Wooden lining for a bath. Which lining is better for a bath

It is rather difficult to say how many centuries our Russian banya has: its history goes back to ancient times. One of the earliest written references to the bathing ritual can be found in The Tale of Bygone Years, a literary masterpiece. Kievan Rus. And the people treated the healer-bath with respect. She saved from illnesses and gave strength, and returned joy to the soul. Small, cozy, each without fail with three compartments - “hot”, “soapy”, “dressing room” - baths were traditionally built of wood.

Today, bathing Russia is not at all like the former one with its ancient rituals and signs. But the Russian people have not fallen out of love with “light steam”, undeservedly forgotten traditions are being revived again. Many ancient secrets of building a Russian sauna have been preserved and are being successfully used in the 21st century. In combination with modern materials, the bath has today acquired a new beautiful and modern look, but, of course, has not lost its main purpose - to give health and good mood.

It is not difficult to build a bath house, it is enough to arm yourself with knowledge about the choice suitable place, about all the intricacies of making a log house, roofing, erecting the most important bath "attraction" - a stove. But the building is finished. It remains only to do the interior decoration. And now is the time to think. What material to choose? Tall temperature regime and humidity, invariably formed during the operation of the bath, make it necessary to approach the choice more carefully.

Not every material is capable of withstanding the aggressive loads of the bath microclimate for a long time. And, in addition, it must be borne in mind that the surfaces should not heat up excessively even at maximum temperature and emit harmful chemical substances. All these requirements can only be met by natural finishing materials, the best of which is.

Chipboard, fiberboard, OSB and any other wood waste products are not used for these purposes, as they have very low fire resistance and are quickly destroyed by moisture, and, in addition, adhesives are used in their production, which, under certain microclimate parameters, can cause serious health problems.

The lining is a decorative board (plank), specially processed for easy joining during the finishing process. Its ribs have a protruding spike on one side, and a groove on the other, which allows you to quickly and without extra effort connect all the details. This creates a smooth, neat surface.

Walls and ceilings, finished with clapboard, aesthetically look very attractive, create a special feeling of comfort and coziness in the room. And the pleasant color of natural wood greatly complements these sensations. At the final stage, the wooden lining is varnished, waxed, stained (this should not be done when finishing the steam room).

Lining is made from different breeds trees - coniferous or deciduous. The former have an extended service life, are distinguished by the presence of a large amount of resin, which has a bactericidal effect, is a good antiseptic, protects the material from moisture penetration and prevents the formation of fungus. The latter do not contain resinous substances and are well suited for "dry" bath rooms.

Softwood lining:

- Pine. It has a high density, moisture resistance, has a pleasant golden hue and an interesting surface pattern. It contains few knots, is almost not subject to decay, but after a while it may turn slightly blue, although this does not affect the quality.

- Cedar. This lining is the rarest and most expensive. Does not contain knots, heats up slightly. Its advantage and at the same time a disadvantage is a particularly strong coniferous smell. Valued for durability, water resistance, antiseptic properties, beautiful surface texture and pleasant pink tint. When buying a lining made of cedar, be careful, as very often a board made of cedar pine is sold under this name.

- Aspen. Inexpensive, contains less resin, has low thermal conductivity, high hardness and long term operation, is almost not afraid of moisture and does not change its color over a long period of time: it remains clean and bright. It has a pleasant, slightly bitter smell. One of the disadvantages of this lining is the presence of small knots on the planks, which, when heated excessively, can cause burns upon contact with the skin.

And the board itself, made of aspen, having a dense solid structure, heats up quite a lot. Small knots, subjected to significant temperature fluctuations, may fall out over time. With prolonged contact with water, this wood may darken, so it must be coated with a special protective compound. There is a popular belief that aspen takes away all the negative energy, while a person is steaming, it “pulls out” all diseases from him.

- El. It is a good finishing material. It has a light color with a yellowish-brown tint, a neutral smell, and a pleasant texture. Spruce wood is quite soft, however, it has good moisture resistance. Retains heat very well.

- Larch. Perfectly revitalizes the air in the bath. Larch wood is quite dense, it has a unique moisture resistance. However, it heats up very quickly and loses heat just as quickly.

Gum (resin) of coniferous trees has a bactericidal and disinfectant effect. Inhaling the smell of pine resin can be useful for nervous and vascular diseases, diseases of the respiratory tract, heart, phytoncides have a detrimental effect even on Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Fresh resin contains about 35% essential oils. In the air, it dries and hardens.

But when heated in a bath, it softens and releases volatile compounds, which, due to their good solubility in cells, can penetrate deep into the skin, irritate receptors and thereby contribute to reflex changes in organs and tissues, and, in addition, have a slight analgesic effect. .

What is a bath without a steam room? It's nice to immerse yourself in the gentle waves of hot steam and feel how they envelop you with their hot embrace. Steam cleanses the skin, relaxes tired muscles, improves blood circulation, and also expels waste and toxins from the body. Typically, the temperature in the steam room ranges from 70 to 100 ° C. In such heat, the body has to make almost heroic efforts in order to cool itself. Breathing becomes deeper, the heart beats faster, the pulse quickens ...

However, lining made of coniferous wood, with all its positive qualities, is just not suitable for a steam room. It can only be used in a washing room (where the main requirement is resistance to moisture) and a rest room (or dressing room), since the resin that they contain to one degree or another will quickly heat up, releasing a large number of essential oils. In the "extreme" conditions of the steam room, inhaling the smell of these substances can only cause harm to health.

The resin itself is very useful, however, the volatile compounds released by it have a stimulating effect on the respiratory and cardiovascular system, and in combination with steam and high temperature, you get a real “explosive mixture”. Do not force your body to do extra work and cope with additional stress.

Hardwood lining:

- African oak (abashi). The wood of this oak warms up slowly, despite the high temperature in the steam room, so it is often used to make a number of elements that are in direct contact with the body. It has a soft texture, no knots, pleasant to the touch. Color - white with a cream or yellowish tint (darkens under the influence of high temperature).

- Ash. Has quite dense structure wood, is resistant to deformation, has a bright expressive pattern and a grayish-pink or yellowish tint.

- Birch. Under the influence of moisture, it quickly rots, temperature changes cause cracking and curvature of wooden planks. It is suitable only for "dry" bath rooms.

— Oak. Renowned for its strength, hardness and durability. This is the most expensive material with a very beautiful expressive texture. Differs in good resistance to influence of water.

- Alder. It has low hygroscopicity, does not contain resin, has a beautiful light brown, reddish or pink hue and an interesting surface pattern. Alder wood heats up slightly, contains tannins, and has antimicrobial properties.

- Linden. It has a number of advantages: moisture resistant, practically does not rot, has low thermal conductivity, a light pleasant aroma and a beautiful light honey tint, which may not change even with long-term operation. Linden wood contains very few knots, is characterized by low density and hardness, therefore it is easily processed, which undoubtedly affects its value. "Linden" board has a soft structure, pleasant to the touch, so it is often used not only for cladding walls and ceilings, but also for the manufacture of shelves, benches.

Linden - real natural healer. Leaves, flowers, and tree bark also have useful properties. Using her healing wood for cladding internal surfaces baths have a very beneficial effect on health, because it relieves any pain, heals nervous disorders, joints. A special microclimate is created in the premises, finished with linden clapboard. This tree is considered an energy donor - you bathe, wash yourself and at the same time "charge" the body with positive energy. The beauty! It is impossible to compare the smell of linden in a well-heated bathhouse with anything, especially in a new one that has just been built!

Like it or not, but lining made of linden is preferable to the rest. It has a fairly affordable price, has good performance, a lot of useful properties, can be used in all bath rooms, including a steam room, and therefore is ideal for a Russian bath. And if you still drink tea brewed on lime blossom, you will be in a good mood!

Building your own bath is troublesome, but what a result! Behind was the erection of walls, the closing of the ceiling, the construction of the roof - the turn of finishing work came. Naturally, the question arises in all its acuteness interior decoration bath walls and ceilings. For a traditional Russian bath, a finish is needed that would be:

water and steam impermeable;
functional and easy to use;
environmentally friendly and durable;
provided proper level thermal insulation;
had a reasonable price.

After searching and throwing, all newfangled artificial materials, as a rule, are rejected, and preference is given to natural wood. Rather, the product of its processing - a thin cladding board. Popularly called "lining" for its original purpose - the lining of freight cars.

What is a lining?

This is a material intended for finishing wall, ceiling, and other surfaces, in the form of a thin board with special connecting grooves. It is manufactured to exacting dimensions. Distinctive feature wooden lining is its ability to absorb excess humidity in the room, returning it back when the air is too dry. This allows you to maintain an ideal microclimate in the room. And the forest aroma of the facing board cannot be compared with the poisonous secretions of PVC-based wall decoration.

Eurolining is the same material, only better

Today we are also familiar with another special term - "euro lining". This is an identical material, only made from a different tree, to slightly different standards. The easiest way to distinguish eurolining by its back side- there must be ventilation longitudinal grooves that can remove condensate from the room. In addition, this finishing board is made of high quality wood, coated with special protective compounds. This, on the one hand, improves its performance, makes it more durable, and on the other hand, it significantly increases its cost.

What are they made of?

As you know, both hardwood and softwood are used for the manufacture of finishing boards. For finishing work in the bath, both are used, but with some restrictions. So, for a steam room, where the temperature reaches high levels, it is appropriate to use lining made of alder, linden, aspen. This is due to the heat resistance of hardwood, low heat capacity and high moisture resistance. Sheathing board made from coniferous trees is also suitable for facing bath wall and ceiling surfaces. It has excellent technical data:

easy to process;
holds fasteners well (see Fastening the lining);
glues up nicely.

The external attractiveness of coniferous wood is not inferior in beauty to hardwood. However, it can be used in all areas of the bath - in the rest room, dressing room, but not where the temperature reaches high values!

IMPORTANT! Coniferous wood, when heated, is capable of releasing resin, which is highly flammable or can be spilled from the ceiling surface onto the washable hair, from where it is very difficult to remove.

Hardwood lining

Lime. The leader in use when finishing steam rooms. The looseness of the wood of this species ensures the ability of the board to maintain a moderate temperature, which is very important for safety in a very hot room. In addition, the linden board at high temperatures releases natural essential oils that are healing for the respiratory organs. It should also be noted that the linden does not rot and does not lose its attractive appearance in conditions of high humidity.

From alder. This cladding is indispensable in wet areas - in a washroom, for example. Beautiful golden-pink alder wood, radiating warm natural light, does not lose its visual appeal even in the conditions of damp bath rooms. This is facilitated by its specific qualities - resistance to high temperature and humidity. It also does not rot and is not subject to fungal infections.

Aspen. Its colloquial name is "long-playing". This epithet was given to her for the high strength of the source material. Externally attractive, pleasant to the touch, the wood of this tree species lends itself well to processing, but it is not easy to damage it. Aspen lining is also resistant to the effects of steam and moisture, therefore it, along with linden, is used in the decoration of bath rooms. In the people, aspen is endowed with magical powers, the ability to absorb negativity and diseases of visitors to the steam room.

Softwood cladding board

Cedar. This refers to the wood of real cedar, not cedar pine. The bactericidal and antiseptic qualities of this breed are highly valued. Therefore, lining with this valuable, outwardly attractive reddish-pink wood is appropriate in a rest room. It will add exquisite beauty to the interior of the room. However, this pleasure is not cheap and not available to everyone.

Pine. Pine wood is not suitable for the humid and hot atmosphere of a washing room or steam room - resin release is not the only obstacle here. Pine over time runs the risk of "turning blue", and even if the quality of the wood does not suffer, the external attractiveness will be lost once and for all. However, this cladding board has the most affordable price, and therefore it is still used for finishing dressing rooms and rest rooms.

From spruce. This wood, due to its structural friability, is afraid of dampness, and therefore, it is not at all suitable for use in washing, steam rooms. But this disadvantage becomes a virtue when it comes to thermal insulation. It is thanks to the loose structure that the room finished with spruce wood will be the warmest.

From larch. The wood of this coniferous tree has a very dense structure, and therefore it is the only coniferous tree that is perfect for all bath rooms, including a steam room. Moisture resistance gives larch a special substance gum - a viscous water-soluble juice. But larch is difficult to process, it is easily pricked and does not differ in thermal insulation qualities.

How to choose quality material?

So that the finishing material from any wood does not disappoint you during work or operation, you need to know the necessary about its parameters. Namely:

the thickness of the board must be at least 12.5 mm - with a smaller thickness it will lead or it will split during the installation of the cladding;
a spike of 8 mm must correspond to the depth of the groove, which ensures tightness when mounting the cladding;
high-quality shavings, which determine the smoothness of the surface and low consumption of varnish during its processing;
lining should have a moisture content of no higher than 12%, higher values indicate insufficient drying of the source material and the risk of deformation of the board, and in the case of pine lining, it also turns blue;
the absence of fallen knots, otherwise the appearance and quality of the finish will suffer.

In accordance with these parameters, the finishing board is divided into the following varieties:

grade "Extra" - the highest quality material, without any defects, knots and other things;
grade "A" - a board of high quality, clean with a minimum number of knots without falling out;
grade "B" and "C" - lining of medium and low quality, when blind knots, microdefects are possible.

Varietal differences facing boards

What kind of lining is best for your bath in terms of quality, technical characteristics and cost, whether you need to involve a professional in the work or you can handle the finishing work yourself - it's up to you. I would like to hope that this article will help you make the right choice of facing boards for your bath.

A bathhouse trimmed with linden clapboard will be the real pride of the owners.

The bathhouse has been built, communications have been connected, the question of finishing remains. What to choose from a large number of building materials? Of course, lining. wood - best option for any building. No matter what the building itself is made of, everything inside must be impeccable. Which lining is better for a bath - this is the right question for a newly-made bathhouse attendant, which cannot be solved without information awareness. There are many types of lining. What is the best way to apply and where? Let's figure it out.

Deciduous and coniferous species of wood are used for the production of lining. The properties of each tree affect the technical performance of the lining:

thermal conductivity;
durability;
aesthetic appearance;
moisture permeability;
shrinkage;
malleability to processing;
price range.

If the starting material does not have high performance, then the product will not receive such properties, even with the most modern processing.

Coniferous varieties of lining

It is better not to use coniferous lining in a steam bath.

The trunks of pine, spruce, larch, and cedar are used to make boards. Blanks are used for finishing baths and residential buildings. Rustic style lovers often use this finishing material inside and outside the building. For a bath, coniferous lining is applicable only in rooms with a low temperature. In the steam room, neither pine, nor spruce, nor larch are a priority for wall, floor, and ceiling cladding. It has to do with the properties coniferous trees.

Pine is more often used for lining than other softwoods. It has a pleasant aroma, beautiful texture pattern, easy to process, very soft material. But these are all pluses. There are some drawbacks that do not allow the use of pine for sheathing the steam room in the bath:

when heated, it begins to release resin abundantly, which threatens with serious burns;
it absorbs moisture well, heats up, loses its external attractiveness over time - it can turn blue.

It is not very pleasant to see such a state of walls and shelves if you want to enjoy and relax from bath procedures. Of course, there is a way out of any situation:

The resin is removed by the method of preliminary strong heating of the bath. It is necessary to heat the bath two or three times at the maximum temperature without further visiting it. Resin will come to the surface. It is carefully cleaned from the surface with a sharp spatula. In the future, resin secretions do not occur.
The appearance of blue on the structure of the pine lining is prevented by special moisture-resistant treatments.

Spruce is a close relative of pine, possessing the same qualities. Best used for surface cladding washing department and a rest room. Pleasant aroma, beautiful shade will please attendants. High moisture resistance makes spruce lining the warmest. What clapboard to sheathe the bath so that it is warm? Of course, spruce, but not in the steam room.

Among the coniferous varieties, the most valuable are cedar and larch. They don't have a lot of resin. High density, moisture resistance, essential oils, beautiful texture allow you to give the interior of the bath special kind, elite.

The disadvantage of larch is the complexity of processing, the workpieces quickly crack.

Cedar is used for sheathing expensive baths, steam rooms, giving status and beauty to the bath.

Coniferous varieties are good, but only for places with low temperatures. If you decide to sheathe the bath with coniferous clapboard, then do it in the washing room and dressing room. Sheathe the steam room with clapboard made of hardwood.

Deciduous varieties of lining

Linden lining the best way for finishing any room of the bath.

For the production of hardwood lining, birch, alder, aspen, oak, linden, and cedar wood is used. Unlike coniferous trees, deciduous trees withstand high temperatures not only in steam baths, but also in saunas, where degrees reach over a hundred.

A hardwood board is preferable for cladding a bath or sauna. It does not emit resinous substances, is resistant to temperature.

Lining made of linden is not affected by water, does not rot, does not form condensate. It has the aroma of honey, pleasing to the eye with its creamy color. The texture is not knotty, easy to process. It is often used in the sauna because it does not heat up and does not burn.

Alder deserves attention with a beautiful pink color, high moisture resistance. Alder is not always found good quality, flat. Price for flawless material high and not accessible to everyone. If the desire to use alder lining for lining the bath has not disappeared, then use it only in the steam room. Sheathe the rest of the rooms with linden, pine or spruce.

A good option for lining inside the bath and sauna is aspen. It has been used for a long time not only as a finishing material, but also as a building material for a log house. It has a high density of wood, becomes stronger over the years, it is impossible to cut or saw. Does not emit resins, has a disinfecting effect, takes away negative energy. The aroma is slightly specific, which not everyone likes.

In the bath, sheathed with aspen lining, mold will never appear, the material will be stronger after each contact with water.

Similar in strength to oak, which is also used for interior decoration, but less often. Oak is an expensive tree, used in elite baths and saunas.

Sometimes, wanting to save money, attendants use birch lining. Savings are dubious. Birch is more afraid of moisture than other woods, it quickly rots and cracks. Use only in dry areas such as dressing rooms.

Varietal classification of wooden lining

Having considered the properties of each tree, let's not forget about the division of the product into grades and profile varieties. The technology for the production of lining from any wood is the same. There are external criteria that affect the sorting of the board when packing goods, setting prices. There are several classes:

Premium, Extra - the best board, has no knots, chips, or other defects. It differs in price, external advantages over other varieties. Ideal for all surfaces, but for the sake of economy, can only be used on the ceiling and shelves.
Grades A, B, C have external defects that are detected during packaging of the material. The lowest is class C, has low cost. It is used in places that are not conspicuous.

Wooden blanks have differences in profile: eurolining, soft-line, calm and others. You can see their differences in the photo:

The choice depends on the needs of the buyer and his budget, and more about the choice is described in the video:

Which lining is better for a bath: eurolining or simple?

Finishing with a pair of alder eurolining looks rich.

Presented in a special way construction market eurolining. These are finishing parts not manufactured according to Russian GOST, and European, in which there are higher requirements for quality, production method. It differs from Russian analogues in size, allowing the use of material without large waste. The high quality of eurolining dictates a high cost, which is more than Russian Premium class lining. Possessing better strength, aesthetic appearance, drainage groove, increased depth of connection of elements, eurolining is in demand among Russian consumers for sheathing not only baths or saunas, but also residential premises.

The correct calculation of the amount of lining saves the budget

Having decided on what lining is needed for a bath, we will learn how to calculate its quantity. The calculation of any material is carried out according to certain formulas. The lining was no exception.

At the first stage, once again measure the area that will be sheathed with clapboard. You need to know the exact length and width of the surface, transitions, joints, complex elements ceiling or wall. Transfer all dimensions to paper.
We divide the room into rectangles. Ceiling, wall are different rectangles. We measure the length of each. The finishing board has different lengths, which affects the price. No need to take too long or short. Knowing your size, you will buy what you need without overpaying.

We calculate the number of parts of the desired length

Find out first the surface area in the baths that will be sheathed. Problem from mathematics. Multiply the height by the width to get the surface area.
Knowing the length, width and thickness of the lining, we calculate its area.
By dividing the surface area by the area of the workpiece, we find out the number of parts needed for finishing. For example:
board has following sizes: length 4000 mm, width 90 mm, thickness 20 mm. The area of such a part will be 0.36 m².
Divide the surface area by the area of one part. We get the right amount of blanks.

We do this with all surfaces that need finishing.

We do not forget that there is a marriage, a damaged part during installation, and other moments. We buy material with a small margin so that we do not have to run to the store at the last stage installation work.

At the end of all work, process the lining special impregnations protecting the material from moisture, temperature extremes, insects.

Which lining is better for a bath is up to the owner to decide. Let the chosen material please all attendants with warmth, aroma, beauty.

Of course, it is best to leave a bathhouse cut down from a bar or log as it is, but if you put it together from bricks or other building blocks, you must definitely make a sheathing. Yes, and wooden walls to protect from moisture does not hurt. Therefore, many traditionally use lining, as versatile material.

Why lining - consider the advantages of such a lining

Initially, it was a cheap material that was used to sheathe the walls of wagons, including freight cars, but over time, natural wood paneling began to acquire decorative effect. Today it is already a fairly popular coating for exterior and interior decoration of the house, and it is also perfect for living quarters, for example, attic. Lining is also used for, since, unlike stone cladding, it has better thermal insulation and, in addition, does not leave burns when surfaces are strongly heated. And of course it's environmentally friendly. pure material, especially if various impregnations were not applied to it.

Further, we can name a few more reasons why it is worth stopping the choice on the type of skin in question. For example, the cost of lining can be attributed to the budget and average levels, depending on the grade. Although, for example, the Euro class has rather high prices, which are also affected by the brand. A significant advantage is huge selection various breeds from which such sheathing is now made. That is, the walls can eventually become golden, white or even reddish. And, of course, the walls will "breathe", that is, with such a coating, the effect of a thermos will not appear.

What wood to choose - species and grades of lumber

If you are going to upholster a steam room with clapboard, you should pay attention to the type of wood from which it is made. The fact is that the level of humidity is very high in the steam room, and it is recommended to use materials that are resistant to constant exposure to dampness. However, we should not forget about the high temperature. So, for example, coniferous varieties perfectly withstand prolonged contact with water, but at the same time, after heating, they begin to release resin, which can result in burns and just discomfort. Therefore, we approach the choice of lining thoughtfully.

For sheathing panels, pine, larch, aspen, linden, alder, as well as more expensive grades of cedar, ash and oak are usually used. Foreign tree species are also used, such as hemlock, which is very similar in quality to our domestic oak. The lining for the bath is also made from hornbeam and spruce, however, the second one is not used for the steam room, only for the shower or dressing room, like pine. The reason we indicated earlier is the excess resin content in the structure of wood fibers.

It should also be noted different grades of lumber, ranging from low, denoted by the letters of the Latin alphabet B and C, and ending with the highest quality, marked with the letter A. However, there is also the highest, and it is denoted either by the number 0 or the word "Extra". Separately, we can mention the "euro lining", which differs only in a more pronounced groove and spike. The characteristics of the materials are appropriate: low grades may contain a certain number of knots, the highest grade is not more than 1–2 with a complete absence of core fibers, and Extra should be perfectly smooth, with a uniform texture.

Lime panels - natural golden wood

Perhaps this is the best option that you can choose from existing. This wood is very fragrant, it contains essential oils that are released for a very long time, even after ten years there will be a pleasant aroma in the steam room. With all the uniformity and smoothness (after processing), the linden structure closer to the surface has a low density. Therefore, air is retained inside the fibers, which prevents them from excessive heating.

One of the advantages of linden is its high resistance to moisture. Even with constant contact with moisture, the wood does not rot and retains its golden color. The color is not affected by sudden changes in temperature, up to the maximum possible for a steam room. Another plus of wood is that, when drying out after a long stay in a humid environment, the linden does not crack. And, of course, it is worth noting the high strength of the material.

Aspen - a healthy spirit in the bath

The properties of this wood are similar to those of linden, that is, when the air is strongly heated, the panels do not become scalding hot, and at the same time, humidity does not have any effect on the lining. And in the same way, without prejudice to itself, the aspen dries out after being saturated with moisture, without deformation and cracks. What's more, in addition to high-quality upholstery, you also get a source of essential oils, which, like linden, saturate the air for many years. True, the smell will not be relaxing honey-sweet, but bitter, invigorating.

However, it should be remembered that this material is closer to the budget class, and, as a result, flaws often occur on the surface of the panels during its manufacture. Too many knots can be attributed to marriage, which takes place even on the lining high grades. You can also encounter the formation of resin outlets on the surface from the depth of the fiber structure, this is also considered a marriage. The wood itself is extremely hard, not brittle, after processing it is very pleasant to the touch.

Alder - a rich finish for a steam room

This paneling is much more expensive than linden or aspen, for the reason that panels made from such wood have a very high quality. By processing, you can achieve perfect smoothness of surfaces, and an almost glossy sheen. Moreover, the longer the sheathing of such wood serves, the richer its color becomes. In addition, alder has a characteristic aroma that is unique to it, slightly reminiscent of a bouquet of aged cognac.

However, how the lining of alder will look like depends on the manufacturer, since even without polishing the wood texture is very beautiful. Moreover, which is another advantage, knots very rarely come across on the panels. However, with regard to geometry, marriage often happens, that is, it is rather difficult to find absolutely even lumber. It is for this reason that this type of wood is not very popular. But if the choice is made in favor of alder, it will last for many years, and the quality of the coating will not deteriorate, despite temperature changes and constant dampness.

Larch: the durability of wood is not a myth

Panels made from this wood are very dense, and therefore have a considerable weight in comparison with the same linden. This increases the cost of transporting the material to some extent if the freight carrier charges for the mass. However, wood has all the qualities for sheathing a steam room. This is resistance to dampness, and moisture is almost not absorbed into the panels, which means that they do not swell after prolonged contact with water. After drying, the panels do not warp or crack.

The structure of larch wood is saturated with antioxidants, thanks to which the material retains its properties for many years. However, with regard to mechanical damage, the panels are very vulnerable, since they easily break from a strong impact. This complicates the processing, which in turn affects the cost of sheathing, which is quite high in comparison with other breeds. However, larch is still quite popular because of the very beautiful pattern on the sections of the fibers and the rich amber color.

Cedar - when finishing is really worth the cost

This type of tree does not grow everywhere, for example, in Russia, a real cedar forest can only be found far in Siberia. Moreover, this breed is very often confused with cedar pine, which is unsuitable for finishing a steam room due to its high resin content. But if you manage to find a lining made of the right wood, which can be recognized by its reddish-pink color, the steam room will look luxurious. And it will not be ostentatious status, but just a beautiful cover. In addition to aesthetics, the cedar will provide the steam room with living healing air, thanks to the essential oils that are released, which have bactericidal properties.

In terms of performance, cedar panels always have an ideal geometry due to the plastic structure, which is easy to work with. For the same reason, when assembling, the ridges of the lining fit very tightly into the grooves, as a result you get a perfectly flat surface without flaws and cracks. Cedar is very durable and lasts for a long time, without cracking even with frequent exposure to dampness, followed by drying.

Oak - a wood that defies time

What distinguishes lining from this wood from all others is the price. It is really very high, perhaps even more than for the cedar. However, the lining of such wood serves more than one generation of bath owners. The strength of oak panels is very high, they absorb moisture heavily, do not crack when dried, and are difficult to damage by mechanical action. That is, from this wood it will not break even under a very large mass of several people.

If you do not remember about the cost, then the main disadvantage of oak lining is the complexity of its processing, due to its high hardness. In addition, the panels themselves are quite heavy, which makes their transportation more expensive and complicates the finishing of the steam room. But in the end, the bath will be very cozy: from dark ash to chocolate, expressive pattern on the surface.

How not to make a mistake - choosing the profile of cladding panels

Not many people know that not every type of lining is suitable for a steam room or even just rooms with a high level of humidity. There are several form factors of this material, which differ in profile contours. Moreover, among them there is also eurolining, which has a certain geometry peculiar only to it - an additional angular chamfer near the spike, which makes the seams clearly distinguishable. There is also a separate version of it with a rounded chamfer, called Softline.

Many people prefer "Calm" type lining, in which the chamfer near the spike is almost completely absent. After assembly, a flat surface with almost imperceptible seams is obtained. The Landhouse has a patterned strip on the front surface, which is why it is quite expensive and not very suitable for a steam room, except perhaps for decorating certain sections of the walls. The block house imitates the cylindrical surface of a log, you need to choose options with ventilation grooves at the back, since there are panels with a smooth back side. And, finally, American - the illusion of overlapping boarding.