The traditional shelves for a bath are no less important than its design and the arrangement of a pool or font, since without it it is impossible to imagine a good rest. The furniture in the steam room should correspond to its microclimate and be safe and comfortable to use.
After all, a bath is not just a place for bathing, its main purpose is relaxation. The design of the shelves is nothing complicated (ordinary wood flooring), but its arrangement and choice have many different nuances that must be strictly observed.
The shape of the shelves in the bath can be different: a bench, a couch or a deck chair, allowing you to steam half-sitting or reclining. Depending on the shape, the width of the shelves also varies. The main requirements that they must meet: high strength, pleasant aroma and smooth surface.
Choosing the type of wood for the shelves
The material for the manufacture of the shelf is wood, so the choice of wood is of great importance. Wood varieties must meet the following requirements: low thermal conductivity, resistance to moisture and high temperatures, low resin content, high fiber density. All these conditions are ideally combined by such a tree as linden, 
with beneficial properties. During heating, it releases a very pleasant aroma, which gives healing powers. It has a tree and other advantages that are the best suited for a bath:
- Linden is easy to handle.
- It does not crack over time, dries quickly and heats up for a long time.
- The tree gives a charge of positive energy, improves well-being and gives strength: moral and physical.
- Has a very reasonable price.
Linden has only one drawback - over time, the board darkens, losing its original color.
This disadvantage is absent in alder, which has a uniform and soft structure, a noble red-pink hue, and high resistance to moisture.
Healing properties are also characteristic of aspen. A board made from this wood variety takes away from a person all the emotional negativity that has accumulated over a long time. The availability and low cost of this building material puts it on a par with aspen in popularity. When choosing this tree variety, care must be taken, as it may have a marriage that is invisible upon inspection - rotting from the inside.
The record holder for useful properties and characteristics is the African Abashi tree. It has a high resistance to moisture, high temperature, heats up slowly, so it is not possible for anyone to get burned on it. The material has endurance and is presented in a wide range of colors: from pale yellow to light cream. In the list of positive qualities, there is only one drawback - the high cost.
The layout of the regiments includes three options: 
- Option 1 - stepped, suitable for family baths. Shelves are built against one wall in three tiers: the top shelf is the hottest, and the bottom one is the coolest.
- Option 2 - “L”-shaped, allows you to comfortably fit in a small-sized bath: two shelves are placed near the same wall from below and above, and the middle shelf is placed against the wall located next door.
- Option 3 - "coupe", is used in cases where space saving is in the first place. There are only two shelves that are mounted on top of each other, the top seat can be raised and fixed against the wall.
In the manufacture of shelves, certain parameters must be observed, since benches should not interfere with air circulation and the actions of visitors. The design of the shelves consists of components. 
- 1st element - support posts made of thick bars. The rack includes two vertical beams (the width of which corresponds to the size of the shelf), interconnected by means of jumpers every fifty centimeters.
- 2nd element - seats with a slight slope of 20. They do it as follows: boards are stuffed onto the frame, observing a gap of 2 centimeters. It should be borne in mind that the width of the board should be much greater than its thickness.
The frame must be processed: sanded and smoothed sharp corners. The manufacture of shelves for a bath is somewhat complicated by fasteners. It is necessary to fasten the frame without the use of screws or nails, as they can easily be burned. For this reason, the structure is connected with wooden wedges to pre-made holes located at the joints of the elements.
Before making shelves in the bath, they must be carefully processed: sand the surface and eliminate all existing sharp corners. To prevent rotting of the shelves, they must be impregnated with an antiseptic based on natural ingredients. Processing will avoid the release of chemicals when heated. 
First of all, in the manufacture of benches, we assemble the frame: each board is attached to the other using a horizontal strapping. For greater reliability, its racks are attached to the wall. For this, only wooden fasteners are used, self-tapping screws and bolts can only be used in places where contact with the skin is excluded.
The framework includes five racks and ten bars connected among themselves by a flooring from boards. When manufacturing, it is convenient to rely on the drawings.
If each board of the shelf is not processed, then due to the constant presence in a humid environment, mold and rot appear, the bench quickly becomes unusable. To avoid this, the structure must be impregnated with special means.
It is strictly forbidden to use such traditional chemicals as lacquer and drying oil, because when heating the bath shelves, due to the evaporation of chemicals, an unpleasant and pungent odor begins to be released. Contact with the skin, they can cause an allergic reaction. 
Currently, a special bath impregnation is on sale, based on essential oils that create a protective film. This tool allows you to effectively resist moisture, and protects the surface from premature aging.
With the help of such impregnation, it is possible to process not only benches, but also other wooden surfaces in the bath. Stronger mixtures are used for floors; they do not emit pungent chemical odors and harmful fumes.
Regiment care
Proper care of the shelf in the bath is a guarantee of cleanliness and health, because the issue of hygiene in the bath room is always relevant.
It is forbidden to use any modern detergents for washing shops; it is best to use well-known laundry soap. If the dirt is very strong, then abrasive material is useful for mechanical cleaning of the shelves.
The steam room is the heart of the bath, it has always been and always will be. Stretched out on a shelf, you will forget about all the troubles and problems, plunging into a relaxing atmosphere of bliss. By following all the tips for making shelves and caring for them, you can make them comfortable and reliable.
The level of comfort in the steam room largely depends on the functional characteristics of the shelf - its height, design features and material of manufacture. A convenient shelf for a bath can be done independently if you follow the basic rules.
Choosing the Right Material
For the manufacture of shelves and benches, it is recommended to use hardwood, and here's why: when it is heated, resin is not released, which can burn and stick to the skin.
It is important to choose wood that is resistant to high temperatures and moisture, in which case the shelves can last for many years. But the key criterion is the thermal conductivity of the material:
Wood with low thermal conductivity is the best choice as it won't overheat or burn the skin, allowing the user to lie directly on the boards without the use of a sheet.
The most popular types of wood for the manufacture of the shelf are aspen, linden and African oak abash.
Aspen is the most affordable material
In addition to the low price, aspen has certain healing properties. Traditionally, aspen is considered a tree that absorbs "negative energy".
Shelves made of aspen are quite durable and practical to use. But carefully select aspen - without internal rot.
Linden - the best in terms of price / quality ratio
It is ideal for making shelves and benches, and here's why:
- This wood is easy to process, looks aesthetically pleasing, exudes a light pleasant aroma when heated, creating a microclimate that is favorable for health.
- Even at high temperatures, the wood does not burn, it does not leave sweat stains.
- Linden shelves for a bath are quite durable - the material does not crack or rot over time, but it can darken.
Abash (African oak) - good, but expensive
It has high resistance to temperature and moisture, resistance to stress. Due to the low thermal conductivity, the abash heats up very slowly, so you can use the shelf without fear at any temperature in the steam room.
On sale you can find light and dark abasha wood. During operation, the material retains its original appearance, if it is pre-treated. But abash oak is an expensive material, alas.
The correct dimensions of the bath shelf
Often many attendants make shelves in several tiers, because "it's beautiful" or seen from others. But two or three tiered shelves with steps came from saunas, where they sit, not lie.
In a Russian bath, such options are not suitable - they interfere with the bather. It is desirable to carry out shelves in one level.
To make comfortable seats for sitting and lying, you should focus on the following proportions:
The height of the shelf in the Russian bath
The height of the shelf should correspond to the height of the soaring. So that the steamer does not have to bend down or, on the contrary, work with his hands at an uncomfortable height, the shelves should be located at the level of the thumb bone of the lowered hand. On average, this is a height of 70-80 cm.
It is advisable to leave a distance of at least 110 cm between the shelf and the ceiling of the steam room, in this case you can not only lie on the shelf, but also sit comfortably.
Lenght and width
The shelf should be comfortable for lying, so the length is at least 220 cm, so as not to rest your head against the wall and your legs do not hang down. Width - about 90 cm.
Shelves and benches in the steam room are located along the walls without windows, for the entire width of the wall. The number of shelves depends on the size of the steam room. If space permits, the width of the main shelf can be made for two - these will already be wards.
If space is limited, the “compartment” option is used - the bench and shelves are adjacent to the same wall, the shelf leans back and is fixed for the convenience of sitting on the bench. If necessary, the shelves return to their original position. Another option: the lower bench is retractable, and the shelves are fixed permanently.
Important design features of the shelf
- It is preferable to install structures that are open from the bottom so that they are well ventilated from below, do not interfere with the ventilation of the room and make it easy to clean the floor.
- In order for water to drain faster from the shelf, it is performed with a slight slope.
- Between the floor and the vertical racks of the shelf, plastic or dense rubber linings should be mounted - this will prevent the decay of the wood of the racks and extend the life of the structure.
- Bath shelves should look aesthetically pleasing, have a smooth surface and rounded corners of the boards. Structural elements must be tightly adjusted to each other so that the shelves do not stagger or creak.
Methods for fastening boards
Particular attention is paid to fastening the shelf boards and other external elements - it is important to exclude the possibility of accidental contact with the metal of screws or nails while using the steam room.
There are several mounting methods:
- The easiest and fastest way is to deeply sink the heads of self-tapping screws into the wood.
- Self-tapping screws can be attached to the back of the structures.
- The most time-consuming, but the most safe and environmentally friendly option is the use of oak wedges, which are hammered into pre-made holes.
If desired, a back is mounted on the wall to which the shelf is attached - usually these are three boards stuffed onto vertical racks of bars. The back allows you to comfortably sit on a shelf without fear of burning your back on the lining of the steam room. The back is made from the same material as the shelves. Between the boards should leave gaps for ventilation.
To increase comfort on the end wall, you can fill the blocks to support the legs: it is recommended that you lie on the shelf and raise your legs above your head so that they warm up faster.
The process of manufacturing a shelf with a retractable bench-lounger
This option is suitable for those who have a small steam room. The height of the steam room is 220 cm, width 180 cm, length 210 cm. This compact system of shelves fits on an area of 110x210x220 cm. The rest of the space is for the stove and for the steamer.
Costs For this shelf with a lounger, 16 lime boards of 210 cm each, bars for the frame, self-tapping screws, corners, impregnation for Tikkurila wood were used - all together costing about 6,000 rubles. Everything is made by hand.
The top shelf is mounted at a height of 113 cm. It is 69 cm wide and 210 cm long. The pull-out lounger is 49 cm wide and also takes up wall-to-wall space. The distance between the shelf and the lounger is 49 cm, thanks to which it is convenient to use the lounger as a footstool while sitting on the shelf.
Since the upper stationary shelf is located much higher than required by the standards, for the convenience of the soaring person, a bench of 3 boards, 36 cm wide, was additionally made. The distance between it and the shelf is 70 cm - this is quite a comfortable value.
Shelves for a steam room consist of two main elements: a supporting structure made of timber and flooring. The support is made of two bearing beams: they are installed along the width of the shelf and connected to each other by jumpers with a step of 50 cm:
One of the beams and the extreme transverse beams are attached to the corresponding walls by the entire plane, the second beam - by the ends. To fix the jumpers, grooves of the required size are made in the beams.
To support the second beam, in this case, special racks were used, based on the wall. To ensure a tight fit, the ends of the racks are sawn at the required angle. The structure is fastened with screws, two fasteners for each rack.
Thin, well-planed boards with rounded edges are stuffed onto the frame made. Between the boards, gaps 1-2 cm wide should be left to ensure a quick drain of water and the necessary ventilation during drying.
The frame was covered with boards, leaving gaps for water to drain (there is also a bench in the photo)
It is important to use boards whose width does not exceed four times their thickness - such material dries well and is not subject to cracking during operation.
In order to save space in the project under consideration, the width of the lounger is 69 cm, but it is recommended to make shelves at least 90 cm wide, for which you will need to use 7 boards.
The principle of manufacturing a retractable lounger is the same as that of a shelf - the frame consists of two longitudinal bars with transverse struts. 5 boards were used for flooring.
Retractable device
The design of the retractable "walking" mechanism requires special attention. How to make a folding shelf so that the lower lounger slides under the upper one? Bars are mounted to the end walls of the steam room. Axes are attached to them, and to the sidewalls of the lounger from the inside, on which wooden planks are put on - levers. At the slats, the corners should be filed (at least in the upper part) so that they do not interfere with the operation of the mechanism.
The thickness of the bars fixed on the wall must correspond to the thickness of the end elements of the lounger. In order for the planks to sit tightly on the axis and move without play, wooden washers are installed.
The mechanism allows you to effortlessly push the sunbed to a strictly defined distance, which in this case is 0.8 of the lever length. The lounger rests on legs in a fully extended or fully retracted position.
Such a retractable design is most suitable for steam rooms, in which the shelves and the lounger completely occupy the wall in length.
Protective wood treatment
Before using the steam room, it is necessary to process the wood from which the shelves are made. Frequent contact with hot moist air leads to the rapid destruction of the material, deterioration of its appearance. Competent prevention will help to avoid the appearance of mold and rot.
Attention! In no case should chemical agents be used to process the shelf, including the usual drying oil and varnish. Otherwise, when the temperature in the room rises, substances that have an unpleasant pungent odor and can cause an allergic reaction will be intensively released into the air.
It is recommended to use an impregnation specially designed for bath shelves and benches. It is made on the basis of natural oils and allows you to create a protective film on the outer surface of wooden structures without compromising the natural properties of wood. Such a product is odorless and does not emit harmful fumes when heated.
A cheaper and more affordable option is edible flaxseed oil, which can be purchased at the grocery store. Hot oil is applied with a brush to the wood, it is recommended to rub it well.
It is advisable to process the shelves by warming up the stove in the steam room well - the oil polymerizes under the influence of high temperature. With another method of processing, cold oil is rubbed in, and then the surface is heated with a building hair dryer.
"Furniture" in the bath does not shine with any decorative delights. Its main goal is maximum functionality and providing vacationers with full comfort. It is customary to make any benches or shelves in a bathhouse from natural wood - this is an ideal material for a steam room, which is highly environmentally friendly, easy to process, traditional and very attractive in appearance.
You can easily make shelves in the bath with your own hands. Thanks to the simple design of such a kind of "furniture", even a non-professional will be able to produce it in a short time with high quality and much cheaper than if the shelves were bought in a store or made to order at a factory.
Peculiarities
It is impossible to imagine a traditional village bathhouse without shelves: often multi-tiered, resembling a wide-step ladder. In another way, such shelves are called canopies. They are an integral part of any steam room.
Shelves, or canopy is a wooden flooring- a kind of elongated multi-tiered shop located along one or more walls of the room. So that you can relax in the steam room, such shelves are made in such a way that even a large tall person can lie quietly on them. In addition, a multi-tiered shelf allows vacationers to independently choose the most comfortable temperature regime for them.
Bath shelves can be divided into three types. The most common option are shelves used as benches; they are suitable for both small steam rooms and spacious large rooms. Beds are not as popular as benches, but are also found in a variety of baths. And finally, the third type of bath shelves - sun loungers. They practically do not differ from beach chairs, and they can be used with equal success both as a couch and as an armchair, which makes them very functional, although far from the traditional design of the bath.
The design of the shelf is extremely simple. Decorative elements are not welcome, as they can cause injuries, and they simply break out of the traditional external design of the steam room. Simplicity and a small selection of forms of shelves is easily explained: it is customary to allocate a small room for a bath, which can be easily, quickly and quite economically and without spending extra resources to warm up. Therefore, the most beloved by the masters is the ordinary rectangular shape of the shelves.
Material selection
Before proceeding with the manufacture of the shelf, it is worth taking a closer look at the materials, wood, from which they can be made. Not all tree species are suitable for making “furniture” for a bath out of them. After all, they will have to undergo temperature changes and, in principle, a very high temperature regime. Add to this increased humidity, and it becomes clear that few breeds will be able to withstand such extreme conditions.
Suitable breeds should have three main properties. Firstly, such boards must be resistant to ignition (accordingly, the content of various resinous compounds in them must be minimal), high temperatures and humidity. Secondly, in order to make it comfortable for those who have a rest in the bathroom to sit and lie on them, they should not have high thermal conductivity. And thirdly, in order to avoid delamination of chips and the appearance of splinters among vacationers, the rocks must be very dense and not layered.
Several types of trees are most suitable, which can be literally listed on the fingers. Most often it is customary to use linden, aspen, larch in the manufacture of shelves. But the use of conifers (unless, of course, the tree has previously undergone special processing, of which the master is sure), is categorically not recommended. Indeed, due to the resin content, coniferous trees are not only combustible, but also respond to high temperatures by releasing these same resins, which can cause thermal burns.
Linden boards are very easy to process, pleasant to look at, and also resistant to all kinds of stains. They almost do not rot or crack, and when heated, they begin to exude a pleasant woody smell. In addition, linden lends itself very well to processing, and is relatively inexpensive compared to other types of wood. The only thing that can be considered a disadvantage is that with prolonged use in rooms with high humidity, the tree begins to darken.
Aspen boards are generally considered one of the best materials for the production of bath furniture. This is also a very budget option, characterized by durability. Initially, this tree is not very knotty, so it is not very difficult to process it. Unfortunately, the main drawback of this material is its predisposition to rotting of the fibers inside the timber, imperceptible at first glance. Therefore, you need to carefully approach the choice of such boards.
The most expensive, but convenient and popular material for baths is African oak - abachi. This material, which is represented by colors of both dark and light tones, has amazing strength and poor thermal conductivity: it heats up very slowly, and therefore protects those resting on the abachi shelves from any, the most minor burns, even at very high temperatures. This material, which is important, is also resistant to mechanical damage, and hence one of its main drawbacks follows - the difficulties associated with the initial processing of abachi beams and its high cost.
Sometimes birch boards are also used as a material. This wood is not characterized by increased strength, does not survive high humidity well, is prone to rotting and the formation of fungi. Of course, with proper and consistent processing, the characteristics of birch increase significantly, but in any case, it is not recommended to use it in a bath.
Despite the fact that experts advise avoiding conifers in the interior of baths, cedar can be a good material for shelves. Like all conifers, cedar produces resin, so its boards must be treated in a special way, that is, completely free from any resinous substances. At the same time, the cedar will not lose the pleasant smell of natural wood. It is resistant to rotting processes, strong and durable, and its surface has a peculiar woody pattern.
Preliminary removal of resinous elements will allow you to use any coniferous wood for shelves. If the owner is not afraid of the difficulty of finding properly processed boards, then the furniture can be made from spruce or pine. However, in no case should pre-treatment be neglected, otherwise, under the influence of high temperatures, the minerals and resins contained in coniferous trees will begin to flow out of the boards in the most literal sense.
Quite a profitable solution often turns out to be shelves made of larch. It almost does not emit resins, has a pleasant sweet smell and a very beautiful wood pattern. The only drawback is its high thermal conductivity: it will not be easy to sit on such a shelf in a hot steam room.
The wood pattern in itself is an excellent decoration for the steam room., therefore, no paint is used for the shelves. Moreover, under the influence of high temperatures, the paint can begin to peel off and release toxic substances. And in order to protect wooden products from the formation of fungus, mold and decay processes, you can use a variety of water-based impregnations: they are resistant to high temperatures and perfectly protect wood.
The main requirement that applies to all varieties of trees, whichever is ultimately recognized as the most preferable: the selected material should not have knots or they should be removed without the danger of weakening the strength of the structure.
In addition, it is very important to make a correct calculation of the selected material. The minimum cross-section of the beam, which will be used to create the supporting frame of the future regiment, should be 50x70 mm. Boards that are planned to be used to connect parts of the supporting structure must have a cross section of 20x80 mm or more. The thicker the timber, the better, because the more weight it can withstand, and this is very important for multi-tiered structures. For flooring, thinner and narrower boards with a thickness of 10 mm or more are selected.
Sizes and shapes
The dimensions of the shelves depend, of course, on the size of the room, which it was decided to take under the bath. For a steam room, complex tiered structures in three steps are often chosen, however, a traditional Russian steam room should have two rows of shelves. In addition to traditionality, this is the easiest and most convenient option for building it yourself.
In general, the dimensions of the shelf are determined depending on the average height of the visitors to the bath.
Height
The minimum height of the room in which the steam room is located is 210 cm, otherwise the formation of steam and heating of the room may not work properly. The shelf (or its middle part, if we are talking about a multi-tiered structure), in turn, should be located approximately at the same level as the thumb of the hand down. Therefore, its average height will be about 80 cm. As for the upper tiers, the distance between the uppermost shelf and the ceiling should not be less than 120 cm: this will provide the visitor with enough space, regardless of whether he will enjoy bathing procedures sitting or lying down .
In some compositions, the height of the shelves themselves is determined by slightly different values. So, the lower tier from the floor must be at least 30 cm in order to provide furniture with maximum natural ventilation. It is better if the average height of the shelves is on average from 40 to 60 centimeters, although in the end it depends on the number of shelves.
By length and width
The minimum long shelf, which should provide comfort to a person lying on it with legs bent at the knees, according to the standard, is about one and a half meters. If the dimensions of the room allow, then the length of the shelf increases to 1.8 m: this size will allow the vacationer to lie down without bending his legs. But each person has his own height, therefore the optimal shelf length is considered to be 220 cm.
The minimum shelf width is 40 cm. As a rule, such dimensions have shelves located on the lower tier. It is very rarely used for sitting, mainly its purpose is to serve as a stand under the feet of a resting person. But if necessary, the lower shelf can become a place where you can cool off perfectly after the heat of the upper tiers.
The most popular shelf seat size is 60 cm. This width allows you to comfortably sit in the bath, but, unfortunately, it may not be enough for a comfortable lying. Therefore, 95 cm is considered the most convenient width. On such seats, a vacationer can sit across the shelf, legs crossed, or can lie quietly.
The dimensions indicated here are usually enough for a tall and large person to comfortably fit on the shelf. If the room of the bath room allows, then the furniture can be large - in the end, it all depends on the individual needs and wishes of the owner of the bath. Another thing is that it is categorically not recommended to take sizes smaller than those indicated, because in this case the shelves will simply be uncomfortable.
After the main dimensions of the shelves are determined, you can proceed to consider the various forms of this design.
Stepped canopies- This is perhaps one of the most popular types of furniture for a steam room. Shelves are arranged along one of the walls in several tiers - usually two or three tiers, so that the degree of heating increases as the height increases. The topmost tier should be placed higher than the heating boiler or traditional oven, but the above distance of 120 cm should remain between it and the ceiling to ensure maximum comfort for the seated person.
Corner or L-shaped canopies- This is also a fairly common version of the internal composition of bath furniture. Wooden shelves are located on one side opposite the heating boiler or stove, and the second - on one of the free walls. The height of such shelves can be selected individually, because this is the most successful option for small rooms in which functionality must be combined with space saving.
Canopy coupe- this is not the most popular design option for the interior space of the bath, but it is very interesting in itself. In addition, such a composition is spatially extremely beneficial for small spaces. Two shelves are located opposite each other - just like in ordinary compartment cars of trains. Also, as in trains, the upper shelves can be made folding, this will also help save space.
Typically, the frame, which subsequently needs to be covered with flooring boards, is constructed from support posts that resemble peculiar bench legs connected by jumper boards. However, shelves can be made without legs - then the main support will be on the walls to which the furniture will be attached.
The flooring itself consists of densely packed and carefully sanded boards., approximately according to the same principle, the back of the seat is also constructed. The distance between them should be from 1 to 2 cm. An interesting and beautiful solution, by the way, would be to install a multi-colored backlight in the gap between the boards.
Sometimes a special, most often removable, headrest is also made separately from the bed. This wooden device gives the vacationer the opportunity to sit on a couch with real convenience, allows you to relax the muscles of the spine and neck. The design of the headrest itself is simple and does not contain many elements: if desired, it can also be assembled independently along with shelves.
Multistage
At first glance, the arrangement of shelves may raise some questions, for example, why are they in most cases a multi-stage design.
The reason is actually very simple. When heated, water vapor and hot air rise up, while the temperature near the floor is much lower. Thus, each user will be able to independently choose in which temperature regime it is more convenient for him to be: at the bottom, where it is not so hot, or at the very top of the steam room “pyramid”, where the temperature is as high as possible. Therefore, if the owner of the steam room decided to make shelves with his own hands, then it is strongly not recommended to deviate from the usual stepped structure.
It is worth noting that in small steam rooms the lower tier is often placed almost at floor level, which allows you to create natural ventilation and make it most effective. It is also important to remember that the upper tier will be made wider than the lower ones (so that it can be used as a couch), while the distance to the ceiling from the couch should not be less than 100-120 cm.
Location
After the dimensions of the future shelf are determined, you can begin to plan the location of the bath furniture. It is worth remembering that, for example, in a traditional Russian bath, it is customary to steam while lying down, and the shelves consist of one or two tiers. Another thing is the Finnish sauna, in which visitors, as a rule, take a steam bath while sitting. There should be at least three tiers, which means that the distance from the lower tier to the ceiling should be much greater.
A correctly drawn up diagram before starting installation work should greatly facilitate the work of the master and subsequently will allow vacationers in the sauna or bath to enjoy the steam room with maximum comfort. The diagram should display all the dimensions of the room, as well as note where the equipment, door and window openings are located.
It is necessary to take into account many nuances, such as the fact that it is absolutely impossible to install curtains under walls with windows, because due to hot steam and high temperature, the glass can crack and injure vacationers.
Shelves can have original frame legs, on which the flooring will be stuffed. However, this is not a prerequisite, but only one of the options. You can make shelves without racks, then the wooden frame will be attached directly to the wall.
It is important to remember that the shelves in no case should fit snugly against the walls. After all, free air circulation is very important for bath wooden furniture, which provides the tree with complete drying and protects it from the processes of decay and the formation of fungus and mold. Therefore, during the installation process, a gap of about 10 cm is left between the flooring and the wall (previously, pieces of timber are attached to the wall, to which other frame elements are subsequently attached). Self-tapping screws, with which fastening is made, should be carefully drowned in wood so that their caps do not remain on the surface.
It cannot be said that the options for the shelves are very diverse, however, if necessary, depending on the size of the bath room, you can choose the most suitable furniture. For small rooms, for example, you can find options that save space. Folding shelves are suitable, which are made in the manner of shelves in trains. Their other option is folding or sliding shelves. When assembled, they look like part of the wall and take up almost no space. There are also removable shelves, which, if necessary, can be brought into the steam room and put in place, or can be removed.
Walkthrough
As already mentioned, the shelves are not at all difficult to make with your own hands. It is enough to look at approximate drawings, catch the general principle and draw up your own scheme, taking into account the dimensions of the bath room.
In order to process the source material and build the desired structure from it, it will be necessary to stock up on a certain set of tools. It should include a tape measure, a hacksaw, a hammer and a mallet, a drill and a screwdriver, a chisel. It is preferable to use wooden nails for fixing the flooring. After all, metal nails will inevitably heat up and can ruin all the fun for vacationers. You can, of course, fix the boards with screws from the back of the structure, but this is quite difficult, unreliable and, moreover, requires a very accurate calculation, which a professional may not be able to make.
The number of supports required for the frame, which will be able to withstand the finished shelves, is determined depending on the final thickness of the wooden planks. So, if it was decided to take a board 22 centimeters thick, then the supports will be placed at a distance of 60 centimeters from each other.
In accordance with the drawing drawn up in advance, a sufficient amount of wood should be prepared, the tree itself must be of high quality, not have cracks, signs of decay and all kinds of notches and pods - the boards must be planed and sanded. For the supporting posts of the frame and flooring, it is recommended to take wood of the same species.
The thickness of the flooring boards is selected individually depending on their width. The best option is the case when the thickness of the board is four times less than its width.
The tree itself must first be carefully prepared: the material should not have clearly visible defects and any defects, knots, cracks and chips. In addition, it is customary to take wood of the same species for the frame and flooring.
There are several options for assembling a multi-tiered shelf, they do not differ much from each other and follow general principles. Below is just one of them - the traditional rectangular shelves.
Frame manufacturing
The frame in the case of a shelf performs the most important supporting function; this is the base on which the flooring is fixed from the same processed boards of fixed or removable flooring. These support bases in appearance and their purpose resemble the legs of an ordinary shop.
To make the frame, a large wooden beam is used., the dimensions and cross section of which are determined individually in each case. However, most often, in order to assemble the frame of the future regiment, it is advised to take a dozen pre-prepared beams with a total section of 5 by 7 cm, and also (if it was decided to make shelves with legs) 5 boards that will act as racks.
These support posts must be installed in a vertical position and fastened with rows of transverse jumpers. Sometimes the frame can be equipped according to the stair stringer method, and a very rare option is to install bath shelves without supports, immediately attaching them to the wall (as a rule, this is typical for Finnish saunas or baths built using similar technologies), and seats and sunbeds with In this case, they look like shelves and sunbeds attached to the walls, found in train cars.
Mounting
After the base of the frame is prepared for installation, it is time to directly attach the structure to the wall of the bath. The benches must be fixed with the obligatory observance of a gap of about 11 cm.
First, the frame of the upper tier is assembled. It is not forbidden to use self-tapping screws so that the frame does not fall apart. Then the first of the rows of load-bearing racks is attached to the wall, the distance between them is from 60 to 85 cm. A “step” is formed at the very top of the bar so that it can be fixed “in the lock”.
Opposite the bearing supports, a second row of racks is installed, and their tops are combined with a transverse beam. For reliability, the structure is assembled with metal corners, and then the supporting supports are “tied” with boards. The next levels are created in a similar way.
For flooring, thin narrow boards are usually taken. This will provide them with the ability to quickly dry out after using the steam room, which means it will once again protect them from possible decay.
Installation
Finally, when the frame of the future shelf is assembled, it is time to install it in the bath room. Previously (in order to provide the shelf with better stability and additionally protect it from moisture), special rubber gaskets are placed on the lower parts of the bars.
Then it's time to install the floorboards on the frame. Start fastening the base for the seats should be from the lower tier of the frame, while between the boards you need to leave small gaps from 1 to 2 cm. This is necessary to drain excess condensed water and provides free air circulation inside the wooden shelf, so that the structure will dry quickly and the possibility its destruction due to internal decay processes caused by high humidity will be significantly reduced.
Stuffing and fixing the boards to the frame would be preferable with wooden nails or pins. If, nevertheless, nails or self-tapping screws are used, then they must either be located on the inside of the flooring, or they must be “embedded” in the wood, deepened by a few millimeters in order to prevent thermal burns for vacationers that can spoil all the pleasure of bath procedures.
Not always, but the vertical space between the floor and the shelf seats can also be sheathed with rows of boards. However, it should be borne in mind that although such a design looks attractive, in reality it will only impede air circulation and complicate the cleaning process.
To ensure the most efficient drying of the seats, you can give preference to removable structures. Such loose flooring serves both as a seat and a couch. It is easy to remove from the established place and take out to dry. Seat backs, headrests are made according to the same principle - a kind of bath “pillows”, as well as all kinds of devices that help the bannik to take the most relaxed position, for example, placing the legs at the level of the head, or even higher.
Treatment
The final stage will be the processing of the resulting shelf with special compounds that will make its use more comfortable, as well as provide it with a longer service life. It is generally accepted that in a traditional steam room, wood should not be processed in principle, it is enough to carefully grind it. Indeed, with good ventilation, there may be no need for additional strengthening of the wood fiber, but extra insurance will never hurt, but it can guarantee furniture a long and high-quality service.
Benches in the first place (in fact, many craftsmen recommend doing this procedure with boards at the very first stages of preparing the frame in order to saturate the tree from all sides) must be impregnated with powerful antiseptics. After all, constant contact with moist and very hot air will inevitably contribute to the destruction of the tree. In addition to rotting, mold can form on the tree and fungi and many harmful organisms can develop.
One of the impregnation options can be natural impregnations, for example, simple linseed oil turns out to be the most budgetary and affordable option.
Often, antiseptic agents are used as impregnations., which give the wood moisture resistance and impregnate it through and through. An unexpected solution at first glance may be the use of bleaches: these special compounds not only protect the wood, but also restore its original color in case of darkening. In addition, there are special formulations designed for direct use in the sauna.
However, in no case should chemicals and varnishes be used as impregnation, and wooden flooring should not be coated with paint. Under conditions of high humidity and constant temperature changes, such substances will inevitably begin to decompose and release a variety of toxic substances. In addition to the unpleasant smell that can turn a steam room from a place of relaxation into a real torture, these substances can cause headaches and allergic reactions.
Naturally, before applying any reinforcing composition to a tree, the boards must be carefully sanded with sandpaper, cleaned of dust and debris left after grinding, and only then proceed to impregnation.
The first and most important rule that should be strictly observed is the obligatory drying and airing of the room after each session in the steam room. This will help protect wooden furniture from the harmful effects of excess moisture. By the way, the sauna stove will also help to dry the room, if, after completing the water procedures, leave it running for a while.
When airing the room, it is worth opening all doors and windows. while covering all water containers and tanks with lids.
A bath is a room in which, like in a bathroom, it is necessary to keep clean and carefully monitor internal hygiene. Of course, high temperatures protect the steam room from the appearance of all kinds of microbes and bacteria in it, but they are not able to protect the room from the appearance of dirt. Regular cleaning cannot be avoided. It will be necessary to wash off the remnants of dirt remaining on the shelves after the procedures, traces of condensate.
After the end of the bath procedures, it will not be superfluous to wipe the surfaces with a dry towel even if there is a backlight. This will not remove the moisture that has soaked into the wood, but it will greatly facilitate the drying of the outer surface of the shelves, which means it will speed up the drying inside the wood.
At the same time, taking into account the specifics of the bath room, i.e., its mostly wooden design, chemical cleaning agents cannot be used in the steam room. The best option is a simple laundry soap. It will be useful to use soft brushes. If there is heavy dirt on the tree that is not easy to remove, you can use sandpaper.
Also, in order to further protect the internal fibers of the boards from wood, it is necessary to re-impregnate the wood with special compounds, because over time they can evaporate.
The Finnish sauna has a high temperature - from 90° C to 110° C, humidity 10-25%. Fans of the Russian bath prefer a lower temperature of 40°C to 70°C, combined with a high humidity of 60-80%.
The Russian bath differs from the Finnish sauna not only in terms of temperature and humidity in the steam room. The fundamental difference between them is the different speed of the heated air flow, the use of birch and oak brooms in the Russian steam room.
While patting with a broom the steam bather lying on the shelf of the Russian steam room, the bath attendant occasionally raises the temperature, pouring water over the hot stones of the heater. Burning wet steam, escaping from the slightly open door of the heater, quickly rises to the ceiling and slowly cools down, settles - gradually fills the steam room.
- large distances between the boards of the benches are required;
- the seats are tilted to drain the water;
- to facilitate the cleaning of the bath floor, the side walls are not sewn up or made removable;
- you need a wide indentation of the bench from the wall of the steam room.
Differences in the main dimensions, height and arrangement of the shelves also add features to the soaring process itself.
IMPORTANT: in the Russian steam room, it is necessary to observe the ratio of the height of the shelf device and the distance to the ceiling.
The height of the upper lounger is made so that there is a distance of one meter between the crown of the head of a person sitting on the upper bench and the ceiling - for the normal swing of the attendant's hand with a broom gaining temperature in a cloud of steam.
The length of the shelves is regulated, which should be at least 220 cm, since it is desirable to take a bath procedure lying down, substituting the body for massaging strokes, stroking with a birch broom.
The traditional Russian bath has only one or two steps of shelves located along one of the walls of the steam room, a steamer lies on a wide (at least 90 cm) upper bench.
IMPORTANT: the benches of the Finnish steam room must be equipped with board backs so that the seated person does not burn the body on the hot wall cladding.
In the Finnish sauna, people sit more often than lie on the benches, so the distance to the ceiling is less, the length of the sunbeds is not so important.
You can often see special footrests on the walls in the sauna, usually raised above the level of the body of a person lying on the upper bench.
Since the air in the sauna must warm up quickly, the dimensions of the steam room are usually small, respectively, the bath shelves occupy the entire free perimeter of the walls, except for the wall with a door and a heater.
Bath shelves can be of several types:
- coupe - when beds in a small sauna are placed one above the other;
- complex bath shelves - with a retractable lower shelf or a folding upper shelf;
- in the shape of the letter "G", when the bath seats are placed on two adjacent walls;
- stepped shelves for spacious steam rooms have two or three steps, on which several steam lovers can comfortably sit.
Tree species used for the manufacture of racks, bath beds, backs
Wood plays an important role in the interior and design of the bath. Different types of wood behave differently at high temperatures and high humidity of the surrounding air. Therefore, you should carefully approach the choice of material for the manufacture of shelves.
| Wood | A photo | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pine and spruce |
| Pine and spruce may well be used for bath beds, provided the quality of the pre-dried board is excellent. Saunas in Finland itself are made from these tree species, tar secretions do not show through at high temperatures if the board is well dried and processed. Pine and spruce give a special coniferous aroma that favorably affects the general condition of a person. The rather high price of other types of wood makes many steam lovers give preference to wall coverings made from inexpensive pine boards - lining, bath shelves, backs. IMPORTANT: the only condition is the absence of knots or cracks on the surface of the boards, good drying quality of the material, carefully processed surface of the deck chairs. |
| Aspen |
| Aspen - used for the manufacture of bath shelves, as it does not emit resin when heated. It has a special fame among the people, like a tree that successfully resists evil spirits, bad energy. The high cost of the material does not allow the production and use of aspen bath seats, benches, and backs widely enough. |
| Linden |
| Linden is an excellent material for making bath beds. The structure of the tree is dense, has sufficient hardness, low thermal conductivity. Linden lends itself well to technical processing, the design details of the shelves and backs made of it are very durable. |
| Abash (abachi) |
| Abash is the most expensive and beautiful material for making bath beds. African oak is not afraid of the high temperatures of the sauna. Sun loungers made of it do not burn the human body, since the material has low thermal conductivity and heats up very slowly. A successful advertising campaign made abache the most purchased wood for making bath shelves and saunas in the homes of wealthy nouveau riche. |
Edged board prices
edged boards
Stages of manufacturing a bath shelf
Bath shelves can be made independently, if you follow a simple sequence of mounting beams and boards, carefully process the material, and securely fasten structural parts together.
IMPORTANT: the top boards of the couch must be attached to the bearing bars with oak wedges driven into holes pre-drilled in the parts. The use of metal nails or screws to assemble the lounger is unacceptable. Hot steel caps can cause severe burns to the surface of the body.
1. Installation of racks
The racks on which the bath lounger is located must ensure the stability and strength of the entire structure. Usually, from 4 to 6 racks 1.05-1.15 m long, with a section of 50x100 mm or 100x100 mm each, depending on the length of the shelf, are used to make the uppermost row of beds.
Frame of bath shelves (one of the options)
Between themselves, the racks are connected along the perimeter with rectangular bars 50X100 mm, on which the bearing bars and boards of the couch are subsequently attached. The racks are attached to the wall with long (20 cm) dowel-screws.
The bar for the top seat posts can be used unpolished, without cracks, chips. A gap of 0.1 m is made between the wall and the adjacent rack - inserting pieces of a thick board, for better circulation of hot air, improved ventilation of the shelf.
2. Assembly of the supporting structure of the shelf
The supporting structure of the upper shelf must withstand the weight of the boards of the bench plus the mass of people on top, so it is better to use a supporting beam with a section of 50x100 mm or 50x120 mm.
The upper row of the bearing beam with a section of 50x50 mm is attached across the length of the upper plane of the shelf every 0.5-0.6 m, depending on the thickness of the upper boards. The thinner the board, the more often the supporting bars should be placed so that the boards do not sag under the weight of the people sitting on them.
IMPORTANT: the bars must be fixed with a slight slope (1-2°) from the wall towards the steam room, for better moisture drainage from the wooden surface of the bath lounger.
The width of the upper shelf is ideally 0.9 meters for the convenience of bathers, but a reduction in size to 0.6 m is allowed.
Fastening can be carried out both with nails and with self-tapping screws.
3. The device of the upper couch
Smoothly planed and polished bench boards, 3 cm to 6 cm thick and 0.1 m to 0.24 m wide each, are laid on load-bearing bars at intervals of 1-2 cm, ensuring the free passage of hot air.
Fastening boards to the supporting structure must be done with wooden (oak) wedges in pre-drilled holes.
The boards located along the length of the bed look more aesthetically pleasing, but you can mount the boards of the upper row across the sunbed. In this case, the material is saved, since it is not necessary to punch through the supporting bars.
IMPORTANT: you can not fasten the boards of the couch with nails or screws, leaving hats on the surface of the benches. Only by drowning the metal parts of the fastener 5-10 mm deep into the board, you can achieve the safety of the steamer from possible burns.
4. The device of the lower shelf
When the height of the upper bath seat is 1.1 meters above the floor, for the convenience of the attendant with a broom, the lower bench is lowered by 0.7 m.
The lower shelf should be made at a distance of at least 0.3 meters from the floor - if it is used not only as a step for the attendant, but also as a full-fledged bath bench.
Most often, in a Russian bath, the lower step is made in the form of an attached bench with legs, which is removed for the time of cleaning the steam room. But the device of a fixed lower shelf is quite allowed.
To do this, it is necessary to attach four load-bearing wooden beams with a section of 50x100 mm to the uprights of the upper lounger at a height of 0.4 m from the floor surface, making them a kind of rectangle - the frame of the lower bench. This is done so that one part of the carrier rectangle protrudes beyond the surface of the upper shelf by a length of 0.4-0.6 m.
The supporting frame of the lower step can be attached to the main posts with nails 12 cm long or self-tapping screws. In the corner and in the middle of the frame of the lower bench, four racks supported on the floor are fastened with screws or nails, with a section of 50x100 mm or 100x100 mm.
Every 0.5 m, load-bearing bars with a section of 50x50 mm are packed. The boards of the lower shelf are attached to them with the help of wooden wedges hammered into pre-drilled holes.
How to make shelves in the bath - types of flooring for shelves
IMPORTANT: the surface of the benches is carefully polished. Boards should not have sharp corners, chips, cracks.
The boards should not be too wide, the optimal ratio of width to thickness is four. Board - fifty should ideally be 0.2 meters wide.
Video - Assembling a bath shelf with your own hands
After the construction of bath beds is completed, they must be impregnated with a protective solution, since the negative effects of water, air humidity, and high temperature destroy the structure of the tree quickly enough.
To protect wooden surfaces in the steam room, you must use environmentally friendly products, otherwise you risk your health. Wooden beds of Finnish saunas have long been impregnated with ordinary linseed oil, which perfectly protects against mold and fungus. Shelves of Russian baths were impregnated with a wax solution, which included purified turpentine and beeswax.
Ideally, you need to apply a wax solution or linseed oil in two layers. Drying time of one layer is about 8 hours.
Bath beds do not require preliminary preparation and processing, provided that the boards have been polished with high quality before. After applying protective impregnation, all wooden surfaces acquire water-repellent properties and a characteristic matte sheen.
The correct arrangement of the heater, the rational use of the steam room space, the cozy design of the relaxation room and the careful assembly of the steam room benches will bring health, joy and satisfaction from bath procedures.
Wood impregnation prices
impregnation for wood
Video - The process of making a bath shelf
Video - Do-it-yourself shelves for a steam room
Video - Sauna with sliding shelves
First of all, it should be noted that the shelves in the Russian bath are called differently. I have seen such accents: shelves, shelves, shelves, shelves. Personally, I prefer to say regiments.
As I wrote in my article "", most of the baths in our country are far from Russian baths, but are essentially dry-air steam rooms or saunas. Therefore, the shelves in these baths have a device far from the regiments of the Russian bath. In most baths, shelves are arranged in steps at two or three levels. The width of the shelves usually does not exceed 500-600mm. This design of the shelves is due to the fact that in saunas and dry-air steam rooms it is not customary to lie on the shelves, but it is customary to sit. In this article, I will only talk about the correct shelves in the Russian bath. And I highly do not recommend the widespread shelves in the form of steps at several levels in steam Russian baths.
In the steam room of the Russian bath, on the contrary, it is customary to lie down, and not sit. Moreover, the width of the shelves is usually selected from 850mm to 1200mm. On such wide shelves you can lie spread out, and not huddle in narrow spaces. In the Russian bath, it makes no sense to climb under the ceiling, as in saunas or dry-air steam rooms. Because the principle of soaring in Russian baths is completely different. Therefore, shelves in such baths are located on one, maximum two, levels.
What parameters should a canopy in a steam room in a Russian bath have? First of all, it should be wide from 850mm to 1200mm. This allows you to comfortably sit on it lying down. Highly recommend, don't skimp on shelf width! The length of the shelf should be at least 2 m, and preferably 2.2-2.5 m. An adult should fit freely on it lying down, without resting his feet against the wall.
The thickness of the shelf board is selected according to the principle "the thicker the better." The optimal thickness is 60-80mm. This is significantly thicker than the standard shelf boards sold around the world. And they are sold because in saunas and dry-air steam rooms the thickness of the board of the shelf does not really matter. But in the Russian bath, the thickness of the shelf is of great importance. The thicker the canopy, the more heat it can accumulate, and then gently give it to the person lying on it. There is no need to lay anything on the shelves in the steam room of the Russian bath. The shelves are always pleasantly warm, but not scalding, like all wooden surfaces in the steam rooms of the Russian bath.
A very important point is the height of the shelf. Many people think that it is better to make the canopy higher. But this is far from always correct and justified. The height of the shelf is measured from the surface on which the bather stands. If he stands directly on the floor of the steam room, then from the floor. If a wooden ladder is provided in the steam room, then from the surface of the ladder. I consider the correct height of the shelf to be the one that will correspond to the height from the floor or a wooden ladder to the level of the knuckles of a palm gathered into a fist with the bather's hand completely lowered. Usually it is 70-90 cm, depending on the height of the bather. Many novice lovers of the Russian bath are afraid of such a small height of the shelf from the floor. But you don't have to be afraid. Do not think that there will be no steam on such a low shelf. In the right bath, with the right bather, the steamer will catch up with steam on the steamer as much as necessary. And it's very good that the steamer is below the level of the steam cake under the ceiling. It is an indescribable pleasure when the steamer is in a soft zone with a relatively low temperature and where it is easy to breathe, and the steamer wraps him in a blanket of velvety and fluffy steam. When you need steam, you can catch up more, you can completely remove all the steam from the steaming zone. Such contrasts and different methods of working with the steam of good bathers make vaping an unforgettable experience. If the canopy is made higher than the size recommended by me, then it will be extremely difficult for the bather to soar with high quality. You will have to stretch to get all parts of the body with a broom, hold your hands high with brooms, and this contributes to the rapid fatigue of the bather and poor-quality steaming. The correct height of the shelf allows the steamer to correctly move the brooms without overloading the muscles of the arms and back and, accordingly, get less tired.
The canopy should be located so that it is comfortable for the bather to soar on it, there is free access along the entire length of the shelf and the distance from it should be at least 500mm.
Shelves are made from hardwood. The most popular tree for a regiment in the Russian bath is linden and aspen. It is impossible to make shelves from the newfangled now abash. This tree has a porous structure and practically does not heat up, which is contrary to the quality standards of the Russian bath. Also, coniferous wood is not used on the shelves because of the risk of resin release.
Many people ask what protective compounds should cover the shelves. Personally, I am against any coating of shelves in the Russian bath, especially newfangled impregnations for saunas. The tree must be alive and this is very important. Yes, the shelves darken quickly. But this is a noble color, indicating that they really use the bathhouse, and do not go there like a museum. Maximum, you can cover the shelves with hot natural linseed oil. The technology of such impregnation can be found on the Internet. This coverage needs to be updated periodically. But I personally do not see any sense in it, especially if the bath is a family one.
It is very important to keep the shelves clean. Otherwise, unpleasant odors will settle in the steam room, which will then be difficult to get rid of. If we are talking not about a public, but about a family bath, I strongly do not recommend washing the shelves with any chemical detergents. After each bath, it is enough to thoroughly wipe the shelves with a specially allocated terry towel soaked in hot water. To wash the shelves efficiently, it is necessary to press the towel firmly enough during wiping and wipe with wide sweeping movements. Attention! This procedure must be carried out after each bath! Don't be lazy. It is enough not to wash the shelves a couple of times and an unpleasant smell in the steam room is guaranteed. It is better to wash the shelves while they are still warm.
Many 
they sew how to properly make a support frame for shelves, what kind of wood to make it from, whether to make supports on the floor. I answer. The frame of the shelves can be made from any wood, you can rest on the floor, you need to design the framedo what is safer and more convenient. There are no universal and correct frame schemes. Some make folding shelves, for ease of cleaning or saving space in the steam room. Many people ask whether it is necessary to sew up the frame of the shelves from below, thinking that this reduces the cubic capacity of the steam room and it is easier to warm it up. I am against sheathing a frame for shelves from below with a board. This makes cleaning under the shelves impossible. And if we consider that lying on the shelves we emit sweat that drips onto the floor and accumulates there, it is necessary to wash the floors under the shelves after each bath.
It is very important to follow a number of rules when designing a shelf in terms of its adjoining to the walls of the steam room. There must be a gap of 3-5 cm between the wall and the shelf board. In no case should the shelf board be adjacent to the wall closely! This contributes to the rapid decay of the wall in the area of the junction of the shelf. Also, there must be a gap of 3-5 cm between the boards of the shelf.
The supporting frame of the shelf and the ends of the boards of the shelf itself should in no case be adjacent to the wall. If the shelf boards are 60mm or more thick, they can be fixed to the wall without any frame or floor supports. Boards of this thickness do not bend under the weight of steamers. A support bar is attached to the wall and shelf boards are already attached to it. Since the support bar cannot be fixed close to the wall, it is fixed through spacers. Spacers are usually metal washers or nuts. If a support frame is used for a shelf, then its racks and supporting surfaces are also attached to the wall through spacers. This is necessary so that the air passes freely through the structure of the shelf and the wall, and the wood of the wall at the junction of the shelf does not rot.
The shelf board is attached to the supporting surface only from below! You should not screw the self-tapping screw through the shelf board, as its head can heat up and create unpleasant sensations upon contact with the body of the steamers.
Location 
The division of regiments in the steam room is most often done with the letter "G". A working canopy is selected, on which they will soar. This is usually the longest shelf with the most convenient approach to it for the bather. The second canopy is usually calledheating. There, during soaring, you can place another person who will warm up while the steamer is working with another visitor steam room on the working shelf. The heating canopy can be made higher than the working one. But this is not always advisable, especially if space in the steam room does not allow. If there is enough space in the steam roomoh, then you can organize auxiliary shelves for tubs and brooms, children's, lower shelves, and so on. If the shelves are arranged in two tiers, then steps or stable benches should be provided for the convenience of climbing and descending from them.