A brick stove is the main functional element of any Russian steam room, which is traditionally made of heat-resistant red brick. The construction market offers a wide range of ready-made stove designs, but bathhouse owners decide to build a Russian stove with their own hands.
A classic brick stove for a bathhouse with a heater, built with one’s own hands, makes it possible to safely heat the room, maintain optimal temperature conditions, produce clean and thick steam, and is a decorative interior element.
Advantages and disadvantages of a sauna stove
Sauna stoves are varied. They are made independently or purchased ready-made models in stores. Brick is used as the main material for the construction. This decision is due to a number of advantages.
The advantages of brick kilns include:
- Long-term heat retention;
- High quality steam;
- Great power;
- Fire safety;
- Creating a pleasant microclimate;
- Environmentally friendly.
The peculiarities of the material and original appearance allow you to create a pleasant antique atmosphere in the bathhouse.
Despite their advantages, brick stoves have a number of disadvantages:
- Heavy weight;
- Foundation requirement;
- High manufacturing cost;
- Demanding qualifications of specialists;
- Long fire.
To make a high-quality stove, you must have experience in laying bricks. If the masonry turns out to be uneven, the quality of the room’s heating decreases.
Kinds
Open heaters
For baths with a small area, it is permissible to use open heaters. These are compartments for stones that are outward and lie in a heap. They are placed above the firebox. Quite often, a special lid is made for the stones, which is lifted only to supply water.
This detail helps retain heat from the stones after the required amount of steam has been generated. The stones are located in an open space, which ensures the fastest possible set of the desired temperature.
Diagram of an open brick stove:
Closed heater
A brick sauna stove with a closed heater is equipped with a window for supplying water to the surface of the stones. To heat the room faster, the door can be opened.
One of the disadvantages of such a device is that it needs to be melted for a long time. But the main advantage follows from this: the heat remains in the oven for a very long time. Therefore, closed-type stoves are very popular among craftsmen and bathhouse owners.
Diagram of a closed brick stove:
Features of modern sauna stoves
When creating a furnace, you must carefully consider the choice of design and development of drawings. The design features of the product will directly depend on the heating option.
The main options are:
- In black - with no chimney;
- In gray - with a chimney, but there is a need to wait for the wood to burn out;
- On white - there are no signs of soot in the room, the stove has a chimney;
- With a stove is the most successful option; it is based on a tank, a stove and sauna stones.
When building a modern stove, special attention should be paid to the choice of a water tank, firebox stones and additional elements. Brick, as the main building material, allows you to retain heat for a long time and maintain the desired temperature in the steam room.
Tank selection
The water tank is selected before construction work begins. Its volume directly depends on the number of people simultaneously in the steam room. The more traffic the room has, the larger the tank should be. In the classic calculation, 1 liter per person is taken.
Experts recommend giving preference to open tanks. Such containers are easier to maintain and fill with water. During periods of prolonged inactivity, it is recommended to empty the water from the tank.
Firebox stones
Stones play an important role in the steam room. Their choice should be approached carefully. Ordinary cobblestones are not suitable for a bathhouse. They have microcracks and additional inclusions, which have a negative effect on the material during sudden temperature changes and can explode.
Stove makers recommend using jadeite, soapstone, or river tracing paper as stones. In case of financial difficulties, the use of basalt or vulcanite is allowed.
Brick selection
For masonry, most builders use ordinary solid red brick.
- It is distinguished by good behavior under temperature changes and a long service life.
- Red brick performed best in the construction of the main structure.
- However, in the firebox, under the influence of temperature and moisture, it quickly collapses.
Fireclay material is used to lay the firebox.
Additional items
Additional elements in the design of a sauna stove are metal inserts: doors, grates, grates and other systems. They are purchased ready-made; it is recommended to buy a full set. It contains everything necessary for the construction of the structure.
- When purchasing metal products, take into account the dimensions.
- It is important that they comply with the parameters specified in the bathhouse design.
- If there are no such items on sale, then they buy those that are as close in value as possible. Dimensions are adjusted using bricks.
Rules for caring for your heater
Both types of equipment require regular inspection and checking of the stones. High temperatures lead to cracking and crumbling of cobblestones, so damaged specimens should be removed and replaced with new ones.
During operation, the furnace walls expand and contract again, which leads to gradual destruction of the masonry. Therefore, it is imperative to check it for cracks and crevices. Detected defects are covered with clay mortar. If you ignore this work, harmful carbon monoxide may enter the steam room.
Construction technology
Construction of a furnace is not a quick process. The work takes on average at least 1 month. The period directly depends on the qualifications of the specialist and the speed of installation. Most of the time is spent preparing the foundation and hardening it.
The main stages of work are:
- Preparation and pouring of the foundation;
- Preparation of tools and solution;
- Construction of the masonry of the main part of the furnace;
- Construction of a chimney;
- Finishing work.
All stages are carried out sequentially, observing the time limits for hardening of the solution.
Installing a water heating tank
Subsequently, a steel tank for hot water is installed in the resulting niche. It can be welded into a rectangular shape or from half a thick-walled pipe, welding the bottom and one part with a steel sheet. The container is of this shape, the flat side is placed against the brick, and the semicircular side is placed in the steam room. The presence of fewer welded joints will extend the service life of such a tank by several years. The steam door is mounted in the same way as other doors, on the 19th row. A chimney is formed above and the pipe is led out beyond the roof of the bathhouse.
Pouring the foundation
The foundation is the basis of the entire building. There are increased demands placed on him. The foundation must be strong and reliable, capable of supporting the heavy weight of the building.
The construction of the foundation is carried out according to the scheme.
- Dimensions are applied to the base. Pegs are driven into the corners, and a thread is pulled over the stakes for ease of orientation. The size of the markings corresponds to the dimensions of the oven.
- Prepare the pit. Depth – 60-70 centimeters, the lower part is additionally expanded by 10 centimeters to the sides. The shape of the pit should be trapezoidal.
- A layer of sand 5-10 centimeters thick is poured onto the bottom. Broken brick or crushed stone is poured on top. Sand is also sprinkled on top. The thickness of the puff pastry is approximately 25-30 centimeters.
- Waterproofing is laid on top of the compacted brick with sand. Traditionally, roofing felt is used.
- Formwork is installed around the perimeter of the pit. A reinforcing mesh is installed in the pit itself.
- The formwork is poured with concrete. In this case, 10-15 centimeters are left to the top. They are necessary for leveling the surface and laying the base layer of bricks.
The foundation is allowed to settle and set. This period takes from 5 to 7 days, after which the formwork is removed. The voids are filled with gravel. Roofing felt is laid on top of the foundation. It is recommended to do waterproofing in two layers for reliable protection against groundwater leakage.
Tips for choosing materials
The main material is solid brick. You cannot use lightweight elements with voids inside. Sand-lime bricks are not suitable, because structures made from them absorb moisture and vapor, and therefore quickly collapse. Used bricks are thoroughly cleaned of soot and mortar and their integrity is checked.
Fire brick
The material is used in the form of internal lining of fireboxes, chimneys, and fireplaces. The elements insulate the walls from the flame, as they form a protective layer from hot fuel.
Refractory brick can withstand heating up to +1000°C without losing its original properties, resists repeated heating and cooling, and has low heat conductivity.
Ceramic brick
Ceramic bricks
are obtained by processing clay and firing raw elements in ovens. Used for laying the main body of the stove and chimneys. For the outer layer, facing bricks with improved decorative qualities are used.
Based on strength, they are divided into grades from M100 to M300, the number after the letter indicates how many kilograms 1 cm² can withstand.
Cement
The cement-sand mass is not used for laying the stove; it is used to prepare the base for the stove, adding crushed stone to the mixture. Prepare this solution in small portions in order to place it in the installation position before setting.
Clay
Sand is added to the solution and a mixture is prepared in a concentration of 1:1 or 1:2, the composition is based on the fat content of the clay. Soak it 24 hours before mixing to obtain a mixture with the consistency of liquid sour cream.
The mass is strained through a sieve, added with sand, and mixed until smooth. A good solution does not stick to the shovel and has no lumps.
Sand
Construction and fireclay sand is used. The second type is used for laying the firebox, since the material is obtained by grinding fireclay bricks.
To make the solution, the sand is cleaned of grass, gravel, and roots, then sifted through a sieve. Small grains will give a thin seam when installing bricks. The amount of sand is determined by the fat content of the clay.
Water
You cannot take water containing silt; it must be low-mineralized and clean. Many minerals in the water lead to stains appearing after the masonry dries. Such stains are difficult to remove with plaster. It is best to use water collected after rain.
Stones for the heater
The first elements you come across will not work. The raw materials for the sauna must be heat-resistant, high density and good heat transfer. Wood-burning stoves are equipped with stones of 7–14 mm, and electric stoves with 5–8 mm.
For the heater, sea and river pebbles, basalt, vulcanite, soapstone, jadeite, white quartz and crimson quartzite are used.
Preparation of the solution
It is not recommended to use cement mortar for masonry. It is not heat-resistant and does not tolerate temperature changes well. Experts recommend starting a mixture based on clay and sand.
There are no exact proportions for the composition. Focus on consistency.
- Clay is used red or fireclay. No large inclusions.
- The material is filled with water and left for 24 hours. After this, knead until soft. The clay should stick slightly to your hands.
- After this, sand is introduced, previously sifted through a sieve.
- The composition is mixed until homogeneous.
The readiness of the solution is determined by dipping a stick into it and shaking it. If the remaining layer exceeds 3 millimeters, then sand is introduced. If less than 2 – clay. The optimal layer is 2 millimeters.
What does it represent?
This version of the stove is used if you need to operate the bathhouse all day and for several people. This type of design quickly heats up the steam room. It has good heat capacity, dry air, heat close to 90 degrees, pleasant appearance from the outside, neat proportions. It is better to build a bathhouse of this type in small rooms up to 25 square meters. m, since huge spaces are difficult to heat to the required temperature. The size of the stove is often 77 by 77 cm to heat a space of 3 by 3 meters. The approximate quantity of bricks required for this size of oven is 290 pieces. The design includes a metal boiler for water and an open niche for stones with a volume of up to 120 kg.
What is needed for the construction?
To lay a stove of this kind, a minimum amount of skills and materials is required. The only thing that is required is conscientiousness in work, basic knowledge about laying a stove, some bricks, and various types of accessories for the stove. The pebbles are placed on a grate above the fuel chamber, but the sequence must be observed: some of the largest samples should be at the bottom, and smaller ones at the top. If you overdo it a little and attach a galvanized lid, you can cover the stones with it after heating to a certain temperature. This will help keep the heater longer in hot weather.
Brickwork
Brick laying is carried out according to a pre-developed plan. During work, it is important to maintain the sequence of rows and the evenness of their construction. The first row should be perfect.
The general scheme for discharging a brick sauna stove with your own hands consists of a number of steps.
- The first row sets the general direction of the walls. Must be perfectly smooth. A plumb line is made from it to check the vertical.
- The next step is to make the ash pan. Its tasks include collecting waste generated during the combustion process.
- The third and fourth rows are responsible for attaching the blower. A metal strip is used to secure it. The blower is responsible for regulating the combustion process. Open position – intense flame, closed – small flame.
- After the fifth row, steel corners for the grate are laid.
- Starting from the 6th row, a firebox is installed. Fireclay bricks are used for it. The height of the firebox is 25 centimeters, the width is just over 30. A grate is placed on top of the firebox.
- In the last rows, the firebox area expands. Refractory bricks are used for external masonry. Openings are created for secondary air supply. They are made of bricks cut with teeth.
- The laying continues with the outer brick. Doors for the firebox and a partition for the chimney are installed.
- A water tank is installed.
- At the height of the 15th row, the firebox is covered with a slab of refractory material, and stones are laid on it.
- The laying of the compartment under the stones begins. Its size depends on the number and size of stones.
- The chimney is laid out last. Fireclay bricks are used for it. The chimney gradually narrows upward. Exited through a wall or roof. The passage points through the bathhouse partitions are lined with thermal insulation. The last to be installed is a chimney protected from rain and dirt.
During operation, the solution is applied to the previous row. The brick is laid with the smooth side facing the chimney. The vertical and horizontal lines are checked after each row. The remaining solution from the side surface is cleaned every 3-4 rows. After laying out, the oven is left to dry.
Furnace appliances
We must not forget that cast iron and brick have different coefficients of thermal expansion. Cast iron expands when heated more than brick, so if cast iron stove appliances are tightly seated in brickwork, the cast iron will expand and tear the brick . Therefore, all devices: grates, fire doors and water tanks must be installed with clearances.
Grate
We lay the grate freely without mortar with gaps on all sides of at least 5 millimeters. The grate must be able to be easily replaced in case of burnout.
Blower, cleaning and combustion doors
Important! Doors are still checked in the store to see if the door leaf fits tightly to the frame. It is necessary to identify possible distortions, how the door closes and opens on hinges, how the latch works, and whether there are mounting holes.
Insert soft knitting wire into the mounting holes on the door frame and twist the wire into a bundle. We lay mortar on the brick where the door is installed. We install the door, check the vertical and horizontal levels and temporarily fix it with bricks placed like braces. Then we put the ends of the wire into the masonry seams.
Fixing the door with bricks
We temporarily fix the door with bricks. We twist the knitting wire into a bundle. Then we continue laying around the doors. We cover the door from above or with two whole bricks, half the length of the brick on each side. Or a whole brick into a “castle”. The combustion chamber door must be additionally wrapped with asbestos cloth . It’s a good idea to secure it on top with a metal strip with a cross-section of 25×2 millimeters, and seal the ends of this strip into the masonry.
Covering the stove door from above with two bricks
Closing the stove door into a “lock”
Chimney
We all love to heat up the sauna stove very much.
- Therefore, the temperature of the flue gases at the outlet of the furnace reaches 750 degrees . Moreover, this can last for several hours.
- And the normal operating temperature of factory-made stainless steel metal chimneys is only 450 degrees. True, metal chimneys allow a short-term increase in temperature up to 900 degrees, but for 15–30 minutes, and not for several hours.
- In addition, the binder of most basalt insulation inside the sandwich pipe begins to break down at temperatures above 400 degrees.
Our advice! The way out of this contradiction is as follows: make the first element of the chimney after the stove from a thick-walled steel or cast iron pipe. This segment will take the main temperature “blow”.
Double-wall insulated sandwich pipe
The first element of the chimney is single-walled. And after it comes a double-walled sandwich pipe insulated with a basalt slab.
Finishing
Finishing for brick stoves is not mandatory. Finishing allows you to hide minor imperfections in the masonry and give the stove a complete, stylish look. The most common design option is tile.
There are 3 types of ceramic tiles for finishing the stove in the bathhouse.
- Terracotta. High strength tiles with a porous base. Has excellent adhesion to the surface.
- Majolica. It is distinguished by the presence of a top layer of glaze. It has excellent performance characteristics and an attractive appearance.
- Clinker room. It is made from a mixture of clays with the addition of fireclay powder and pigments. The material is fireproof. Has high strength. It is most suitable for ovens.
You can line the stove in the bathhouse with brick or decorative stone. The design made of porcelain stoneware, marble, granite, and coils looks good.
A brick sauna stove is not only functional, but also a beautiful structure that can create the amazing atmosphere of an old bathhouse. Compliance with installation technology and proper selection of equipment will allow you to create a reliable and functional product that will last a long time.
Conclusion
Do-it-yourself stoves are often used to heat a sauna room. They are reliable, economical and very beautiful. There are two types of heater stoves.
A sauna stove with an open heater heats the room quickly, but a device with a closed heater retains heat much longer. Therefore, if you have a large enough room for a bath, it is better to give preference to the second type. Making such a stove is not very difficult. It is enough to stock up on time, the necessary materials and tools.
In the literature or on the Internet you can find a huge number of row diagrams of a brick sauna stove with a closed heater. They will help you create a beautiful and easy-to-use sauna heating device.
Photo of a brick sauna stove
Basic safety requirements
Correctly hitting a brick
The brick is hit with a pick in a direction away from you, placing it on its edge. The tool must be firmly seated on the handle (wedged) and secured with a nail or self-tapping screw. Handles should not have burrs or chips.
Scaffolding and decking must be securely connected to be stable. The materials for the solution are filtered to remove small pieces of glass and sharp stones.
Ceramic tile
Perhaps this is one of the universal materials that are often used for any purpose. This tile gained its popularity due to its relative cheapness and good characteristics. The only limitation of this material is its maximum heating temperature. The tiles do not have any locking connection or hook that would help the material resist deformation at high temperatures. That is why it is not recommended to use it for stoves that become very hot during operation. But for a fireplace this is a suitable option.
Ceramic clinker tiles cope much better with this task. In addition, it can imitate any type of finish. There are products with imitation brick, tile, wood, granite or marble. In addition, clinker tiles are more wear-resistant, stronger and more durable. And the coating can be matte or glossy.
If you want to have an original and inexpensive finish for your fireplace or stove, you can combine the option with decorative brick and ceramic tiles. This neighborhood also looks beautiful.
An important point: when finishing the stove with tiles, you need to choose a high-quality glue or composition that is not afraid of high temperatures. Otherwise, no matter how high-quality the tile is, it may fall off due to cracked adhesive. You shouldn't skimp on this.
But you can learn how to properly tiling a stove with your own hands from this video. This will help you complete the task quickly and efficiently, while saving some money on hiring workers.
