Sometimes you want to take a break from all the hustle and bustle and go to the countryside to relax. Do things you love that you enjoy. One of the most favorite things to do at the dacha is, of course, a bathhouse.
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You can entrust the construction of a bathhouse to professionals. But you can build on your summer cottage and landscape it on your own. You are freed from unnecessary costs and the money you save you spend on landscaping and finishing your desires and preferences. A self-built sauna will be more enjoyable.
Timber bath project
At the design stage, the location and number of windows, doors, rooms, the presence of a terrace, veranda or attic are determined. Based on the number of rooms, the optimal size is chosen, which regulates the availability of an area of 4 m2 per person. For a family, acceptable parameters are 3X3, 4X3 or 5X4.
On the schematic plan there is a steam room with a shower stall combined with it. A shower and steam room can be combined, this will increase the area of the steam room and reduce the number of partitions and doors. Nearby there is a rest room, which is adjacent to a small vestibule.
At the project development stage, it is necessary to select the type of foundation on which the frame of the structure will be built. The strength and reliability of the bath, its service life, the speed of heating of the steam room and the speed of cooling of the air depend on its type.
When designing the base of the bathhouse, the location of the stove is determined. The foundation for it is laid simultaneously with the foundation of the building.
Ready-made bathhouse projects with calculations of the required amount of materials and necessary components are offered on the Internet.
Main heating sources
The steam room should be about 100 C, which can be provided by a wood, gas or electric stove.
- Wood-burning.
Russian baths are equipped with it. Built from red brick. The firebox is placed in the dressing room to add firewood without entering the steam room. Modern wood-burning stoves can be made of steel or cast iron. - Gas oven.
The most economical option. Certification and connection are difficulties that may be encountered during use. - Electric oven.
The most compact and simplest option. The heating is adjusted automatically according to the settings. The advantages of the design are quick installation and ease of use.
Choosing a foundation for a bath
For a bathhouse, choose a shallow strip (up to 60 cm) or pile foundation.
Wooden material must be protected from high humidity, so the foundation base must be at least 50 cm.
The site of the proposed development is leveled, the fertile layer of soil is removed and transferred, stones are removed, bushes and stumps are uprooted. Using pegs and strong thread, mark the perimeter of the base and the width of the trench.
- A trench is dug under the strip foundation, the depth of which depends on the type of soil, the level of freezing in winter, and the height of groundwater.
- On loose, sandy, clayey soil, the depth of the lower part of the tape should be at least 60 cm; for strong, stable soil, 40-50 cm is allowed.
- We add a 50 cm base, a cushion of gravel and sand, and we get a minimum pouring height of the concrete base of 1.0 m - 1.20 m.
- To fill the base, it is necessary to install removable formwork. It is prepared from scraps of boards, remnants of old wooden products, and durable plywood.
- To strengthen the base, in order to avoid distortion of the structure and subsidence of the soil inward, an armored belt with at least two weave threads is installed.
Pile or columnar foundations are laid on quicksand, swampy areas, in flooded areas, on the banks of reservoirs and rivers. For construction, industrial concrete piles are used or they are made of brick, rubble stone, concrete blocks measuring 20x30x60 cm.
To install them, they dig a hole to the depth of the foundation, fill it with a bed of sand and gravel, set up piles or lay out pillars, and concrete it with cement mortar.
Important! The top of the foundation is covered with a layer of waterproofing. To do this, apply a layer of bitumen mastic to the surface and cover it with one or two layers of roofing felt.
Video description
Several interesting projects on video:
Economy options
Small summerhouses save space on your garden plot, combining all the characteristics of a traditional bathhouse. They are perfect as temporary buildings when there is no money to build a large bathhouse, but you want to take a steam bath right now.
Economy bathhouse lined with imitation timberSource bane.guru
Frame bathhouseSource line-home.ru
Bathhouse 2x3 m covered with sidingSource plotnic.ucoz.ru
One-story baths
One-story bathhouses with a terrace are popular because the recreation area can be moved to fresh air in the spring and summer.
Compact bathhouse with a seating area located on the terraceSource market.sakh.com
An interesting option for a bathhouse with a terraceSource parki48.ru
Sauna made of rounded wood with a terraceSource topfonpack.ru
Baths with attic
For those who like to relax with a large group, bathhouses with an attic floor are ideal. A large recreation room on the ground floor allows you to accommodate a sufficient number of guests, and the presence of bedrooms on the second floor will relieve the owners of the question of where to put everyone for the night.
Bathhouse with an attic floor and two gazebos at different levelsSource teremgrad35.com
Bathhouse with attic and gazebo for barbecueSource www.domamo.ru
Non-standard designs
Rounded lines are the main idea of a non-standard bathhouse interior. Source archdaily.cn
Mini sauna on wheelsSource vw-bus.in.ua
Onion sauna in FinlandSource termalfurdo.hu
Country baths are becoming one of the main attributes of homestead development. Thanks to economical options for building small baths, everyone can become the owner of an inexpensive steam room, and lovers of noisy companies and active recreation will find options with a large relaxation room and a terrace.
Selection of timber
The durability and reliability of the log house depends on the quality and type of lumber chosen. When choosing, it is necessary to carefully and scrupulously inspect each beam in order to avoid defective products from entering the log house.
Material with shrinkage cracks, wormholes, traces of branches, and black spots on the surface, which indicate damage to the wood by a fungal disease, is mercilessly put aside.
Wood for construction is harvested in winter; it takes two to three months for it to age and go through the drying stage.
Types of timber:
- Solid non-profiled logs are made from logs by processing four longitudinal surfaces and obtaining a rectangular or square section measuring 150X150 mm or 150X200 mm.
- The profiled lumber has grooves on the bottom and top sides for a tight connection of the tongue-and-groove system, which significantly speeds up the process of installing the frame. Thanks to the longitudinal recess, the appearance of shrinkage cracks can be avoided.
- Glued laminated timber is made from strips of lamellas, which are attached to each other with phenol-formaldehyde glue. Alternating vertically and horizontally located wood fibers increases the strength of the material, reduces its moisture absorption, increases moisture resistance, and shrinkage of the structure is reduced from 30% to 5-10%.
- Thermobeam is a new composite material that is made of two lamellas. Between them there is a layer of extruded polystyrene foam. The material is lightweight and has high thermal insulation properties.
Choosing a tree
Bathhouses were traditionally made from logs; this building material is coming back into fashion. Building such a steam room is expensive and difficult, but it is worth it. Linden, aspen, and larch perform best: they are soft woods and therefore react well to water, do not crack when dry, and are not susceptible to rot.
If you are lining a bathhouse with wood, then remember its properties. Thus, oak, spruce, pine and fir will give a special fragrant aroma. But with spruce species it is not so simple. High-quality wood can release resins. Therefore, do not sheathe the ceiling with them; hot drops of resin will cause burns if they come into contact with the skin.
Photo: Shutterstock.com
Lifehack. Aromatherapy lovers use oil mixed with water for steaming: 3 drops per 500 ml. Suitable healing and valuable oils are juniper, spruce, ylang-ylang, orange and lavender.
The best brooms for a bath are considered to be oak, linden, and birch. To diversify your bathing day, pay attention to cherry and currant brooms. Steamed brooms with the addition of eucalyptus, walnut, tansy, sage, lemon balm and even bamboo will amaze you with their aroma.
Stages of constructing a bathhouse from timber (instructions)
On the foundation waterproofing layer along its perimeter, slats up to 1.5 cm thick are laid perpendicular to the beams at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other. A layer of mineral insulation is placed between them.
Using a level, check the evenness of the surface of the base and beams of the first row.
- It is advisable to make the first layer from timber with a cross-section of 20X20 cm made from larch, which has the greatest moisture resistance and is not subject to rotting.
- Subsequent layers are built from spruce, pine, cedar with a cross-section of 15x15 cm.
- Each lumber is carefully treated with an antiseptic.
- The crown of the bath, after it is leveled horizontally, is securely fastened with dowels or metal rods.
- To do this, they are driven into pre-prepared holes located at a distance of 1-1.5 m.
- The dowel holds two rows of timber together, so a hole is drilled through the top layer and half of the bottom row.
A layer of insulation is laid between the beams.
The use of spring dowels during installation increases the strength of the structure and protects the wood from cracking as a result of shrinkage.
When connecting end beams, cuts are used without any residue: into the paw and into the tooth. Cut with the remainder into a bowl or into a bowl. When building a bathhouse from profiled timber, a butt joint with dowels or a main tenon is used.
- Windows and doors are inserted during the installation of beams or after completion of work. When installing window and door frames, leave 1-2 cm of sedimentary gap, into which a layer of insulation is laid.
- Tow or strip insulation made from sheep's wool is used as insulation.
- The last two crowns of the frame are not fastened together until the roof truss system is inserted into them.
After work on installing the bathhouse frame, the construction is mothballed for a year. During this time, the wood shrinks, which reaches 3-12% along the annual rings.
A bathhouse made of laminated timber does not shrink, so work on flooring and roofing can be carried out immediately after the walls are erected.
Undeniable advantages
The domed steam room has long been famous for its many recognized advantages.
- Charming appearance. Spherical structures will become the main decoration of a personal plot, as their appearance is extremely amazing.
- Compact sizes. Dome buildings have optimal parameters. They take up minimal space on the site, but are unusually spacious.
- Safety. The structures are indescribably reliable. Because of this, they are not capable of harming human health.
- Economical. The structure does not require huge investments. It also warms up extremely quickly and retains heat for a very long time, which allows you to save on heating costs.
- Relatively simple installation. The process of assembling a dome sauna does not require special construction equipment.
- Pre-fabricated. Construction work lasts a maximum of 2–3 months.
- Favorable microclimate. Thanks to the constant circulation of steam, the microclimate in the health resort is delightful.
- Light weight. The design is lightweight.
- High seismic resistance. The spherical structure is not afraid of earthquakes due to the uniform distribution of the load.
- Excellent soundproofing properties. In the bathhouse, you can sing at the top of your voice without being embarrassed, since those around you won’t hear anything anyway. In a dome structure, noise is “suppressed” in an incredible way.
- Excellent thermal insulation properties. The dome sauna warms up very quickly and cools down very slowly.
- Resistance to the crushing effects of environmental factors. The spherical structure is not afraid of attacks from certain factors.
- Lack of basis. The bathhouse does not need a foundation. In view of which, again, the savings are obvious.
- Functionality. A domed steam room can be used at any time of the year in a particular region. In addition, in the heat there is a welcome coolness in the room.
- Variety of projects. There is a colossal number of different designs for spherical steam rooms: from presentable options to modest ones.
Inveterate connoisseurs of hot steam rooms note an unprecedented surge of vitality and delightful emotions after visiting the health resort. By the way, I generally noticed that our ancestors were extremely smart people. Well, we need to build a domed bathhouse! Just awesome!
Photos of the best timber sauna projects
Briefly about the main thing
Setting up a good sauna is difficult, but it is possible. The result will justify the effort spent on it. Natural materials should be used in your work - they retain heat better. The ideal option is a log house on an earthen foundation. In finishing, you should also give preference to wood.
It is imperative to put insulation between the walls and the finishing. To quickly ventilate the room, you need windows in every room.
It is better to install a metal or electric stove, but you can choose other options.
If the sauna is a separate building, then there should be more rooms in it than if it occupies a room in the house.
Interior decoration
First, communications are carried out: electricity, water, sewerage. A drainage well should be dug next to the bathhouse, into which water from the washing room will flow.
When making a floor in a bathhouse with your own hands, you should remember that it must be leaky, that is, have gaps for the passage of water.
Then the walls are insulated and finished with clapboards and electrical appliances are installed.
What material to choose for walls
The modern building materials market offers various options suitable for building a bathhouse to suit every taste. The most common: wood, concrete blocks and brick.
Since ancient times, construction has been carried out from wood as the most environmentally friendly material that does not require additional finishing. Wooden walls delight with a pleasant aroma and aesthetic appearance.
Installation of oven and shelves
The stove is often installed in a room adjacent to the steam room, so it is more convenient to add fuel, and there is no soot, gas, debris from coal or firewood inside. A stove in a steam room can cause burns if the room is small.
The shelves are placed in 1 tier, placed in two or three rows in height. The width of the bench for sitting is 60 cm, and the lying places are 90 cm. The minimum length of the shelf is 150 cm, but more can be done if a person is tall. Use wood that does not overheat so as not to get burned at high air temperatures.
Features of operation
Only a steam room provides the healthiest and only correct ratio of humidity and heat. But even there there are extreme values. This is also confirmed scientifically. The best state of health at a certain combination of humidity and temperature is graphically expressed by a homeothermal curve. Below the first curve is the optimal combination of temperature up to 90° and humidity up to 80%, which is what the Russian steam bath provides.
Homeothermal curves can be considered an indicator of well-being in the bath
While in the steam room, the body is washed with hot, humid air, especially when exposed to it with a broom, due to which everything warms up. In this case, there is a constant flow of oxygen to the tissues.
Air circulation in the steam room provides a healing effect
After being in the steam room, you need to plunge into the ice plunge pool.
Fonts in a washing Russian bath should be filled with cool water
