Stones for the bath - the subject of interest of every person who is going to build a steam room in his country house. Why they are needed, as well as what types of these natural materials are, will be described in this article.
Here, readers will also find principles and tips for choosing stones for a bath, which are taken from literature written by construction specialists, as well as experienced holiday lovers of this kind.
Not just an element of decor
The first thing that comes to a person who is not an initiate when he hears the words "bath stones" is that they will be used as building and facing material.
Of course, these indispensable attributes of the sauna are used for aesthetic purposes, but this is not the only purpose. Their main mission is to promote steam production. Therefore, the characteristics that the heated air inhaled by visitors to the bath will completely depend on their composition. But steam is formed from water!
Yes it is. But of great importance is the material on which moisture enters before heating. Therefore, lovers of such a holiday should carefully study the question, which stones for the steam room in the bath are best to buy?
Health effects
So, stones for a stove in a bathhouse directly affect the air that a person will inhale for a sufficiently long time, hence the conclusion that these natural minerals should not contain any harmful impurities and radioactive substances.
The best thing, of course, is to purchase them in specialized stores selling building materials or bath accessories. However, some suitable cobblestones can be found even if you explore the surrounding area. Therefore, some tips will be posted on how to test such stones for suitability.
Speaking about safety, first of all, readers should be warned that they do not need to use materials that are used in the construction of railway tracks to equip steam rooms, as well as be careful about any other items not intended for equipping a sauna.
This does not need to be done, because such cobblestones can be radioactive or be treated with some unhealthy chemicals. For example, stones that are used in the construction of railway structures are processed with creosote. This substance is extremely toxic, and its ingress into the human respiratory tract can cause severe poisoning. This, in turn, often entails even death.
Therefore, before using any building materials as stones for an oven in a bathhouse, it will not be out of place to inquire about whether they are harmful to human life. Even if you do not buy such cobblestones at specialized retail outlets, you need to look so that the packaging says that they are not radioactive and do not contain chemically hazardous elements.
Healing properties
Such characteristics of stones of certain varieties were known in ancient times. According to numerous popular beliefs, some rock samples even had certain magical properties. But, since this article is not devoted to the problems of esotericism, but is a guide for building baths, a similar topic will not be covered here. It is worth mentioning only that some stones are indeed used even in official medicine. However, first of all, it is worth paying attention to the safety of materials, and only then look at other characteristics.
Heat generation
In addition to the formation of steam, bath stones perform another function. They help to increase the temperature in the room. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account their characteristic, such as heat capacity. Or, in other words, one should pay attention to the ability of cobblestones to keep warm for a long time.
As a rule, in the characteristics of stones during their sale this property is reported. However, physical indicators given in specific units can confuse an uninitiated person. Therefore, this article will say a few words about the heat capacity of the most popular breeds, which are considered the best stones for a bath.
Solid and warm
It is possible and independently, following the path of logical reasoning, to analyze the possible heat consumption of a particular stone. This indicator directly depends on its mass, as well as on the density of the substance.
Accordingly, we can safely say that the heavier the cobblestone, the longer it can remain heated.
Cold and hot shower
Stones for the bath, as they are designed to exist in fairly extreme conditions, including the constant change of temperature, must have sufficient endurance. These cobblestones are unsuitable for steam rooms, if they crack, or even begin to crumble when cold moisture gets on them at extremely high ambient temperature.
Therefore, this characteristic must be taken into account in choosing the optimal stone from all the proposed options. Even when purchasing such material in specialized stores, it is recommended, if possible, to first take a few cobblestones to test in order to test them in action.
For this, it is necessary to heat them in one way or another to a high temperature. It is better if this is done in a steam room, and then they should be placed in cold water or even snow. If they do not pass such a test, and small cracks appear on them, or even the stones fall apart into several fragments, then, accordingly, they are unsuitable for a steam room.
Test of endurance
As already mentioned, it is best if the properties of the stones for the bath include characteristics such as strength and uniformity. They should not have any small deep cracks. As for the surface of the material, then inspecting it does not cause any difficulties. But how to make sure that there are no similar defects inside the stones?
Usually the simplest test is used for this purpose. You just need to hit the cobblestone with the cobblestone or use a hammer as a tool.
If the stone has the above mentioned disadvantages, then it will undoubtedly fly to pieces. The result is considered acceptable if the cobblestone could not be broken from the first five attempts. When the stone passed this test, we can say that it is suitable for bathing purposes. Otherwise, it is best not to risk it and find a more promising option. After all, if the cobblestone does not have sufficient strength, then at best it will serve extremely little. And when the temperature in the bath is too high, such stones can scatter into fragments right while people are in the steam room. This is fraught with various negative consequences in the form of injuries and cuts.
Bath rating
Next, the best stones for the steam room in the bath will be considered. Each of the species will be considered taking into account the presence or absence of those necessary qualities that were indicated in the previous chapters.
So, in many articles devoted to this problem, jadeite as a stone for a bath is in first place in the list of the best.
First of all, it is worth giving a description of this wonderful natural material. It is formed in a natural environment in a rather rare way.
Unlike its counterparts, resulting from the cooling of volcanic lava or the decomposition of other natural materials, this stone originates in a completely different way. It appears as a result of crystallization from other materials deep underground, under the influence of extremely high temperatures.
This stone is a rock, that is, a substance that consists of several components. So, aluminum and silica are included in its composition in approximately equal proportions. These substances make up about 98% of its total mass. 2% is allocated to various impurities that determine the color of the cobblestones. The mass of these additional components is insignificant, so they do not affect the composition of the steam that is produced, and, consequently, the health of visitors to the bath. The exception is only samples with red dots and veins. Such impurities are most often iron, which with strong heating can produce harmful substances.
Distinctive features of jadeite
A stone for a bath of this type is the most popular because it has excellent external data. His physical characteristics are also respected. Unlike quartz, which is similar in coloring and in some cases is practically indistinguishable from it, this stone is not afraid of even extremely high temperatures.
Experts say that it can withstand more than 1200 degrees Celsius. Another plus of it is that it can not only tolerate high air temperatures, but can also be exposed to open fire. Such cobblestones are even lined with the walls of stoves and fireplaces. Some brochures compiled by companies selling materials for building saunas say that these stones last extremely long and will please more than one generation of hot steam lovers.
There are also descriptions of various strength tests of this material. According to one of the authors, an experience was set up at one of the German enterprises when jadeite was placed on a metal anvil and a steam hammer was hit on a cobblestone. As a result, this stone, which is considered much stronger than iron, remained unharmed, and the metal pedestal where it lay cracked.
Different varieties
However, this material did not mention how clean the test sample was. It is known that these stones, like any semiprecious materials, are divided into three types. To the first, that is, the most expensive, only those stones that are suitable for jewelry and artistic works are ranked. The second grade includes those that go to the decorative design of walls, facades, cladding of various surfaces and so on. To the third, the most budgetary grade of this stone, are such cobblestones that are suitable for bathing purposes.
It is worth noting that even samples of the last grade are quite scarce goods, and accordingly its value is always maintained at a high level. But those who are interested in the characteristics of this stone, ideal for use in the bath house, can be reassured. This rock has numerous relatives. Some of them are not inferior to their expensive colleague in physical qualities and are his budget rivals.
Kidney stone
This is how the name of jade, a bath stone, which is in the second position of the rating, is translated. This rock has the same heat resistance and heat holding ability as the above options, however, these cobblestones do not withstand open fire. Therefore, it is impossible to clad fireplaces and stoves with them, and it is best not to lay them as the first layer of stones on a bath stove. They can be placed on stones of river pebbles, which is the most affordable material for this purpose.
This arrangement will not only protect jade from premature fragmentation, but will also perfectly complement the color palette of your bath. The word "jade" is Greek and means "kidneys." It is often called in honor of this body in Russia. This is due to the high healing qualities of this mineral. It helps not only with kidney problems, but also for people with high blood pressure, digestive upset and is an aid in the treatment of many other diseases. Even to the touch, jade feels like a warm material. Therefore, specialists in the field of medicine say that if a belt containing jade inserts is worn in the abdomen for a long time, then the patient will soon feel that his health has improved significantly.
It is no coincidence that bracelets made of this stone, as well as rollers made of it, are one of the most popular goods in stores that distribute Eastern medicine. The steam, which gives a stone for a bath jade, is one of the most pleasant. The regulars of saunas even talk about the taste of caramel, which is sometimes found in the air when this cobblestone is used in the oven.
Option number three
Among the best stones for a bath, quartzite rightfully takes its rightful place. This rock, although it does not belong to those that form after the solidification of volcanic lava, as happens with the best cobblestones for steam rooms, is not inferior to them in many respects. Strong gray material is born as a result of changes in the qualities of various minerals at high temperatures, which occur when rock formations move. Although the name “quartz” is present in the name of this stone, it nevertheless differs greatly from its fellow in terms of characteristics.
First of all, it far surpasses it in terms of heat resistance. If intact quartzites are used in the steam room, the owner of the bath is provided with the opportunity to enjoy high-quality steam for many years. These cobblestones are so durable that they are usually not polished, but sold in the form of rock fragments. Quartzite is also used in the form of tiles for facing walls of steam rooms and other rooms. Such a finish will save fuel, since stones can retain heat for a long time. This feature provides savings of up to 50%. One of the richest deposits of this material is Lake Onega, located near the city of Petrozavodsk. According to scientists, there are reserves, the mass of which is about a billion tons.
Insidious doubles
Sometimes dishonest distributors of bath materials try to sell other stones, under the guise of quartzite, that look very much like it. You should be careful, because such fakes are not always safe material. For example, the quartz used for these purposes does not have high heat resistance and is prone to deformation under the influence of high temperatures.
Some experienced attendants say that sometimes such stones begin to literally explode and shoot. Therefore, lovers of hot steam do not recommend using this material for such purposes. According to them, a bathhouse with quartz stones resembles walking on a minefield.
Important detail
Besides the fact that the stones can be placed on top of the sauna stove in order to ennoble the bar, they can be found and other applications. The topic "How to make a pipe for stones in a bath" is the subject of many articles. This device is necessary in order to protect people from harmful fumes that may come from the iron chimney.
Such a structure is a grid for stones in a bathhouse made of aluminum and worn over a conventional chimney so that stones can be placed between it and the chimney. They also prevent the appearance of unpleasant fumes.
This article was devoted to the question which bath stones are better. It examined the popular types of these important materials for the steam room with arguments in favor of each of them. It is safe to say that all of the given samples of stones are among the most popular and optimal solutions to this problem. Which bath stones are better? The choice depends on individual preferences.