Linden for a bath: which is better - thermal or regular, or aspen, or alder, what products are found in the bath, all about the characteristics of wood, its varieties and application

Linden eurolining Buy from 51 rub. The choice of material for finishing a room has a significant impact on the quality of repair and finishing work as a whole . When giving preference to one or another wood material, it is recommended:

analyze the characteristics of wooden materials;
determine the temperature and humidity conditions of the room for finishing;
identify the requirements for wood depending on operating conditions;
understand the characteristics of natural wood of a particular species;
anticipate the shortcomings and vulnerabilities of wood during operation.

Undoubtedly, each type of wood has its own distinctive features and advantages. The finishing result expected by the customer is largely determined by the type of wood that will be used. Therefore, choosing the type of wood requires a serious approach.

Thus, the wood of a particular species determines:

quality of finishing work
interior design style
durability of the finished finish.

Pros and cons compared to other breeds

But in order to understand something, you need to compare it with alternative options. Since a steam room with deciduous wood, most people will call aspen an alternative to linden. So let’s look at the comparative merits of linden or aspen in a bathhouse. And one more - a little less common - comparison of linden or alder for a bathhouse - which is better?

Which is better: linden or aspen?

In another article, where the properties of linden and aspen lining were considered, we already compared the properties of these two types of wood. You can either follow the link and read the entire article, or stay here and see the table on which our conclusions are based, and, in fact, the conclusions themselves.

So here's the table:

From the columns that show the coefficients of shrinkage and swelling , that is, the change in dimensions under the influence of moistening and loss of moisture, we see that aspen is better than linden for a bathhouse. Although the difference here is not so great as to call aspen a clear favorite.

Because it darkens in the bathhouse faster than linden. Otherwise, their properties are very similar. Even if other sources give slightly different densities, they are still fairly close to each other.

Aspen darkens from water

In the store, linden will cost more than aspen, but also not by much. Therefore, go through your priorities - you will have to look for high-quality aspen wood and spend your time on it. If you are ready for this, bet on aspen, and linden will remain for those who prefer the option that is not much worse, but faster, albeit more expensive.

IMPORTANT! In a bathhouse, any(!) wood rots, only the conditions and timing vary. If you are dry after the procedures (see the section on ventilation), then linden will last longer than larch for someone who neglects drying.

And so, of course, linden is practically unable to resist rotting, unless you help it with impregnations. But this also applies to aspen. Yes, it gains hardness under the influence of water, but its resistance to rotting is low.

In general, these two species have very similar characteristics, we recommend aspen , but if you have problems with a good aspen or you just like linden, take it.

Linden or alder?

But of this pair, we prefer linden. Alder is best at the harvesting stage, because linden is often discarded during the initial drying - this is when its warping occurs. Dried linden is quite stable and does not create problems. Alder exhibits minimal warping even at the initial drying stage.

But if you are an ordinary buyer, then it is enough to check the moisture content of the purchased lumber and the presence of warping - any differences from the correct geometry, for example, bends or twists.

Otherwise, these are also two types of wood quite similar to each other. Alder is as inelastic, soft, easy to work with and not resistant to rotting as linden.

ATTENTION! Alder and linden are damaged by metal-wood contact in a humid environment. Therefore, it is advisable to protect screw fastenings from moisture, or abandon them in favor of classic carpentry joints.

If you have a choice, then from black and gray alder you should choose black, it has better technical characteristics.

What else could be the basis for choice - alder has reddish shades and looks darker than linden. If you are interested in achieving just such an effect, you can use alder wood. Linden lighter in color and yellow, but there are pinkish and reddish varieties. Linden smells nice , but the smell is weak. Alder is neutral.

As you can see, it all depends on personal preferences, and there are no significant disadvantages or advantages in either breed.

IMPORTANT! Please note that for now we are talking exclusively about wood for the steam room. If there is a desire to use any of the mentioned breeds outside of it, the chances of longevity are increased by the ability to use antiseptics.

Production Features

Linden round timber is used to form boards that are dried using chamber or natural methods. In the latter case, the workpieces are stacked and left for the period specified by the processing technology (often calculated in years). Artificial drying is carried out in special chambers where the lumber reaches the required degree of humidity. During drying, a concomitant selection of wood is carried out: those blanks on which no cracks have formed are sanded and equipped with a tongue-and-groove system.

Alder lining is made from the following species:

black,
white,
Siberian

The material is sorted and logs are formed from thick trunks, which are processed with carpentry and turning tools. The illiquid part of the wood is sent for chips and firewood. The homogeneous structure of alder makes it easy to mold into different types of cladding.

Products

The fact that wood can be used as a wall or finishing material will be discussed further, but you can also find certain linden products What are they? These are mainly shelves, windows and doors, and it can also be dishes, but we won’t talk about them.

Linden doors

Doors (as well as windows) made of linden have become widespread due to the observation that they do not warp or swell after intense moisture during bath procedures. This property is in great demand in the bathhouse, because many have to deal with the problem of doors that do not want to fit into doorways. Or the doors dry out, forming cracks and crevices. And the most unpleasant option is when there is a bend.

However, the coefficients of shrinkage and swelling (you saw them above in the table) do not differ significantly, and in some ways they are even inferior to other breeds. From this we can conclude that if linden is suitable for bath doors, then this also applies to other types of wood with similar or better shrinkage and swelling characteristics.

ADVICE! If you choose a door, take it from a solid wood panel, from a furniture panel. But it must be well dried and with the correct geometry. During operation, problems may only get worse, but not appear.

We wrote in detail about fake doors in this article.

Shelves

Shelves, of course, are difficult to buy ready-made - they are designed for the dimensions of the room in which they will be placed, but since this is a piece of furniture, we considered it possible to classify it as a product.

Shelves can be made independently or to order. It is best to purchase stronger wood for the frame, such as pine. And then cover it with linden boards.

In the photo: the shelves are mounted on pine bars and metal pipes

Linden for bathhouse shelves is sold in the form of a board with rounded edges. Usually this is a plank with a thickness of 20 mm and a width of 80-90 mm. However, different manufacturers may cut the wood differently and give the resulting board different names. We came across boards called “shelves”. There are boards that are thicker, almost timber (in thickness).

In general, linden is good for shelves, except for one thing - the shelves are exposed to water, so they need especially careful drying in order for them to serve you as long as possible. In addition, impregnation with water-repellent compounds will extend the service life, but not everyone likes to use them in the steam room, especially on shelves.

A detailed article about linden shelves is here.

Double-glazed and plain windows

Let's start with the fact that nowadays they don't install windows in a bathhouse at all without double-glazed windows. Well, maybe someone does, but it’s not advisable. Because heat loss from windows is the greatest, and their area is usually included in the formula for calculating the power of your stove. There, the area is multiplied by a certain coefficient, and the product is added to the power calculated by cubic capacity.

IMPORTANT! Therefore, if you do not want to increase the power of the furnace, install windows with double-glazed windows; a layer of air or inert gas, or vacuum between the glasses serves as a heat insulator.

The number of glasses in the package may vary, it all depends on your climate. The colder the winter, the more glass there is. But they usually don’t put more than 4.

Now about the frame. You need to know that internal and external frames can be made of different materials because they are exposed to different influences. The conditions in the steam room are different, and the conditions outside are different. The linden frame can only be placed inside.

The combination options are varied - a double frame (each can have a double-glazed window), and the material can be any: inside, of course, we choose wood, outside - another tree, aluminum, plastic.

You will find detailed material about wooden windows in the bathhouse at this link. Everything that is said about the tree applies specifically to the linden tree.

What to expect from linden and alder?

After 3-5 years of operation, there is a high probability of darkening of the linden lining; to avoid discoloration and destruction of the wood, it is important to ensure high-quality ventilation. Sanding will help restore the natural color of the lining: you need to remove a layer within 14 mm. The lining can be protected with liquid agents that preserve the aesthetics of the lumber; they prevent the development of fungi and the absorption of dirt, although they reduce the intensity of medicinal fumes, the pleasant smell is less emitted.

It is customary to impregnate alder with protective compounds and antiseptics; its color is adjusted using paint and varnish solutions.

Usage

Is it possible to build an entire log house from linden ? Why not? Nowadays everything is possible. But let’s take a separate look at what it would look like to log a bathhouse made of linden and the option of only finishing the bathhouse with linden in the form of a lining.

Log house

A small bathhouse, practically consisting of (perhaps even combined) a steam room and a washing room plus a tiny dressing room, can be built entirely from linden. Because in this case there will be no need to sheathe the inside of the steam room.

However, such an undertaking will require certain investments in protecting the bathhouse from the outside. The fact is that using linden for construction is not a very good idea - it is of little use as a wall material, since precipitation will quickly lead to the proliferation of fungi on it, which causes rotting.

To prevent this from happening, the outside of the log house will have to be thoroughly and often treated with antiseptics (those antiseptics that are sold for self-coating have an extremely shallow penetration depth - 2-3 mm), or impregnated (industrially impregnated wood) is needed, but this is not a fact. that you will find such a linden tree, and what’s the point - they will process the log there from all sides, but why do you need such happiness in the steam room?

Therefore, independent processing of the outside of the log house is a suitable option, although it will require periodic updating. Treatment inside is also necessary - everywhere except the steam room can also be treated with an antiseptic, and inside the steam room - with oil or oil wax.

ADVICE! The linden log house will have to be protected as a “UNESCO heritage”, so it is more practical to build it from pine, and decorate the steam room with linden clapboard.

Finishing

Wood finishing usually means lining walls and ceilings with clapboard. This is a common practice, and it is used not only in bathhouses made of brick or concrete, or in frame ones - the frame and timber are covered with clapboard. But this is done in two cases:

when it turned out that the thickness of the log was chosen incorrectly and in winter the bathhouse needs additional insulation;
when the walls of a steam room are made of coniferous wood and need to be insulated from heat so that the resin does not leak out (or at least does not fall on those steaming).

The lining can be sewn onto both “bare” walls (of course, through lathing and with film insulation), and on walls with insulation.

Often foil is stuffed under the lining as a heat-reflecting and vapor barrier layer . But this only makes sense in a steam room.

CONCLUSION! So, it is beneficial to use linden lining only in a steam room - it does not emit resin, it smells nice, it is light, and the price is reasonable. In other rooms, the decoration can be made of anything.

Boards

Linden shelf, Extra grade

Linden boards for baths can be purchased in several versions:

regular edged and unedged;
profiled = lining;
planken for regiments.

Conventional cladding can be used (and in this capacity, unedged is used in a bathhouse even more than edged), as well as lining.

Planken is mainly used for sheathing shelves.

The dimensions of the boards can be standard or have the dimensions and profiles that a particular manufacturer prefers.

You can read about finishing with unedged boards here.

The sizes and types of shelf boards are described here.

A comparison of linden and aspen lining is given in this article.

Options for lining for a steam room

Cladding with clapboard is a popular way of cladding walls in a bathhouse. The type of material used, class and processing method determines the main criterion for choosing lining for a bathhouse. You should also choose the appropriate material for seats, shelves and additional decorative elements.

For installation work in the steam room, panels made of deciduous trees (alder, aspen, beech, ash, etc.) are used. This material has a flat and smooth surface without any kind of damage. And beneficial substances released under the influence of high temperatures have a beneficial effect on human health.

Depending on the density of the structure and the outer surface, the lining is divided into classes. Classes “Extra” and “A” are of the highest quality (smooth surface without damage or deformation). Classes “B” and “C” are slightly lower in quality due to the presence of visible surface imperfections (knots, cracks). Eurolining is classified as a separate subspecies. Due to a different method of processing wood, it is distinguished by a large size of the tongue-and-groove joint and the ability to remove excess moisture through special grooves.

Varieties - what kind of wood is used?

Of course, it is correct to understand the word “varieties” as grade. But in this regard, everything is quite simple: when the tree is cut and dried, this is followed by sorting, identifying fragments without defects and with defects. The latter are further divided. This is how we get the highest (or first) grade, first (=second) and second (=third) grade. Here you need to clarify which system is used to label this or that manufacturer.

In this sense, suitable varieties of linden for a bath are the highest and the first. The Supreme goes to the surfaces that are best visible and with which your body is in contact. Where it is not so noticeable, you can use the first one.

Now let’s try to understand the word “varieties” differently. After all, this can be said about linden species - botanical and geographical varieties, as well as about linden that has undergone special processing.

Heart-shaped, large-leaved, European

The woodworking industry has long decided which types of trees are most suitable for its purposes. cordate and were distinguished , the trunks of which produce less waste when cut. A very long ago bred or self-formed hybrid of these two was the European linden.

However, even between these types there is a difference. Linden wood is on average soft and ductile, but that of the European linden is a little harder and denser than that of those that gave it its origin.

In addition to this, there are other types that are also sometimes used for making lumber.

Caucasian

Unfortunately, manufacturers who create a legend from the “Caucasian linden” do not bother to clarify whether it is one of the three species mentioned above, simply grown in the Caucasus, or whether it is a species called Caucasian linden.

We do not have comparative information on how much wood from the Caucasus differs from wood grown in other areas. But sellers claim that Caucasian linden is the best tree for a bathhouse, because it resists rotting more successfully than its European relatives. You can take this at its word, or you can consider it a simple PR stunt.

Thermo-linden

Finally, let's talk about the moisture content of wood and its role in construction.

The wetter the wood used on a construction site, the more problems the owner will have when it dries naturally. Free-drying wood tends to bend and twist, breaking fasteners, and it also dries out, forming cracks.

Therefore, it is extremely important that the wood is dried at the time of purchase. According to the rules - up to 12%. Such a tree can already be used without fear. But in reality, they will most likely sell you wood with higher moisture content.

On the other hand, there are technologies that make it possible to expel almost all bound water from a tree, after which its properties change radically: that wood, which until recently was not resistant to rotting, acquires increased resistance, not to mention the fact that it is no longer swells from moisture and does not dry out when dried. It becomes light, hard, durable... almost perfect.

Polok Lipa Thermo "Extra". Photo: Pech-grad.ru

But its price also increases. But thermal wood is much better than even wood that has been well dried to the above-mentioned 12% of ordinary wood. Its humidity of 8% is an excellent indicator.

ADVICE! In general, if you want to extend the life of the steam room decoration or shelves, use thermo-linden for the bath.

Installation specifics

The structure of linden is characterized by lightness and softness, so it does not cause difficulties during processing. But upon contact with iron, the wood becomes covered with grayish spots, and the metal quickly rusts. Therefore, stainless and copper nails are recommended for linden cladding - such consumables are more expensive, they will last longer and will not spoil the appearance of the cladding.

Alder lumber is also easy to install; it is best to fix it with clamps. As a result, the products will hold up well, and if necessary, it will be easy to remove individual sections.

Where can I buy

You can get acquainted with the range of products offered by companies for baths and sanitary linden in several sections of our website:

Where to buy linden.
Where to buy doors.
Where to buy timber.

Linden, Shelves · 09/23/2019 · 0

conclusions

Summing up the results of the comparison, we can give several recommendations on which wood paneling is best suited for you:

make your choice based on your personal preferences about beauty, because the main purpose of the decoration is to make visiting the bathhouse pleasant and to set you up for relaxation;
for long service life of the boards, follow the recommendations for their use applicable to various rooms;
do not use pine needles when decorating the ceiling of a steam room.

We hope that this article will help you decide which lining to choose for the steam room and other sauna rooms.

With respect to you and your home, the information portal ProfSovet.

Reviews

Boris Nevelov, 42 years old, Novosibirsk

I hesitated for a long time between linden and aspen, but in the end I made the traditional choice: linden. It costs more, but for a steam room, I think, you won’t find a better one. The wood is warm, silky, and does not heat up. And the smell in the steam room will make you pumped.

Nikolay Morozov, 35 years old, Omsk

There used to be a bathhouse on the site - made of pine. The inside of the steam room was lined with linden. But something went wrong: it began to rot. And in the bathhouse there was always mold or something else. They dismantled and built a new one - from aspen. It has been standing for more than 6 years, nothing rots, there is no trace of fungus. But, of course, it took me a long time to choose a tree. I went to the base three times to take away the barrels.

Alexander Fedorov, 52 years old, Ufa

A bathhouse was started on the site as soon as the house began to be built. I chose aspen: the price is lower than cedar, and it is not afraid of water, if it is good. Banya is already 15 years old. The color, of course, is not the same, it has become gray, but the tree is like stone. During all this time there was never mold in either the steam room or the dressing room.

Calculate the area of the internal lining

It is necessary not only to choose the type of lining, but also to make the necessary calculations in order to buy the required amount of material (with some margin).

The area taken into account is not the area of the room, but its walls, and sometimes the ceiling, since lining is not used for the floor.

For example, a bathhouse consists of 2 rooms. The area of the steam room is 3x2 (m), and the area of the dressing room is 3x1 (m). At the same time, the ceiling height is standard - 2.5 m.

Then the following algorithm is used:

The area of 2 walls of a steam room 3 m long is 3 x 2.5 = 7.5 m (the total figure will be 15 m).
The area of the short walls is 5 sq.m., and the total area is 10 sq.m.
The area of the ceiling covering is calculated as 2x3=6 m.
To finish the steam room, the lining should be 15+10+6=31 sq.m.

A similar algorithm is used for the waiting room. With the given values of material, you need to buy enough to be enough for another 23 sq.m.

Wooden lining for a bath

How to take measurements correctly

To buy the required amount of lining, you will first have to make accurate measurements - this is the only way to make calculations.

To do this you need:

Measure the length, width and height of the walls in the steam room and dressing room.
Mark the location of the oven. For fire safety reasons, the walls near it are finished not with clapboard, but with tiles or natural stone (the width of such a zone should be at least 40 cm).
Calculate the planned insulation thickness.

After taking measurements, you need to decide what type of installation to implement - vertical or horizontal.

For example, the ceiling height is 2.5 m, and the vertical method is chosen for finishing. Then you need to look for lining 2.5 m long. The walls will be finished with such panels. When covering the ceiling, their length depends on the width of the room. With the horizontal cladding method, they look for material whose length is equal to the width of the wall: in the example above it is 3 m.

A bathhouse almost always needs insulation. Therefore, measurements are taken taking into account the installation of the frame and the thickness of the insulation.

Lining area (square meters)

When purchasing material, it is better to enlist the help of a specialist who can help you calculate the required amount of material. Or you will have to do additional calculations yourself, since products are sold by cubic meters, and the required area for covering is calculated.

There are special tables that indicate how many square meters of lining are contained in 1 cubic meter of material. Moreover, the length of the products is taken into account. For example, with an indicator of 3 m in 1 cubic meter - 278 boards of size 96x12.5 mm. A specialist will help you perform more accurate calculations.

Not wood covering

If you don’t like wood and prefer other finishing materials, tiles, fiber cement and plastic are at your service. It is no secret that this material is cheaper, and some are even safe.

Plastic panels are only suitable in the rest room and locker room - this material cannot be used at high temperatures. Ceramic tiles and fiber cement have proven themselves better - they are durable and reliable materials.

Fiber cement boards and plastic panels

Fiber cement board for finishing a washing room in a bathhouse is a suitable material, which is a mixture of sand, cement and cellulose.

Density depends on the amount of air and water added. Medium-density slabs are intended for finishing houses and baths - the material does not break and has been serving for a long time for more than a hundred years.

Thanks to the presence of cement, the slabs are waterproof and heat-saving. The presence of minerals adds plasticity. Let's look at the main advantages of fiber cement boards.

Completely environmentally friendly material without harmful substances;
Good moisture resistance - there are bubbles inside the slabs that push water out;
Fire resistance - the material is not subject to fire and can contain a fire;
Strength and longevity - the service life of fiber cement boards is from 30 to 60 years. The material proved to be better than wood and plastic;
Easy installation and reasonable price.

As for plastic panels as a material for finishing a bathhouse, the situation here is the opposite: like any brainchild of the oil industry, plastic finishing is completely unsuitable for bathhouses and other similar places. The material is prone to ignition and is filled with toxic substances.

The only suitable place for plastic panels is the locker room, that is, the least hot place where a person spends the least amount of time. Plastic, even at low temperatures, releases toxic elements into the atmosphere, which is felt in the form of an unpleasant odor. However, from a cost point of view, this is the cheapest option for finishing the premises.

What is inconvenient about aspen for arranging a bathhouse?

The main disadvantage of aspen wood is the difficulty in selecting quality material. Aspen, like no other material, must be carefully selected and discarded. The better the screening, the longer the bath lasts. If you come across a log with foulbrood, it can infect the entire structure before the aspen becomes dense and insensitive to rot.

The second disadvantage is considered to be the darkening of the surface under the influence of air and sunlight. To return an aspen bathhouse to its original light appearance, it is best to sand the surface or sandblast it.

How to compare materials correctly

Of course, there are financial resources and time, quite realistically, and universal solutions.
For example, build a log bathhouse from cedar, preferably Canadian, and use African oak to decorate the steam room. Even with a successful design, steaming in such a bathhouse is not much better or more comfortable than in a regular one, but it will last ten times longer than a log house made of aspen or even larch. Wood used in bath construction is divided into three categories:

Finishing material for steam room walls, shelves, bath accessories;
Material for arranging the wettest parts of the bathhouse;
Wall block or timber.

This division did not arise by chance; as a rule, a certain type of wood performs best under certain conditions. For example, oak or larch are better suited than pine or alder for a bathhouse when it comes to constructing a log house or building frame. At the same time, heavy oak, acacia or birch are never used for wall decoration of the steam room. The denser the wood, the more it burns the skin, and birch board also produces bitterness.

Aspen, linden or alder - which lining is better for a bathhouse?