Finishing the bathhouse inside: choice of materials, clapboard cladding technology, arrangement of premises

Anyone who builds a bathhouse is faced with the need to choose the appropriate material for lining the inside of the bathhouse. Of course, the one that matches the chosen style should be considered suitable. The classic bathhouse is an ethnic style, but today you can find bathhouses designed in a modern style, using materials and technologies of the 21st century.
At the same time, there are restrictions that do not depend on styles, but are related to the specifics of bathhouses. Below we list all the materials that can be used to line the inside of a bathhouse.

What material is suitable for a steam room?

There are a lot of finishing materials for interior work. To make it easier for you to choose what kind of finishing will be done for the steam room in the bathhouse, each designer has photos and pictures of ready-made solutions. It is worth remembering that even if you made your own choice, it is better to coordinate it with a specialist, because not all materials are suitable for installation inside the hottest room.

Taking into account the specific operating conditions, the following requirements are imposed on the finishing:

• moisture resistance;
• heat resistance;
• durability;
• hygiene;
• environmental friendliness.

Important! For the interior decoration of the bathhouse, you should choose natural materials.

When the temperature rises, plastic becomes deformed and begins to emit an unpleasant odor, and ordinary tiles crack after heating. Therefore, the use of such finishing is unacceptable in the steam room.

The best option is wood. The finishing structure depends on financial capabilities. For example, lining is cheaper than timber; it is chosen if it is necessary to meet a certain budget. Basically, bathhouse owners prefer deciduous wood. Below is an example of what the interior decoration of a bathhouse might look like, a photo of the classic version.

High-quality wood for interior decoration of a bath Source stroy-block.com.ua

There is an opinion that you should not sheathe the inside with steamed coniferous wood, since it releases resin when the temperature rises. But this statement is controversial, because resin has a beneficial effect on health, cleanses the respiratory tract, and strengthens the heart.

Whether or not to sheathe the interior with coniferous wood is up to you - maybe someone in your household doesn’t like the smell of pine needles or vice versa...

If lining was chosen for cladding the bathhouse, then it must be of high quality. Particular attention must be paid to the external processing of the material - there should be no chips, knots, or cracks on its surface. The lining should not deform: swell when heated or dry out at normal temperatures.

If wood is not suitable for you as a material for interior decoration of a steam room for some reason, you can give preference to heat-resistant tiles; they have proven themselves well under significant temperature changes.

Experts recommend laying the walls of the steam room with terracotta flagstone - this material is resistant to high temperatures and humidity.

Rules for visual inspection of boards and assessment of their condition

The following must be taken into account:

1. Pay attention to the quality of the chips. The boards must have a flat and smooth surface. This directly affects the economic benefits of finishing work. If the front side of the lining is rough, finishing will be complicated by the increased consumption of antiseptic and paint materials.
2. The moisture content of the boards should not exceed 12-16% (GOST requirement). It is visually impossible to determine whether the material offered by the manufacturer meets this criterion. Therefore, it is necessary to request documents confirming compliance with GOST. If the wood is not dry enough, there is a high risk that it will suffer during the first years of operation of the finished premises.
3. Pay attention to the depth and evenness of the groove. These indicators determine the quality of installation. And it doesn’t matter how it will be done: using clamps, nails or staples. If the groove is shallow, there will be nothing for the fasteners to grab onto.

An important characteristic of boards is width. Often there are lamellas on sale that are wider than standard ones (more than 88 mm) and managers assure that it is more profitable to buy such lining. This is not true, since such a finish will be less durable and there is a high risk of wide boards bending when exposed to moisture.

Ceiling protection

Before finishing, you should protect the ceiling from hot steam. To do this, use aluminum foil or a construction membrane.

Important ! Do not use foil with mineral wool or polypropylene foam glued on it. When heated, these materials release toxic substances.

Protecting the ceiling in a bathhouse using aluminum foil Source ko.aviarydecor.com

Using lining - rational or not

Definitely yes! Lining made from linden, aspen, cedar, and abashi has become popular due to its properties. It tolerates temperature changes well, high humidity, is aesthetically pleasing, and does not absorb moisture. Cladding made of clapboard has low thermal conductivity - it does not heat up, but transfers heat to the air.

Bath lining is not covered with varnish, antiseptic, or paint; it is used in its natural form.

See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in finishing materials.

Preparing the walls for finishing

When starting to finish the walls, they solve the issue of insulation and waterproofing. Without such measures, the bathhouse will not last long, and healing procedures will be reduced to simple hygienic ones. For insulation, the walls are covered with mineral or basalt wool. The second one is more resistant to high temperatures, so it lasts longer.

Insulation of walls in a steam room with mineral wool Source hvylya.net

Experts consider cork to be the best thermal insulator for bathhouse walls. This agglomerate does not burn, does not rot, and is resistant to fungi and mold.

Advantages of internal insulation

• Reduces fuel consumption (either solid fuel, such as wood or coal, or gas) and reduces heating time.
• It is the key to the desired microclimate in the steam room. You will forget about drafts, dampness, cold, and you will be able to feel comfortable in any season.
• Ensures proper circulation of hot air, preventing condensed moisture from settling on various surfaces of the rooms. Thanks to this, the cladding remains dry, resists mold and fungi, does not rot, does not deteriorate longer and looks beautiful in a new way.

Lathing - to do or not to do

Craftsmen prefer to install the sheathing and attach the interior trim to it. The popular base size is 50x50, less often they make 70x70. The pitch is not standard and varies depending on the size of the blocks being strengthened.

The sheathing is made of wood, less often of metal. Considering the operating conditions, the metal must be treated with moisture-resistant compounds. The lining or logs are secured with self-tapping screws and nails. They must be copper or brass. The installation of the base is done perpendicular to the sheathing.

Lathing walls in a steam room under clapboard Source seattlehelpers.org

Stages of clapboard finishing

• A beam is fixed along the perimeter of the wall and ceiling . Fastenings should be every 80–100 cm.
• Cut pieces of insulating wool are placed between the wood without compacting.
• The top is covered with a waterproofing agent . The joints are sealed with aluminum tape, paying special attention to the corners.
• Provide ventilation . To do this, fill the distance rail. It will provide a small gap (2–3 cm) through which air will be vented.
• They make separate upholstery for doors and windows.
• They fasten the lining . You need to start from the corner, fixing each part vertically. This position will ensure free flow of water. If a horizontal arrangement of blocks is planned, make sure that the spikes are at the top. This will protect the lock from moisture.
• The lining located in the corners or near the walls is cut to the required size . It is especially important to cut the corner block correctly. It is necessary to accurately calculate the angle of inclination so that the adjacent block is correctly fixed.

Insulating the furnace using a metal sheet Source interistroy.ru
Next, install insulation from the furnace. For this use:

• metal - stainless steel or profiled iron is mounted on the wall behind the stove;
• red brick - placed between the wall and the fire;
• tiles resistant to high temperatures (kaolin);
• mineralite is a heat-resistant board made of cement and special components.

“Pie” insulation technology

It is called so because, upon completion of the work, the wall is covered with several layers at once: thermal insulation, vapor barrier, cladding. You should start from top to bottom.

First of all, attach the bars to the load-bearing surfaces - at a distance from each other 1 cm less than the width of the mineral wool. Having created the frame in this way, you mount basalt slabs on it by surprise - carefully, without crushing the edge, ensuring a tight fit. Do not forget that gaps are places where moisture accumulates and “cold bridges” form.

Cover the resulting structure with a vapor barrier, so that its foil side faces the inside of the room, and be sure to seal all joints and seams with special tape. Then you perform the sheathing - directly on the wood of the still protruding base, at a distance of 5-10 cm from the previous layer. This way you will create a buffer zone in which the condensate will drain without coming into contact with the lining and without subjecting it to rot. And to finish, close the “Pie” with the lining.

Making the floor in the steam room

Not only comfort, but also safety depends on the choice of raw materials for the floor. Moisture on smooth tiles or linoleum leads to falls and injuries. Installation of such materials will turn the floor into a skating rink. In addition, when heated, linoleum emits an unpleasant odor containing substances harmful to health.

The optimal choice of floor for a steam room is wood. It does not require a special coating, and with this design the room will be designed in the same style. It is worth noting that the wooden floor in the bathhouse is not made of oak. This wood becomes stronger when wet, but at the same time its surface begins to slip.

Concrete works well. A floor made of such material will be strong and durable. Tiles are laid on top of it, but the structure of the surface of such a coating is important. It should not be glossy; a pronounced relief is necessary. The floor is laid at a slight slope towards the water drainage.

Laying tiles on the floor in a bath Source seattlehelpers.org

The tiles are laid from the corner, placing crosses between the blocks, tapping with a mounting hammer. After 2-3 days, the seams between the tiles are rubbed down. Wooden grates are placed on top to prevent you from stepping on the cold floor and provide additional safety in case of possible slipping.

Features of wood cladding

Wood is the best material for walls, ceilings and floors in a bathhouse. In turn, a rich assortment of wood-based finishes can be confusing.

Sometimes simple boards are used to cover walls. Of course, you should choose only products of the highest quality, without mechanical defects and traces of mold. The lamellas are fastened at an angle of 90 degrees on a wooden crate, also pre-treated with antiseptics and anti-feathers. However, it should be borne in mind that the cost of such material is quite high, and therefore it is rarely used for these purposes.

Combining shades of wood in the interior of a steam room

It is better to choose a material specially designed for wall decoration - lining . They are easy to install, they do not weigh much, unlike boards, and have all the positive qualities of natural wood.

The advantages of lining include the following:

1. A wide range of shades and textures - different types of wood are used to make lining.
2. The slats are equipped with a tongue and groove, which allows them to fit tightly to each other and greatly simplifies installation.
3. Visually, this finishing makes the walls smooth and aesthetically attractive.
4. The design of the lamellas assumes natural air exchange between the sheathing and the wall.

A bathhouse usually consists of several rooms: a dressing room, a washing room, a steam room, and sometimes a relaxation room. For finishing, you should use different types of wood, based on the purpose and operating conditions in the room.

Wood goes well with stone on the floor

Where the temperature remains at the same level and humidity is minimal (dressing room, rest room), choose pine trim. It is characterized by low cost, stability, low thermal conductivity and a beautiful natural pattern. Pine contains phytoncides, which, when released into the environment, have a beneficial effect on the body. The aroma that such cladding exudes is especially expressive. Due to the presence of resin in the composition and natural antiseptics, this finish is not susceptible to the formation of mold and mildew. But this wood is not suitable for a steam room, since when heated strongly, it begins to release resin and a pungent odor.

pine paneling

Steam room materials

For the walls in the steam room, lining made of aspen, oak, linden, birch or cedar is used. As a cheaper material, you can use edged boards made from the same types of wood. The surface of the boards must be sanded to a perfectly smooth state and treated with protective compounds. If they are to be installed in the dressing room and rest room, then the top can be varnished. Planed boards are almost twice as thick as lining, so they provide high-quality thermal insulation, but you should not give up insulation.

Boards as wall decoration

Washing material

The washing room has a comfortable temperature, since it is most often located in front of the steam room. There is high humidity here, so the materials are subject to requirements regarding moisture resistance. Often the walls are sheathed with clapboard made of larch - a stable, moisture-resistant material that dries quickly and does not deform.

Larch paneling

larch paneling

Material for the rest room

When decorating a relaxation room, decorativeness and creating a cozy atmosphere come to the fore. There are the following options for wall cladding made of natural wood:

1. You can cover the walls with pine wood boards. This is the most affordable material with excellent performance properties. Pine is not subject to rotting, it contains natural antiseptics, the wood dries quickly, and has a beautiful natural pattern and shade. Scandinavian pine has the greatest durability, so it is worth choosing it. The shade of pine is light pink, over time it darkens a little and becomes deeper.
2. Another inexpensive but high-quality material for walls is spruce lining. During its manufacture, heat treatment is used, due to which the lining becomes very durable and moisture resistant. This type of wood does not contain as much resin as pine, has a pleasant aroma and a unique natural pattern with knots.

Rest room (dressing room)

Note! If the bathhouse is made in the form of a log house, then all finishing measures are carried out only after its complete shrinkage.

spruce lining

The process of covering walls with clapboard: step-by-step instructions

Covering walls with clapboard involves installing insulation. For example, you can use a material with a fiberglass base of the URSA brand together with a vapor-proof layer of foamed foil polyethylene on top.

First the walls need to be prepared. They are cleaned of contaminants, primed, dried and markings are applied - the places where the timber is attached.

Table. Sequence of actions when installing the sheathing

Table. Cladding walls with clapboard

How to make proper ventilation in a bathhouse and prevent rotting? Read in the special article.

And now the shelves

A very important point is the shelves in the bathhouse. Since constant tactile contact is assumed with them, increased requirements are put forward for these elements:

• they should not get very hot ;
• it is better if they cool slowly ;
• must be environmentally friendly ;
• do not slip or be very rough;
• have no external damage ;
• easy to wash.

Again, wood is most suitable for this purpose. Carefully cleaned, without knots or nicks, it has served people in bathhouses and steam rooms for centuries. Shelves should not have sharp corners that could cause injury. They are not made solid, leaving a small distance between the wooden boards.

Setting up a dressing room

The main function of the dressing room is to preserve heat. The temperature in the room is not high, so it is good to use coniferous trees to decorate walls in a traditional style.

Design of the waiting room and rest room “under the tree” Source koon.ru

The interior decoration of the bathhouse made of logs creates an atmosphere of antiquity and ancient fairy tales. A light aroma created by pine, fir, and spruce is appropriate here. The wood of these species resists fungus and mold well. It does not crack after drying and is durable. When heated, fir releases almost no resin.

If hardwood is preferred, experts advise finishing the room with birch. The lining can be laid out not only in even rows, but also in a pattern. It is important that the walls in the room are covered with the same type of wood.

Locker room

The materials for decorating this room can be very different. But it’s hard to come up with anything better than a tree. However, it can be supplemented with other types of finishing: decorative plaster, artificial stone tiles, various wall panels, etc.

It all depends on the size and purpose:

• If this is a small dressing room in a free-standing bathhouse, intended only for undressing and dressing, it is better to limit yourself to moisture-resistant wooden finishing. Especially if the bathhouse is heated once a week, and the rest of the time it is not heated.

Finishing the dressing room with a blockhouse with tinting

• If this is a spacious recreation room with a heating system from the house, then your desires are unlimited. Even wallpaper and painting on the walls - as long as you like it.

Examples for inspiration:

Wood finishing

Plaster, tiles and painted wood panels

Decorative plaster and stone

Blockhouse and brick

As for how to decorate the outside of the bathhouse, any façade materials can be used here. Most often, a beautiful log house is left without cladding, limited to caulking the joints, sanding and treating with decorative and protective agents.

Sanding the log house

And buildings made of brick, foam blocks and other building stones are finished in accordance with the house or imitate a log house using a wooden, plastic or metal blockhouse.

Exterior decoration with blockhouse

Bathroom and washroom

These rooms do not have very high temperatures, although the humidity is as high as in a steam room. The choice of finishes in the bathroom and washroom is more extensive. Fans of bath procedures recommend using natural raw materials for such rooms - wood or stone. Among wood, pine is the leader - it is an affordable material, however, it darkens with prolonged use.

An example of a washing station design Source profstroiplotnik.ru

Plastic is acceptable since there is no high temperature, and it tolerates humid air well. You can use regular tiles for the shower.

Video description

For interesting ideas for interior decoration of a bathhouse, watch the video:
Decorating a relaxation room in a bathhouse, in addition to traditional wood, can be done:

• glass wallpaper;
• porcelain stoneware;
• natural stone;
• decorative plaster.

Important! The tree is not installed immediately after delivery to the construction site. It is brought into the room and allowed to stand for a couple of days so that it “gets comfortable” in the bathhouse. After this procedure, the wood is not subject to deformation when heated and high humidity.

Operating conditions

To cover a steam room, it is important to remember the operating conditions. When contacting surfaces, fire safety standards are observed. As you know, a person can get burned. Installation standards for the bathhouse are met. The materials are securely fixed and, even with high humidity, remain in place and do not expand much. In the sauna you should definitely put signs on things that are prohibited from touching. Inside, in addition to the lining, other materials can be used. Some of them are specially processed.