Aspen has many properties. But not every builder will be happy if he receives an order to build a building from this tree.
Positive properties of aspen
However, it's not all bad. Aspen also has positive qualities, thanks to which it can be used in construction.
First positive attribute aspen - good strength. If the wood is well dried, then in this very important indicator it can even be compared with concrete. And over time, the aspen building only gets stronger, becoming heavier.
Another equally important positive property of aspen is moisture resistance and, accordingly, resistance to rotting. If the tree itself grows in a humid environment and inevitably rots during its growth, then its wood can withstand the negative effects of moisture for quite a long time. If dried aspen boards accidentally fall into humid environment, they may temporarily lose their properties. But then, when they become dry again, all the lost properties will be restored.
Another positive property of aspen is its ability to exude pleasant aroma. It is less tart than the smell coniferous trees, and does not increase when the air in the room is heated. Therefore, bathhouses are often built from aspen, and the walls of the steam room are lined with aspen boards.
And finally, one cannot fail to mention such a property of aspen lumber as low price. True, there is also more expensive aspen, which belongs to a high class, and not everyone can afford it.
Negative properties of aspen
Often professionals even refuse to work if they know that they will have to deal with aspen. After all, many properties of wood of this species are negative.
First of all, it is worth mentioning such a negative property as the excessive amount of moisture contained in the structure. The core of the aspen trunk, as a rule, rots because of this. Moreover, the process of decay occurs even before the tree is cut down. But this is just the beginning of all the problems. When delving deeper into the processing process, it turns out that only the top of the tree trunk is suitable for this. It can reach a length of four meters. The same moisture contained in the structure makes aspen wood dry. As a result, one edged board has a very large weight.
In any case, if a person chooses to build his house or for repair work Aspen wood, then more than half of the purchased boards will have to be simply thrown away, since they will not be suitable for work at all. Many of them will be crooked. And only a small percentage of aspen boards can be subjected to further processing.
The wood, known in Rus' as “trembling poplar,” has many controversial opinions. You can’t build a house from aspen; the tree is inhospitable, cold, and crooked. A small bathhouse you can cut it down. But is it necessary in modern realities? The appearance of the aspen is too unsightly. It is undesirable to be guided by beliefs in antimicrobial and disinfecting properties alone (this is due to a persistent smell of rot).
Aspen tree - comes from the poplar genus (willow family). Its standing value as commercial timber is questionable. The quality is very different even on the same type of soil. Every second tree is rotten from the inside. Therefore, aspen is bought at the price of firewood. The cost of a cube is 700-1000 rubles. A significant number of trees suitable for construction (30-40 years old) have a trunk that is rotten from the inside or is damaged in the process. For example, for a small chapel at Lake Peipus in 2004, carpenters spent a month selecting aspen timber. A minor plus of aspen is that the moderate curvature of the tree trunk due to its strong curvature is not very pleasing. This breed, unlike conifers, is never straight.
We must give the aspen its due - a fallen tree does not become weaker over time. Provided that it was initially healthy. Aspen can be buried in the ground. Not very afraid of water, just covered with a slimy coating unpleasant smell. The walls of the log bathhouse made of aspen will need to be scraped from time to time. To be fair: under the outwardly unsightly " protective coating", which appears when exposed to moisture, hides white wood that does not ignite easily. Fire protection is not required for aspen logs. Street walls Over time they acquire a characteristic gray-silver tint. An aspen frame cracks in the same way as a pine/spruce frame. Needs caulk. After sanding, the log looks much more attractive.
It is believed that it is better to harvest aspen for logs in the spring, when the buds swell, indicating the beginning of sap flow in the trunk. Moreover, first stain the logs for a month in the shade or in standing water. Aspen, unlike oak (which is also stained, although without access to oxygen), this only makes it stronger. A carpenter's ax bounces off, the wood becomes so ossified. The chainsaw quickly dulls on fresh aspen, and dust rather than sawdust flies out from under the tire.
In practice, log houses made of this breed look much more advantageous (more neat, snow-white, smell of grass) in winter time. In winter, by analogy with conifers, it is easier to trim aspen than to debark it. The debarker doesn't take it well.
There is a misconception that wood is not damaged by pests. The large aspen beetle Xylotrechus rusticus (pictured) and the large aspen creaker Saperda carcharias specialize in aspen and poplars. With their larvae.
There is no resin in the aspen trunk. Which is good only for the operation of a freshly cut bathhouse. U coniferous pine/ ate some time after the first burning of the contents resin pockets is melted out. The result is a strong smell of turpentine. There is no such smell in the aspen steam room. Therefore, the atmosphere of the steam room is regarded as soft, the steam is not burning, enveloping, as if covered with a warm duvet.
This breed does not conduct heat well through walls. The sauna does not warm up for a long time, independently distributing heat from the heating zone along the wood fibers throughout the entire log house. But the aspen canopy does not burn the skin. Wood does not breathe; to avoid dampness, the premises must be well ventilated after visiting. What are the advantages of a log house made of spruce for a bathhouse, in contrast to aspen - the ability of the wood to be taken outdoors independently excess moisture+ natural air convection through the walls.
In everyday life, the common aspen is a cursed tree (possibly due to the characteristic whisper of leaves) during its use it has acquired a trail of plausible and not so plausible myths and superstitions. From the ability to take away mental anguish and draw out illness from the human body, to the fight against evil spirits(aspen stake). In the old days, people used to rule, tell fortunes, and steam in aspen baths to protect against damage and the evil eye. Got rid of melancholy and depression. As actually happens in any Russian bathhouse. It is considered useful to lean your head against an aspen tree. The pain and anxiety go away. If only every tree were healthy...
Aspen - traditional material, often used in the construction of baths. The building is built from solid logs or timber. During the preparation process, the material is dried in drying chamber. During construction, it must be taken into account that an aspen log house for a bathhouse must meet certain requirements.
Features and properties of aspen
This tree usually grows in swampy areas, due to which its wood is succulent and susceptible to disease and rot. The lifespan of aspen is 90 years, some trees grow up to 150 years. For the construction of baths and other buildings in Rus', trunks aged 45-55 years were used. The material was harvested at a certain time of the year, since the minimum humidity of the trunks is observed from August to November autumn.
Interesting fact! IN Ancient Rus' a certain mystical image was placed on the aspen. People believed that a tree of this species absorbs negativity and scares away evil spirits, so a bathhouse made from an aspen log is a symbolic place where one can obtain purity of body and spirit.
IN different time year, the moisture content in wood changes by 50%. Moreover, the humidity indicator along the trunk is different; there is much more water at the top of the tree than at its base. Another feature of this tree species is that the degree of trunk shrinkage is 40-55%. Therefore, they are used exclusively for construction quality logs, which are dried and treated with chemicals.
Helpful information! To ensure the attractiveness and durability of a house or bathhouse made from aspen logs, antiseptics are used to treat lumber.
During drying, half of the trunk is deformed, and 4.5 m of the felled tree is used in construction. Longer timber, logs and boards from aspen are “twisted” more often than shorter lumber. Therefore, the harvesting of rounded aspen logs is not very profitable for domestic woodworking enterprises.
Helpful information! In production, aspen is dried using a special “water hammer” method; as a result of its use, moisture comes out slowly, the wood dries evenly and does not rot.
When drying wood yourself, you need to leave not many upper branches, and you need to make longitudinal cuts along the length of the trunk. The logs selected for construction can be used to build a bathhouse only after 6 months. For this reason, harvesting aspen is a technically complex and lengthy process. When purchasing, you need to choose dry and even lumber, checking each log for core looseness and rot.
Positive qualities and benefits of aspen
According to experts, aspen has a number of unique properties and advantages:
- Aspen logs have a uniform structure. It can be processed independently, in any direction and without the use of special tools.
- Aspen boards have a fine-fiber structure and high density. Due to this, the logs are moisture resistant, and the timber becomes stronger when in contact with water.
- High resistance to wood abrasion after hardening and drying. This quality makes aspen buildings and products one of the most durable and durable.
- Well-dried and well-processed aspen timber does not rot when the material gets wet. This lumber is excellent for the construction of rooms with high humidity.
- Aspen wood contains antimicrobial substances, so it is not susceptible to mold and insects do not grow in it.
- Wood contains phytoncides that destroy microbes and cleanse the human respiratory system. The aspen sauna provides clean and fresh air.
- Healing properties of aspen. As bathhouse attendants note, after visiting an aspen bathhouse, there is an increase in body tone and improvement general condition health.
- Aspen log has an aesthetic light shade with an original pattern and does not require decorative processing. Even without windows and little lighting the room looks bright, cozy and stylish.
- Compared to lumber from other tree species, aspen logs, beams and boards are inexpensive.
Due to moisture resistance, strength, resistance to drying out and others positive qualities Aspen lumber is often used for the construction of bathhouses and other wet rooms. The advantages of using aspen wood as a building material are combined into the main advantage - a bathhouse made from aspen logs improves over time performance characteristics and will serve its owners for several decades.
Disadvantages of aspen
Like any lumber, aspen timber and boards have disadvantages. When choosing raw materials for the construction of a bathhouse and other buildings, the following disadvantages of wood should be taken into account:
- High percentage of shrinkage. After drying, an aspen log house decreases in size by 40-50%, so when purchasing blanks you must choose seasoned wood, otherwise it will deform and the structure of the bathhouse will shrink.
- Most mature trees have a trunk that is not tall enough or is rotten. If you do not notice this defect when purchasing logs, the structure will rot in 1-2 years.
- More often than not, aspen trunks do not meet the required quality standards. This significantly complicates wood harvesting, since a lot of time is spent searching for suitable wood.
- Aspen timber has a specific smell emanating from wood fumes. If you don’t like it, it’s enough to finish the walls of the room with clapboard made of a different material.
- Lumber requires significant shrinkage. If the manufacturer sells timber that is not ready for use and is not fully dried, then after it dries, the structure of the bathhouse may be damaged.
- The seasonality of aspen wood harvesting does not allow us to order lumber at any time of the year. It is better to process aspen in the spring, after the appearance of tree sap.
- Unlike birch, pine and linden, aspen wood shrinks when dried. The trunk becomes thinner, and if drying is not done well, it can become deformed - curl or crack.
Helpful information! It is necessary to cut the recesses for aspen logs carefully, otherwise wood materials may crack. The best option- use the “paw” cutting method.
Owners of aspen baths and saunas often emphasize positive sides lumber. It is recommended to take into account the disadvantages of this type of wood when choosing wood. This will avoid mistakes that affect the quality and durability of the structure.
How to build a log house from aspen for a bathhouse yourself?
The construction of a bathhouse must begin with a competent choice of raw materials. It is especially important that a do-it-yourself aspen log house for a bathhouse meets the following requirements:
- The length of the workpiece should be no more than 4.5 m. More often, for aspen log houses, they take the top of an adult tree with a small number of knots, which is 40-50 years old.
- When choosing a material, you need to pay attention Special attention in place, pay attention to the place where the trunk is cut. The core should be dense on both sides, intact, without any signs of rotting.
- Tree felling must be carried out in humid areas of the middle latitudes of Russia. In this way, you will be able to prepare a high-quality log house.
- A tree of excellent quality, which was cut down in a swampy area, has special characteristics. The timber will quickly become strong, similar to monolithic concrete.
Helpful information! Experts and owners of aspen baths recommend using not finished timber, but rough-hewn blanks. They are cheaper and, if necessary, easier to process.
Having studied the properties and characteristics of aspen, some owners country houses consider it inappropriate to use a tree of this species for the construction of a bathhouse. Some bath attendants choose aspen, which is characterized by resistance to moisture, temperature changes, as well as the influence of external and internal influences.
You can prepare lumber yourself, taking into account the recommendations of experts:
- It is advisable to choose mature trees 40-50 years old that grow in a place that is not very wet. This will reduce the risk of using rotten trunks in the construction of a bathhouse.
- Harvesting is best done during the period of sap flow, then the tree can be cut down without special labor and it is easy to process.
- To properly dry the log, the bark and branches must be left on the bark. Then the buds will absorb moisture and due to this the leaves will bloom, which will ensure natural drying of the wood. The bark will prevent the aspen log from deforming.
- During the drying stage, it is important to prevent sun rays for workpieces. Otherwise, an aspen log house for a bathhouse will quickly dry out, which will cause cracking and deformation of the trunk.
To build a bathhouse, it is necessary to choose materials that can withstand temperature changes and high humidity. Aspen is often used. A sauna and steam room made from a log of this tree meet the operational and safety requirements. The article describes the pros and cons of a bathhouse made of aspen, gives advice on how to choose the material, and what nuances need to be taken into account during construction. In Rus', linden and aspen served as building materials. Spruce species were rarely used: drops of resin appeared on the surface. Nowadays pine and spruce are used for the construction of baths, but the premises must be lined with clapboard. Aspen boards are easy to process. For this she was and is loved by master carvers. A mystical image was placed on the tree. It was believed that the breed scares away evil spirits and takes away everything bad: the bathhouse is a place where a person acquires purity of body and spirit. Aspen wood: When using aspen as a building material, you will get a bathhouse that will last for several decades, increasing its performance characteristics over time.
Disadvantages that must be taken into account when choosing raw materials for construction: Aspen materials undergo a forced drying process using water hammer. Moisture leaves the raw material slowly, this promotes uniform settling of fibers without the formation of deformations and cracks. Construction of a bathhouse should begin with the right choice raw materials. Signs of a good timber: If a tree is cut down in a swampy area, it has good quality, then the timber will gain strength faster. Aspen is cut at the root from February to April, when the buds swell on the tree. Harvesting occurs in the second half of spring, from April to May. The felled tree is stacked and left for initial drying. Leaves bloom on the branches over time. They take away excess moisture from the base. After the branch has formed, the knots are removed. The prepared log is left in a shady place for a year. During this period, compaction and uniform drying of the wood occurs. In order for the process to be carried out correctly, the ends of the trunks are covered with clay. This will slow down the evaporation of moisture. The material will be ready in a year and a half. Treated boards made of any wood are suitable for making shelves, entrance doors, and intersection doors. The material is also useful for lining the floor and ceiling. Before you begin assembling the bathhouse, you need to create a project for the future structure. To do this, it is not necessary to contact specialists; you can make your own diagrams with designations of the dimensions of structures and openings. Several rooms should be provided: a sauna, a washing room, a dressing room. If conditions do not allow, the steam room and sink are combined into one space. Work process: Aspen belongs to the willow family of the poplar genus. Like all other representatives of this genus, the breed is short-lived. On average, aspen lives about 70 years, although 150-year-old centenarians are also found. Of all the types of poplars, it is the most unpretentious to natural and climatic conditions; it grows both in floodplain meadows and on dry soils. It is characterized by high frost resistance; it can be found even beyond the Arctic Circle. However, it has the highest productivity and persistence on rich and moist soils. Aspen is a slender tree up to 35 m high, with a trunk diameter reaching one meter, and sometimes more. Root system branched, but not penetrating to great depth. The bark is smooth, greenish-gray. It grows throughout the CIS, and in terms of area it occupies it is second only to birch. Mature standing trees are often affected by rot, so aspen wood is harvested from trees up to 30-50 years old. The tree is a sapwood species, straight-grained, and has a texture without a pronounced pattern. The surface of the wood is shiny and smooth. Tree rings are visible in sections due to the fact that there is a strip between them yellow color. The medullary rays are very small and invisible. Only on radial sections can they be seen in the form of shiny stripes. The color of the wood is very light, almost white, sometimes with a slight bluish or greenish tint. Aspen is a low-density tree species. In a dry state, this value ranges from 400 to 500 kg/cub.m. In terms of hardness it is very soft breed. The abrasion resistance is quite high, and is close to oak wood. The viscosity is high; under the influence of shock loads, aspen does not crack or splinter. Wood is resistant to moisture, absorbs it easily and also gives it away easily, and is resistant to rot and insects. In a dry place, aspen products can last for centuries, and over time they only become harder and more durable. Freshly cut wood has a high moisture content, and, as a result, shrinkage is quite significant, can be up to 40%. During the drying process it does not crack, but is subject to warping. Therefore, it is better to tie aspen boards into bags and dry them that way. This can reduce the number of warped boards at the exit. In addition, the shorter the board is, the less likely it is to get twisted. Before drying, be sure to remove the bark, otherwise there is a high probability of rot. Processing aspen has its own specific properties. Due to its softness, it is easily amenable to sharp tools, but due to its fibrous structure, it is quite difficult to achieve a clean surface. For the same reason, it is difficult to qualitatively polish the surface of aspen products. It cuts cleanly across the fibers, although it is more difficult than linden, and chipping is also possible. Small parts should be made carefully. It lends itself well to impregnation with dyes and mordants and holds the color firmly. The gluing process is not difficult. Good raw material for turning work, easy to turn. IN industrial scale Aspen wood is used to make matches and as raw material for pulp and paper mills. Very a large number of wood is used for chipboard production, plywood, veneer. Aspen is resistant to moisture. In the old days, log houses for wells, cellars and baths were made from it, and various utensils for baths were cut - ladles, tubs, buckets, troughs. Due to low thermal conductivity, absence of resins and light color Aspen wood is an excellent material for cladding walls in bathhouses, for making shelves and benches. Aspen has always been considered an excellent material for making axes and hammer handles. It makes good cuttings for shovels, brooms, rakes, etc. Dishes carved from this wood are practical and beautiful. But it is usually not used for making furniture, although small items (small shelves, small benches) can be made. In addition, various decorations are made from aspen for stair railings, balcony railings, make children's toys. Wood carvers use aspen blanks for products that will later be decorated with geometric carvings. Anatoly BorisenkoWhy aspen
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Disadvantages of aspen logs
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How to prepare a log house with your own hands
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