Such criteria require you to carefully choose the stones. To find them is not the problem, problems may come later. For example, near high temperature sauna stones may emit harmful materials. Which is why, a large portion of sauna procedure lovers prefer certified stones. Moreover, there are various types of certified stones and the price amplitude also varies; you can find cheap and pricy sauna stones.
Nevertheless, if you decided to gather the stones for sauna with your own hands, remember that their structure must be even and not layered with no extraneous impregnations. By following the experience of sauna lovers, it is best to collect the stones near mountainous rivers. In order to check the solidity of the stone, you need to smash them one against the other. If they do not show any fragments or visible damages, it may be a suitable choice.
Afterwards, sauna stones must be well heated. When the stone is heated, no smells or materials must exude on the surface. When stones are heated, they must be heated until they turn red. Last test: carefully look at the stones submerged in the water. They should not “produce bubbles”. Sauna stones, which successfully passed all of the tests, may be put in the heater. In addition, the size of sauna stones should be 10-20 cm. Lesser stones will not carry out their function; they will not be able to sufficiently accumulate heat and will cool off quickly. 
How Sauna Stones are Chosen?
Two types of sauna stones are sold:
• Crushed;
• Polished.
What to choose is a personal choice of each person. When placing the stones, it would be better that air circulates between them; crushed sauna stones provide better warmth due to their uneven surface.
You can check the stone quality in a couple of ways:
• Carefully inspect the stones outright. If they have cracks, then these stones are not suitable for saunas;
• Afterwards, you can take two stones and smash them together. If there are no visible damages, then the stones have normal quality;
• The most serious test is fire. Heat the stones and then pour water (not cold) on them or throw them in to the vessel with warm water. If after such procedure they remain undamaged, this means that these sauna stones are suitable to be placed in the heater.
How Sauna Stones Must be Placed?
How many stones the sauna needs? The number of stones, which each type of heater needs, is described in the user’s manual. If you have built the heater by your own hands, then you may calculate the sum of the stones in accordance to the volume of sauna: each cubic meter needs 20-30 kg of stones.
Prior to placing them in the heater, the stones need to be carefully washed and dried. Dry sauna stones are mixed in accordance to this principle: the biggest ones are placed at the bottom and the smallest ones – at the top. You do not need to compact them and place them hermetically, on the contrary, leave spaces in order for the air to be able to freely circulate. In the electric heaters, it is important that water does not get in to the heating elements; for this reason, smaller stones are placed.
Stone maintenance is simple: every six months or every year you need to sort them out and replace the broken ones.
Sauna Stones and Their Types
Sauna stones may be of various types, different prices and shades. It is hard to tell which stones are the best, because each one have their own pros and cons. The final decision lies with the customer. We will discuss a couple of types of stones.
Diabase. Diabase is the economic variant. It insulates heat well, however, due to its high density, it is hard to process.
Talkochlorite. After heating, talkochlorite gives away a very soft heat, which human body perfectly accepts. It strengthens the immune system, betters the blood flow and metabolism. These sauna stones are sold polished or crushed. 
Raspberry quartz. Raspberry quartz looks very attractive. Furthermore, it can solve problems associated with the arterial blood pressure, ease back pain etc. This is one of the most durable stones.
Jadeite. The best (and costly) sauna stones are jadeite. In the East, it is cold the stone of health. Jadeite is used for healing and massage sessions, to restore nervous system and better one’s health. It is important that when heating it emits microelements, which gets into your body and normalize the work of every system and organ. These sauna stones are heat resistant and very strong. Their strength determines high thermal stability. They need to be changed more rarely than other stones. Jadeite’s density is very high, but at the same time, it has low heat conduction, which is why for a long time it provides maximum heat. Jadeite is semi-costly stone – it is the best stone for dry and steam saunas.
Keep in mind that no one is stopping you from using different sauna stones in one heater. For example, in the bottom you may place simpler and cheaper stones, and in the top – pricier and more beautiful.
Sauna is not only a very pleasant procedure for body and soul; it is also a healing process. You only need to correctly choose the sauna stones. They need to have very high quality – it is best to purchase them in specialized shops. Minerals are usually gathered in strictly defined areas, which is why they do not have increased radioactive materials and do not emit harmful materials. Furthermore, you must never gather the stones near the railway. Which is why the safest way to healthily freshen up in the sauna is to purchase them from shops. These wares are marked that they were inspected and conform to the recommendations.
