The word “font”, which was quite widespread earlier, has two main meanings. Firstly, it is called the ice hole. It is bathed during baptism. The second meaning of the word is a reservoir. They bathe in it after staying in the steam room. The material below will be devoted to the second meaning. Further in the article, we will consider how to make a font for a bath with your own hands, what materials can be used for this.
General information
Today there are several types of fonts. They differ in functionality and placement methods. You can make a font for a bath with your own hands using various materials. Depending on the installation method, the tanks are divided into:
Consider each view in more detail.
Buried type
Such a bath font is presented in the form of a small pool equipped with a ladder. Usually it is equipped in the case when the structure in which the steam room will be is at the design stage. An in-depth font for a bath can be located both outside and inside the building (in one of the adjacent rooms). It depends on the personal preferences of the owner and the dimensions of the structure itself. However, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the font located inside the bath is less exposed to the negative effects of external factors. It does not fade, does not experience temperature changes, is not damaged by hail and so on. As for the installation itself, the installation of a buried tank is a rather laborious task. High and financial costs for the work.
Open view
Such a font for a bath is connected to a plumbing and sewer system. This ensures the normal functioning of the tank. As a rule, such bathtub fonts (photos of some are presented in the article) are equipped if there is no desire or opportunity to build a capital tank of a buried type. Today you can buy ready-made open fonts. They are made from a wide variety of materials. The most popular are wooden, plastic, metal tanks. Products can be decorated with decorative elements.
Overflow type
Such fonts are installed if there is not enough space to accommodate a buried or open tank. Dousing products are usually presented in the form of small containers (buckets, as a rule). They are mounted on the wall. A rope is attached to the container. If you pull it, the bucket turns over, as a result, water spills onto a person. After emptying, the tank returns to its original position and is filled with water to the required level. Volume adjustment is carried out using a special mechanism. The advantage of the overflow type font is profitability - it takes a minimum of time and money to create it.
Choosing an installation location
In this matter, much depends on the preferences of the owner. In accordance with the dimensions of the building, font sizes are also selected. For a bathhouse consisting of one steam room, it is better to install the tank on the street, next to the porch, or mount a pouring tank. If the dimensions of the premises allow, it is more advisable to build a font inside.
Choosing the Right Model
The type and design features of the product are selected in accordance with the number of people who will use the capacity at the same time. Often, special seats are provided directly inside the tank, or they simply make a "bathtub" in which it will be enough to plunge several times. The font may include additional functions. For example, it can be hydromassage, heating and others.
Installation site preparation
It is necessary if a buried concrete font for the bath will be installed. With your own hands, preparing a site and building a tank as a whole is not difficult. The work can be divided into the following stages:
- Digging a pit. Its volume should correspond to the dimensions of the future tank.
- Installation of formwork. It is built in a cleaned pit.
- Reinforcement belt laying.
- Pouring concrete.
- Laying waterproofing. This material is mounted on a dried concrete base.
Installation Nuances
It should be noted that the construction of a concrete font will take a lot of time. During installation, you will need to equip an additional gravel-sand pillow. She will play the role of support. Next, a reinforced concrete bowl is poured. For concrete reinforcement, one layer of reinforcement is used, the diameter of which is 8 mm. Rods are laid every 300 mm. The concrete used in the construction of the bowl must meet certain requirements. In particular, it must have a high level of strength and water resistance. For 1 m 3 of concrete, 1270 kg of crushed stone, 327 kg of cement, 177 l of water and 625 kg of sand are needed. You can order ready-made concrete at the factory. As a waterproofing, an elastic membrane is used. On top of it, ceramic tiles or mosaics are laid on a special composition. The seams between the cladding elements are overwritten. In the process of creating the design, pipes for supply and discharge are brought.
Installation of an open tank
As a rule, in this case, a ready-made font is installed. First you only need to prepare a solid foundation for it. Also, for an open font, it is necessary to bring drain and water pipes. Recently, plastic models have been quite popular. They are economical, lightweight, easy to install. Moreover, such fonts are durable, do not require special care. Products from high-tech polypropylene are 100% safe.
Wooden font for a bath
This is the most common tank model. In this case, it is necessary to correctly choose the type of wood, since the bathing effect will depend on this. If preference is given to this particular type of reservoirs, then it should be noted that it requires careful care. Before construction, all elements must be thoroughly treated with an antiseptic that prevents decay. Among the most common types of wood used in the construction, it should be noted cedar, oak and larch. The latter has the ability to normalize pressure. Deciduous extract effectively cleanses pores. The wood itself is characterized by durability and strength. Cedar releases essential oils. They have a beneficial effect on the skin, increase the body's immunity due to volatile production. Oak essential oils have a calming effect, have a beneficial effect on the nervous system, stabilize metabolic processes, and accelerate skin regeneration. The wooden font for the bath has an attractive appearance. Today, a wide range of finished products. A barrel font for a bath is considered quite popular. It is easy to install. As a rule, a bath barrel is designed for 1-2 people.
Plastic products
They, as mentioned above, are very popular today. Manufacturers offer a wide range of plastic fonts. Products are available in various shapes, colors. One of the undoubted advantages of plastic models is their price. With regard to performance, it should be noted that the plastic is quite strong and durable. The material is able to withstand mechanical loads, temperature extremes. Font designs are produced mainly collapsible. This greatly facilitates the transportation of products. Assembly of the structure can be carried out directly at the installation site. As a rule, it is not accompanied by any difficulties. Products can be equipped with steps, seat, railing. To give an attractive appearance, you can sheathe a plastic font for a bath with your own hands. As a finishing material, it is worth using a lining or decorative panels. Under the skin, the frame is pre-constructed.
Composite font for a bath
Such a reservoir has many advantages. First of all, it should be noted the strength that the composite has. This material is higher than plastic and even concrete. At the same time, the composite has a small weight. The material is a combination of polymers and fiberglass. This font perfectly retains heat, easy to install.
Metal tank
Some manufacturers offer such products. I must say that metal fonts are not particularly popular, since they are quite problematic to transport and install. But such products are able to maintain the desired water temperature for a long time.