We are opening a business for the production of non-standard baths - barrels and furaco

A barrel-shaped bathhouse is a mobile structure that can be placed on any yard, and certain structures can even be placed indoors.

It looks like its name - a rounded structure in the shape of a huge barrel. Planed painted boards are used to make it.

The structure can be moved and placed in any convenient place on your site. The convenience of this design has already been recognized by lovers of relaxing water treatments.

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What is a barrel sauna?

It often happens that a person loves a bathhouse, but there is not enough money, time, space, or all together to build a full-fledged structure. It is in such cases that a barrel sauna is built. This design is inexpensive, compact, interesting, original and can have the same functions as a full-fledged one.

Barrel sauna on a summer cottage

It is not known exactly who invented this structure. In this regard, there is only an assumption that the roots of its origin come from Japan. There people go to a place called sento. They don't really hang out there. They rather wash themselves in a hot bath, which is kept at a strict temperature of 55°C. They go there in groups. Visually, sento resembles a large deep basin or barrel. Before getting into this font, the Japanese wash themselves in the usual way, and then climb in, relax and talk. Those who do not always have the opportunity to visit a public sento build a smaller analogue - furo - at home. The Finns, seeing such a structure, decided to build something similar. They turned the barrel over to a horizontal position and enlarged it several times. This is how we got a barrel sauna, which has a steam room, a vestibule and a relaxation area.

Business plan

To organize a business such as the production of barrel saunas, you need to have a start-up capital of at least 1 million.

rubles For this amount you can rent premises, obtain permits, purchase equipment and tools, and pay wages to employees.

To set up a carpentry shop, you will need to rent a room and it will cost about 200,000 rubles. It is necessary to take care of the availability of communications and make sure that it is possible to use power tools.

If premises are available, equipment and tools are purchased with a total cost of approximately 200,000 rubles:

• carpentry machine (100,000 rubles);
• circular saw (RUB 10,000);
• electric plane (RUB 10,000);
• two angle grinders (RUB 10,000);
• screwdriver - 2 pieces (10,000 rubles);
• chisels, hammers and other tools (about 60,000 rubles).

In addition, approval from government agencies (about 50,000 rubles) and the purchase of raw materials (300,000 rubles) will be required. The cost of a barrel bath also includes wages to employees (RUB 290,000) and advertising costs (RUB 100,000).

As a result, investments amounting to more than 1 million rubles will be required.

In a month you will be able to produce 20 baths at a price of 90,000 rubles per unit. In this case, the payback period for investments is 4 months. By making calculations in your individual situation, you can accurately determine whether this idea is profitable or not.

According to expert estimates, the profitability of this production activity ranges from 150 to 200%. If the business takes on a large scale and barrel-shaped baths are sold as if on an assembly line, it makes sense to organize your own store specializing in such products or rent space in a large shopping center.

Pros and cons of the structure (table)

+	—
Compact size and light weight. It follows from this that the construction of a capital foundation for it is not necessary.	The outer covering of the boards requires periodic repair.
Easy and quick to install. Three days are enough to build a small bathhouse.	There won't be enough space for a large group to relax.
There is no need to use special equipment for construction work.	In order to use such a bathhouse in winter, it must be thoroughly insulated.
The bathhouse is mobile due to the fact that it has a rigid structure and low weight. If you put it on a trailer, you can take it with you anywhere.
Heats up quickly.
Originality of design.

Selecting materials

Take your choice of building material seriously

To make spending time in a barrel sauna as comfortable as possible, pay special attention to the choice of wood from which it will be built. A stationary bathhouse can be built from almost any material, because inside it you can build a lining from more suitable raw materials. This option is not suitable for a barrel sauna. For it you need to immediately select good material.

For example, coniferous trees are completely unsuitable material for the construction of such a structure due to the release of resinous substances when heated, which can burn the skin. The exception is cedar. The numerous healing and aromatherapy properties it is endowed with are perfect for baths. The technical qualities of this type of wood are also high: the material is not subject to deformation, cracks do not appear on it due to temperature changes, does not shrink, is moisture resistant and is not afraid of microorganisms. The variety of color shades and textured patterns of cedar is impressive.

Another great option for building such a bathhouse is oak. It has a strong and solid structure, due to which the structure will be durable. Moisture does not act destructively on oak, but, on the contrary, hardens it. The tree becomes more durable. Oak is famous for its deep, rich dark shades, has excellent textured patterns and healing properties. The disadvantage of oak wood is its high price. Because of this, it is very rare to come across a barrel sauna made entirely of oak. More often, separate parts are constructed from this rock.

The traditional material from which baths are built is linden wood. Creating a soft and healing microclimate in the bathhouse is its main advantage. Since ancient times, people have tried to treat the respiratory system, liver and kidneys with the help of a linden bath. Linden wood vapors have a positive effect on the skin: they rejuvenate and cleanse it. This material does not shrink and is easy to process. A bathhouse built from this type of wood will heat up quickly and retain heat well.

Aspen wood is also used to build a barrel sauna. Its properties are almost the same as linden. Their advantages and disadvantages are the same. True, linden is much less susceptible to the destructive effects of moisture, does not deform and much fewer cracks appear on it. Due to its relatively low price, this tree can be called the most popular in the construction of baths.

In addition to the above-mentioned species, alder, fir, and birch wood are also used to build a regular bathhouse. But these rocks are not entirely suitable for building a barrel sauna.

Internal finishing after production

The interior decoration of the barrel bath does not require any frills, but at the same time it is pleasant to be in a room where everything is thought out to the smallest detail.

• A small portable lattice flooring will help improve walking on an uneven semicircular floor. It will not only help you feel secure on a slippery floor, but will also help with better air circulation. Humid air will not stagnate in the lower part of the bath.
• To organize the drainage of water, you will need a dug hole so that the liquid from the bathhouse flows there. If your site already has a sewer system, then you need to “cut” from the bathhouse into this system.
• Choose all lamps, as well as the electrical cable, for a barrel bath with special protection; these devices must be adapted to the conditions of baths and saunas.
• When installing a stove, do not neglect all safety rules; the use of thermal insulation is the main condition for the safe use of a bathhouse.
• Arranging a small veranda at the entrance to the bathhouse is a personal matter, but how nice it is to sit in friendly company on the street in between visits to the steam room.

The construction of a barrel sauna is subject to not only masters of the sauna business. This process can be carried out independently. Having built a barrel sauna, you will be rewarded for your work - such a building will last a long time and will delight all those who like to steam!

Types (table)

Barrel sauna layout option

Name	Description
Ordinary Russian bath	Features hot and humid steam. You can steam in it with brooms. Usually consists of 2 rooms: a steam room and a washing room. After sitting in the steam room for a while and sweating, you can go wash in the shower. In this design option, it is imperative to consider a water drainage system. To prevent it from stagnating, the barrel sauna is placed at a slight slope. The stove in it is installed between two rooms. It is equipped with a tank for heating water. This tank should go into the shower. In the steam room there is a net with stones on which water is poured. They are heated by the firebox. The combustion part of the furnace is located in the washing room. It is better to fence it off so as not to get burned during bath procedures. There is not much space in such a ben, so the stove should be as small as possible. The walls near the stove are insulated with fireproof material.
Sauna	It differs in that the air in it is dry. It may consist of one room. Often this design is equipped with a font into which cold water is poured. If there is little space, sometimes a bucket is used for dousing with water. It is considered a tradition to plunge into cold water after a sauna. It's easier to set up than the previous one. The room must be airtight: the doors close tightly, there are no gaps in the floor or walls. The sauna has only a small hole in the roof or wall with a special valve that can be closed partially or completely. Water is not used in the sauna, so there is no need for a drain. It has comfortable benches and a stove with a heating stove. You cannot pour water on the stones in the sauna. You can add a few drops of essential oil or tincture of medicinal herbs. Thus, therapeutic and preventive aromatherapy is created. The sauna can be installed both vertically and horizontally.
Ofuro	Similar to Japanese sento. Visually it resembles a font. Heated by a built-in stove. It has no roof, but it is used all year round. They place it on a wooden floor. The inside is equipped with a wooden bench and a stove, which is fenced with a wooden partition so that no one gets burned during bath procedures. According to Japanese wisdom, the ofura bath unites all four elements: earth, fire, water and air. The earth is the wood from which it is made, the fire is the stove. And the creation of complete harmony occurs thanks to the water and air surrounding a person in this bath. In it he relaxes and becomes healthier. Visually it may resemble a simple barrel or be elongated. The stove does not have to be installed inside the structure. Sometimes they place it next to it and run pipes from it that heat the water inside. This is a safer option. True, heating requires much more time, and, consequently, fuel consumption increases. Usually they spend 10–20 minutes in it, and then the steamed body must be wiped with a hard mitten.

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The starting capital - 1 million rubles - remained from the entrepreneur’s previous business: he was previously engaged in the resale of children's goods. They decided to organize the production of baths in the village of Koltushi, Leningrad Region. The funds were used to rent 500 m2 of production space, purchase machines, hire and train staff. The company employs four managers and seven carpenters in the workshop. Four permanent teams of two people each are involved - bathhouse installers. More people are attracted to the assembly teams. Approximately 20% of turnover is spent on salaries.

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The investment was returned after just six months of work. The work of prepayment helped to grow quickly: clients gave money in advance, and the entrepreneur used it to purchase wood and cover other production costs. In the absence of a large number of competitors, the enterprise quickly expanded: the individual entrepreneur’s turnover for 2021 already amounted to 75 million rubles. And in May 2021, Alexander Shevtsov decided to open Hygge LLC together with co-founder Anton Eremin, who was previously involved in the restaurant business.

Today the company produces seven baths a month. The range includes five main models, which vary in size: from 2 to 6 m2. The businessman says that if necessary, the company can double its production capacity. Now Hygge LLC is starting to work with the Sima-Land network platform and several dealers. A new direction of work for entrepreneurs is the production of kits for self-assembly of bathhouses by customers. Now the company has three exhibition sites: in Pargolovo, Kipeni and on Pulkovskoye Highway.

Photo gallery: varieties of barrel saunas

Barrel bath sauna from the inside

Another option for a barrel bath

Ofuro barrel sauna extended

Ofuro barrel sauna

Russian barrel bath

Erection of the roof

Taking into account the design of the future building, it may be provided with a roof. When the walls, “bottoms” and base for the barrel sauna are ready with your own hands, you can make a roof for it, choosing a gable structure on rafters, or another option.

The roof can also be made of soft roofing or metal sheets that are placed on a waterproofing coating. For those who want to know how to attach a small dressing room to a barrel bathhouse or add a veranda to it, it is better to develop a project for the future structure in advance.

How to organize water drainage

Such a need exists for a design in which a lot of water will be used.

Lattice floor in a barrel sauna

Of course, if the bathhouse is used infrequently, then it is enough to make holes in the floor through which the liquid will flow out and go into the soil. But if you plan to use the structure frequently, then the water drainage system needs to be thought out in more detail. Otherwise, the water may stagnate under the bathhouse, which will have a bad effect on the bathhouse. The first sign will be the appearance of an unpleasant odor. This means that a fungus has appeared under the knowledge and it begins to rot. After this, the floor begins to deteriorate, become unreliable and, ultimately, may collapse.

To build proper water drainage, the barrel sauna is placed at a slight slope. This way the water will drain towards the end of the sink. There you need to make a hole in the floor and attach a pipe to it that will go into the drainage hole. To prevent this pipe from cracking due to temperature changes in winter, it must be insulated.

Inside the bathhouse itself, a floor is made in the form of a lattice. This is necessary not only to make walking more comfortable. Thus, water will not linger on the surface and the floor will dry out on all sides.

Details

Pros and cons of a barrel sauna

Indirectly, we examined the main advantages of baths in the form of barrels, but then we invite you to consider all the advantages in more detail:

1. Compactness - barrel-shaped baths are relatively small in size, and therefore they can be installed on a small plot of land, even when it may seem unrealistic to allocate a piece of free land space between a large number of greenhouses and beds.
2. Mobility - the design will weigh no more than 1500 kg, and therefore it is extremely simple in terms of transportation. Moreover, this bathhouse can be moved from place to place quite a few times or even transported. Some even took this design with them on a trip.
3. Speed ​​of construction - one of the advantages of a barrel sauna is that a team of craftsmen will be able to install it in a matter of minutes, and there will be no need to wait several months for that happy moment when you can finally take a steam bath in a personal sauna. You only need to think about the availability of electrical energy, drainage and water. If suddenly necessary, the bathhouse can be disassembled with your own hands and reassembled in a new place.
4. No base is required as the structure weighs very little. The chosen location, of course, should be leveled in advance and provide a slight slope for water outflow.
5. Ergonomics - despite the small area that will be occupied, in the barrel you can arrange everything you need for pleasant bath procedures in an area for 3-8 people.
6. Heating speed - in just 1/3 of an hour, the internal space inside the steam room will heat up to a temperature level of +90 degrees. In winter, heat will be retained much better than in classic baths, and all due to the lack of corners. The high thermal capacity of the structure makes it possible to quickly heat a bathhouse, using fewer logs than when lighting a simple bathhouse.
7. Original appearance - probably there is no need to explain the fact that a huge barrel on a plot of land will look impressive, and it will also become a real decoration for the territory.
8. Operation throughout the year.
9. Simple maintenance process - there are no corners and a small area will simplify the cleaning process.
10. Low cost - a barrel-shaped bathhouse will cost much less than the construction of a simple bathhouse.
11. Environmentally friendly - such baths are made from natural material (wood), and therefore the steam will be useful and even healthy. The design is equipped with wood-burning stoves, and therefore it will be possible to save on electrical energy.

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Among the disadvantages of a barrel bath, we highlight the fact that it is unlikely that a large group will be able to relax in such a bath. Moreover, the walls in the bathhouse are single-layer, and therefore it is impossible to use strong “chemistry” for treatment. In general, the market offers a lot of special protective products for treating walls in a bathhouse - they will combine efficiency and maximum safety. The thermal insulation of the bathhouse, as well as the possibility of using it in winter, will cause a lot of controversy. Most people argue that a barrel-shaped sauna is only a summer option. Manufacturers believe that due to the high thermal capacity of wood, gapless installation and powerful stoves, the bathhouse does not require insulation, and also ideally maintains high temperatures even during frost. If the structure is made of high quality material and correctly assembled, then even in severe frosts with the heating system turned off, the temperature will drop by 1 degree every 4 minutes.

Owners of barrel saunas share their personal experience and say that in winter, at temperatures down to -15 degrees, they continue to use a steam room, but clarify that in winter it takes much more time to kindle. Certain manufacturers produce bath buildings with an additional layer of thermal insulation, which are ideal for year-round use in areas with harsh climatic conditions.

Material of manufacture

When building a classic bathhouse, the choice of materials for construction is not so important, and it is much more important to choose the right cladding material. For a bathhouse in the form of barrels, it is worth correctly determining the materials for construction during the design process. The following types of wood species are usually used:

• Oak is the optimal material for building a bath room. This is a durable and highly durable wood that will have fairly good resistance to moisture and at the same time boasts an incredibly beautiful pattern and color. The disadvantage of this material, as you can understand, is the high price.
• Linden - it has excellent medicinal qualities, and when such wood is heated, vapors will be released that have a positive effect on the respiratory system. Moreover, they are beneficial for the skin and also have a rejuvenating effect. Linden has distinctive properties of thermal insulation, but it will also have one huge disadvantage - almost zero resistance to water, and therefore linden baths will begin to rot more quickly than structures made from other species.
• Aspen is a relatively inexpensive species that is not inferior to linden in terms of strength, and even better tolerates the effects of moisture, ideally retains its shape and does not even crack.
• Cedar is the only coniferous species that is perfect for building a bathhouse. A cedar barrel sauna is a structure with fairly dense wood, which is not afraid of temperature changes and high levels of humidity, does not shrink, will not be affected by fungal colonies and mold, and it is for this reason that it will be highly durable. Moreover, a cedar sauna is also an excellent aromatherapy, which will be a bonus.

Other conifers contain a huge number of resins, which, when exposed to high temperatures, will begin to actively release. This material can only be used to make a bath frame. Steam room equipment is made from alder, fir and birch, as this is the cheapest wood possible.

The thickness of the boards will be from 3 to 4 cm, and bath buildings with a board thickness of 4 cm are most widespread. The thicker the material, the higher the thermal insulation properties of the steam room.

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Varieties

Barrel baths, photos of which are presented in the article, are suitable for organizing the following types of steam rooms:

1. A Russian bathhouse is usually made of a couple of sections, i.e. washing and steam zones. The latter is filled with moist heated steam. This type of bath is quite simple to organize inside a barrel, and a stove is installed in the steam room, and you also need to have space to organize a bathing room so that water contrast procedures can be performed. It is best to place the stove so that the chamber and heater are in the steam room, and the firebox and expansion tank are in the washing area. Since there is not much space, heating equipment is chosen in small sizes. A feature of this type of bath room will be the formation of a huge number of drains, because water disposal should be carefully thought out.
2. A Finnish sauna will feature fairly dry and hot steam. In this case, you should properly organize ventilation, which includes valves. The steam room is made with a small stove and benches, and the peculiarity of this type of bath is the need for sharp cooling in order to carry out contrasting procedures. If you can organize a font near a barrel, it will be great, but you can get by with a supply of cool water in buckets.
3. Ofuro is a Japanese bathhouse that does not have a roof, that is, in this case the barrel will stand on the end. It is worth putting heating equipment and benches inside. The design is simple in terms of installation work, but it takes much more time to prepare for the bath procedure.

Even despite the low cost of a barrel-shaped bath, some people decide to build the structure themselves. In this case, you can talk about savings and maximum confidence in the result. At the same time, responsibility for the results obtained will increase, as well as time costs.

You should immediately warn that you should take on the creation of a barrel-shaped bath only if you have self-confidence. And if you are planning to make a bathhouse in the form of a barrel with your own hands, then this is not such a simple matter, and you should think 7 times before starting work. It’s easier and often cheaper (taking into account the mass of possible errors during the manual installation process, for which you will need to pay) to contact a professional. A compromise option would be to buy a ready-made barrel-shaped sauna kit, which can be easily assembled on site thanks to step-by-step instructions.

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Video: building a barrel sauna

The construction of a barrel sauna has many nuances, after studying which you can build this beautiful structure, which in terms of functionality is almost no worse than a stationary sauna. It will cost you much less and can be built in a matter of days. Good luck!

• Author: Olga Morozova
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