How to choose stones for a bath - professional advice
Properly designed steam room is able to give pleasure. It has a beneficial effect on the body and helps get rid of ailments. Hot, but environmentally friendly steam - the key to such success. To achieve the desired result, you should choose the right stones for a bath. They will give a pleasant aroma and fill the steam room with healthy trace elements. In these questions it is better to rely on the opinion of experienced people and professionals.
How to choose stones for a bath, which are better for health?
Stones help to achieve the desired effect - uniform heating of the room, saturated steam and a pleasant aroma. Professionals immediately say that for this you can not take the first stones.
First of all, they must meet the following requirements:
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high strength;
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the ability to accumulate heat;
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resistance to strong heat and sudden changes in temperature;
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no harmful substances and impurities.
One more fact should be added to this - stones for a bath emphasize the aesthetic appeal of the steam room and become the main decoration of this room.
For the bath can not take the first stones. When heated, cobblestones from the street spread an unpleasant odor and substances harmful to the body. In addition, they can simply crumble after a couple of sessions. The usefulness of the bath procedure in this case is reduced to zero.
Stones for a steam room should have a uniform structure that does not contain any harmful substances. For these purposes, it is recommended to use several types of minerals, which can be found independently or purchased in specialized stores.
Types of bath stones
The choice of a particular type of stones depends on personal preferences. Professionals do not highlight strict limitations, but give some recommendations based on specific characteristics and useful properties.
The main types of bath stones:
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river and sea pebbles;
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jade;
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talkohlorit;
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gabbro diabase;
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white quartzite;
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crimson quartzite;
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basalt.
These minerals are suitable for a bath and cope with the tasks assigned. They have advantages and disadvantages that should be considered.
River or sea pebbles
Budget and easy option for a bath, although not bad. River pebbles collected independently are used in the lower layer on the stove. Oval pebbles with a solid structure should be chosen for such purposes.
The slightest blotches indicate impurities. Red dots indicate the release of iron, which is undesirable in the bath. In addition, when self-collecting pebbles are easily confused with river limestone, which adversely affects the body when heated.
Virtues
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available option;
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good strength and environmental performance;
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easy to find even by yourself;
disadvantages
- you must carefully choose the stones.
Jade
One of the best stones for a bath, featuring an attractive emerald hue. It is useful for health, and the strength is 2-3 times higher than that of most other bath stones.
This stone for a bath is not everyone will find.It is used in a chipped form, in a small amount for laying in the upper layer on the stove.
Virtues
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high strength and density, good heat capacity;
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beneficial effects on the human body;
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minimal moisture absorption;
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durability;
disadvantages
- high price.
Talkohlorit
Environmentally friendly mineral resistant to temperature and easily machinable. It differs in gray color and not too smooth surface. Not everybody likes this appearance, besides, it can “dust”. But talcum chloride is durable and holds heat 2.5 times better than brick.
Such stones are heavy and not very attractive in appearance, but with their help you can get clean and useful steam.
Virtues
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heat capacity is 0.98 kJ / kg K;
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a large number of nutrients released during heating;
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strength and resistance to temperature changes;
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uniform distribution of heat in the steam room;
disadvantages
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prolonged heating;
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dust emission.
Gabbro diabase
These stones are considered popular for the baths, due to the availability and useful qualities. It is produced mainly in Karelia, which is known for its pure ecology. The stone differs in dark color, and appearance is similar to marble. But with strong heating, odors are felt, which is why it is not recommended to use aromatic oils, and with time gabbro diabase begins to crumble.
Gabbro diabase is a good choice for a bath, but in such a steam room it is better not to use essential oils. In addition, over time, you need to sort out the stones and replace the damaged ones.
Virtues
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ecological cleanliness;
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affordable cost;
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therapeutic effects on the respiratory system;
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good warm up;
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attractive appearance;
disadvantages
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prolonged heating;
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unpleasant smell with strong heat;
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low strength;
White quartzite
This mineral is popular in certain circles because of its specific qualities. This is a light white stone, which contains a large number of oxygen molecules. Because of this, when heated, there is a slight smell of ozone. But it is an expensive mineral, which, moreover, is not too durable.
White quartz is good for the body, it gives the smell of ozone when heated, but it will have to be changed often. This is one of the most expensive stones for a bath.
Virtues
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attractive appearance;
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ecological cleanliness;
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rejuvenating effects on the body, cleaning the respiratory system;
disadvantages
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low strength, easily breaks when temperature drops;
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high price.
Crimson Quartzite
Crimson quartzite belongs to valuable, but rare minerals. It attracts with a rich purple color, which is why it is often chosen by professional designers for the design of the steam room. The stone itself is dense and solid, capable of long service. It does not crack, even with strong temperature changes.
Crimson quartz - a great option for a bath, although it is not easy to get it. It is laid in small quantities in the upper layer to make the furnace attractive.
Virtues
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ecological cleanliness;
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bright and attractive color;
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fire resistance - up to 2700⁰С;
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increased mechanical strength, resistance to cracking;
disadvantages
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processing complexity;
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high price.
Basalt
Basalt is also sometimes called volcanic. It belongs to the category of strong stones for a bath with low water absorption. Volcanic rock accumulates heat and gives off evenly. He is not afraid of any temperature or sudden cooling with cold water. The resulting steam has a healing effect.
This stone is popular because it is inexpensive, durable and environmentally friendly, although not everyone will like the look.
Virtues
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strength, durability and wear resistance;
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affordable cost;
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medicinal properties;
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good heat capacity and uniform heating;
disadvantages
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rough appearance;
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processing complexity.
Porphyrite
Porphyrite is another volcanic stone with a gray-black color. When heated, it gives a saturated and thick steam that will appeal to avid bathhouse attendants. It keeps warm well for a long time. Thanks to beneficial microelements, the respiratory system is beneficial.
Volcanic stones are ideal for a bath. They serve for a long time, they are not afraid of temperature fluctuations, but in appearance they are rough and unpresentable.
Virtues
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relieves headaches, facilitates breathing;
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serves for a long time and does not crack;
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accumulates and maintains heat;
disadvantages
- requires periodic dusting.
Parameters for selecting bath stones
Each mineral has a specific set of qualities, which should be guided in choosing. Professionals have several options:
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strength;
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heat accumulation;
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structure features;
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appearance;
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ecological cleanliness.
Stone for a bath should be durable, and at the same time keep warm. This is its function, so choose dense and heavy minerals. Although in any case, professionals recommend changing them every 3-4 years.
The stone should have a homogeneous structure without impregnations and impurities. The shape is preferable to flat stones, because they are better placed on the stove and quickly gain heat. The optimal size is from 50 to 130 mm, but all the stones themselves should be approximately the same.
Another parameter is environmental friendliness. Stones when heated should not release any harmful substances.
What stones for a bath to choose?
For a simple Russian bath at the cottage or near the cottage fit jade or basalt. They should be primarily durable and heat-resistant, because people like to splash water to get steam. It in turn should be easy and useful.
For a sauna, in which no one splashes water on the stove, any mineral is suitable. First of all, you should pay attention to those that retain heat longer. A good option would be talcochlorite or quartzite.
If there is no traditional stove in the bath, and electric heaters and steam generators are used to maintain the temperature, the stones serve more as decorations. In this case, you can advise crimson quartzite, porphyrite or marble.
Depending on the dimensions of the furnace should be considered the weight and size of stones.
How much are the stones for a bath?
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Available stones for a bath - gabbro diabase, which cost from 15-20 rubles per kg.
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Attractive and practical jade will cost from 150 to 250 rubles per kg.
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Crimson quartzite is offered at a price of about 70-100 rubles per kg.
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Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a guide to purchase.