depending on the height of the hairdresser. Many novice lovers of the Russian bath are scared by such a small height of the shelf from the floor. But there is no need to be afraid. Don't think that there won't be steam on such a low shelf. In the right sauna, with the right sauna stove, the steamer will provide as much steam as needed for the person steaming. And it’s very good that the steamer is below the level of the steam cake under the ceiling. It is an unspeakable pleasure when the person steaming is in a soft zone with a relatively low temperature and where it is easy to breathe, and the steamer wraps him in a blanket of velvet and fluffy steam. When you need more steam, you can create more steam, or you can completely remove all the steam from the steaming area. Such contrasts and different techniques for working with steam from good steamers make vaping an unforgettable pleasure. If the canopy is made higher than the size I recommend, then it will be extremely difficult for the steamer to have a quality soar. You will have to stretch to reach all parts of the body with a broom, hold your hands high with brooms, and this contributes to rapid fatigue of the steamer and poor-quality steaming. The correct height of the shelf allows the steamer to move the brooms correctly without overloading the muscles of the arms and back and, accordingly, get less tired.
The canopy must be positioned so that the steamer feels comfortable hovering on it, there is free access along the entire length of the shelf and the distance from the sauna stove must be at least 500mm.
The shelves are made of hardwood. The most popular wood for the shelf in the Russian bathhouse is considered to be linden and aspen. You can’t make shelves from the now-fangled abasha. This wood has a porous structure and practically does not heat up, which contradicts the high-quality conditions of the Russian bath. Also, coniferous wood is not used on the shelves due to the risk of resin release.
Many people ask what protective compounds should be used to cover shelves. Personally, I am against any coating of shelves in the Russian bath, especially with newfangled impregnations for saunas. The tree must be alive and this is very important. Yes, the shelves get dark quickly. But this is a noble color, indicating that they really use the bathhouse, and do not go there as if it were a museum. At most, you can cover the shelves with hot natural linseed oil. The technology for such impregnation can be found on the Internet. This coating must be renewed periodically. But I personally don’t see any point in it, especially if the bathhouse is a family one.
It is very important to keep the shelves clean. Otherwise, unpleasant odors will settle in the steam room, which will then be difficult to get rid of. If we are not talking about a public bath, but about a family bath, I highly do not recommend washing the shelves with any chemical detergents. After each bath, it is enough to thoroughly wipe the shelves with a specially designated terry towel soaked in hot water. To clean the shelves efficiently, you need to press the towel quite firmly while wiping and wipe with wide, sweeping movements. Attention! This procedure must be carried out after each bath! Don't be lazy. It is enough not to wash the shelves a couple of times and an unpleasant smell in the steam room is guaranteed. It is better to wash the shelves while they are still warm.
Many right
sewing, how to properly make a support frame for the shelves, what kind of wood to make it from, whether to make supports for the floor. I answer. The frame of the shelves can be made of any wood, you can rest it on the floor, the design of the frame should be done in a way that is more convenient and reliable. There are no universal and correct frame schemes. Some people make folding shelves for easy cleaning or to save space in the steam room. Many people ask whether it is necessary to sew up the frame of the shelves from below, thinking that this reduces the cubic capacity of the steam room and makes it easier to warm it up with a sauna stove. I am against boarding the frame for the shelves underneath. This makes cleaning under the shelves impossible. And if you consider that lying on the shelves we produce sweat, which drips onto the floor and accumulates there, it is necessary to wash the floors under the shelves after each bath.
It is very important to follow a number of rules when designing a shelf in terms of its abutment to the walls of the steam room. There must be a gap of 3-5 cm between the wall and the shelf board. Under no circumstances should the shelf board be adjacent to the wall! This contributes to rapid rotting of the wall in the area where the shelf adjoins. There must also be a gap of 3-5 cm between the boards of the shelf.
The supporting frame of the shelf and the ends of the boards of the shelf itself should also under no circumstances be adjacent to the wall. If the shelf boards are 60mm or more thick, then they can be attached to the wall without any frame or floor supports. Boards of this thickness do not bend under the weight of the steamers. A support block is attached to the wall and the shelf boards are already attached to it. Since the support bar cannot be attached flush to the wall, it is secured through spacers. Metal washers or nuts are usually used as spacers. If a support frame for a shelf is used, then its posts and supporting surfaces are also attached to the wall through spacers. This is necessary so that air can freely pass through the structure of the shelf and the wall, and the wood of the wall at the junction of the shelf does not rot.
The shelf board is attached to the supporting surface only from below! You should not screw a self-tapping screw through the shelf board, as its head can heat up and create unpleasant sensations when in contact with the body of those steaming.
Position
The formation of regiments in a steam room is most often done with the letter “G”. A working canopy is selected on which they will soar. This is usually the longest shelf with the most convenient approach for the steamer. The second canopy is usually called the warming canopy. There, during steaming, you can place another person who will warm up while the steamer is working with another visitor to the steam room on the work shelf. The warming canopy can be made higher than the working one. But this is not always advisable, especially if space in the steam room does not allow. If there is enough space in the steam room, then you can organize auxiliary shelves for tubs and brooms, children’s shelves, lower shelves, and so on. If the shelves are arranged in two tiers, then steps or stable benches should be provided for ease of climbing and descending from them.
Retractable
Arranging a retractable shelf can significantly increase the free space in the steam room. If necessary, it can be pulled out or pushed back in order to free up the passage.
The pull-out shelf can also accommodate water containers, bath accessories and accessories.
When installing a shelf in a bathhouse, the first step is to place the bars on the end walls of the room. Next, in order to secure the axle, you need to connect one end of it to a block on the wall, and the other to the end of the deck chair. After this, the levers are mounted. Their role is played by small wooden strips that are placed on the axle.
Important! In order for the retractable mechanism to operate more smoothly and freely, cuts should be made on the upper corners of these slats.
The thickness of the bars, as well as the end elements, must be the same.
To make the operation of this mechanism more clear, imagine a sliding sofa. So, this shelf operates on the same principle, so during the installation process you can rely on a long-familiar scheme.
With this arrangement of shelves in a log bathhouse, it can be extended to almost any distance, and the lounger itself rests on wooden legs.
You can also arrange backrests for a shelf in the bathhouse. To do this, you usually take three boards, which are placed on vertical posts made of polished timber.
Information. Thanks to the equipped backrest, sitting in the steam room is much more comfortable and safer, because the risk of burns from the walls of the room is eliminated. The material for the back is the same as for the shelves.
It is worth leaving gaps between the boards to ensure unobstructed ventilation.
Arrangement of shelves in the steam room for comfortable movement
It is considered standard to install three-tier shelves in a bathhouse. The lower one will be cooler, the upper one will be the hottest.
The design is designed so that an adult can comfortably sit on any of the benches.
To do this, it is important to take into account recommendations regarding the main dimensions of the product.
Height
There are a number of optimal height indicators:
- 40‒60 cm. Distance between the first and second benches.
- 1.1 – 1.2 m. Height between the lowest step and the second shelf.
- 20 cm. This is the minimum allowable distance from the floor to the first step.
If among the regular vacationers or owners there are people of non-standard height, then the height and distances between the shelves should be selected individually.
Length
The recommended minimum range is from 1.5 to 1.8 m. With a length of 1.5 m, a person will be able to sit on a bench with their legs bent at the knees. On a 1.8 m shelf, most vacationers will be able to lie down at their full height.
Width
For the lower tier, which most often acts as a footrest, 40 cm is enough.
The standard width is 60 cm. With this size of the flooring, it will be comfortable to sit, but not to steam while lying down.
But on a 90 cm shelf it is already comfortable to lie down and sit with your legs bent.
There are benches 150 cm wide. Here the choice is individual. If the area of the room allows, then why not make them wide.
How to attach
It is very important to prevent direct contact with the metal elements of the shelves in the bathhouse. Answering the question of how to attach shelves in a bathhouse to the frame, here are several possible methods:
- The easiest way is to hammer the caps as deep as possible into the tree;
- The safest and most environmentally friendly, but rather complicated method is fastening with oak wedges. They must be hammered into pre-prepared holes;
- Another simple option is to attach nails or screws to the back of the structure.
Cleanliness in the steam room: how to remove dirt
It is very important to monitor the cleanliness of the steam room so that the shelves in the bath are also beautiful, the wall decoration does not lose its appearance, and the heater itself remains presentable.
When using bath brooms, small particles of plant pigment remain on wooden surfaces. When faced with this, the first question that arises is: how to wash the shelves in the bathhouse?
For the steam room, it is recommended to use specialized detergents or paraffin oil.
Information. You can apply cleaning products to the bathhouse shelves either manually or using foam rubber or a regular sponge.
Typically, specialized detergents must be diluted in water, but a more specific method of use is indicated in the instructions.
How to care
A bathhouse is a room in which sanitary and hygienic procedures are carried out. Due to the level of humidity and fairly high temperature conditions, this room requires special care and control.
Despite the fact that bathhouse furniture is made primarily from moisture-resistant tree species, the special microclimatic conditions of the bathhouse can negatively affect their operational parameters. In order for the furniture to last as long as possible, you need to follow certain care recommendations:
- After each visit to the steam room, the room must be ventilated. This will allow you to remove excess water from the room as soon as possible. In large baths, a sauna stove can be used for drying. It must be turned on for a while for the water to evaporate.
- The steam room must be cleaned regularly. Even if the bathhouse is used seasonally, it must be cleaned at least once a week. This will help remove all pockets of contamination from wooden sun loungers in the bathhouse and prevent the appearance of fungal microorganisms that can lead to mold and rotting of the wood.
- To speed up the drying of the steam room in the bathhouse, you need to use a dry towel or a special soft rag. By removing excess moisture after hygiene procedures, users can significantly speed up the drying of the room.
- Cleaning the steam room should not be done using chemical detergents. Since all finishing elements and bath furniture are made of natural wood, the use of chemicals can harm them. Experts recommend using a solution of ordinary laundry soap or special compositions for steam rooms as a detergent.
Important! When drying the steam room, you need to open all windows and doors, but it is better to close the containers located in the room.
Backlight: Step by Step Guide
Many people think about how to make beautiful shelves in a bathhouse. A rather practical option would be to install LED lighting in the bathhouse under the shelf. It will improve the appearance of not only the shelves, but the entire room as a whole.
Attention! An LED strip for building a shelf in a bathhouse with your own hands must be heat-resistant. You can check this by looking for the presence of a silicone coating on it.
You should choose an LED strip for a steam room with the maximum level of protection from moisture. It should not be open, but sealed. It must be installed along the entire length of the shelves.
- The first step is to calculate the maximum power consumption of the room to find out the overall figure;
- Next, the tape needs to be connected to the controller;
- The mounting surface must be cleaned, degreased and insulated;
- After this, you can remove the protective film from the LED strip and fix it along the entire length of the shelf;
- The final step is connecting to the power supply.
