Sauna floors cannot be manufactured from materials, which quickly heat up in high temperature, which is why wood is the best for this. The floors must also be moist resistant in order not to slip on them. The benches must be mounted in such a way that any metal parts would not be accessible.
So, only natural materials are used for sauna interior finishing – wooden panelling for saunas. You must never use plastic, because when it heats it may emit materials, which are harmful for your health. Furthermore, do not use ceramic tiles – this is the practice of old times when walls in public baths were covered with tiles. Linden panelling for saunas are an ideal choice, but it is not cheap.
Panelling for Saunas and their Wood
Panelling for saunas must be made from good quality wood, which is why we’ll discuss which wood is the best and their benefits.
Linden panelling for saunas
Most popular panelling for saunas are made from linden. As it was already mentioned, it is the best finishing. When comparing to pine panelling for saunas, even though linden is more costly, but it has some serious advantages:
• They do not have resin;
• They smell nice;
• Their heat conductivity is low;
• For a long time they do not become darker due to the impact of moisture.
Linden panelling for saunas are best suited to use in those places, which have high temperature and moisture, especially in the steam room. It is natural to use linden panelling for saunas in the steam room not only for wall finishing, but for benches as well. Linden benches heat up less than pine’s.
The density of linden panelling for saunas is low – 490-530 kg/m3 (pine’s – 470 kg/m3) and good quality panelling for saunas rarely have knots. Low density of sauna panelling for steam sauna is good, because even in high temperature, linden panelling for saunas do not become hot.
Linden panelling distinguish themselves with low quantity of resin and essential oils. Resins in high temperature become very hot and soft, thus, they can smear you. Linden panelling practically do not have any resins. Nevertheless, they do have essential oils, which when heated up, start to actively produce steam and the steam room acquires a very nice aroma. Essential linden oils have healing effect: they positively affect almost whole human organism system.
The colour of linden panelling for saunas is light, some of the types are almost white, while others lightly yellow or a bit pink, but you can also find them in colours of light brown. It all depends on the type of wood. Linden panelling for saunas tolerate moisture fluctuations and they crack rarely.
Aspen panelling for saunas
In comparison to linden, aspen panelling for saunas have many advantages. It must be highlighted that they are especially resistant to rot. Not many people know that in the old days people built wells from aspen.
Cedar panelling for saunas
Perhaps one of the best wood out of all coniferous woods, from which sauna panelling are made, is the cedar. Cedar panelling for saunas have even lower heat conductivity than spruce or aspen, but it is hard enough to find a real natural cedar. Very often, cedar-pine’s lumber is being sold as cedar panelling for saunas. The fact is that the cedar is not commonplace. What we call as cedar is in fact cedar-pine, which, when heated, discharges resin.
Pine panelling for saunas
Pine panelling for saunas is the cheapest option. However, they’re not used in the sauna – pine becomes very hot and may burn you. Pine panelling for saunas will perfectly fit for other rooms – washroom, ante-room etc.
Sauna Panelling and Their Mounting
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You can mount sauna panelling by your own hands. In this case, you should purchase a couple of necessary materials:
• Wooden frame;
• Fixing screws. It is best when they’re coated with nano-layer, which will prevent rusting due to increase in moisture;
• Insulation;
• Aluminium foil;
• Aluminium films to glue the foil connections;
• Sauna panelling;
• Montage foam;
• Machine tools.
Usually, it is stated that sauna panelling must be hammered down vertically in order for the moist not to accumulate between the panelling. In dry sauna, these rules may be ignored, because moisture in it is lower than in Russian steam sauna. If you want the sauna to be not only warm, but also hot, instead of foil you may use foam polystyrene.
On any surface (walls or ceilings), the panelling will be better fixed, if the carcass will be wooden. In this case, it is very important for all the rods to be placed in horizontal and vertical plain. Small damages may damage the appearance of the finishing, which will be clearly seen on the monolith wall. Sauna ceilings are only fixed after the carcass is readied.
Sauna panelling are mounted the same way irrespective of the chosen fixing method. Vertical fixing starts from one of the corners, by going to the right or left – your choice. The first board of the panelling is put in such a way that the groove would be directed to the outside. The tip of the other panelling is put in to the groove. Vice versa is also possible, it does not matter. The most important thing is verticality, which must be inspected at least a couple of times.
If sauna paneling must be positioned horizontally, the specialists of sauna building state that the tip must be directed to the top. This way, the moisture, which condenses on the sauna paneling, do not stay enclosed in the groove. In this case, sauna paneling are recommended to be mounted from the ceilings.
