Log-house baths: the subtleties of the process

When the construction of country houses and other specialized buildings, more and more recently, a structure such as a frame has been used. This is due to the good technical characteristics of this structure, in particular its heat-absorbing properties, strength indicators and beautiful appearance. A house made of logs erected by one's own hands is a reliable building that will last a very long time without requiring any repairs.

However, not everyone knows that such a construction can be used for the construction of a bath. This work is not simple, but the result can satisfy the wishes of even the most biased developers. That is why it is necessary to consider in more detail how to erect a log house of the bath with your own hands so that the structure will turn out to be reliable and beautiful.

Features of erection of a log house

The construction of a log cabin is a construction based on horizontally laid logs that perform the function of walls. Each of these series is usually called a wreath, while the lowest level is called a "folding crown".

For logs, you need to use exclusively hardwood or softwood. It will be best to apply freshly cut and dry trees to protect all buildings from accumulation of excess moisture.

The device of angular dressings outside can be carried out both with the rest, and without it. In this case, the first method is characterized by the laying of logs outside the walls, and for the second, this rule is not observed.

The options for erecting log cabins can be very different - it all depends on the skills of the performer and the wishes of the owners themselves. The main methods of installation - a frame "in the bowl" with their own hands, "in the paw", as well as a more simple version - "in the end dowel." Each of these methods has its own characteristics and distinctive features inherent in this or that construction.

Advantages and disadvantages of the log

Such a construction has a huge number of advantages, due to which it is advantageous when choosing the desired type of construction. So, the main positive characteristics of the log are the following:

• Wood is environmentally friendly and therefore absolutely safe for health;
• The heat capacity of logs is very high, so that the losses of heated air are minimal;
• Such a structure has an attractive appearance and original design;
• The design has a high strength.

Nevertheless, the erection of such a structure, as a frame from a bar with their own hands, can also have some negative aspects, which are usually attributed to the following:

• High cost of consumables and the whole process of work;
• Relatively short service life in comparison with structures from other materials (especially in the absence of waterproofing and antiseptic treatment);
• Labor intensity of construction.

Anyway, to construct a log house with your own hands is absolutely real, it is important only to carefully follow all the rules and recommendations that can simplify the installation process.

Logs baths: features of erection

Choosing for construction of such a popular building, you should determine first of all the complexity of all the works, since the classic version of how to make a log house with their own hands requires the performer to have certain skills and abilities. Nevertheless, a wide range of materials, which can now be found in the construction market, makes it possible to create any bath design by a much simpler technology. As an option, you can always order a ready-made so-called "frame" and perform a self-assembly.

To make the bath as correctly as possible, it is also necessary to correctly determine the construction site. Classical principles provided for the erection of such a log near any reservoir, through which a contrast ablution became available. However, today there is no need to follow this rule, since nothing prevents the creation of a similarity of the basin on its own.

Choosing the right place for erecting a log house bath, it is necessary to be guided by the following recommendations:

• The building must be at least 15 m from the residential building;
• A good solution is to create an artificial or natural hedge (it can be a fence, bushes and other plantings);
• Considerable distance from the roadway and the pedestrian road.

Planning usually depends on the desires of the owners, so the design can be both standard and original (with the involvement of the designer).

Rules for laying the foundation for a log cabin

As you know, the foundation of any structure is the foundation. And it does not matter at all whether the frame itself is being erected by its own hands or this process is under the guidance of specialists, since such work is usually performed in the same way with any of the device methods.

Here you need to decide what type of foundation will be used (columnar or tape), and take into account the following tips:

• Laying should be carried out at the possible depth of freezing;
• The construction site must be cleaned of any garbage;
• It is extremely important to get rid of the top (fertile) soil layer.

Do not forget that the properly laid foundation is the guarantee of the strength and reliability of the entire structure.

Selection of material for the log house bath

It is believed that the classical log cabin of the bath (built with their own hands or with the help of professionals - is not important) is a coniferous construction (spruce or pine) with logs 250 mm in diameter. It is thanks to such wood in the steam room that a unique atmosphere with a stunning smell is created.

But today there is no clear framework for what material to use. Speaking about the properties of wood, it is worth noting that, for example, the pine is convenient and easy to process and will be an excellent option for creating such a structure as a log house with your own hands (this applies, first of all, to the design of the bath).

Larch used in construction has a very high cost, but this material is hard, resistant to moisture and can last a very long time.

A verified option is oak, however, to maximize the quality of its positive properties, it is required to cut the tree at the time of maximum maturity and allow it to dry out.

Excellent lime materials for removing excess moisture are linden and white spruce, so it is best to use these samples as the skin of the bath, as well as for its interior decoration.

The strongest tree is cedar. A bathhouse built of such material will last a long time, and the logs themselves will not crack. Perhaps the main drawback of this option is its high cost.

Preparation of material for the construction of a bath

It is not difficult to build a birch log cabin, especially if the performer has at least minimal skills in working with wood.

Initially, it is necessary to take a log with a cross-section of 15 x 15 and lay it according to a predetermined design plan with support metal or wooden pins. The installation step should be approximately 150 cm.

It is necessary to equip the beam with holes intended for pins by half its thickness, and the diameter should be chosen so that the support element enters it without any problems.

To lay the next row, special holes need to be drilled elsewhere (they must be staggered, otherwise during the drying process the installed bar may be deformed).

Installation of pins in the construction of a log cabin

As already mentioned above, cutting logs with their own hands can have several varieties: "in the bowl", "in the paw", etc. Another common option is the installation of cuts with a depth of 1.5 cm in the areas of joining the beams and fixing metal braces in them. The latter method is the simplest and fastest in implementation, so it should be discussed in more detail.

The cutting is made in order for the bracket to be located deeper, as gaps may appear during the drying process. Such measures protect the frame from deformation and do not allow the fixing elements to bulge above the surface.

The completed construction already has corners, where the ends of the beams extend beyond the walls. It is absolutely unnecessary to cut them immediately, and there are 2 reasons for this:

1. First, you need to wait at least six months, so that the wood does not crack at the ends.
2. Secondly, such protrusions can play the role of steps that facilitate the ascent to the bath for any work.

The process of leveling the log house from the outside

It is important that a tape-type heater is laid between all the bars of the fitted steam room. Most often for these purposes, materials like flax or jute are used, but you can use more traditional patterns (tow, moss). In no case should we forget about such an event as the caulking logging with our own hands, but thanks to the high technical properties of modern insulation, this can not be done, having previously made sure of their reliable fixation inside the log house.

Insulating materials of tape type should be spread between the beams and fixed by means of a stapler. Technical characteristics of jute are higher than those of flax, which explains its high cost. The fibers of this insulation have one indisputable advantage: when the beams are shrunk, they are pressed in a certain way, creating an insurmountable barrier to the flow of cold air and moisture.

Arrangement of window openings

While erecting a log house from a log with your own hands, it is extremely important to pay special attention to such important elements of the structure as window and door openings. If the parameters of the location of these holes are incorrectly calculated, the design can turn out not only unattractive, but also functionally incorrect.

To avoid this, on the intended installation site, it is necessary to make cuts in the uppermost of the beams or, alternatively, to make them systematically through one crown. It is important to remember that full sawing of window openings can be started only when the log house has completely crooked, otherwise the holes may not be there where necessary.

Already after arranging all the necessary openings, you can proceed to the following procedures - installing the roof and laying the desired cover. This should be done at the end, because during the shrinkage the material can be deformed, and additional weight in the form of a roof will press the bar and will not allow it to appear on its surface with various flaws like gaps and cracks.

Internal finishing of the log cabin

Repair work in the steam room suggests wall finishing with high-quality insulation, as well as their lining specially designed for this wood paneling. The material for this can be very different, since the modern market offers numerous varieties of rocks - aspen, linden, cedar, etc., so it is not difficult to find the desired sample.

By sewing inside the log from a log with your own hands, do not forget that the maximum temperature in this room is always kept under the ceiling, so it is important to provide this moment and exclude the use of wood containing a large amount of resin, which when heated has the property of melting and dripping.

Special beauty and functionality will be given to the construction of the original benches and shelves, which are also made of hardwoods because they do not burn the body at high temperature.

In addition, it is worth remembering that the finishing of the bath should be done so that it remains possible to quickly remove the room, so it is best that all the benches from below have an open appearance.

Recommendations for the care of baths from wood

When building such a structure as a log cabin, it's worth remembering that this type of construction requires more attention from the owners than the usual house. Regular exposure to high temperatures and moisture can cause mold and rot, therefore the following recommendations for the use of wooden steam should be taken into account:

• Even before the beginning of the laying of walls it is important to treat the material with antiseptic compounds, and at the end of the assembly, it should be done at least once every 1-2 years;
• Any bathing procedure must end with a thorough wet cleaning of the room and its ventilation;
• All furniture and other items used indoors, to dry it is required to take out on the street.

Observance of such measures will exclude the appearance of harmful fungi, mold and bacteria in the bath, will ensure the entire structure with reliability, attractive appearance and long service life and will eliminate the need for any repair work.