Americans build houses from fir, but we don’t – whose approach is better?

Fir is a type of evergreen plant of the pine family. They have flat-shaped needles. Fir. Properties of wood. Beneficial features

The fir has a pyramidal shape. Fir is common in the Northern Hemisphere, its tropical, subtropical, and temperate parts. In North America, East Asia. The fir genus includes about 50 plant species.

The average height of fir is 30-50 meters. But some specimens reach 80 meters in height. Fir has a powerful root system that goes into the deep layers of the soil. The fir crown has the shape of a cone. The lifespan of fir is 200-400 years. Some species live up to 500-800 years. But often trees die earlier, not because of age, but because of disease.

The bark of a young tree is even and smooth. It begins to crack with age.

A young tree is rarely susceptible to disease. This is due to the fact that all its parts contain volatile and non-volatile resins.

Lumber

Fir is shade-loving and gets burned from direct sunlight. Loves fertile and moist soils. Frost resistance is quite low, lower than that of spruce or larch.

Fir grows in mixed forests.

Tornadoes and climate

There is a widespread belief among the domestic public that the main prerequisite for the construction of such houses in the United States is the safety of residents in the event of a hurricane.
They say that a solid brick house will still be destroyed, but in a cardboard house its inhabitants will have less chance of dying under the rubble. Naturally, this version has nothing to do with the true state of affairs. Firstly, tornadoes in the USA pose a real threat only in some regions, while flimsy houses are built everywhere, and secondly, a normal brick house in a wind of any strength risks finding itself only without roofing and windows, but making a trip to the Emerald City from He won't succeed in Kansas.

Another popular explanation is the subtropical climate, which allows you to comfortably live in a plywood box all year round. But geography also refutes this version - in the northern states, up to Alaska, houses are built similar to those in Texas and California, with the exception of improved thermal insulation and heating systems.

Differences from other trees

A distinctive feature of the Abies genus is vertically growing cones that scatter into scales after ripening.

This is an important difference between fir and spruce or pine.

There is a difference between spruce and fir needles - fir needles are softer than spruce and flatter. Fir needles are thicker, do not form gaps, and the crown is cone-shaped. You can distinguish a fir from a Christmas tree by its smell - the coniferous aroma of trees of the Abies genus is more tart and persistent.

It is not difficult to distinguish fir from larch, especially in winter. Larch is one of the few conifers that sheds its needles with the onset of cold weather. Larch branches are sparse with sparse needles. Larch and fir differ in frost resistance and wood strength. According to these characteristics, larch wins.

Cedar, like fir, has cones that grow upward. Fir differs from cedar in its regular conical shape, while cedar is more sprawling. It is also easy to identify fir by its flat, soft needles; cedar has prickly needles.

The difference between fir and thuja is even greater than with pine or cedar. Thuja belongs to the cypress family, and it is difficult to confuse the Abies genus with it. Thujas have characteristic scaly needles and small, inconspicuous cones.

Fir care in the garden

Growing conditions

When caring for seedlings, loosen the soil to a depth of 10-12 cm after watering and remove weeds. It is advisable to mulch the trunk circle of young plants with a diameter of 50 cm with wood chips, sawdust or peat, a layer of mulch - 5-8 cm, just make sure that the mulch does not lie close to the root collar of the fir. It will be necessary to feed the fir after planting only after 2-3 years, adding 100-125 g of Kemira-universal to the tree trunk in the spring. You will only need to water the fir if you are growing a moisture-loving species, for example, balsam fir, which requires watering 2-3 times a season during dry times.

The amount of water per watering is 15-20 liters. Other species do not need artificial watering - firs do not like waterlogging; natural precipitation is enough for them.

As for pruning, in the spring, before the sap begins to flow, dry and damaged branches are removed, and the fir crown is formed, if necessary. Pruning is done with garden shears. During one haircut, shoots are shortened by no more than a third of their length. In general, fir has a natural, neat crown that does not require shaping.

Transfer

Compared to other plants, coniferous trees adapt quite easily after transplantation.

If you decide to transplant a young plant, use a sharp shovel to pierce the soil in a circle at a distance of 30-40 cm from the trunk, then use a shovel to pry this marked circle at the depth of the bayonet, take it out along with the roots and a lump of earth, transport it in a wheelbarrow to a new hole and carefully move into her. An older tree needs to be prepared for replanting: the soil should be pierced in a circle a year before replanting, and the diameter of the circle in this case should be larger

Over the course of a year, the fir will grow new young roots inside the designated circle and, thanks to this, will more easily withstand the test of replanting. It will be difficult for one person to just remove the fir from the ground, transport it and plant it in a new place, so look for an assistant. The main thing in this process is to prevent the earthen lump from falling apart.

Pests and diseases

As you can see, planting and caring for fir is simple, and the plant will not require any special skills or effort from you. Fir is quite resistant against such troubles as diseases and pests, however, there are cases when fir loses its decorative effect due to spruce-fir Hermes - a type of aphid, from whose vital activity the fir turns yellow.

To combat Hermes, use the preparations Rogor or Antio: in early spring, when overwintered female aphids wake up, treat the fir with a solution of one of these preparations at the rate of 20 g per 10 liters of water. These insecticides will also save your tree from other harmful insects - fir shoot moth and fir pinecone leaf roller.

Sometimes the needles of a beautiful fir begin to turn yellow, and rusty cushions form on the shoots, and the reason for this is the fungal disease rust. The affected branches are cut off and burned along with fallen pine needles, the sections are treated with garden varnish, and the crown is sprayed with a two percent solution of Bordeaux mixture. And carefully inspect the area: plants such as chickweed or chickweed should not be there where conifers grow.

Types of coniferous wood and their properties

Coniferous trees that are widely used in the construction of country houses include: pine, spruce, larch, cedar and partly fir. Let's take a closer look at their properties, advantages and disadvantages.

Pine

This is the most common breed used in the construction of summer houses and cottages. The reason is that it grows almost everywhere and is found everywhere, and therefore costs significantly less than other conifers.

Pine trunks are straight and long, which makes it possible to build spacious log cottages with a large area. The wood has a beautiful golden hue and a delightful pattern, a dense structure and is perfectly sawn, which makes it much easier to process.

True, pine is a very resinous tree, but in different conditions this can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. The resin itself gives the wood moisture resistance and prevents it from rotting. On the other hand, resin stains can form on the walls of a house built from pine, which forces many to cover such walls with other types of wood.

But if you need a good, strong and durable house, and aesthetic qualities are not in the first place, then this cannot be considered a disadvantage.

Spruce, like pine, is found everywhere, but has a lower wood density and, accordingly, costs even less.

Houses and cottages built from spruce logs are much warmer than those built from pine, and this is considered the main advantage of this material.

Larch

This tree occupies a special place among conifers. And the reason for this is five undeniable advantages:

Thus, larch does not require additional treatment before use, it does not need to be impregnated with any antiseptics or fire retardants, which makes this material the most environmentally friendly of all tree species used in construction.

Due to its water resistance, larch has long been used for the construction of the lower crowns of huts. Today, archaeologists find in the ground many rotten skeletons of wooden dachas and houses, whose foundations, cut from larch, have been preserved in excellent condition.

By the way, the piles of all buildings in Venice standing on the water were made of larch, and not Alpine, but Siberian, which is of much higher quality than European. How many centuries have passed, and the wooden piles have not rotted under water, but have only become stronger, and will last just as long, if not longer.

So those developers who cannot choose between a stone and a wooden house can be recommended to build a house from larch.

However, this tree has a single, but quite significant drawback - this species is quite expensive, and a house built from it will cost even more than a brick one.

But, given the amazing (centuries-long) durability and wear resistance of this material, you can understand that in the long run all this will bring very significant savings.

Cottages and dachas made of larch will not need to be constantly repaired or treated, like other wooden houses. Unlike buildings made of blocks and bricks, walls made of larch will not need to be additionally insulated, and the environmental situation will be noticeably better than even in a house built of pine or spruce.

Cedar has the same properties and qualities as larch, only this material has more healing qualities for health.

Its main drawback is that cedar wood is very expensive, so it is rarely used in the construction of country cottages. We can say that this material is elite, although not for all regions. Where cedar is found everywhere - in the eastern part of Siberia, for example, it costs no more than, for example, pine or larch.

Fir

Fir is very rarely used for log houses of country houses; it is mainly used for the construction of temporary buildings.

The fact is that this is a very soft material, since wood does not secrete resin, so it rots very quickly and is destroyed by wood-boring insects. In addition, it burns better than all other types of coniferous trees.

This material is mainly used in interior decoration, but there are many examples of houses made from fir lasting 50 years. But without additional treatment with special substances that impart moisture resistance and antiseptic qualities, fir buildings do not last very long.

Despite its relative cheapness, this type of wood is used extremely rarely in modern suburban construction.

What type of wood is best to build a house from?

When choosing a wooden house, the customer first of all pays attention to the material of the walls - timber or logs. Each of these types is divided into subtypes: timber - cut, profiled and glued (as well as mini-, thermo- and other modern types), log - chopped and rounded. Next comes the classification by size (section or diameter) and degree of humidity.

Wood for construction is usually the most common - pine or spruce.

Why exactly these materials? And why are cedar and larch considered elite, and is it worth overpaying for them?

Why conifers and not hardwoods? The answer to this question is simple - log houses made of deciduous wood, exposed to changing climatic conditions, serve several times less than log cabins made of coniferous wood.

In accordance with the classification of wood by resistance (GOST 20022.2-80 Wood protection. Classification (with Amendments No. 1, 2)), coniferous species have high or medium resistance to decay, deciduous species have low resistance. Let's take a closer look at wood species by resistance class:

So, we are considering construction from coniferous wood.

With resistance to decay, everything is clear: the most resistant are larch, pine, cedar pine, the less resistant is spruce.

But there are several more parameters - ease of processing, moisture capacity, trunk geometry, number and size of knots.

Larch

Dense wood, not subject to rotting, not too tough for insects. Accordingly, the wood will not turn blue, and the service life of a larch house will be enough for several generations of residents. Larch has high natural fire resistance. Plus, it also looks aesthetically pleasing, the wood has a pleasant shade.

High density also has a downside: larch is difficult to process, it is colder than, for example, pine due to its high thermal conductivity. And when drying in a chamber, due to the high density, there is a greater risk of deformation - drying is uneven. Larch is the heaviest wood. Volumetric weight at humidity 12% - 650-800 kg/m3.

Larch wood contains essential oils (pinene), has a fairly strong pleasant odor and includes bioflavonoids and phytoncides - microscopic volatile substances that evaporate during the entire period of use and have a positive effect on health, preventing colds and viral diseases.

Larch is a fairly expensive material in the European part of the Russian Federation and can be more than 50% more expensive than pine. In Siberia, where larch mainly grows, the cost of houses made of larch is comparable to pine.

The lightest coniferous species suitable for construction - volumetric weight at a humidity of 12% - about 450 kg/m3.

Pine

Volumetric weight at humidity 12% - from 460 to 620 kg/m3.

Cedar (Siberian) pine

Siberian pine (cedar) pine wood is a leader in all respects except price. Cedar pine wood is a leader in plasticity, it is soft, easy to process, but at the same time durable. High resistance to rotting, not susceptible to insect infestation. The wood deforms little, there are much fewer cracks on it than in pine, and it is resistant to changes in temperature and humidity. Cedar pine has low thermal conductivity and excellent thermal insulation properties. A cedar house provides a healthy microclimate: cedar pine is a natural antiseptic.

Spruce

It cannot be classified as a hard rock, but as a universal one, so to speak. Houses made of spruce retain heat well, but are less durable due to wood rotting.

It can be used to build a bathhouse, which cannot be said about larch or cedar - they are too resinous and begin to flow mercilessly as the temperature rises.

Sanded spruce scrap does not change the color of the wood - it remains white for a long time, then darkens from humidity. But a lot of time will pass before this moment.

Unfortunately, spruce has increased knotiness, so it cannot be used to make rafter systems and ceilings. Hardwoods will handle this much better.

Reproduction methods

It is very easy to propagate fir yourself. This can be done in three ways: layering, seeds and cuttings. Let's consider all these methods.

Reproduction by layering

If the lower branches of the Siberian fir are adjacent to the ground, then they themselves take root and young plants are formed. They can be transplanted from the mother tree.

Propagation by cuttings

This option can be used in early spring before sap flow begins. You need to take cuttings from the tree. For this, only young shoots 5-10 cm long are selected. The branches are not cut off, but pulled out with a small amount of bark and wood, the so-called “heel”. There should be a growth bud at the end of the shoot. The torn cuttings must be kept for 15-30 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

At this time, you need to prepare an earthen mixture for rooting: mix sand, humus and garden soil in equal proportions. Fill a container with this soil and plant the cuttings there.

To create the necessary microclimate, the seedlings should be covered; you can use an inverted glass jar, a plastic bottle, a plastic bag placed on sticks stuck into the ground, etc. The walls of the greenhouse should not touch the needles to avoid their rotting. The container with seedlings should be placed in a warm place, for example, near a battery in a bright place, but not in direct sunlight.

The process of rooting cuttings is very long: roots will appear only in the second year. All this time, you need to carefully care for the planting: moisten, ventilate, take it outside in the spring, and take it indoors in the fall. When the seedlings take root, they can be planted in a permanent place.

Propagation by seeds

Like most plants, Siberian fir does not retain varietal characteristics when propagated by seeds

So this method can be used when you need to obtain a large number of seedlings, no matter what variety. Fir seeds can be bought, or you can collect them yourself

If you decide to collect the seeds yourself, then you need to pick the cones from the tree slightly unripe. After drying, remove the seeds by hand. Then they are stratified. To do this, the seeds are mixed with wet sand and placed in the refrigerator until spring.

In April, the area for sowing is prepared: weeds are removed, dug up, and the surface is leveled. Then they make grooves 2-3 centimeters deep and sow fir seeds in them at a short distance from each other. The top is covered with soil. Since the sowing was done in still wet soil, there is no need to water immediately. But you need to cover the crops with film to maintain the required humidity.

In the future, light watering and ventilation are required. In a month, tender fir sprouts will appear. The cover must be removed immediately, watering must continue, avoiding excessive moisture, weeding and loosening the soil, being careful not to damage the roots of the plants. After three to four years, fir seedlings can be planted in a permanent place.

Magic properties

The pine tree was endowed with the power and energy of flame by the planet Saturn. The kindest of pine magic trees will help everyone, regardless of gender and age. Fir has long been valued for its life-giving aroma, purifying thoughts and bringing harmony. The ancient Greeks believed that the fir tree was blessed by the warrior goddess Artemis, who also patronized women in labor. The Scandinavians believed that the tree protected babies. In Scotland, people have long purified and protected mother and newborn by passing a lighted branch over their heads. According to tradition, 3 circles were made so that not a single evil spirit or curse could reach the child. The ancient Sumerians used the magical properties of fir in all rituals, fumigating the premises before the rituals.

Fir amulets

The aroma of pine needles makes a person's mood more optimistic. Sorcerers have long believed that pine trees strengthen the will, give endurance, and strengthen the spirit and physical body. Fir gives preference to brave and conscious people who are ready to fight troubles and not give up. A talisman made of bark or wood will relieve depression, fatigue, apathy and neuroses, and will also stop a person on the path of self-destruction. It is especially recommended to use magical talismans when you are plagued by failures in life. A strong-willed cypress will share energy, help you find the best way out of a problematic situation and achieve any goal. People who regularly turn to fir for help quickly move up the career ladder, become more responsible and better achieve their goals. It is enough to inhale the aroma of needles to recharge with optimism and curb negative emotions.

To protect your home, it is recommended to always keep fir branches inside - they will also bring comfort and prevent quarrels. To cleanse from negativity and aggressive otherworldly entities, wood must be burned in a fireplace, and the smoke used for fumigation. It is good if all household members are present in the home during the healing ritual. If the atmosphere in the house is very oppressive, or there is a suspicion of a strong evil eye or damage, you should cover the floors with fluffy branches for at least 24 hours. Then they should be taken outside and burned with gratitude.

For hair beauty

Fir oil has a beneficial effect on the condition of hair, as it contains many active substances and also helps improve blood circulation.

Fir has the ability to:

• cure dandruff using antiseptics in the composition;
• help in the treatment of hair loss;
• improve the condition of the scalp, make it smooth and healthy;
• normalize the functioning of the scalp sebaceous glands.

The oil can be added to ready-made balms, masks and hair conditioners, which enhances their beneficial properties. Fir needles are indicated for use in decoctions that can be used to rinse your hair to enhance shine and give an antistatic effect.

You can also make your own masks and balms using the following recipes.

Phytotherapy

Of all the species of this plant, Siberian fir is mainly used for medicinal purposes (photos of the tree and leaves, or rather needles, were presented above). Many different medicines are produced from its resin.

Fir resin is formed in special formations, nodules, on the trunk of the plant. It contains 30% essential oil and 70% plant resins. Turpentine is produced from fir resin, which is widely used. For example, for turpentine baths according to the prescription of Dr. Zalmanov.

Fir essential oils (photo of tree and leaves above) are remarkable because they have a calming effect on the human nervous system, relieve migraines. They can be used for baths and massages by adding them to base oil. Fir essential oil is also used for cosmetics, in particular, for very effective hair masks. There are no contraindications for use of this natural remedy, except for individual intolerance and allergies.

Since ancient times, not only resin or resin has been used for medicinal purposes. Needles, bark and even wood can also help get rid of many diseases. Fir needles contain a large amount of vitamins, especially vitamin C. Its content especially increases in winter, it helps trees and animals that eat needles survive the cold.

In summer, the content of essential oils in fir needles increases. In addition to vitamin C, the needles contain vitamins A and E. Preparations from fir needles and decoctions have diuretic properties and help strengthen the walls of blood vessels. Needles can help a person with heart disease, colds, bronchopulmonary, and rheumatic diseases. The range of uses of fir needles is quite wide. The successful use of preparations from fir needles in post-stroke manifestations is known.

Vitamin infusions are prepared from paws and needles. In order to preserve the vitamin C content of fir needles, they must be collected in winter and stored under the snow in the yard or in the freezer of the refrigerator. In summer, coniferous fir legs can be used immediately.

Fir branches are also used for bath procedures. This is especially useful in winter - adding a fresh, small fir foot to a birch broom for the steam room. This will enhance the healing massage. Under the influence of boiling water, the needles will begin to release beneficial essential oils that smell pleasant and have a good effect on the skin and respiratory organs.

It must be remembered that resin and pine needles should be collected only outside cities, in ecologically clean areas - in the forest, taiga, away from industrial enterprises.

Long walks in the fir forest are very beneficial. Here the air is always clean and saturated with phytoncides that have a great effect on the respiratory system. This strengthens the immune system well and helps asthmatics.

Usage

Young, thin and fluffy branches, the so-called “paws”, produce colorless or light yellow oil. It is contained in the needles of the plant in the form of droplets enclosed in small containers. Therefore, if you rub the pine needles with your fingers, you will feel its characteristic resinous smell. Fir oil has wonderful properties. Since ancient times, it has been used to prepare various medicinal ointments, and also as a raw material for the production of camphor, which in its properties is not inferior to natural camphor obtained from camphor laurel.

After distilling off the oil, fir foot contains carotene, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and microelements: cobalt, iron, manganese. In this regard, it is used to produce pine-vitamin flour, which is a valuable additive in feed for farm animals. Fir balsam, an aromatic resin, is used in optical technology for gluing lenses, as well as for the production of medical preparations. Most often, resin is extracted from balsam and Siberian fir. Balsam fir occupies vast areas in North America. It is of great timber industry importance.

Even the father of botany, Theophrastus, in his book “Research on Plants,” wrote about fir as a very valuable tree, used in shipbuilding, in the manufacture of various crafts and distillation of resin, and in the construction of houses. According to legend, the legendary Trojan horse, known from ancient Greek literature, was built from fir wood. This species is native to Mount Kazdag (in Turkey) and is called Trojan horse fir.

Coniferous wood - which one to choose for construction

Have you decided to build a wooden house on the site? Most developers choose the material as wood. But why? After all, wood has a lot of disadvantages, especially for log houses, which must stand for quite a long time to shrink.

Why is wood still a popular material in house construction:

Pine logs for a log house. Photo: by.all.biz

Choosing the type of wood is much more problematic than the construction itself. Let's figure out which type of coniferous wood to choose for construction.

Softwoods are the choice for construction in harsh climates, and they have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of coniferous wood

Pine edged timber. Photo: images.by.prom.st

Disadvantages of softwood wood

Despite such serious shortcomings, you should not refuse wood for building a house.

Americans build houses from fir, but we don’t – whose approach is better?

Fir in construction - features of wood and how to use it correctly
When it comes to building a house from wood in Russia, this will mean that as the main material, make a choice in favor of coniferous trees such as spruce/cedar/pine and even less often - larch .

But people are curious and interested in what is the use of fir in construction, is it even realistic? After all, in theory it can be used, since it is also a coniferous tree. Have you ever heard about houses that are built from fir in Russia? In non-construction forums dedicated to the topic of construction, such wood is discussed extremely rarely, and only in an exotic status.

We decided to check the statistics and as it turned out, there are less than 100 requests for such houses per month in Yandex.

Spruce

Spruce is a coreless species, a genus of evergreen coniferous plants.
The tree grows up to 60 m. The crown of the spruce is cone-shaped, and the trunk is straight to the very top. The life of some trees reaches only 200 years, with a trunk diameter of 1.3 m. When cut, it has a homogeneous structure with clear annual rings. In Russia, spruce can be found in the European part. The wood has a faint yellowish color, and when exposed to the atmosphere and precipitation it darkens to a brown tint. This is a positive difference between spruce and pine, which “turns blue” when exposed to high humidity. In terms of strength, spruce wood in a dry state is also not inferior to pine material. It has a low density of wood, but this allows it to retain heat better than in buildings made of denser wood.

Spruce is used in the construction of log houses much less frequently, since, having an advantage of long fibers and a straight trunk, processing is difficult due to the presence of hard and small knots - this is an obstacle to the production of beautiful and even logs.

Spruce wood is susceptible to the formation of fungus and rotting due to its low resin content, and therefore requires external finishing with a different material and treatment with a protective impregnation. But on world markets, spruce has a higher quotation rate than pine in the construction of log houses.

What kind of wood to build a house from?

The durability, thermal insulation properties and appearance of a log house largely depend on the type of wood from which the house will be built. Since ancient times in Rus', houses have been built from coniferous wood, and this is not surprising, since this wood is characterized by increased density and resistance to the harmful effects of moisture.

In modern construction of log houses, the following types of wood are most often used:

Cypress and yew are less commonly used.

In order to decide which of them is optimal for construction, let's look at all of the above rocks and analyze their advantages and disadvantages.

Fir

Fir logs are easy to process due to their flexibility, but fir houses are recommended to be built in regions with a dry climate, since this wood is susceptible to rotting.

Larch

Cedar wood has a yellow-red tint and is distinguished by its high density, resistance to decay and, accordingly, a rather high price. The cost of a house made of cedar logs will be 1.5-2 times higher than that of a similar house made of pine logs. One of the disadvantages of cedar in comparison with other species is its increased resin content.

Pleasant color is the main advantage of spruce logs. In its natural state, spruce wood has a yellow tint, which over time can darken to brown, unlike pine, which can turn blue under the influence of moisture if the wood is not cared for. Spruce trunks are long and straight, they retain heat well, but despite these obvious advantages, such logs are quite problematic to process due to small and very hard knots.

Spruce is considered one of the most popular species used in construction, but pine still takes the leading position.

Pine

Advantages of pine logs:

It should also be noted that the quality of pine wood grown in different regions of Russia differs significantly. For example, wood that grew in the north is considered one of the best building materials due to its increased density and low moisture content.

Although pine wood is slightly inferior in strength to cedar, and in resistance to mold it lags behind larch, pine is rightfully considered the most popular and most often used building material. The reason is simple - the optimal combination of excellent performance and affordable cost.

Source

Fir. Beneficial features

The medicinal qualities of fir include:

• anti-inflammatory
• restorative
• painkiller
• antibacterial
• expectorant
• disinfectant
• diuretic
• detoxification
• wound healing

Preparations based on fir needles are used to clean and reduce the fragility of blood vessels and capillaries.

• 3 tbsp water
• 5 tablespoons of chopped pine needles
• 2 tbsp onion peels
• 3 tablespoons of rose hips.

Bring to a boil and keep on low heat for 10 minutes. Wrap up, leave for 24 hours, then filter and take up to 2-3 glasses per day, for about 3 months.

Possible contraindications. Before use, consultation with a specialist is required.

Strengthening the immune system

Fir also contains substances that strengthen and improve immunity. Fir needles are especially rich in vitamins, antioxidants and other components beneficial to the body.

To improve your immune system, you can make the following cocktail: pour about five tablespoons of fresh pine needles into two glasses of hot water overnight, and in the morning, strain and drink throughout the day, a couple of sips at a time.

In spring, immunity also decreases due to a lack of vitamins. A decoction prepared according to the following recipe will help cope with vitamin deficiency. Pour two tablespoons of dry fir needles with a glass of boiling water. Steam in a water bath for about 20 minutes. Then leave to infuse for about an hour. Take during the day after meals, dividing the contents into three parts. This drink will saturate the body with vitamins and increase resistance to various viral strains.

If you do not like the specific taste of fir decoction, then you can try making an aromatic mixture to boost immunity. To do this you will need:

• fir oil;
• rosemary oil;
• geranium oil;

To the base (the base can be any vegetable oil you like, flaxseed or corn are often used), add two drops of fir oil, one drop of rosemary oil and one drop of geranium. The resulting mixture can be used for massage, as well as for aromatherapy. An aromatherapy session should last about 20 minutes.

Wood for interior decoration of baths

What is best to use for decorating the interior of a bathhouse? Wood is used for finishing, which does not heat up, does not deform or rot.

In this case, the interior decoration is made of linden, aspen and oak boards.

Linden is a practical and durable material; it can withstand temperature changes and constant humidity. To protect the board from destruction, it can be treated with antiseptics.

Oak and aspen boards are an expensive finishing option, therefore they are used for the manufacture of decorative interior elements.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=6NXrSnEW6m0

Any type of wood is suitable for building a bathhouse, so it is difficult to decide which wood is best. One type of wood is used for the log house, the other for interior decoration. Therefore, the final choice of material depends on the design features of the structure and the financial capabilities of the future owner.

Fir. Properties of wood

Fir belongs to the coreless species. Fir wood has a white color with a slight yellowish tint.

The wood is light, soft, does not dry out much, and is not resistant to moisture and rot. Therefore, the use of fir wood in construction is limited. Fir wood can be used for interior decoration.

One of the types of fir, Nordmann fir is considered resistant to biodamage, so it can be used for exterior decoration.

• Fir wood holds fastenings poorly, 25% worse than pine and 300% lower than ash.
• The texture of fir wood is uniform, the annual layers are clearly visible.
• Fir has the highest level of water absorption among other conifers.

Fir wood is well varnished, painted, and glued. Easy to saw, cut, polish, grind, saw out. Products made from fir wood have satisfactory stability.

One of the types of industry where fir wood is actively used is pulp and paper production. Some musical instruments are also made from fir wood.

More about fir

So, fir is a coreless species with a core that is not clearly defined. The wood structure is almost uniform, and the annual rings can be clearly distinguished on its cut. This is a fairly soft material that is easy to process, and due to this it has become widely popular in the production of furniture, as well as other products made from this wood.

At the same time, houses are built with fir trees relatively rarely, and such log houses are akin to exotic not only in the Russian Federation, but even in places of natural growth. One of the extremely important nuances and differences from other conifers is that there are no resinous substances or resinous passages inside the wood. This makes the material practically defenseless against rotting processes and this is just one of the reasons for the low degree of popularity in the construction industry.

Fir wood has several quite important characteristics:

It turns out that this material has a huge number of advantages, but also a large number of disadvantages, which makes its use for the construction process very rare. But fir log houses have reviews and you can find very different ones - someone says that you can live your whole life in such a house without worries, it does not require repairs, and someone thinks that the log house will deteriorate within 5 years after construction .

Yew

Yew (“mahogany”) is a genus of coniferous trees of the yew family. The properties of its wood largely depend on the region of growth. For example, trees that grow in Germany have a wood density of 670 kg/m3, and in Armenia - 584 kg/m3. The densest wood is from the pointed yew, which grows in the Primorsky Territory - 812 kg/m3.

It behaves very capriciously during the drying process, it can warp and crack, and tends to shrink strongly. These negative aspects of wood are observed exclusively in materials with low density.

Technological and mechanical properties of yew wood: excellent polishing and sanding, good processing by cutting, the wood has excellent elasticity and glues well. Yew is a resistant species. Wood does not rot due to the presence of the alkaloid taxine in its tissues, and nails, staples and bolts in it do not corrode.

Yew wood has a whitish-yellow sapwood, which is sharply demarcated from the red-brown core. There are no resin passages in the tree; the annual rings are tortuous.

Yew wood is used for footing beams, which are laid directly on the foundation of the house. Yew is also used for making barrels, furniture, crafts and veneer. At this time, yew has become insufficient for the construction of log houses, so it is used as an auxiliary material or for interior decoration.

Log house for a bath made of deciduous trees

OAK

Currently, log houses for baths made of oak are quite rare, but they still occur. Oak has the strongest, hardest and heaviest wood of all types of trees growing in Russia.

Oak logs that are kept in a humid environment for a long time become almost “stone-like”, and when they dry out, they often undergo longitudinal cracking. Oak log houses are quite heavy, so the construction of an oak bathhouse must include the construction of a reliable foundation.

In addition, oak logs are quite expensive, so we do not recommend building a log house entirely from oak, but using them when constructing the first, lower crowns, which get wet the most during the operation of the bathhouse.

LINDEN

Log houses made of linden are built by real experts and connoisseurs of Russian baths. The microclimate of the linden bathhouse cannot be confused with anything else. Light, aromatic linden wood gives the Russian bath a unique light and healing microclimate. The linden bath perfectly treats colds, improves immunity, allows you to get rid of liver diseases and even cellulite.

Log house for a sauna made of linden

Soft linden wood is very easy to process, and the log house itself is light and does not require the construction of a massive foundation. Due to the very low heat capacity, linden baths quickly warm up, as a result of which less wood is required for their firebox. The linden bathhouse retains heat perfectly and does not cool down for a long time.

When drying, a linden log house does not shrink, so you can steam in a linden bathhouse immediately after its construction is completed. All these excellent qualities of linden as a material for making a log bathhouse have long made it the people's “bath tree.”

Unfortunately, linden log houses also have their drawbacks. The first (and most important) of which is the friability of wood and poor resistance to rotting and destruction by wood fungus. The linden log house is short-lived and requires proper care, mainly the thorough drying of the bathhouse after each use.

From time to time it may be necessary to replace one or more linden logs of a log house. In addition, high-quality, calibrated, sized linden logs are not so easy to buy, and they are not cheap compared to coniferous wood. However, the pleasure of visiting the linden bathhouse is worth it.

ASPEN

Aspen is similar in its properties to linden, it is also easy to process and is quite light. And due to the fact that aspen grows in sufficient quantities throughout almost the entire territory of Russia, it is much cheaper than linden.

An aspen log house for a bathhouse is a cheaper (budget) version of a linden log house, very similar in its performance characteristics.

Aspen logs do not “lead” or “warp” after drying, and no cracks appear in them. An aspen bathhouse can withstand high humidity and contact with water better than a linden one, as a result of which an aspen bathhouse will last longer without repair.

A bathhouse made from an aspen log house (as well as a linden log house) does not require internal lining of the steam room with boards, since these deciduous trees do not emit heavy resin fumes characteristic of coniferous log houses.

Of course, the construction of bathhouses in our vast country is not limited to the use of only the above tree species; some craftsmen quite successfully build log houses from fir, alder and even birch. But such use of these tree species is atypical, and therefore, in our opinion, does not deserve a separate description.

We will be glad if this article was useful to you when choosing wood for making the best log house for a bathhouse.

Distribution area of ​​Siberian fir

The fir range in Siberia covers about 3.8 million km2. Fir forests are most widespread in some areas of the Altai-Sayan mountain region (Salair, Northern Altai, Western and Eastern Sayans, etc.) In the north, fir along the Ob reaches the mouth of the Sosva, on the Yenisei it reaches the Arctic Circle and passes to the eastern bank of the Lena in the region 60°N, descending further to the south. In addition, Siberian fir grows in the northeastern part of European Russia. Pure fir plantations are very rare; most often fir grows as an admixture with spruce and cedar, as well as with other species. Almost never found in communities with Scots pine. Often acts as a second tier in old aspen forests, with the prospect of entering the first tier if the aspen falls out.

General information

An interesting fact is that in the United States of America

...such wood is actively used for house construction, and this is a confirmed fact. Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia:

“Fir wood is one of the most versatile species of coniferous trees in America and is used to make a variety of building materials, and is especially well suited for making piles and supports. The main areas of use of such wood are the construction of houses, the construction of wooden structures for temporary stays, the creation of door and window frames, canvases and all kinds of joinery.”

It turns out interesting. We suggest you understand all the features. First, let's look at the encyclopedic data about this tree. Fir is a species of evergreen plant in the pine family. Fir is extremely popular in the northern part of America (as it becomes clear, the secret of the material’s popularity is that they build there from what is available), and also in East Asia.

In Russia there is a lot of fir in Siberia, as well as in the north of the European part. The average height of a fir is from 30 to 50 meters, and its lifespan is approximately 2 hundred years. This tree loves shade, reacts negatively to excess sun rays, most of its species are characterized by low resistance to frost. Fir is quite light, since its density is only 375 kg per cubic meter, but not too elastic, but easy to process.

Characteristics of a fir log house

Fir. Properties of wood

Fir belongs to the coreless species. Fir wood has a white color with a slight yellowish tint.

The wood is light, soft, does not dry out much, and is not resistant to moisture and rot. Therefore, the use of fir wood in construction is limited. Fir wood can be used for interior decoration.

One of the types of fir, Nordmann fir is considered resistant to biodamage, so it can be used for exterior decoration.

• Fir wood holds fastenings poorly, 25% worse than pine and 300% lower than ash.
• The texture of fir wood is uniform, the annual layers are clearly visible.
• Fir has the highest level of water absorption among other conifers.

Fir wood is well varnished, painted, and glued. Easy to saw, cut, polish, grind, saw out. Products made from fir wood have satisfactory stability.

One of the types of industry where fir wood is actively used is pulp and paper production. Some musical instruments are also made from fir wood.

Fir for cleansing the body

Fir decoction also has medicinal properties for youth. To rejuvenate the body, first of all, you need to cleanse it. Vitamin C, which is contained in large quantities in young fir needles, promotes the oxidation of toxins and their rapid removal from the body. The needles also have a mild diuretic and antiseptic effect.

To cleanse the body, you can prepare a preparation for external and internal use in a comprehensive manner. Firstly, you can take a bath enriched with fir decoction every day before bed. This has a beneficial effect on both the circulatory system and the nervous system, calming and promoting good sleep. Through the pores, the skin is also saturated with vitamins and flavonoids.

Fir decoction is prepared as follows. Pour boiling water over five to six tablespoons and leave overnight. Then add the decoction to the bath or drink it in small portions throughout the day.

The cleansing course should last at least two weeks. It is not possible to cleanse the body in one day.

What is Siberian fir: photo and description

In fact, it is a tall tree (up to 30 m) with a narrow, pyramidal, cone-shaped crown. The annual growth of the tree is small, so by the age of 20 it reaches a height of no more than 9 m. In the first decade, the crown grows in width, with insignificant vertical growth. The lower branches are practically pressed to the ground and can take root on their own. Due to this, the tree acquires increased resistance to winds. Fir has soft and fluffy needles up to 3 cm long; they are rich green in color with white waxy stripes below.

In dense soil, it develops a shallow root system, which reduces the tree’s frost resistance. In loose soil, a tap root forms. Due to its short and thin roots, fir is demanding on the quality of the soil - it must be fertile and moist. The trunk of the tree is cylindrical: uneven at the bottom, smooth at the top. It is covered with gray bark with thickenings that contain resin.

The trunk of the Siberian fir is ribbed at the bottom

A distinctive feature of Siberian fir from other pine representatives is the presence of oval, erect cones up to 10 cm long. At first they are light green in color, after ripening they become brown or violet-gray.

The cones of Siberian fir are erect

Siberian fir grows naturally in Siberia, the northern and eastern parts of Europe and the Far East. It can also be found in Manchuria and Northern Mongolia. In the Irkutsk region, this tree is a regular in the taiga. The crop is found mainly in mixed forests. In the natural environment, a tree lives up to 300 years, on a personal plot - 2 times less.

Diseases and pests

When growing fir on your site, it is important to remember that it may be attacked by pests or get sick.
If you wisely choose a suitable place for planting this plant and provide it with proper care, it will have strong immunity. However, despite its resistance to many diseases, fir can become a victim of aphids. The first and main sign indicating such a problem will be a noticeable yellowing of the tree needles. There is nothing difficult about removing aphids. To do this, you need to use a special drug “Antio” or “Rogor”. They will need to be sprayed on the tree in March, when insects awaken and become dangerous for plantings.

To treat wood, you need to stir 20 g of the selected preparation in a bucket of clean water. These remedies will help solve the problem not only with aphids, but also with fir moths or leaf rollers.

If you notice that the fir “blooms” with yellow spots with growths, this will indicate that the tree has been infected with fungi. Branches that have changed color will need to be removed. Experts advise getting rid of fallen pine needles. The entire plant will need to be treated with a special solution of Bordeaux mixture.

There is another widespread pest that can cause serious harm to fir - this is the false scale insect. Evidence of her attacks will be shiny marks on the tree's needles, as well as subsequent shedding. Certain areas will completely change their coloring - they will become brown instead of lush green. As in the situation with aphids, you will need to use special preparations to treat the needles.

Spider mites can also become dangerous for fir. This is one of the most destructive pests that can cause serious damage to a tree. As soon as the spider mite appears, the fir changes color and then falls. The web begins to cover the upper part of the tree branches - this sign is the most noticeable and immediately catches the eye. You can start moisturizing the green “pet” in a timely manner, because in most cases the mite manifests itself in conditions of insufficient cultivation and a dry climate. Another effective remedy in the fight against ticks is dandelion tincture - this is a wonderful drug that does not contain chemicals.

Making a composition from dandelions is easy and simple. To do this, you will need to grind 300 g of leaves and fill them with 10 liters of warm, clean water. Next, you will need to keep the tincture for about 3 hours. After this, the resulting liquid can be used to treat the damaged fir needles.

Frequent guests of fir are caterpillars. You can understand that a tree is suffering from them by noticing mucus on the branches. This is not the most pleasant phenomenon, but you can easily fight it. Vegetable infusions are suitable for this. Onion or tomato infusion is suitable.

The easiest onion composition to make. To make it, you need to take a liter of water and 10 g of very finely chopped onion. The tincture will need to be kept for 7 hours. After this, you can safely begin processing the plant.

Tomato tincture is a little more complicated to prepare. To do this, you will need to prepare 4 kg of vegetable roots and leaves. They will need to be filled with water, and then brought to a boil, then held for 30 minutes over low heat. The resulting brew will need to be strained and then diluted with fresh water in a ratio of 3 parts water to 1 part tincture. You can add 40 g of liquid soap to the composition.

To learn how to properly care for fir, watch the following video.

Meaning and Application

Fir wood is light and soft, but is not strong or durable. Used for the production of pulp and packaging containers. Wood is unpopular as a building material and timber.

Young needles are used to prepare fir oil and in folk medicine to treat rheumatism and polyneuritis. The plant is rich in phytoncides, essential oils and vitamin C. An infusion of pine needles is used to prevent scurvy and wash wounds. When added to a bath it has a relaxing effect. The resin is used in pharmaceuticals.

The neat shape and fragrant needles make the plant a popular holiday attribute for the New Year, especially in European countries. The “New Year tree” can be either spruce, fir or pine. Conifers of the genus Abies are more stable under such conditions and shed their needles later.

Use in landscape design

Thick, richly green or bluish-gray crowns of fir are decorative and look impressive in single and group plantings. In cities, the breed is planted to create alleys, landscaping parks and squares. They lend themselves well to shaping; fir hedges are popular in landscape design.

The plant can be grown independently or grafted onto a standard. Topiary in the form of a ball on a trunk looks interesting. The tree is combined with maple, rowan and barberry. Dwarf varieties will fit harmoniously into rock gardens and rock gardens.

For skin beauty

Fir components are often used in the preparation of masks and face creams, as they have many beneficial properties:

• reduce inflammatory processes on the skin;
• relieve swelling;
• smooth out wrinkles;
• help improve metabolic processes in the skin.

To reduce the severity of acne and inflammation, you can wash your face with a fir decoction prepared according to the same principle as the decoction for oral administration. You can also make ice cubes from the broth to wipe your face. This will not only even out skin tone and reduce swelling and inflammation, but also promote face lifting and cleansing.

To smooth out wrinkles around the eyes, use fir oil added to a light base, such as peach or grape seed oil. Add two to three drops of fir oil to a few tablespoons of base oil and gently apply to the skin around the eyes.

You can also make a mask that will restore your facial skin after a sleepless night, smooth out wrinkles and remove swelling. To a tablespoon of olive oil, add one drop of fir oil, one drop of lemon and a couple of drops of rosemary. Mix and massage onto face, avoiding the eye area. Leave for about 15 minutes and rinse with water at room temperature.