How to Panel Sauna Walls with Wood Cladding: A Step-by-Step Guide and Expert Tips

How to cover the walls of the bath with the lining

The lining is easy to work with - this is one of the main advantages of the material. It will not be difficult to line the walls of the steam room with lining, if you have at least a minimum of experience in finishing work. And even if you plan to entrust this task to professionals, read this article - so it will be easier to control the quality of the worker.

 The sauna lining can be mounted both vertically, and horizontally. The algorithm is about the same except for some nuances. Vertical slats are mounted faster, condensate flows easily on the surface of the boards. The horizontal method has other advantages: the boards are mounted with a spike up, so the joints are more airtight, and do not allow condensation. If necessary, the horizontal board can be replaced without touching the other slats.

Covering: wall preparation

The first task is to lay the lattice under a heater. The basis for wall decoration is a lattice of wooden bars. The distance between the bars should be determined by the width of the insulation boards or mats, so that the insulation material lies in the lumen of the gap. Bars can be mounted directly to the wall or on brackets. It is important to perform this work with a level to compensate for wall defects and create a level foundation for the finish.

Thermalinsulation. Before finishing the wall you need to insulate the wall - lay a layer of insulation material. First, the insulation is lying (usually mineral wool), then - a foil layer of vapor barrier.

Counter-lattice under lining. In order for the thermal insulation to properly perform its functions, it is necessary to leave a ventilation gap between the insulation and the lining. For this purpose the additional lattice from rails 25-30 mm thick is mounted on a foil surface. Rails are located perpendicular to the lining. Mounting step - 40-60 cm.

Installation of lining - what bolting to use

The easiest, but not the best way is to nail the lining with copper or galvanized nails and cover the hats with putty on the wood. The method is not so good because it disrupts the structure of the material and reduces the operation life of the lining. Eventually, the mounting joints will begin to rust and deform.

There is a better alternative to nails - bolting of a lining by climbers. These are metal bolting brackets, which are put on the edge of the tongue with a U-shaped part, screwed with self-tapping screws or fastened with a stapler to the lattice - for this purpose mounting holes are provided on the climber. This is the best method because the bolting does not damage the board and does not break its integrity. If necessary, you can unscrew the climbers and easily dismantle the lining.

If the lining is located horizontally, the installation begins from the ceiling to the floor, the boards are located groove down and spike up. The bottom bar should not lean on the floor - it is important to leave a gap of 1-2 cm, which will compensate for thermal deformation. It is also desirable to leave a deformation gap at the corner joints in case of wood swelling. To make the covering more aesthetic, the lower and corner gaps can be decorated with thin wooden slats.

The result of the work will depend not only on proper installation, but also on the quality of the material itself. The Tesli company makes a lining from the best grades of Ukrainian wood, and offers a wide range of decorating materialsfor a bath or sauna at favorable prices from the manufacturer. If you are interested in the topic of building a bath or sauna, contact us - we will consult you for free, answer all questions.