There is no need to talk about the benefits of visiting a bathhouse for a person. Everyone knows how a Russian bathhouse has a beneficial effect on the body. In addition, this is also a great way to relax after a hard day at work with a cup of herbal tea. Well, what owner of a private house or cottage does not dream of his own bathhouse.
Of course, buying a ready-made bathhouse for your dacha or hiring workers for construction is not cheap, but any owner, given the capabilities and materials, can do it no worse than the professionals. Having basic skills in working with construction tools, you can build a bathhouse yourself.
In order to answer the question: how to build a bathhouse? First you need to understand some nuances:
- First, you need to draw up the right project for building a bathhouse.
- Secondly, study the literature describing the stages of construction and individual points.
- Thirdly, purchase the material necessary for construction.
- Fourthly, build a bathhouse and think about the necessary communications - water supply, lighting.
- Fifthly, decorate the walls inside the room and buy or make special furniture for the bathhouse.
A heat-resistant glass door, custom-made by Glasslinegroup, will provide a reliable separation between the washing room and the steam room.
Where to place a bathhouse on the site
If the amount of land on the site is limited, you can build a bathhouse as an extension to the house or summer kitchen. This option will save not only space, but also materials. But if you plan to build a bathhouse as a separate building, you should take into account some important nuances.
- According to fire safety standards, the distance between buildings must be at least 6 meters.
- The bathhouse should not be located in close proximity to a body of water (a well or a natural body of water).
- If it is not possible to comply with the previous point, place the bathhouse on a hill to prevent flooding.
If visiting the bathhouse will not be limited to a narrow family circle, provide enough space on the site to create a spacious steam room and relaxation room.
Typical mistakes during construction
To avoid problems with the performance of the bathhouse, it is worth considering the most common errors:
- Carefully calculate the size of the premises based on the number of people.
- Correct ceiling height. You should not make ceilings lower than 2 meters, since it is not comfortable to be in such a room. In a room with ceilings higher than 2.4 m, there is an overconsumption of coolants.
- The southern and western walls are allocated for windows, and the southern one for the door.
- The windows are not too large - this will help avoid excessive heat loss.
- Use energy-saving materials.
- Choose quality equipment.
Bathhouse layout
You can make drawings and layouts yourself, seek the help of a specialist, or download them from the Internet.
For a comfortable stay, it is recommended to lay at least 5 square meters. per vacationer. If 4 people are planned to be in the bathhouse at the same time, then the total area should be at least 20 square meters. When building, be sure to take into account your own wishes. You can make a larger steam room or relaxation room, and also add a small pool.
Russian style
A mandatory rule of any harmonious structure is that outside and inside it is necessary to adhere to a single style. Baths in the Russian style are mainly built from wooden logs, and therefore even a modern building looks the same in appearance as our great-grandfathers - a structure made of untreated wood, measuring 4x6 meters, with a height of approximately 3.5 meters .
We maintain a single style
To be considered an original Russian style, pay attention to elements such as:
- multi-tiered shelves;
- a large wooden table with benches around;
- working fireplace;
- a huge tub of water, wooden ladles and buckets;
- red brick stove-heater;
- wooden floor boards, brooms from different types of wood, towels and sheets.
Spirit of Russian style
There may be many such small and not so small details, but they have one common feature - all the design elements of a Russian bathhouse are of natural origin, consisting of natural materials.
Exclusively natural materials
It is dangerous to use synthetic or plastic material; when heated, such shelves can release toxic substances, cause burns, and poisoning.
In the shower room and locker room, use materials such as wood, boards, natural textiles, and ceramics. All this will create a cozy atmosphere, and things made by hand will add warmth and soulfulness.
Unity of comfort and relaxation
Bathhouse foundation
There is no single correct answer to this question. For different soils and types of construction, you should choose different foundation options.
Strip foundation
Suitable for frame baths and heaving soil, which holds moisture well, but fluctuates depending on the time of year. For such a foundation it is necessary to dig a trench about 40 cm deep and about 30 cm wide. To reduce the risk of deformation of the building, it is recommended to pour a layer of sand of at least 20 cm and 10 cm of gravel.
Timber is suitable for formwork. You will also need reinforcement with a cross section of 12-15 mm. The assembled structure is poured with concrete. While it hardens, you need to pierce it with a probe or shovel to remove possible air pockets.
Columnar foundation
This foundation is more stable and is used for heavy buildings and moving soil. For pillars, pipes, stone or brick, securely filled with mortar, are suitable. The depth into the ground may vary.
The main condition is a step of at least 2 meters between the pillars. Ideally, 1.5 m. The pillars are installed in sand well-drained with water, after which it is carefully compacted. Don't forget about waterproofing. Bituminous mastic and roofing felt are perfect.
To completely harden, the foundation will need at least 10 days.
What to build a bathhouse from?
When thinking about how to build a bathhouse in a country house, the question most often arises about the choice of material for building walls.
Timber is the most common option, as it is completely environmentally friendly and gives the building additional comfort. Larch is considered the most durable material for walls, but its main disadvantage is its high price.
Oak will also last a long time. It is this material that is recommended to be used for the floor, even if the main structure is planned from more budget-friendly wood species, such as aspen or linden.
It is important not to forget to treat the wood with a special solution that will protect the material from pests, spontaneous combustion and rotting. This must be done before laying the timber.
Brick is solid and durable. It is chosen when they expect that the building will serve not only children, but also grandchildren. To retain heat, the thickness of the walls must be at least 2 bricks. To add coziness, the inside of the walls can be covered with clapboard, and decorative stone or facing brick can be used on the outside.
Foam concrete is a modern material that retains the characteristics of brick, but has a much smaller impact on the family budget. It does not burn, weighs little and retains heat well.
A structure made of foam concrete cannot be called cozy or aesthetic. If these characteristics are important to you, use wood paneling on the inside. The same affordable material, siding, is suitable for exterior cladding.
Gas silicate is no less good in price and quality, but it is not recommended for use in the construction of premises with high humidity.
Construction Materials
Typically, wooden beams in combination with insulation and sheathing are used to build walls. It is enough to use beams 10 cm thick.
Sometimes wood concrete is used. To make it, cement, sawdust, sand and water are mixed. Such walls must be carefully waterproofed.
Another option is to make a frame bath. It must be thoroughly insulated.
Important! If you are looking for a contractor for construction on a site, I recommend the Kronotek guys. Move on!
To make the floor, a double base is most often used. The base is made of concrete. A frame made of slats is laid on top of it. It is covered with the selected floor covering.
To extend the service life, it is necessary to ventilate and dry the room.
When installing the floor, it is necessary to install a slight slope towards the drain.
For the ceiling, professionals recommend using a 3 cm thick board. The ceiling is often insulated with a mixture of earth, clay and sawdust.
To build a bathhouse yourself, it is enough to have minimal construction skills.
Roof for a bath
For mini baths and small buildings, it is advisable to make a lean-to structure. But we must take into account that with an incorrect angle of inclination there may be an increased risk of load from precipitation.
A gable roof will cost more, but it is better suited for larger structures. In addition, under such a roof it is possible to create an insulated attic, which will prevent heat loss, especially in winter.
The choice of materials for the roof is very diverse. When choosing, you should consider the characteristics you want to get, as well as your budget.
The most common options:
- slate;
- roofing felt;
- metal tiles;
- ondulin;
- profiled sheet
When choosing a design and material for the roof, be sure to take into account the seasonal use of the building.
Rest zone
The dimensions and interiors of this room depend on the imagination and financial capabilities of the owner.
But even in a small room you can create comfort and have a good rest after a steam room.
Bath stove
Almost the most important thing in every bathhouse is the right stove. When the bathhouse at the dacha is almost ready, it’s time to think about choosing a suitable model. Before making a decision, it is worth deciding on several important points.
Room interior
There is no more suitable place where you can simultaneously relax after a busy work week, imbue yourself with harmony, and cleanse your body than a sauna or bathhouse, which is closer in spirit to the Russian spirit.
For many, visiting it is a tradition that is supported by every generation, and is often instilled in families from early childhood, so it is not surprising that our compatriots want to have their own bathhouse in the backyard.
Great place to relax
The environment inside should give harmony and tranquility. This atmosphere is achieved by the combination of all parts of the interior. You should not think that the type of Russian baths is a standard steam room with a stove and the same type of shelves. A designer interior is always distinguished by original details and decor; only by implementing an individual project can you get a stylish room for couples and relaxation.
Stylish room in oriental style with your own hands
Quality, thoughtful finishing and accompanying accessories are three pillars of internal content that will never cause you any inconvenience. For information on how to equip the interior, I will tell you today. These ideas can be used both at home, for your own needs, and for business.
Thoughtful finishing is the key to success
Wood or electric stove - which is better?
The advantage of wood stoves is that they don't require electricity and heat up faster, but they require a chimney to be installed, which incurs additional costs.
It’s worth deciding what will be more convenient. Pay for the electricity consumed by the stove, or spend one time on installing a chimney.
Do you need a tank to heat water?
If the bathhouse does not have a water supply system, you will need a tank of decent volume so that everyone has the opportunity to wash themselves comfortably. If there is a water supply system, a tank of 20-30 liters will be enough to spray the stones with steam.
By following the rules and adhering to the advice in this article, you can build the bathhouse of your dreams over the summer. It’s always nice to show off the result of your own work, showing friends and colleagues photos of the bathhouse inside and out. Or better yet, invite them to spend the weekend together and evaluate the work done live.
