How to paint the inside of a bathhouse safely and durable. Recommendations for choosing paint for baths and saunas

When it comes to painting, it is worth distinguishing between what can be used to paint a bathhouse inside and outside. In order to give the most complete picture of the available options, we divided the story into two parts, and the one that is now in front of you is entirely devoted to what to paint the inside of the bathhouse with. And here is a link to the second part, where exterior painting is discussed in equal detail. You can also read the entire section on painting or just the review article on paints suitable for baths.

Briefly about the main thing

To process lining in a bathhouse, materials that are resistant to temperature changes, humidity, and washing are used.
Also important is inertness to fungus, mold, bacteria, and a safe composition for humans. When heated, many materials release toxins and other harmful substances, so the use of antiseptics, fire retardants, drying oils, varnishes with solvents and acrylic resins is unacceptable for the steam room.

For walls and ceilings, impregnations, mastics, oils and some varnishes are used. For shelves only oil or wax based formulations. This prevents the formation of a thick film to avoid burns.

Bleach is used in any room of the bathhouse, but before further processing of the wood, it is necessary to wait until the chlorine evaporates and the hydrogen peroxide decomposes.

Antiseptics and fire retardants are classified as pre-treatment agents for wood, but are not used as independent coatings. They protect the lining and help reduce the consumption of the finishing coating.

Video description

You can learn more about wood processing oils from the video:

Regardless of the material chosen, it is important to carefully follow the recommendations from the manufacturer. Thus, to apply the first layer, it is often permissible to dilute the composition, which improves the quality of finishing and reduces consumption

Some products need to be preheated before use, dissolved or simply stirred. The climatic conditions of use are also different, as is the condition of the prepared surface. And also, rarely, but there is weak adhesion of the finishing coating with antiseptics, an additional layer of primer is required.

Varnish for use in the bath Source saunaexpo.com

Types of coatings

The wood in the bathhouse is coated with paint to reduce exposure to moisture and high temperature.

The steam room and washing room are subject to the greatest load. However, this load is different.

In a sauna, the air temperature can rise to 110°C. However, the humidity here is low. Paint for such a room must withstand heat, but may be sensitive to water.
In the steam room, the humidity is much higher - from 70 to 100%, depending on the type of bath. The temperature is noticeably lower – it rarely rises above 60°C. The finishing material must be resistant to both water and steam and temperature changes.
In the washing room, the temperature is not higher than a comfortable +30°C, but the humidity here can be high - 90–100%. The paint chosen is as waterproof as possible.

In practice, painting the inside of a bathhouse, especially a log house, is not a good idea. Any paint will be less resistant to the above factors than the wood itself. But if there is no other way to protect the finish, they also resort to painting.

Oil impregnations and varnishes

Effect of oil impregnation against moisture

A bathhouse is a structure used with a certain frequency. The high temperature in the steam room is maintained only during the procedure. Then the room is specially ventilated, cooling to a low temperature.

In this mode, the boards are more likely to dry out and become covered with cracks rather than mold and rot. Therefore, oil impregnations and varnishes are best suited for treating the steam room.

The oil penetrates the top layer of the wood, forming not a film, but a structure impenetrable to water. At the same time, the wood continues to expand normally and decrease in volume as the temperature changes. This way the oil prevents cracks from appearing.

Antiseptics for bath floors

The floor in the bathhouse is covered with antiseptic impregnations against rotting.

It is not enough to paint the steam room or sauna in the bathhouse - you need to take care of protection from rotting. The weak link in this room is the floor. Water flows onto it, steam is deposited, and it comes into contact with a cold concrete base or soil. To prevent the wooden floor in the bathhouse from rotting 5-6 years after construction, it must be treated with antiseptic impregnations.

Liquids based on substances that have a disinfecting effect:

Acrylic-based water-based compositions. Moisture-resistant, prevent the growth of fungus, but are not very effective. More suitable for processing the dressing room.
Organic – based on oils. They are better absorbed by wood and are moisture resistant.
Products based on wax and urethane oils are absorbed to great depth. In addition to the water- and dirt-repellent effect, they give the timber and lining velvety and softness.
Combined compositions increase both water resistance and fire safety.

It is strictly forbidden to use compounds that release toxins when drying to treat wood.

Water-dispersed impregnations

Acrylic paints reduce the harmful effects of moisture on wood

You can paint the logs inside the sauna or steam room with water-soluble paints.

The floor and walls in the steam room are painted with water-dispersed acrylic paint. It is quite resistant to temperature changes and does not prevent the penetration of steam. The hiding power is usually low, but the wood can be given any color. The downside is its low durability, the paint washes out quite quickly.

Paint for a bathhouse in a washroom should be as resistant to water as possible. The best products are latex or polyurethane based. For a dressing room or rest room finished with plaster, you can use any compositions marked “for interior decoration.”

The paint forms a film coating on the surface of the wood. And oil compounds penetrate inside, so in the steam room the walls are treated with impregnations.

Wax-based impregnations

Wax paint does not allow moisture to pass through, so it is well suited for baths and saunas

Wax is offered in liquid - viscous composition, and solid. The latter is somewhat more difficult to apply without the habit, but the treatment is carried out less frequently. The product does not create a sticky film and does not attract dirt.

If you only need to protect surfaces from water and steam, wax is more suitable. It is transparent, does not hide the structure of the wood, has some antioxidant activity, and therefore prevents the darkening of the wood.

Water-based polyurethane varnish

This is a kind of resin solution, where water, ethanol, and ether are used as a solvent. For the bath, choose water-soluble varnishes. They are resistant to high temperatures and to acids, oils and salts.

Polyurethane varnish is wear-resistant. Since it is based on water, the varnish layer does not create increased tension on the surface of the wood, and therefore is not prone to cracking. And since the resins polymerize already during drying, there is no subsequent peeling.

Introduction to antiseptic

Everything that is made from natural wood must be treated with a special agent that prevents decomposition and destruction of the fibers - an antiseptic.

As you know, the bathhouse maintains high temperature and humidity almost all the time. Such conditions are ideal for wooden floors and other surfaces to begin to become covered with mold, mildew, and rot. Pests can live in them.

Rules for choosing an antiseptic:

Belonging to a well-known manufacturer.
The composition must be designed specifically for baths.

Types of impregnations:

Water soluble. This product is best suited for application to walls in the dressing room and rest room.
Antiseptic with organic solvent. Gives the surface increased moisture resistance and strength. Can be used for external and internal work. This impregnation can also be used to treat steam room floors.
Oil based. Suitable for areas where there is no change in temperature and humidity.
Combined. They allow you to protect the tree not only from rotting, but also from fire.

Before applying the antibacterial composition, the wood is cleaned. It also shouldn't be wet.

The product should be applied in two or three layers, paying special attention to the joints and cuts. If damage from insects has been noticed, you should use a special alcohol-based composition.

It is poured into the passages using a syringe, applying a small amount to the area around.

Types of premises

Fortunately, there are not many rooms in the bathhouse (in a standard one). Therefore, we will quickly go through the options of what paint to paint the inside of the bathhouse.

Steam room

This is the most problematic room. Many people believe that there is no need to paint anything there at all, but the price for such a decision is rapid darkening of the wood (and almost everyone has a steam room traditionally made of wood or lined with wood), cracking of the wood (this happens more often from poor ventilation during drying), susceptibility to rotting and mold damage (linden and aspen are very unstable species).

So the absence of any protective coatings, on the one hand, should be considered environmentally friendly, and on the other, costly in terms of future repairs.

You can paint the inside of the steam room with both paints and varnishes, but let them be water-soluble paints. And it would be nice if the label mentioning GOST standards stated that this composition is applicable in the steam room.

Washing

Both silicone and acrylic paints are suitable here. In general, everything that patiently endures the effects of moisture.

Other paints will crack and peel off in pieces under constant exposure to water.

ADVICE! Water dispersions do not tolerate frost well: if the water in the paint freezes, then after defrosting it will lose its quality. Therefore, buy them in the warm season, produced recently.

Impregnations and varnishes are also suitable for painting washing areas.

Again we draw your attention to scuba gear

Of course, in the second case, it is better to paint when it is possible to ensure the best ventilation and the absence of people. Don't forget to use respiratory protection.

IMPORTANT! Remember that enamels and alkyd paints are fire hazards, but water-soluble paints are not.

Design

We haven’t touched on this topic before, but why not really think with you about what color to paint the bathhouse and what design options there are in general?

We have paints and varnishes at our disposal. The bathhouse itself is either made of wood, or lined with wood, or brick, or plastered. Perhaps it is finished with stone, for example, on the foundation.

In general, it would be desirable to maintain at least some kind of stylistic unity - at least within the bathhouse itself, and at maximum - in all buildings. That is, if you decorated the house traditionally and in natural wood colors, then painting the outside of the bathhouse pink will look... foreign. But if all the buildings on the site are bright in color, then the bathhouse should be made no less bright.

Now about the styles. We have already said once in other articles that the bathhouse has three conventional styles: tradition, high-tech and “modern” (the latter means the use of modern materials without particularly advanced design ideas).

If you choose “tradition,” then you either have timber, a log house, or lining - paint in shades from yellow through orange and reddish shades to dark brown, better with varnish than paint, so that the texture of the wood is visible.

It’s hard to believe in real “high-tech” in a summer cottage. And if it is implemented, it will be according to a design project, where all the colors will be painted.

There is only one option left - the same “conditionally modern” style, which does not have its own face. Try to “revive” it by using brighter colors. And regarding the combination of colors, we advise you to search the Internet for pictures with the phrase “color schemes” - usually this is a photograph from which several colors have been extracted (stripes under it), forming a harmonious combination. It's easier than learning color theory.

Example of color gamut extraction

Requirements for decorative coating

When choosing paint for decorating the interior of a bathhouse, you should take into account that this material must meet the following requirements:

protect the wood surface from the effects of aggressive environments that occur in the steam room and dressing room;
withstand exposure to high air temperatures;
maintain the integrity of wood and extend its service life;
provide treated surfaces with an attractive appearance.

Remember that the time during which you can use the bathhouse without major repairs depends on what you paint the inside of the bathhouse with.

In addition, the following factors must be taken into account:

the type of wood used;
the ability to perform additional coloring;
surface condition before treatment.

Special materials should be used for surface treatment

For those craftsmen who have not yet decided how to paint the inside of the bathhouse, it should be noted that most often special varnishes with special properties are used for this purpose:

High coefficient of vapor permeability. This allows you to avoid the appearance of mold, prevents the appearance of fungi and bacteria, and prevents the formation of condensation.
The ability to apply a new layer without cleaning the surface from the previous one.
The presence of pigments that emphasize and highlight the natural texture of the wood with which the steam room and dressing room are decorated.

If you are not satisfied with varnish, acrylic bath paint is an alternative: you can use water-based mixtures inside. Considering the resistance of acrylates to low temperatures, this same type of decorative finish can also be used for facade work (the instructions for use confirm this).

Photo of a steam room whose walls are varnished

The advantages of paint over varnish include a large range of colors and a long service life of the decorative coating.

Choosing paints for concrete floors

There are four types of paints used to paint concrete floors: acrylic, epoxy, acrylic-silicone and alkyd-urethane.

Acrylic

Such paints are resistant to water and temperature. Paint for concrete floors makes the surface matte, semi-matte and glossy.

To dissolve acrylic paints, use plain water and acrylic thinners. The painted surface is ready for use after 48 hours.

This type of floor paint should not be used on concrete floors that have previously been painted with epoxy or polyurethane products.

Epoxy

Two-component paint compositions are mixed with a construction mixer before starting the painting process.

Before using paints, the floor is treated with a primer - an epoxy compound diluted 25% with ordinary water.

Complete drying is achieved after 7 days, but the surface can be used within 24 hours. Concrete floor paint has a limited range of colors.

Alkyd-urethane

The materials are distinguished by a high degree of concealment and require painting the floor in several layers. Concrete paint is resistant to rapid abrasion and temperature conditions. White alcohol (15%) is used for dilution.

The paints are distinguished by a wide palette of colors and an attractive gloss of the painted surface.

Features of choosing a coloring composition for a bath

The difficulty of choosing is due to temperature and humidity. The heat is much stronger in the room closer to the ceiling, and with strong heating, as mentioned earlier, coloring pigments release toxic substances into the air.

Therefore, in a steam room, it is advisable to treat the ceiling and upper part of the room with impregnations. Like paints, they differ in their composition and release form; they can be water- or oil-based.

Before purchasing, it is important to determine the area where it will be used (ceiling, floor, walls, etc.). The choice is also influenced by subsequent processing, namely, whether the surface will subsequently be covered with a decorative layer or not. The next factor is ease of application, as well as the degree of moisture protection. The optimal product is considered to have good moisture-proof and steam permeability properties.

In the steam room, it is advisable to treat the ceiling and upper part of the room with impregnations.

Selection of paint and varnish materials for interior work

Requirements for coating materials vary depending on the processing area. The steam room is considered the most problematic place. Oil-based coatings better penetrate deep into the natural structure of the material, prolonging its service life, but at the same time they are characterized by increased toxicity and an unpleasant odor due to the presence of solvents in their composition. They are ideal for treating the outside of walls, as well as the dressing room.

Water-soluble impregnations are suitable for this area. They are based on acrylic, and an additional component is color, which gives the surface a particular shade. This impregnation can be used to treat the structure both inside and outside. However, despite all the advantages, acrylic compositions have a significant disadvantage - over time they are washed out of the wood structure.

In order for the surface to retain its properties for as long as possible, it is necessary to paint it periodically. Another option is to apply a waterproofing compound first and only then impregnation.

How else can you paint a bathhouse inside a steam room? Instead of drying oil, you can use paraffin oil or any other composition intended directly for the steam room. This oil is distinguished by its safety for health while maintaining characteristics similar to drying oil.

In the bathhouse, surfaces are treated with impregnation several times a year.

In order for the surface to retain its properties for as long as possible, it is necessary to paint it periodically.

The least heating zone in the steam room is the floors. Therefore, the answer to the question of how to paint the floors in a steam room in a bathhouse is quite simple - any oil impregnations or acrylate compounds. For wooden floors, you can use water-based varnishes, which do not have an unpleasant odor and are much easier to apply. When choosing a water-based varnish, it is better to give preference to European manufacturers, since the quality of these particular products is much higher.

You can often find concrete flooring. This coating must be painted. Epoxy, polyurethane and acrylic mixtures are suitable for this.

For wooden floors, you can use water-based varnishes, which do not have an unpleasant odor and are much easier to apply.

How to paint a log house with Biocolor Ultra

The outside of the house should also be painted after the structure has shrunk. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the uneven drying of the facade and end elements. Therefore, log sections are painted before the crowns, which eliminates cracking of the material.

When answering the question of how to paint a log house, the optimal technology involves processing the logs in several layers:

First of all, antiseptics and fire retardants are applied. The main objective of treatment with these compounds is to protect the wood structure from the effects of microorganisms and insects.
The next layer is a special primer. The material prevents resins from reaching the surface and eliminates stains.
Adhesive primer allows you to reduce the consumption of the finishing coat and also provides the necessary level of adhesion.
The last layer of finishing paint guarantees the proper level of protection from the negative effects of the environment.

The processing of the log house is carried out using various means. Inexpensive oil paints protect wood well, but they emit toxic substances and are short-lived. Alkyd compositions have similar characteristics. Glazing impregnations highlight the wood structure in a favorable light, but their protective characteristics leave much to be desired.

Acrylic facade paints are best suited for processing the exterior of a log house. The material does not contain toxic substances. The paint is durable, vapor permeable and gives the wood an excellent appearance. Aqualacs are suitable for processing logs; they are safe, but less durable compared to acrylic compounds.

Painting the frame of a house allows you to extend the life of the building and make the facade and interior surface visually attractive. It is recommended to apply the coating in several layers, each of which carries a functional load. A well-processed log house will delight its owners for several decades.

Environmental friendliness. This is the most important property. After all, its residents have constant contact with the log house, and inhaling chemical vapors is very harmful to the health of people and animals.
Attractive type of coating. Such a surface will be fully provided by acrylic, oil compositions or varnishes.
Fire protection. Fire is the main and dangerous enemy of a log house. Therefore, it is advisable to purchase paints containing fire retardants.
Protection from insects and biodestroyers. This property is not required for paint, but still desirable. And there are many coloring products on the market with such protective properties. They will prevent the appearance of mold, fungi and form a protective coating against insect pests.

We suggest you read: Is it possible to paint a brick stove over plaster with water-based paint?

In the markets, even knowing all the rules for choosing paint for a log house, making the right choice will not be easy. Even the price of a product will not help you distinguish the quality of a product. Nowadays, expensive material does not always have excellent characteristics. Therefore, you need to trust and purchase only proven and well-known brands, such as Neomid.

Biocolor Ultra is an alkyd glazing composition, which is intended for decorative and protective finishing of log houses. It penetrates deeply into the wood and does not change its structure, but on the contrary, even emphasizes it favorably. After painting, a translucent, semi-matte layer is formed on the surface of the log house.

It will protect the wooden material from the negative effects of sunlight, fading, precipitation and cracking. Also, this glazing composition will prevent the appearance of fungi, mold, insects, and dangerous bark beetles on the surface. There are 9 ready-made basic shades of paint; if desired, you can also tint using a colorless composition and special pastes. For 9 liters of this composition the cost is on average 2,150 rubles.

The glaze composition is produced ready for use. The ambient temperature during painting should exceed 5 degrees. The surface must be clean and dry, without the presence of fungi and mold (if any, you need to get rid of them and their traces using wood bleach). It is advisable to treat the log house with antiseptic compounds before applying paint.

Features of protection of different parts of the steam room

Of course, you can saturate the entire steam room and the furniture in it with one composition. And then coat it with one varnish. Moreover, the products currently produced are rarely limited to one protection function. They usually combine, for example, impermeability with antibacterial effects. But the conditions affecting different parts of the steam room are still somewhat different. Therefore, the processing requirements are also different.

Ceiling

Perhaps the least requirements are placed on this part of the steam room. It is exposed only to the temperature effects of steam. Water almost never reaches it. Therefore, it can simply be coated with a specialized bath varnish.

The ceiling in the bathhouse must be reliably protected from dampness and temperature Source eco-ceiling.ru

On our website you can find contacts of construction companies that offer bathhouse construction services. You can communicate directly with representatives by visiting the “Low-Rise Country” exhibition of houses.

Floor

Unlike the ceiling, all the water that is used in the steam room ends up on the floor. Therefore, the anti-water protection for floor boards must be very good. In addition to antibacterial and anti-water impregnation, it is advisable to cover the floor with a protective layer of varnish. But not every varnish is suitable for the floor. The protective layer should not be slippery. This is a must to protect the floor. Of course, the soles of your feet should not stick to the floor. Do not think that repeatedly coating the floor with varnish increases its safety. The thick layer of varnish cracks and water reaches the wood. In addition, the wood cannot “breathe” through such a coating and will still deteriorate.

When building a bathhouse, do not forget about impregnating the logs on which the floor boards are laid. This, of course, is not the inside of the bathhouse, and there are no special protection requirements for them. But if water gets to them, then sooner or later the floor inside the bathhouse itself will suffer, no matter how well it is protected.

Walls

Most of the impregnation for the bathhouse inside is spent on protecting the lining, which is usually used to line the walls. Therefore, you should not use impregnations and varnishes that, when heated, can release strong-smelling substances. And do not cover it with a protective layer that does not allow the wood to “breathe.”

Shelves and benches

The shelves are the main part of the entire steam room, for which it is, in fact, built. Lying on it should be comfortable, pleasant and safe for health. Wood is a poor heat conductor, so even at high temperatures you won’t get burned by it. It’s another matter if it is covered with a protective film, which can cause a burn if touched. Therefore, it is not recommended to use paints or varnishes for it. It is better to apply a special impregnation for the bath. Often such impregnations are wax-based.

The requirements for the safety and convenience of the surface of shelves and benches are so high that there are bathhouse lovers who believe that wood should be natural for them and not covered with anything at all. But this is still suitable for small bathhouses, where simple shelves can be replaced. And when real furniture masterpieces are built, it is better to find a high-quality composition and ensure their durability.

It’s not enough to create beauty – it also needs to be protected

The better

Let us clarify that treatment, in our understanding, is a preventive measure to prevent the future appearance of rot, mold, blue stains, infestation with wood-boring beetles and similar misfortunes. Or medicinal if infection has occurred. There are also compositions to reduce the flammability of wood.

In the first two cases we are talking about antiseptics - substances that kill fungi (fungicides) and insects (insecticides). In the third case - about fire retardants, which slow down fire or make wood non-flammable.

Is it necessary to treat the lining in a bathhouse with these compounds? Optional. They are good for preventing infections, they will keep the sauna from burning out completely, but they have restrictions on their use in the steam room

It is also possible to pay attention to impregnated wood

What to use in the steam room

While we're talking about this, there are a couple of products that can be used in a steam room too. However, their effectiveness is very limited.

For example, if you treat the paneling in the steam room of a bathhouse with “Belizna” bleach or its analogues, you can quickly get rid of the blue stain - this is the name of the fungal infection of wood, with which wood is often sold, since it does not affect the strength, it only spoils the appearance of the lumber.

Fungal infection - blue

BY THE WAY! Why Whiteness? Because there are a number of different antiseptics for wood, which contain nothing but sodium hypochlorite, as in “Belizna”. Well, maybe the concentration is different and the price is different.

After use and achievement of the result, “Whiteness” is washed off and ventilated (!more about ventilation in the bathhouse in a separate material). You can use the bathhouse when you can no longer smell the smell.

As a close analogue of bleach, you can use hydrogen peroxide - also a strong oxidizing agent that does not allow fungi to live.

For mold, you can use boric acid or borax, but now boron compounds are considered toxic, and among the cumulative poisons, that is, those that accumulate and are not eliminated from the body. The only good thing is that the poison is weak, it takes a lot of it to get poisoned.

But it’s not worth living with mold either; you die from it faster than from boron. If it starts up, then it’s no longer a matter of whether it’s a steam room or not, we have to start fighting. Until you get rid of it, you can’t use the bathhouse.

However, this applies to all infections - the more serious they are, the more serious the remedies. It’s better to treat the lining in a bathhouse with a professional antiseptic that will combat your problem, and then wash everything, than to change the entire lining. But it’s better to change the entire paneling than to risk your life because of black mold. With wood-boring beetles, the same strategy - while it makes sense to fight - we fight, if there are too many of them - we burn the affected tree.

Treatment inside other bath rooms

In this case, there is only one difference from the steam room: in other rooms you can use prophylactic agents. That is, do not wait for a problem, but prevent its occurrence by poisoning the lives of pests in advance.

Since there is no steam room heat in other rooms, all these poisons will not evaporate and be inhaled by humans.

Therefore, you can safely use antiseptics and fire retardants, whichever you like. In the washroom you will want to use non-washable compounds, but look at the label: if it says that it is for the exterior and not the interior, then it is better not to. It's better to update from time to time.

IMPORTANT! Antiseptics can be found on sale not only in the form of separate formulations, but also in the form of primers, which precede the application of varnish, glaze or paint. If you are going to paint with something, choose the right primer and you will not need to separately use an antiseptic.

Surface preparation and painting process

Whatever you paint the steam room in the bathhouse with, first the surface needs to be prepared, and taking into account the material (wood), this process is a necessity. First you need to prepare all the tools and the coloring composition itself. It is advisable to familiarize yourself with the recommendations of the masters. This is especially important to take into account for people who are encountering such work for the first time. Surface requirements:

The surface shade should be uniform. The heterogeneous structure is degreased;
Professionals treat the wood with hot drying oil, which helps stop the growth of bacteria;
Using special equipment it is necessary to sand the surface.

The paint is applied with a roller, brush or spray gun. The last option is suitable for people who have experience working with such equipment. Otherwise, it is impossible to achieve the desired result.

Professionals treat the wood with hot drying oil, which helps stop the growth of bacteria.

Principles of coloring

In order for the decorative coating to last longer, you need to take into account the specifics of the work and know how to prepare the surface.

Preparation

Before you start applying paint to the walls, floor, ceiling in the bathhouse or outside, you need to complete the following preparations:

After leveling the surfaces, you can begin decorative finishing.

Tools

To perform the work you need to prepare:

If you need to paint the outside of the building, it is recommended to use a spray gun. With its help you can quickly paint large surfaces.

Features of the work

You need to start painting the walls, ceiling, floor by cleaning the room and preparing consumables. All items that cannot be painted must be covered with plastic wrap. Skirting boards and trim can be sealed with masking tape. The composition is applied in one layer. If it is not enough, you can apply a second one. Metal surfaces must be pre-primed.

Alternative coloring agents for baths

How to paint the walls inside a bathhouse if you don’t want to use toxic substances? Use folk recipes. In ancient times, people used natural substances in the form of oak bark decoction. It gives the wood a dark but natural shade. You can get a fire-fighting composition by mixing starch and ocher.

A combination of flax drying oil and beeswax in equal proportions is also known. To this day, people still use linseed oil and even vegetable oil as impregnation. However, time-tested, natural ingredients cannot withstand any competition with modern industrial drugs.

Oak bark gives the wood a dark but natural shade.

Regardless of the quality of the materials used, experts advise carrying out antiseptic measures by impregnating the wood at least once a year. It is important to follow all recommended actions. For example, despite the “perfect” composition of modern products, none of them will last long if applied to an unpolished surface. The main objective of the coating is not only to improve aesthetic results, but also to extend the operational life of the wood. Therefore, when purchasing ready-made preparations, you need to pay attention to highly specialized paints, impregnations and varnishes intended directly for baths and saunas.

Applying varnish

The final stage of finishing any room is varnishing. However, the materials necessary for treating surfaces in a bathhouse are subject to special, increased requirements (for more details: “Which varnish to choose for baths and saunas - the differences and advantages of different compositions”).

The varnish must provide:

absence of rotting due to increased effects of antiseptic impregnation;
protect floors from any damage, including mechanical;
safety for the health of humans and their pets;
resistance to high humidity;
no toxic fumes due to overheating.

How and with what to treat lining in a steam room - practical tips

Building a bathhouse is a complex process that includes many different tasks. The basis of the bathhouse is a log house, which is additionally lined inside. The lining most often used is lining made from alder, aspen or spruce, which have high strength and resistance to steam and moisture.

However, the natural properties of wood are not always enough. In a bathhouse, wood is exposed to moisture and hot steam, which leads to deformation of the skin. To avoid damage to the wood, it is necessary to additionally treat its surface. In this article we will tell you how to treat the lining inside a bathhouse so as not to change it every year.

conclusions

Do not forget that the new, just installed lining must be treated with fire retardants that increase the fire resistance of wood - Biopiren "Pirilax"-Terma or Terma Lux-D (branded products produced by various manufacturers in Russia). The photo shows products from Siberian manufacturers, but in your region the product may look different.

The key word on the labels is “fire protection”

It is useless to treat a previously varnished surface with an antiseptic. The varnish needs to be removed - cleaned with sandpaper or a scraper. In conclusion, we suggest watching the video to reinforce what you have read.

Installation of brick partitions in baths

If you were still in doubt up to this point, check out this list:

The metal structure heats up very quickly, which does not allow the body to adapt to the high temperature.
A metal stove cools down as quickly as it heats up. You have to constantly monitor the temperature by adding logs, which is not very economical.
The material lined with brick will not heat and dry the air so quickly, which means the atmosphere in the steam room will be more comfortable.
There is a high probability of being burned on the walls of a metal structure. People sitting next to the stove will not feel comfortable.

All these small shortcomings can be easily eliminated with the help of cladding, which will increase the performance of the stove, improve its design and neutralize harm to health, because people go to the bathhouse to improve their health, and not vice versa!

This is the most optimal solution in terms of efficiency and labor costs - to combine the advantages of a metal and stone stove.

At the moment, factories are producing stoves that are initially designed for further lining with brick; this design is the golden mean that will allow you to profitably equip an excellent steam room.

For lining the furnace you need to use only these types of bricks:

red ceramic brick;
fireclay brick.

Do not take sand-lime brick. It is great for cladding a house, but it is not suitable for lining a sauna stove. Lime-based bricks are simply not able to withstand constant temperature changes and high humidity in a steam room.

After just a few weeks of use, it will begin to deteriorate. And from a decorative point of view, it is not suitable and additional cladding will still be required.

Fireclay brick

Outwardly, it is, of course, inferior to red ceramic brick, but this issue can be resolved with decorative finishing cladding.

If there are no remaining bricks on the farm, it is better to buy a new one! Give preference to ceramic red brick. Its specific gravity is much lower than that of fireclay. It demonstrates excellent technical properties, reliability and durability. And externally, the stove, lined with red ceramic bricks, will delight you for many years with its stylish, authentic look.

The process of lining a sauna stove with bricks is not very complicated, and if you strictly follow the detailed instructions, even a beginner can handle it.

Brick lining scheme

Painting a brick oven

Preparatory stage: If there are minor defects (depressions, bumps, potholes), first plaster and level, and cover the seams with a clay solution. You can learn how to prepare a good clay solution from the corresponding article, which is on the blog...

Plaster is made from clay and crushed asbestos. The resulting mixture is carefully applied to a well-heated stove.

How to paint: The two most popular proven folk methods are lime or chalk. The third method is again heat-resistant paint, which is also used for iron sauna stoves.

Cooking and painting with chalk

Stages:

Pour the pieces of chalk into a container (bucket, basin), fill with slightly warm water so as to cover the surface and leave for at least one hour;
In another container, mix animal glue with warm water in a ratio of 25:1. Animal glues include gelatin, casein, albumin, and bone.
Mix both solutions and bring to a homogeneous consistency. “To check the quality of the solution, drop it on a piece of glass or mirror placed vertically. If the density is normal, then the droplet will slide down by 2-3 cm.”
Apply two or three layers. Each subsequent one, only after the previous one has dried. “For a more “clean” whiteness, you can add a tablespoon of blue to a bucket of the finished solution. It will remove some of the yellowness.”

Cooking and painting with lime

Steps:

Solution proportions: 1 kg of lime / 1.5 liters of water at room temperature / 1 tbsp. spoon of drying oil / 25-30 grams of blue / 1 tbsp. spoon of salt. Mix. “The most durable whitewash is made from freshly slaked lime, and salt is added to make the lime coating less dirty.”
Apply in two or three layers. Unlike whitewashing with chalk, each subsequent layer of lime whitewash is applied to the wet previous one. “If the stove in the bathhouse was previously painted with chalk, and you intend to use lime (and vice versa), the surface must be thoroughly cleaned of old paint.”

Proper processing of lining

Having decided how to cover the lining in the steam room of the bathhouse, you can proceed to the processing itself. To perform high-quality impregnation that will last a long time, we recommend that you read the following instructions:

Processing lining in a steam room begins with preparing the wood itself. Clean it from various contaminants with sandpaper or other suitable method. It is also recommended to wash the boards with an aqueous solution of soda (300 g of soda per 10 liters of water);
Next, you need to degrease the surfaces. Remember that not only the lining itself is impregnated, but also the frame to which it is attached;
Sand surfaces with pumice to obtain a smooth finish;
Next, you need to apply an antiseptic that will protect the wood from fungus and mold;
Now you can saturate the paneling. When choosing impregnation for the dressing room, pay attention to the humidity of the air in it, as well as the temperature of the steam. If the indicators are approximately equal to the indicators inside the steam room, then it is necessary to use the same impregnation.

By doing all the work correctly, you can achieve an excellent result, as in the photo.

If you decide to paint wood, then you next need to decide how to paint the lining in the steam room of the bathhouse. Often, a special acrylic varnish is used for this, which can withstand high temperatures and does not release toxins, but special paint can also be used.

To paint the lining with high quality, you must follow certain rules:

Painting of the lining is carried out in warm and dry weather.
You can paint with a roller or brush, moving them parallel to the wood fibers so as not to leave streaks on the surface.
Stir the paint thoroughly before applying to obtain a uniform color.
Apply the paint in a thin layer - this will allow you to achieve the best coloring result.

Protective measures

It's better to work with gloves

Procedure for antiseptic treatment:

the wood must be dry and clean;
The first places to be processed are the cuts, cuts, and ends;
processing is carried out in a ventilated room at a temperature not lower than +5;
The air humidity in the room should be at least 70%.

The antiseptic is applied with a roller, brush or spray (take care of personal protective equipment in advance).

The second stage of work consists of directly applying protective coatings: varnishes, gels, azure. For rooms with high temperatures, choose oil-based products. The oil will be absorbed into the wood, and the protective layer will remain on top, taking care of it imperceptibly.

Wax or water-based varnishes are suitable for the dressing room and washing area. They contain products that have water-repellent, bactericidal and protective properties. It is difficult to give general recommendations here - it all depends on the chosen product. You should be given an initial consultation in the specialized store where the product is purchased, and then proceed strictly according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

When using the bathhouse, regularly keep the room clean, ventilate and dry the rooms. Cleaning should be done after each visit. Combine general cleaning with a thorough “technical” inspection. All damage should be treated immediately with protective agents.

You have read the general rules, let’s move on directly to the products.

Manufacturers

Bath paint is produced by domestic and foreign manufacturers. Its price depends on the material used and the quantity in the jar.

Belinka

The manufacturer's product range consists of paints, glazing compounds, varnishes, and impregnations. They have a wide range of colors, which allows you to bring any design idea to life. When using materials, the structure of the wood is preserved. Belinka produces polyacrylate paints that have water-repellent and vapor-permeable properties.

Tex

Paint from the Russian manufacturer Tex has protective qualities, which guarantees an increase in service life. The company produces soil and glaze antiseptics, drying oils, wax compositions, and fire-retardant impregnation. This allows you to choose an acceptable option for painting the bathhouse.

Saikos

The compositions of the German manufacturer are developed on the basis of natural oils and waxes. This ensures the preservation of the structure for many years.