In many ways, how comfortable the microclimate in the bathhouse will be depends on well-chosen door frames and panels, as well as their correct installation. The room in which people steam is operated under extreme conditions. If there are no specific requirements for the entrance structures of bath buildings, then when choosing a door to a steam room, you may encounter difficulties.
Door to the steam room
How to make a door with your own hands
Bathhouse owners who have the necessary tools on their farm and have the skills to work with wood can make the door structure for the steam room themselves. An option is offered for manufacturing a panel from wood without the use of nails and glue (the use of these materials and devices to connect parts is practiced in most cases).
A circular saw
To carry out the work you will need: a hand router, a grinder, a drill, a circular saw, a mallet, a chisel, a hammer, a tape measure, and a pencil. The structure will be assembled from edged alder boards. You will also need a table on which to assemble.
Step 1 . The boards must first be dried and cut to the required size (their length is equal to the height of the door).
Step 2. A shield is assembled from the boards. To do this, you need to select a tongue and groove in each part. The easiest way to do this is with a hand router.
You need to select a tenon and groove in the boards
Step 3. The canvas is assembled from the blanks.
Shield assembly
To fit the boards tightly, they need to be hammered with a mallet.
Step 4. To facilitate the further processing process and ensure a better fit of the workpieces to each other, bars are attached to the table on both sides of the canvas. Spacers are driven between them and the future door leaf.
Bars are attached to the table
Step 5 . The canvas must be perfectly flat and smooth. To do this, it is polished.
Step 6 . Two blanks are cut out, which will be installed to fix the boards into specially cut grooves.
Blanks for fixing boards
These wedges should have 30 degree bevels. Grooves will be cut in the canvas at the same angle. The crossbars must fit tightly into them, since the door elements will be held on them.
Step 7. Markings for the grooves are applied. After this, grooves are cut with a circular saw (half the thickness of the blade). If you have a special cutter, it is better to choose them with it.
Special grooves are cut
To create recesses you will also have to work with a chisel.
Will have to work with a chisel
Step 8 . The trapezoidal (in cross-section) crossbars are clogged.
The crossbars get clogged
Step 9 . Holes are drilled along the edges of each of the transverse parts for installing fasteners. They will be wooden wedges that are driven into the recesses.
The wedges are driven into the recesses
These pins must go right through the doors. After this, the excess crossbars and wooden fasteners are sawed off.
Step 10 . To make the structure more attractive, it is recommended to cut off the edges of the lintels (smoothly). You can also use a chisel for this.
The edges of the jumpers are cut off
These areas definitely need to be sanded.
Step 11 . The finished canvas must be treated with impregnation (a special composition intended for baths and saunas). After this, the boards should dry completely.
Step 12 . All that remains is to attach the hinges and handles, and then install the door in the opening. You can purchase a ready-made handle, but if desired and possible, it is not so difficult to cut it out with your own hands.
There is a handle installed on the door
The result is a strong, durable and attractive design that fits tightly to the box (for greater tightness, it is recommended to fix the seal around its perimeter).
A correctly selected and correctly installed door, which will be the final touch in the decoration of a sauna or bathhouse, will allow steam lovers to fully enjoy the process.
Video - How to choose doors for a bathhouse
The best doors for baths and saunas for 2021
Models included in the review:
| Model: | Price: |
| DoorWood "Rus" | RUB 10,800 |
| AKMA Linden | RUR 7,590 |
| Blind door type No. 4 | RUB 3,500 |
| DoorWood Series “Bathhouse in the forest” | RUR 7,779 |
| Bath door DG9 | RUR 2,488 |
| AKMA Aspen M | RUR 7,090 |
| SAWO 741-3SGD-R-3 | RUB 27,990 |
AKMA Aspen M
In seventh place in our rating is a massive glass door for a bathhouse from AKMA. Glass thickness - 8 mm. The canvas is made of bronze-colored tempered glass. The buyer can choose the texture of the glass (matte or glossy) and the opening option.
The product comes with a solid aspen box, hinges and a handle. A seal made of heat-resistant material is laid around the perimeter of the door frame.
AKMA Aspen M door
Advantages:
- Original appearance;
- Resistant to mold and mildew.
Flaws:
- High price.
Blind door type No. 4
In sixth place is a simple model made of linden. It is produced, although if you search, in any region there are many millwork factories producing similar structures.
The material chosen for the canvas is linden, which copes excellently with heat and temperature changes. The interior space is lined with mineral wool and a vapor barrier to retain heat. The diagonal arrangement of the slats gives the canvas a modern look.
The size of the door leaf is 195x70 cm, thickness - 80 mm.
The set includes chrome hinges and a wooden handle. The box is made of pine.
Blind door type No. 4
Advantages:
- Low price.
Flaws:
- Requires more careful care during operation compared to glass products.
DoorWood “Sauna in the forest”
Glass sheet 8 mm thick with a pattern made by sandblasting. The glass is tinted with a bronze tint. Box made of high quality alder, without sill. Hinges included, opening side - right. The package also includes a wooden handle.
There is a seal around the perimeter of the box for a better fit of the canvas.
This model will fit equally well into a bathhouse and a sauna; for a Russian steam room, it is recommended to order a threshold made of the same material as the door frame.
Overall dimensions 190x70 cm (without box).
DoorWood “Bathhouse in the forest” door
Advantages:
- Unusual design;
- Good heat resistance.
Flaws:
- The threshold will have to be ordered separately.
SAWO 741-3SGD-R-3
SAWO is a manufacturer of high quality doors from Finland. The canvas is made of tempered glass 8 mm thick. Glass color - antique bronze. Canadian cedar was used to make the door frame. The long vertical handle is also made of cedar, with metal inserts at the attachment points. The door leaf is attached to three stainless steel hinges. To improve the fit of the door, a seal is glued around the perimeter. A nice detail was the included magnetic latch, which is installed in the upper left corner.
Model dimensions 190x70 cm, without box.
Please note that the threshold is not included in the delivery. If you plan to install a door in a steam room, purchase it separately.
Installation with opening on the right side is possible.
SAWO 741-3SGD-R-3 door
Advantages:
- High quality manufacturing;
- Reliable fastening of the canvas;
- Magnetic latch.
Flaws:
- Not identified.
AKMA Linden M
In third place in the ranking is another AKMA door from the Linden series. The canvas is made of tempered glass 8 mm thick in bronze color. The color of the glass is set at the manufacturing factory by introducing coloring pigments into the glass mass during production. This technology makes colors rich and resistant to fading.
The door frame is made of linden, which has good resistance to deformation and resistance to heat.
Model dimensions 190x70 cm, without box.
Installation can be done with opening on the right or left side. The package also includes chrome hinges and a linden door handle.
AKMA Linden M door
Advantages:
- Linden door frame;
- Seals around the perimeter of the box.
Flaws:
- Not identified.
Bath door DG9
Second place in the ranking is occupied by a truly folk door model. Everything here is simple and no frills. The shield is made of coniferous wood, connected into a groove. Pine and spruce alternate. Additional rigidity of the structure is given by two transverse bars recessed into the shield. The same connection technology was used a hundred years ago, and it has proven its reliability. To prevent the bars from moving, they are secured with plugs on the reverse side.
The door leaf is supplied without a frame and fittings, which, on the one hand, is not very convenient, but on the other hand, it gives complete scope for creativity - you can choose the hinges and handle to your taste and create a small masterpiece out of the door.
Bath door DG9
Advantages:
- Low price.
Flaws:
- A softwood door leaf will release resin at high temperatures;
- No fittings or door frame included.
DoorWood "Rus"
In the first place of the rating is the door. The name may be a little pretentious, but nevertheless, it quite accurately reflects the embedded idea, appearance, and intention of the authors. She seemed to have stepped out of the pages of Russian folk tales. The model is unusual and arouses constant curiosity among buyers. At first glance, it is difficult to understand what it is actually made of. The door leaf is made of glass, with a photograph of old boards printed on it. Overlays made of aged wood are attached on top of the canvas. The box is made of artificially aged pine. Platbands are installed on top of the frame, the style matching the overlays on the door leaf.
The door will fit perfectly into the interior of an ancient Russian bathhouse, combining color and modern high-tech materials.
The kit does not include accessories; the manufacturer suggests purchasing them separately.
DoorWood "Rus" door
Advantages:
- Unusual appearance;
- Tempered glass door leaf;
- Universal installation type.
Flaws:
- There are no accessories included. With such a bright appearance, finding her can become a real problem.
Which one should I put?
It is believed that wood is best suited for making bath door panels. It has natural ingredients and is therefore safe for human health.
In addition, wood can breathe, which is also very important. You can make a wooden structure yourself, so very often steam room owners choose wood
In this case, it does not matter at all what type of wood was chosen - after a year of operation they will all have the same appearance. In addition, they will all have the same service life, so there is little point in choosing wood, the main thing is that it matches the color of the walls of the room. Wooden doors with glass inserts perform their functions well. Glass can decorate a product, which is not the least important in organizing a bath space.
But glass doors are least suitable for a steam room. Despite their ability to repel moisture and withstand temperature changes, they have some disadvantages. Firstly, they will constantly fog up, and secondly, they will greatly increase heat transfer. Reviews on construction forums say that the glass door, although it looks impressive, constantly fogs up and streaks form.
In the next video you can see how to choose the right door to the steam room.
Material calculation
The amount of materials depends on the chosen design and size of the canvas. The easiest way is to draw up a working drawing and specification, which will indicate all the necessary parts and their dimensions. This option gives the most accurate idea of the quantity and type of materials. It is pointless to count the amount of wood in cubic meters, since the volume does not matter here.
First of all, the frame for the door leaf is calculated. To do this, take the size of the door and add double the thickness of the board in height and width, minus 2 cm on each side. This is an adjustment for the quarter that forms the vestibule. The easiest way to calculate the canvas is by the width of the boards. It is necessary to select a shield according to the size of the opening and add about 10-15% for processing.
Important! Please note that any calculation will be approximate. During work, different situations may arise, and plans often change along the way. Therefore, a certain supply of material is needed to allow the necessary adjustments to be made without the need to search for and prepare wood.
Pros of installation
Plastic structures are easily installed in the wooden walls of a bathhouse. PVC is not susceptible to rotting or fungal attack. Plastic doors with glazing allow light into the steam room, which has a beneficial effect on the microclimate.
Large selection of door colors. In addition to classic white, you can choose to decorate with wood of different varieties and shades. There are two technologies for changing color - applying a colored film over the profile, or introducing pigment into PVC during production
In this case, the entire profile array is painted, but the color is uniform without simulating wood texture. If a design with sandwich panels is chosen, the panels can be easily changed if necessary. Products using a plastic profile with 5 or more chambers retain heat well, which is important for steam rooms. PVC does not deform from moisture.
Selection of materials
Choosing the material for making a door is an important and responsible step. The main criteria are:
- availability of skills to work with a particular material;
- availability for sale, affordable price;
- the ability of a material to withstand loads and work freely under intended conditions.
Let's look at the possible options and their features:
Wood
This is a traditional material for making doors. It’s easier to make a wooden door yourself, since almost every owner of a home or cottage has the skills to work with the material. Wood is available for sale, the choice is quite wide, and the price is affordable for everyone. The most common are conifers, which grow in abundance in our country. They have different properties, so we should talk about them separately.
Cedar
There are several varieties of this tree. In Russia, cedar is the name for cedar pine, which differs from Lebanese cedar. The wood available in our country has a soft, straight-grained structure, is easy to process, and has a light, slightly yellowish color. A special feature of cedar is its fragrant, resinous odor, which midges, mosquitoes, and midges do not like. Cedar is rarely affected by wormholes and is resistant to rotting. It will make a good door to the steam room, you just need to choose boards without resinous exits.
Pine
This is the most common breed in Russia. Pine lumber is available for sale in all types, there are different sizes and shapes. Pine has light wood, sometimes reddish at the core. The hardness is medium, easy to process, and light in weight. However, there are also disadvantages, the main of which is susceptibility to rotting, the appearance of blue stains, fungus, and wormholes. When purchasing material, you should carefully select the boards. Pine doors are most often found in the interior of a bathhouse or other premises.
Characteristics of the design installed in the washing room
This is another door that is equipped with a bathhouse and sauna. The room's characteristics resemble a bathroom: the same temperature changes and high humidity. According to buyers, it is worth choosing a plastic sheet or frosted glass. Such materials are classified as hygienic. They are easy to clean: wash with detergents or disinfectants. They comply with all sanitary standards and regulations.
Where to buy the product you like? You can purchase popular models at specialized retail outlets, or you can order online in an online store, having first read user reviews and carefully studied the photos. Which company is better depends on the person’s preferences and taste. Famous manufacturing companies annually present their fans with new products at an affordable price.
Installation can be ordered from a specialized company, or you can carry out the work yourself. If you don’t know how to install, you can turn to the Internet for help. Expert recommendations and installation videos are posted there.
