ProSaunas Aspen Midnight Black 1x4 Tongue & Groove Sauna Paneling, Nickel Gap is an aspen board with a black-wax finish for lining sauna walls and ceilings. Each board is 0.59 in thick and 3.54 in wide, covers 3.15 in of wall once fitted, and is sold by the piece in lengths from 1 ft to 10 ft.
Why aspen for a sauna?
ProSaunas selects straight-grained aspen with a uniform texture and a light, creamy color. According to ProSaunas, aspen has very good dimensional stability, does not split when nailed, and does not secrete resin, splinter or overheat; its low heat conductivity keeps it comfortable to the touch in a hot sauna.
These boards carry a black-wax finish that ProSaunas describes as sauna-safe, made to contrast with lighter sauna woods.
The STS4 profile
The STS4 profile has narrow, angular grooves that give the nickel-gap look between boards, and ProSaunas notes it can be combined with other profiles for contrast. Each board's tongue fits into the groove of the next, so the boards lock together into one continuous surface.
Nominal 1x4 vs. actual size
"1x4" is the nominal size: the board's size when it is cut from the log, before drying and surfacing. The finished board is 0.59 in thick and 3.54 in wide. Its tongue sits in the groove of the next board, so each board covers 3.15 in of wall rather than its full width.
How many boards do you need?
One linear foot of this board covers about 0.26 sq ft of wall (3.15 in of coverage × 12 in). To estimate an order, multiply the wall and ceiling area in square feet by 3.81 to get linear feet, then divide by the board length you choose. For example, 100 sq ft in 8-ft boards is about 381 linear ft, or 48 boards, before an allowance for cuts. The number of boards also sets the freight rate shown under Shipping.
Matching paneling, bench wood and trim
Most saunas are built in one wood. Aspen Sauna Wood collects every Aspen paneling profile, bench size and trim piece, so the bench wood and trim can be matched to this paneling. Sauna Paneling lists every paneling profile in all species.
Cleaning and care
ProSaunas recommends wiping benches, walls and floors with a mild detergent solution to remove sweat, oils and dirt, and ventilating the sauna after each use so moisture does not build up and lead to mold or mildew.