Wood is an environmentally friendly material, characterized by high strength and heat-insulating qualities. Therefore, he was widely used in construction, including the construction of baths. Baths made of logs are popular today, because they have an attractive appearance and are not inferior to brick or foam concrete counterparts.
Building material
As a building material use rounded logs. At the stage of their processing, the wood sapwood is removed, that is, their most unstable part. The remaining layers have sufficient strength and are able to withstand severe loads. Although this makes the material stronger, it also reduces its durability. The construction of baths from logs is carried out according to special technology, and the individual structural elements (logs) are connected using groove joints or the Norwegian spike groove system.
Using quality prepared logs will make the walls as even and strong as possible. However, they do not deform during shrinkage. The material is usually used in conjunction with modern impregnations that protect it from fire and decay. They do not affect its appearance.
Modern technology allows you to build a bath of logs in the shortest possible time. In many respects, this is a merit of high-quality preparation of logs, which are preliminarily “customized” to the required sizes. A log house made of logs is stronger than steam rooms made of ordinary timber or glued material. In addition, it can be erected at almost any angle.
Advantages
The rounded log prepared on a special woodworking machine is an ideal building material. Its diameter varies in the range of 16-28 cm. The log has a number of advantages:
- good thermal insulation;
- attractive appearance;
- lack of need for wall decoration;
- ability to "breathe";
- wholeness;
- minimum discrepancy of linear parameters.
disadvantages
Calibrated logs have several disadvantages. Among the most significant are:
- Loss of orientation of the log. It is important to build houses, baths from logs for their long-term operation correctly, observing the basic rules. One of them is the correct arrangement of logs: the north side should go under the facade, the south side should be under the internal walls. This rule is used by all experienced builders. Its observance can extend the period of operation of the bath to 100-150 years.
- Removing protective layers. Removing the soft outer shell adversely affects the material, as it protects it from insects, rot and environmental influences. As a result, the remainder of the log becomes less durable.
The choice of logs for a bath
The construction of the steam room is recommended to be done from coniferous trees. This is due to their high density and resistance to temperature and humidity changes compared to other rocks. Birch, for example, is strictly forbidden to use for this purpose, since it is highly susceptible to decay.
Pine is the most common material used to build a bath from logs. A photo of a wooden steam room clearly confirms its attractive appearance. Pine has a low cost, has a long and flat trunk and can be processed.
When buying logs, it is recommended to pay attention to:
- the presence of blue spots on the cut - they should not be;
- cut surface - it should be solid;
- a peeled log - it should have a yellow tint (light or dark);
- core - it should be flat and occupy 1/3 of the diameter of the log.
Plot
Like at home, baths made of logs can not be built in all areas. This is due to the fact that the pool can also be located in the steam room, and for it, finding groundwater at a high level is undesirable. The entrance to the bathhouse should be on the south side, as in winter, snow drifts from this side melt faster.
An important role in choosing a suitable area is played by the number of storeys of the bathhouse made of logs. A photo of a two-story bath proves that today it is quite possible to combine a bath and a summer house in one building. The second floor of this structure can be used as a room for an overnight stay, and the first - directly for the steam room. It has been proven that sleep is stronger in rooms made of environmentally friendly material, such as wood.
Foundation
The depth of laying the foundation for a bath of logs depends on the depth of freezing of the soil. The best option is a strip foundation that can withstand heavy loads, which is very important for fairly heavy logs.
A column foundation is also used . Its use is advisable when the steam room consists of a special frame made of wooden beams on which panel boards are attached. This version of the bath is much easier, so you can use a less powerful foundation than the tape. It is important to note that such frames are rarely used and have not yet proven themselves to be either better or worse.
Log preparation
After pouring the trench and organizing the vapor barrier of the foundation, they begin to prepare the logs. Their ends must be trimmed to a thickness equal to the upper diameter.
Factory logs are relatively expensive, so often the material is prepared independently with a planer. An experienced builder can cope with this task. Hand-processed logs are characterized by an extended period of operation and resistance to external influences compared to the factory version. This is due to the fact that only sapwood is removed with a planer, and the protective layer remains intact. Deviations from standard sizes should not exceed 3 centimeters, otherwise the logs will not fit snugly on the walls of the bath.
Log Wall Construction
Before work, you should inspect the purchased logs, choose the thickest and strongest ones that will serve as the first row. To do this, you can use larch, which in a humid environment becomes stronger. But you should not use this tree for the construction of all walls, since under the influence of high temperatures it emits a strong smell.
If the logs were processed on special machines, then they have the corresponding numbering. She will help to find the necessary elements more quickly. After the logs are laid, they are given a certain time to dry. If you do not pause, then the formation of cracks and distortions on the logs in the future is possible, which may violate the integrity of the structure.
Almost any tree species, with the exception of larch and pine, is used for the construction of the floor and ceiling of the bath from logs, since they emit tar under the influence of high temperature. The best option is to use aspen or linden with healing properties.
Caulking of walls
The walls of the bathhouse made of logs caulk inside and out immediately after drying. This is done in order to close possible gaps, due to which the room will constantly lose heat.
To do this, use special tape seals that do not need double caulking, unlike moss and tow. At the same time, they do not rot and have low hydroscopicity. The caulking of the walls of the bath from the logs begins with the lower layers of the log house, carefully working in the corners. The fiber is placed across the groove and clogged with a spatula. The procedure is performed around the perimeter of the room. Do not caulking individual walls.
Cost
How much does a bath from logs cost? Turnkey price on average is 150-200 thousand rubles. The bathhouse will be a great place to relax and spend time with friends.