All about the height of the sauna shelves

It is obligatory to have seats for sitting in any bathhouse: Finnish sauna, Turkish baths, Egyptian rassoul, Roman thermae, Turkish hammam, Moroccan baths. Not everyone knows that in ancient Russia bathhouses were called "movnya", "vlaznya", "soapy". In the beginning, the bathhouse had only one room, where there was a heater that heated the bathhouse and the stones inside it. There were also shelves and benches.

The difference of bath shelves in the Russian version is that they are made wide, so that you can lie on them, spreading freely, and long. The shelves can be tiered, have different heights, as the higher they are, the hotter the steam. Upper shelf is designed for the most hardened steamers because the temperature under the ceiling reaches 100 degrees, and given that the steam in the Russian bath is wet, not everyone can take it. It's almost boiling.

Equipping the bath on their property, many owners wonder what should be the height of the shelves to feel comfortable. About this we will talk in this article.

There are no standards for the height of the shelves. Everything is individual. To determine the height, several factors are taken into account. The height of the interior space: the top shelf should not be too close to the ceiling, so as not to bend your head. The lower shelf should not be too low, because it is used as a bench. The type of bathhouse, its size, and, of course, the individual wishes of the owners are important.

For such purposes, deciduous species of trees are ideal:

• linden;
• alder;
• aspen.

If there is no possibility to make bathing equipment of such species, the shelves can be covered with a sheet or something similar. The main thing is to keep away from burns.

The widespread three-tier version does not have Russian roots, it came to us from the Finnish saunas. For a private bath it is sometimes unacceptable, because it takes too much space. The ideal choice is two tiers.

The height from the floor is determined in the range of 75-90 cm. There is a very interesting way to calculate the height. The calculation is as follows: the height of the top edge of the stove plus 10 centimeters. Or the tallest member of the family is used. He should stand, and from the middle phalanx of the thumb measure the distance to the floor.

Such a height of the shelf is convenient for the steamer. In this case, he bends his arms at a right angle, which is optimal for the joints. A person will stand in the most comfortable position, he will not have to pull his arms up or stand in a half-bent position. In this case, the same rule works as for computer tables: the angle of the elbow bend is 90°.

It all depends on the size of the user: an obese person needs more space than a subtle one. The minimum width is considered 70 cm. The average is 80-90 cm. This width allows the arms to lie safely on their sides, and they do not hang down from the surface. There is no limit. If a person is comfortable with a width of 1 meter or more, you can make such a shelf. To calculate the length there is also an optimal formula: height of a person + 20 cm.

Two-tiered shelves for seating require a slightly different approach. Experts advise to make the first level of the sitting shelf at the same height as the bench. The second tier is raised to a height of 45-50 cm from the level of the first. The height from the top of the bench to the ceiling of 100 cm will not only sit comfortably, but also use a broom, and a width of 60 cm will allow if you want to lie down.

In addition, the width of the shelf is influenced by the width of the boards: in order to fit them to a certain format, they should not be cut. Do not forget that it is necessary to leave gaps between the board for water drainage. The width of 7-8 mm is quite enough for the distance between the boards.

We do not use brooms in the sauna, it is important to sweat there, so in this room more often sit, not lie down. The height from the upper level to the ceiling is less, and the width is narrower. The shelves of this principle can be either two or three-tiered. If you apply the standard solutions, the height of the first tier from the floor is 400 mm, and each subsequent tier is higher than the previous one by 400 mm.

The length does not matter much - it all depends on the size of the steam room. Usually the shelves occupy the entire free perimeter.

For shelves in the sauna, the thickness is not too important, because they work in the mode of dry steam. The visitor is sitting, and he gets heat with his whole body. If it is a Russian sauna, the thicker the board, the better: the bed can accumulate and release more heat. Boards of hardwoods do not heat up to scalding temperatures.

Your choice is best to opt for lime, aspen, poplar. Now actively advertise and offer not so long ago appeared in our country abash. This is the African oak. Its wood is porous and almost does not warm up. This ensures that people will not get a burn from contact with it in the steam room, but this shelf remains unpleasantly cold, and this does not agree with the traditions of the Russian bath. Do not take on the beds and softwood - because resinous.

Now there are many different compositions that protect the wood from the effects of moisture and other effects. But using them inside the cabin is not the best solution. Man directly interacts with the wood, it must stay alive. Of course, the wood quickly loses its sunny color, but it gives it an antique look.

If you really want to apply impregnation, it is recommended to use red-hot linseed oil. The coating will have to be renewed periodically. To avoid unpleasant odor, the room and the beds should be washed after each use. From the odor will be very difficult to get rid of.

Do not use chemicals to wash the shelves: this kills the natural aromas of the wood. The correct procedure is to wash the shelf with a terry towel immediately after the procedures, while it is still warm.

The supporting frame for the beds can be made of wood of any species. It is necessary that the construction was stable. Some people board up the space between the shelf and the floor, believing that it warms the room faster and reduces the cleaning area. This is the wrong decision. The human body produces a lot of sweat when it is steaming: it runs down and accumulates underneath. If under the shelves are not cleaned regularly, the emergence of an unpleasant odor is guaranteed.

When equipping a shelf, it is important not to forget about the gaps. There should be a free space between the shelf and the wall. This will protect the wall from rotting in this place. A gap width of 30-50 mm is quite enough. Make fasteners should only be at the bottom. Do not screw in a screw from above: when heated, it can cause serious burns.

The "D" arrangement is convenient and ergonomically justified. The longest bed will be working, it can be used for sitting and lying down. It will be wider and higher than the others. The side and bottom tiers are made narrower, they are used as auxiliary. You can place brooms, brooms, toys for small children on them.

If you approach the construction of the baths thoughtfully and use the recommendations of bathing experts, the result is not just a room for washing, but a full health-improving complex. Such a bathhouse will bring cleanliness and health, as well as great pleasure. Since time immemorial, it was believed in Russia that the bath had a soul. Baths were inhabited by bath attendants, just as houses were inhabited by house dwellers.

About the size of the shelves in the steam room, see below.