Stones for a bath are the subject of interest of every person who is going to build a steam room in his country house. What they are for, as well as what types of these natural materials are, will be described in this article.
Here, readers will also find principles and tips for choosing sauna stones, which are taken from literature written by building experts, as well as experienced lovers of this kind of relaxation.
Not just a decorative element
The first thing that comes to the mind of an uninitiated person when he hears the words "bath stones" is that they will be used as a building and facing material.
Of course, these indispensable attributes of the sauna are used for aesthetic purposes, but this is not the only purpose. Their main mission is to contribute to the production of steam. Therefore, their composition is completely dependent on thosecharacteristics that the heated air inhaled by the visitors of the bath will have. But steam is made from water!
Yes, it is. But the material on which moisture gets before it heats up is also of great importance. Therefore, lovers of such a holiday should carefully study the question, which stones for a steam room in a bath are best to buy?
He alth effects
So, the stones for the stove in the bath directly affect the air that a person will inhale for a sufficiently long time, hence the conclusion that these natural minerals should not contain any harmful impurities and radioactive substances.
It is best, of course, to purchase them in specialized stores that sell building materials or accessories for baths. However, some useful cobblestones can be found by yourself if you explore the surrounding area. Therefore, below will be posted some tips on how to check these stones for suitability.
Speaking of safety, first of all, readers should be warned that it is not necessary to use materials that are used in the construction of railway tracks to equip steam rooms, and also be careful about any other items that are not intended for arranging a sauna.
This should not be done, because such cobblestones may be radioactive or treated with some unhe althy chemicals. For example, stones that are used in the construction of railway structures,treated with creosote. This substance is extremely toxic, and if it enters the respiratory tract of a person, it can cause severe poisoning. This, in turn, often even leads to death.
Therefore, before using any building materials as stones for the furnace in the bath, it will not be out of place to inquire about whether they are harmful to human life. Even if you do not buy such cobblestones in specialized outlets, you need to look for an inscription on the packaging that they are not radioactive and do not contain chemically hazardous elements.
Healing properties
Such characteristics of stones of certain varieties were known in ancient times. According to numerous folk beliefs, some rock samples even had certain magical properties. But, since this article is not devoted to the problems of esotericism, but is a guide for the construction of baths, such a topic will not be covered here. It is worth mentioning only that some stones are actually used even in official medicine. However, first of all, it is worth paying attention to the safety of materials, and only then look at other characteristics.
Heat generation
Besides the formation of steam, sauna stones perform another function. They help raise the temperature in the room. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account their characteristics such as thermal capacity. Or, in other words, one should pay attention to the ability of cobblestones to keep for a long timewarm.
As a rule, this property is reported in the characteristics of stones when they are sold. However, physical indicators given in certain units can confuse the uninitiated. Therefore, this article will say a few words about the thermal capacity of the most popular rocks, which are considered the best stones for a bath.
Hard and warm
You can independently, following the path of logical reasoning, analyze the possible thermal capacity of a particular stone. This indicator directly depends on its mass, as well as on the density of the substance.
Accordingly, we can safely say that the heavier the cobblestone, the longer it can stay heated.
Contrast shower
Stones for a bath, since they are designed to exist in rather extreme conditions, including a constant change in temperature, must have sufficient endurance. These cobblestones are unsuitable for a steam room if they crack or even begin to crumble when exposed to cold moisture at extremely high ambient temperatures.
Therefore, this characteristic must be taken into account when choosing the optimal stone from all the options offered. Even when buying such material in specialized stores, it is recommended, if possible, to first sample a few cobblestones in order to test them in action.
To do this, you need to heat them in one way or another to a high temperature. It is better if this is done in a steam room, and thenshould be placed in cold water or even snow. If they do not pass such a test, and small cracks appear on them, or even stones fall apart into several fragments, then, accordingly, they are unsuitable for the steam room.
Strength test
As already mentioned, it is best if the properties of sauna stones include characteristics such as strength and uniformity. They should not have any small deep cracks. As for the surface of the material, its inspection does not cause any difficulties. But how to make sure that there are no such defects inside the stones?
Usually the simplest test is used for this purpose. You just need to hit a cobblestone on a cobblestone, or use a hammer as a tool.
If a stone has the above disadvantages, then it will undoubtedly shatter into pieces. The result is considered acceptable if the cobblestone could not be broken from the first five attempts. When the stone has passed this test, we can say that it is suitable for bathing purposes. Otherwise, it is best not to take risks and look for a more promising option. After all, if the cobblestone does not have sufficient strength, then at best it will last very little. And when the temperature in the bath is too high, then such stones can shatter into fragments right while people are in the steam room. This is fraught with various negative consequences in the form of injuries and cuts.
Bath rating
Next, the best stones for a steam room in a bath will be considered. Each type willconsidered taking into account the presence or absence of those necessary qualities that were indicated in previous chapters.
So, in many articles on this issue, jadeite as a bath stone is in first place in the list of the best.
First of all, it is worth giving a description of this wonderful natural material. It is formed in the natural environment in a rather rare way.
Unlike its counterparts, resulting from the cooling of volcanic lava or the decomposition of other natural materials, this stone is born in a completely different way. It appears as a result of crystallization from other materials deep underground, when exposed to extremely high temperatures.
This stone is a rock, that is, a substance that consists of several components. So, it contains approximately equal proportions of aluminum and silica. These substances make up about 98% of its total mass. 2% is allocated to various impurities that determine the color of the cobblestones. The mass of these additional components is insignificant, so they do not affect the composition of the steam that is produced, and, accordingly, the he alth of bath visitors. The only exceptions are samples with red specks and veins. Such impurities are most often iron, which, when heated strongly, can produce harmful substances.
Distinctive features of jadeite
Stone for a bath of this type is the most popular, because it has excellent external data. His physicalcharacteristics also cause respect. Unlike quartz, which comes in a similar coloring and in some cases is almost indistinguishable from it, this stone is not afraid even of extremely high temperatures.
Experts say it can withstand over 1200 degrees Celsius. Another plus is that it can not only endure high air temperatures, but also be exposed to open fire. Even the walls of stoves and fireplaces are lined with such cobblestones. Some advertisements from sauna building companies say that these stones last extremely long and will delight generations of hot steam lovers.
There are also descriptions of various strength tests of this material. According to one of the authors, an experiment was set up at one of the German enterprises when jadeite was placed on a metal anvil, and the cobblestone was hit with a steam hammer. As a result, this stone, which is considered much stronger than iron, remained intact, and the metal pedestal on which it lay cracked.
Different varieties
However, this material did not mention how pure was the sample that was tested. It is known that these stones, like any semi-precious materials, are divided into three types. The first, that is, the most expensive, include only those stones that are suitable for jewelry and works of art. The second grade includes those that go to the decorative design of walls, facades, claddingvarious surfaces and so on. The third, the most budgetary variety of this stone, includes such cobblestones that are suitable for bathing purposes.
It is worth noting that even samples of the last grade are a rather scarce commodity, and, accordingly, its cost is always maintained at a high level. But, those who are interested in the characteristics of this stone, ideal for use in the bath industry, can be reassured. This rock has numerous relatives. Some of them are not inferior to their expensive brother in physical qualities and are his budget rivals.
Kidney stone
This is how the name of jade, a stone for a bath, which is in the second position of the rating, is translated. This rock has the same heat resistance and ability to hold heat as the above options, but these cobblestones still do not withstand open fire. Therefore, they cannot be used to line fireplaces and stoves, and it is best not to put them as the first layer of stones on a sauna stove. They can be placed on river pebbles, which is the most affordable material for this purpose.
This arrangement will not only protect the jade from premature fragmentation, but will also perfectly complement the color palette of your bath. The word "jade" is Greek and means "kidneys". It is often named after this body in Russia. This is due to the high healing qualities of this mineral. It helps not only with kidney problems, but also for people with high blood pressure.pressure, indigestion and is a help in the treatment of many other diseases. Even to the touch, jade feels like a warm material. Therefore, experts in the field of medicine say that if a belt containing jade inserts is worn in the abdomen for a long time, the patient will soon feel that his state of he alth has improved significantly.
It is no coincidence that bracelets made of this stone, as well as rollers made of it, are one of the most popular items in stores distributing oriental medicine. The steam given off by the jade bath stone is one of the most pleasant. Sauna goers even talk about the caramel flavor sometimes found in the air when the stone is used in the oven.
Option number three
Among the best stones for a bath, quartzite rightfully takes its rightful place. This rock, although it does not belong to those that form after the solidification of volcanic lava, as happens with the best cobblestones for steam rooms, is not inferior to them in many respects. A gray, hard material is born from the changing qualities of various minerals at high temperatures, which occur when rock layers are shifted. Although the name of this stone contains the root "quartz", nevertheless, it is very different from this fellow in terms of characteristics.
First of all, it is far superior in terms of heat resistance. If intact quartzites are used in the steam room, then the owner of the bath is provided with the opportunityenjoy quality steam for years to come. These cobblestones are so strong that they are usually not polished, but are sold in the form of rock fragments. Quartzite is also used as a tile for wall cladding in steam rooms and other rooms. This finish will save fuel, because the stones are able to retain heat for a long time. This feature provides savings of up to 50%. One of the richest deposits of this material is Lake Onega, located near the city of Petrozavodsk. According to scientists, there are reserves there, the mass of which is about a billion tons.
Insidious doubles
Sometimes dishonest distributors of sauna materials try to sell other stones under the guise of quartzite, which outwardly strongly resemble it. You should be careful, because such fakes are not always safe material. For example, quartz used for these purposes does not have high heat resistance and is subject to deformation under the influence of high temperatures.
Some experienced bath attendants say that sometimes such stones begin to literally explode and shoot. Therefore, lovers of hot steam do not recommend using this material for such purposes. According to them, the bath with quartz stones is like walking through a minefield.
An important detail
Besides the fact that the stones can be placed on top of the sauna stove in order to ennoble the bar, they can be found in other uses. The topic "How to make a pipe for stones in a bathhouse" is the subject of many articles. Giventhe device is necessary in order to protect people from harmful fumes that may come from an iron chimney.
Such a construction is a grid for stones in a bath, made of aluminum and put on over a conventional chimney so that stones can be located between it and the chimney. They prevent the appearance of unpleasant fumes.
This article was devoted to the question of which stones are better for baths. It looked at the popular types of these important materials for the steam room with arguments in favor of each of them. It is safe to say that all the given samples of stones are among the most popular and optimal solutions to this problem. What are the best bath stones? The choice depends on individual preferences.
