Why is hamam becoming increasingly popular? The gentle temperature in a Turkish hammam ranges from 45-55°C. This temperature regime gives relaxation and does not harm the cardiovascular system. Hamams were designed for countries with dry and hot climates. Therefore, the emphasis is on high humidity (80-100%), which removes toxins from the body. If you are planning to build a Turkish bath, then you need to know how to avoid mistakes when building a hammam. Let's take a closer look at the TOP 10 main mistakes.
- Too many different types of ornaments in one room.
Poor lighting for sunbeds. It is better to replace it with LED strip.
Mistake #1 – lack of a design project
Proper construction always begins with a competent project. Having a design project helps you imagine what the future building will look like and avoid many alterations during construction.
Turkish bath project. Frontal section.
You can draw a simple hamam design yourself
It is better to entrust the development of the project to professionals who have practical experience in the construction of Turkish baths. Our specialists will help you create a design project that takes into account all your wishes as much as possible. And what is important is that they will be able to bring it to life.
At the hammam design stage, the following points should be considered:
- dimensions of the steam room;
- domed ceiling structure;
- those. equipment room;
- placement of lamps;
- room heating system;
- steam supply point;
- installation site for a kurna with cold and hot water taps;
- shape and location of sun loungers;
- ventilation system;
- sewerage system.
Tip: make sure that the steam supply point is located where the steam will not scald the feet of visitors.
Mistake #2 – incorrect ceiling shape
An important part of the construction of a hammam is the ceiling. In a Turkish steam room it is traditionally made domed. This form is more a tribute to oriental architecture than a technological necessity. Of course, you can build a hammam with a flat ceiling, but then the room will lose its oriental flavor.
Hammam with flat ceiling in modern style
Classic domed ceiling shape in a Turkish bath
When designing a ceiling in the form of a dome, the minimum distance from the floor to the highest point should be 2.5 m. The radius of the ceiling is selected so that the height of the wall at the point where it adjoins the ceiling is at least 1.8 m.
Mistake #4 – incorrect room dimensions
A Turkish hammam does not require a large area - it is more difficult to warm up and requires more steam to achieve the required level of humidity. Large dimensions are justified only when a massage table is installed in the steam room or the commercial use of the hammam is implied.
Marble massage table in a large Turkish steam room
Compact option for placing a massage table in a hammam
When planning a steam room, keep in mind that insulation, waterproofing, cladding and other materials take at least 4 cm from the room on each wall. And when the wall adjoins the street - at least 10 cm.
Mistake #5 – incorrect insulation material
For a hammam to be energy efficient, it must retain heat well inside. Water and steam should not penetrate the walls and ceiling so as not to cause destruction, mold and mildew.
These criteria are fully met by foamed polystyrene panels, for example, Wedi, Lux Elements or Ruspanel. This is an excellent heat, steam and waterproofing material. It is bioresistant - does not rot, does not decompose, does not mold. Panels made of extruded polystyrene foam are very convenient to use: they are light, durable, and do not generate dust or dirt when cutting.
Mistake #6 – using low-quality finishing materials
The construction of the hammam takes more than one year. The structure should last as long as possible. A lot of water and steam in the room have a destructive effect on finishing materials. Therefore, for finishing a Turkish steam room, you should choose, first of all, moisture-resistant material.
The traditional material for hammam is marble. It has good thermal conductivity, is resistant to mechanical damage, and is not destroyed by water. A worthy alternative to marble would be porcelain stoneware, mosaic or smalt (pieces of colored opaque glass of regular or irregular geometric shape).
Finishing the hammam in a modern style: natural stone tiles + matching mosaic
One of the popular combinations for finishing a Turkish bath today is porcelain tiles + mosaic. Porcelain tiles are great for wall decoration, and mosaics are convenient to place on curved ceiling vaults.
The finishing of the sun loungers depends on their shape. For the correct geometric shape, you can use tiles. If an anatomical lounger is constructed in a hammam, then mosaic is most often used to cover it. Well, if you want to bring the hammam closer to the authentic one and finances allow, then you can make custom-made sun loungers from marble.
Insulation of walls and ceilings made of wood
Wooden structures are insulated in one of two ways:
- A concrete frame is created, a partition made of bricks or blocks is erected (the foundation must be strengthened). A gap is left between the wooden wall and the erected partition of the hammam for ventilation. The result is a stone room, which is insulated in the same way as described above.
- The profiles are set up as when finishing with gypsum plasterboard sheets, only panels with one-sided reinforcement are attached to them. The reinforced side should face the inside of the room. The products are fastened to each other with polystyrene foam adhesive (the most common is Ceresit 84), fixed with self-tapping screws and washers (8 pieces per 1 m/sq. in a checkerboard pattern).
The room is fully insulated, including in the area of the sunbeds. The height of the insulation structure is determined by the level of lowering of the dome, which is mounted to the top of the insulation. If the dome is in the shape of an “arch” or “envelope”, then the panels are cut according to the cut of the dome. For "sphere" and "skullcap"
a smooth end is prepared.
Mistake #7 - weak steam generator
A steam generator that is incorrectly selected for power will slowly pump steam into the hammam and will not be able to maintain the required level of humidity in the steam room. There are two types of steam generators: electrode and heating element. Electrode steam generators are expensive, which is why heating elements are more popular.
Construction of a heating element steam generator for hammam
Electrode steam generator device for Turkish bath
A heating element is a tubular electric heater that operates on the principle of a boiler. The water boils, evaporates and flows through pipes into the hammam.
The power of the steam generator is selected depending on:
- steam room volume;
- availability of ventilation;
- material for making walls.
The best advice on how to avoid mistakes when building a hammam and choose the right steam generator is to contact specialists. Engineers will calculate the required power for your premises and help you make the right choice.
Flexible panels with 3D effect
Essentially, these are the same panels, but with one difference: transverse or longitudinal equidistant notches are applied on one side. The cuts allow you to give them any shape and insulate round rooms, cover columns, domes, and relief walls.
To do this, the insulation is bent to the required radius, and the cuts are expanded. Foam glue (Ceresit 84 or equivalent) is poured into them, then the mold is held until it hardens completely.
A blog with a lot of useful information on the construction of hammams
Mistake No. 8 – lack of heating on the sunbeds and floor
A real hammam is characterized by loungers with built-in heating elements: this gives a feeling of relaxation, warms up the whole body and has a healing effect. Heated floors are certainly a pleasant sensation for your feet. But the primary function of heated seats, backs and floors is to heat the room.
In the hammam, it is necessary to constantly maintain the heating of the steam room.
What is it for? The finishing materials used in the Turkish bath take a very long time to warm up. If the constant temperature in the steam room is maintained at about 36 degrees, then heating with a steam generator to 45-50 degrees will take about an hour.
Water heating on the floor and sun loungers in the hammam
Option for laying pipes for heating sunbeds in a steam room
It is preferable to do heating with water rather than electric, because it:
- cheaper to operate;
- safer in damp areas;
- more reliable (the electric one will sooner or later fail and replacing it will require the dismantling of finishing materials).
Norms
When creating hammams, you should adhere to certain norms and rules that allow you to competently organize construction and avoid unnecessary costs associated with unplanned repairs or the need to redo already completed work.
Important requirements include the arrangement of a technical room no further than five meters from the steam room, preliminary planning of utilities, preparation of the walls and floor of the room intended to house the hammam.
Reliable hydro- and thermal insulation are also necessary conditions for the construction of a steam room. Heat leaks can be costly and reduce the efficiency of your steam room. Poor protection against moisture penetration can lead to dampness in adjacent rooms, the development of mold and mildew, and a decrease in the strength of the load-bearing structures of the house.
Due to high humidity, either low-current electrics or fiber optic systems are used for lighting. Cables must be installed in advance, ensuring their reliable waterproofing.
To create steam mist, steam generators are used, which are installed in the technical room. From there, the steam, through a special outlet, enters the recreational area of the hammam. Additional comfort is provided if the seats and loungers are equipped with their own heating system.
The selection of the device’s power is carried out based on the norm of 0.7 kW per cubic meter.
Mistake No. 9 – incorrectly selected lamps
Hammam is not only a hygienic cleansing, but also a place of relaxation, where all the decoration should give peace and lead to harmony. To do this, it is important not only to choose the right color for the decoration and sun loungers, but also to properly organize the lighting.
Lamps in the hammam should not only be aesthetically pleasing, but also safe. Therefore, you need to choose only waterproof lamps with a voltage of 12 V and a degree of protection of at least IP 65.
Original lighting in the Turkish steam room
Typically, the lighting in the hammam is dimmed to create a relaxing atmosphere. But sometimes you want more light. Therefore, the best option is when different light zones can be turned on independently of each other. For example, you can separate the main lighting, the lighting of the sun loungers and the portal. Then you can adjust the brightness of the lighting in the steam room depending on your mood and the purpose of using the hammam.
Lighting
Lighting devices operating in conditions of high humidity should be given special attention. Firstly, the maximum operating voltage should not exceed 24 V. Secondly, the degree of protection is at least IP64.
It’s worth noting right away that selecting lighting for a steam room is a painstaking task that requires certain knowledge and skills. The decoupling of electrical wires must be laid before the mosaic is laid.
You can choose ceiling or wall lighting fixtures. Some people just need the light coming from decorative elements, which include:
LED strips
LED waterproof strip for hammam.
Usually installed in sun loungers, on the ceiling, decorative wall cells. The light emanating from them is very beautiful, but the technical documentation for each LED strip indicates a maximum operating temperature of +40°C. This means that they will have to be changed frequently.
