Installation of the sauna
First of all, all specialists will say that the sauna should be arranged in such a way that it is comfortable and pleasant to use. When building and installing a sauna, you need to think about who will use it. It depends on what size sauna you need. For example, a small sauna with a steam room and anteroom is enough for a family. A small sauna will be easy to maintain and convenient to use, and it will not take up much space. If it is planned that the sauna will be used by more people than just the family, it is worth thinking about a larger sauna, then additional rooms for rest or sleep can be installed on the second floor.
After building a sauna, one of the first tasks should be the installation of a water supply system. In the antechamber, it is recommended to install a water unit and water drainage from the room to the outside. It is best if it is installed under a concrete floor, if not - under boards. So the sauna floor can be concrete or wooden. Concrete floors are the most practical option. Later, it is convenient to lay tiles on them or place a wooden grate. The concrete floor of the steam room is well lined with wooden planks so that ventilation and water run-off pass through them. In this case, it is best to use boards made of aspen. In the recreation area, the floor can be installed simply, without ventilation.
Specialists recommend planning the height of the chimney 2.5 - 3 m above the fuel. However, its diameter is very important - 25 x 12 cm, if you want a round one - 17 cm. It is the chimney of such dimensions that ensures good traction.
The most suitable wood for sauna decoration is natural, unpainted and unvarnished. For walls, it is recommended to use profiled wooden points or frame walls. These are among the cheapest options and the easiest to install. The paneling of deciduous trees is most suitable for finishing the sauna.
The sauna heater is one of the most important elements
The heater is the most important element of the sauna. Sauna heaters can be of several types: channel, direct and dome. Experts say that domes are the most perfect because they transmit heat the best. However, the most appropriate solution for a steam room is a traditional brick heater, which is intermittent. When burning this type of heater, the flames pass through the stones, thus the sauna itself is lit, and it is entered only when the firewood burns out. The fuel for this type of heater can be both outside and inside. In metal heaters, it is best to use broken stones, because they stick to the metal the best and thus take heat from the walls. Heater fuel and ash door must have air supply adjustment.
A high-quality heater ensures a long service life. What is a quality heater? First of all, it is thick enough, quality metal and good construction. It is best if the wall thickness of the heater is 5 mm or more. The thicker the walls, the longer they will last, the thinner they are, the faster they will burn out.
The heater must meet all safety requirements - it cannot burn people or otherwise harm them by touch. If, however, the heat is very high, it is necessary to install protection. If the sauna heater is walled with tiles, the partition is not necessary. However, it is recommended to make a fence around the metal one at a distance of 50 cm. A high-quality heater heats the air in the room to 110 degrees, which takes about 4 hours in summer and 5 hours in winter.
Installation of sauna rooms
Furnishing the sauna rooms is very important in order to have a comfortable rest and complete relaxation. Thanks to modern technologies, it is much easier and simpler to install the interior of the sauna than before. Specialists recommend that the benches on which people lie should be arranged so that the person lies at a height of about 85 cm from the floor. This is the optimal height, because it is too hot above, and below - there is a lack of heat. In traditional saunas, benches are installed at one height and usually one bench, but wide. Nowadays, benches with several floors are usually installed. The most important thing is that the upper benche should not be higher than 120 cm from the floor. The distance between the benches and the heater should be greater than 15-30 cm. It is best to equip the sauna with benches of the least hot wood: linden, aspen, black alder. The wood used in the steam room cannot be painted or varnished.
Smaller doors with a height of 180 cm and a threshold are most suitable for the sauna room. It is important to remember that the door must open outwards for safety.
Sauna stones
Stones are one of the most important elements of sauna equipment. Experts do not recommend using stones collected from fields or rivers for sauna heaters. It is best to use store-bought ones specially designed for the sauna. By using such stones, you will be guaranteed that they are safe and will not explode. How many stones to use? The more the better. How quickly the sauna will heat up and how long it will keep warm depends on the amount of stones. The most suitable stones for the sauna: jadeite, vulcanite, soapstone, olivine diabase, white quartz and ceramic stones. The stones must be placed in a certain order: the largest on the bottom and the smallest on top. To keep them well, a metal partition is placed. Over time, the stones begin to crack, so they should be reviewed approximately every six months, and the cracked ones should be replaced with new ones. It is best if the stones are of the same type, then they heat up equally and give off heat equally. However, there is no strict rule, it is possible to mix stones of different types. Their size should not exceed 10 cm in diameter.
