How to treat the walls in a bathhouse: rules, secrets, tips

A bathhouse’s walls need to be treated in order to maintain a durable, cozy, and secure space. In this special environment, the walls have to endure high temperatures, moisture, and heavy usage. Therefore, it is essential for any bathhouse owner or enthusiast to understand the best materials and techniques for wall treatment.

We’ll look at the best ways to treat bathhouse walls in this guide, covering everything from selecting the right wood to using protective coatings. We’ll also provide you with some professional pointers and advice on how to keep your bathhouse attractive and functional for many years to come.

These guidelines will give you the information you need to make wise decisions, whether you’re building a brand-new bathhouse or looking to renovate an old one. Let’s explore the guidelines and trade secrets that will enable you to design the ideal retreat for bathing.

Rules for finishing a bathhouse

Wood paneling on the walls and ceiling of a bath house (see. Various shelves and benches quickly get dirty (finishing a bathhouse with paneling: doing it right), especially if a lot of relatives like to visit your bathhouse. However, there are other reasons why wood requires treatment besides this.

First and foremost, because of the high temperatures in this area, the bathhouse walls from the stove must have excellent insulation. This indicator should be installed first.

• This includes blackening of wood, the appearance of cracks, fungus and mold, as well as deformation of the board, which is difficult to protect against. Now the market offers a wide range of environmentally friendly and safe materials that not only easily withstand high-temperature operating conditions, but also perfectly protect wooden surfaces.
• Finnish and Russian baths are usually finished with hardwood. Highly durable, resistant to decay, polishes well – its main characteristics. Most often used aspen, birch, oak, maple.
• Low thermal conductivity is another advantage. At high temperatures in the steam room, it does not burn the skin. Coniferous trees are rarely used in decoration, since when the temperature rises, resin is released, which leads to burns and contamination of the skin.

Steam room and difficult operating conditions

All owners are concerned about how to finish the steam room: materials used; for more information, see Finishing the steam room: bath walls. This place should smell good, after all. However, there is also a lot of aggression in this place.

• The constant influence of high humidity, heat eventually leads to the appearance of cracks, fungus and rot, blackening of the lining.
• On the one hand, it is clear that the wooden surface must be treated. But on the other hand, many believe that if you build and operate a bathhouse correctly, then there is no need for special treatment.

There is a wide range of impregnations available in the current construction market.

So, before making a purchase, you must comprehend the following objectives:

1. What needs to be treated (walls and ceiling, floor or places with which the skin directly comes into contact);
2. The required level of moisture insulation;
3. Methods of applying the preparation

Impregnations and what they are needed for

While treating bathhouse walls and partitions has benefits, there are drawbacks as well:

• When heated, wood instantly absorbs various liquids. Therefore, water, sweat, aromatic oils leave unaesthetic stains on walls and ceilings, benches, which must be constantly removed. Some of them cannot be removed by simply washing off, so you have to use a tool for stripping wood.
• Of course, this spoils the appearance of the finish. By covering ceilings and walls with impregnations intended for this purpose, you will not only preserve the appearance and extend the service life, but also make it easier to care for them.
• Sometimes in saunas, the area near the stoves is finished with Canadian cedar, which has undergone heat treatment to remove resin from the wood. When heated, the air will be filled with the natural smell of pine needles and low-quality materials will not allow the room to be filled with a fragrant smell.

Note: Not every preparation is appropriate for this task. Here’s where you could end up sick.

• Often they do not withstand the temperature conditions. As a result, the service life is reduced, the appearance deteriorates and, if the protective layer is damaged, harmful substances are released. Therefore, it is very important to use only the intended compositions.
• Impregnations must be moisture-resistant, have antiseptic properties and prevent wood from igniting. Create a strong protective layer and preserve the beautiful appearance of the wooden flooring for a long time.
• Floor treatment is another important stage. Impregnation should not make the floor slippery. You can choose a composition with a tinting effect. Such a floor will not only acquire useful, water-repellent properties, but will also beautifully emphasize the wood pattern.

How to treat shelves and benches

A bathhouse is a reasonably large space with various zones and materials utilized.

• For example, the frame wall pie in the bathhouse in the steam room area should be treated with materials that do not allow water to pass through.
• For a recreation room, you don"t need to pay so much attention to the moisture resistance indicator, but you should pay attention to the chemical composition of the impregnation, it should not be toxic.
• Impregnation of tables, benches and shelves should perform a double function: protect wood from moisture and prevent burns on the body at elevated temperatures.

These days, certain compositions dissolve entirely into the wood’s structure without leaving a film behind.

These characteristics apply to oil compositions:

• SaunaNatura (Teknos)
• SupiLaudesuoja (Tikkurila)
• Eurotex "Sauna" ("Rogneda")

There are some guidelines you must adhere to when using these preparations:

• Apply only to dry and cleaned areas, using brushes or foam rubber;
• The room must be warm;
• Be sure to carry out a test painting;
• If the wood is old, it is necessary to remove the darkened layer and sand it;
• Be sure to use protective equipment when working with compositions;
• After finishing work, dry and ventilate the room.

Note: Repeat the treatment and let it dry for a full day in areas where the impregnation absorbs quickly. After that, preheat the space and remove the spilled oil.

Choosing compositions for ceilings and walls

Almost no products are available on the market that are required to cover wooden floors in bathhouses. It seems that this is the primary cause of the frequent lack of protection for floors.

• For this reason, it is recommended to make floors from thermally treated wood. It is resistant to harmful effects, has antiseptic properties. With fluctuations in humidity, it swells less and the shrinkage percentage decreases. Ordinary wood takes on such qualities only after using impregnations and varnishes.
• If you use untreated wood, then the question of whether to cover the walls in the bathhouse or not will disappear by itself, because you need to make protection and the coating will be very useful.

You must be well-versed in the characteristics of the products you select to preserve the bathhouse surfaces. Usually, the instructions for them contain a detailed description of everything. For comprehensive information, speaking with a specialist is preferable. Not even the label indicating that this product is eco-friendly on the packaging offers a 100% assurance.

The absence of organic solvents does not rule out the presence of other hazardous materials.

Be advised: Avoid using basic paints and varnishes on bath houses. In addition to being unable to breathe, the temperature rising also releases noxious substances that can be extremely harmful to the tree’s health.

You have to keep in mind that both high and low temperatures kill different insects and fungi. Therefore, you won’t experience any issues with the steam room if you take proper care of it and use it.

To guarantee durability and safety, it’s critical to treat the walls in a bathhouse with the appropriate materials, finishing methods, and routine maintenance. This guide will take you through essential pointers and trade secrets to maintain the aesthetic appeal and practicality of your bathroom walls, from choosing the best wood species to appreciating the significance of ventilation.

A bathhouse’s walls need to be treated in order for it to be durable, secure, and fun. You can improve the overall look and feel of the bathhouse while shielding the wood from heat, moisture, and bacteria by carefully choosing the appropriate materials and treatments. Selecting a wood type and treatment method should be based on your personal preferences and needs, as each has advantages of its own.

The treatment itself is not as important as the proper preparation. A clean and dry wall is a prerequisite for the application of any oils, stains, or sealants. This will facilitate better absorption and longer treatment duration. Additionally, keep in mind that maintaining the walls over time requires regular maintenance. Your bathhouse will stay in excellent shape if you reapply treatments as needed and keep an eye out for wear or damage.

Last but not least, never forget that safety comes first. Apply heat-resistant, non-toxic treatments made especially for high-temperature settings like baths. If you take the proper care of them, your bathhouse walls will not only look amazing but also endure over time, giving you a rejuvenating and peaceful space for years to come.

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