Sauna or bathhouse is a place where you can relax, relax. Such procedures, which are carried out regularly, restore physical and moral strength, strengthen immunity. It is very convenient if the bath is equipped in a private bathroom. You can perform construction and repair work yourself. How to create a sauna in the bathroom will be described later.
The advantages of baths, their microclimate
The sauna in the bathroom (photo below) may be different. Regardless of the choice, a bath in its own bathroom has several advantages. Procedures can be performed at any convenient time. This is a great advantage for those who cannot allocate a few free hours to visit the bathhouse in their busy schedule.
Preparatory work and warming up of a small sauna take place quite quickly. In this case, energy costs will be minimal. It is difficult to build a spacious bathhouse in an apartment or in your home, but a mini-option will be acceptable. It is worth considering that building a sauna in the bathroom of your house is relatively inexpensive. There is no better place in the apartment for this.
Before starting construction work, you need to determine what microclimate in the steam room will be acceptable for the owners of the house. There are three main options. If desired, you can create a steam room, where the microclimate can be chosen in accordance with the wishes and mood at a particular time. The following varieties are distinguished:
- Dry (Finnish) sauna. The air here heats up to record levels. The temperature is 90-110º. The humidity will be very low. It does not exceed 10%. Such a microclimate forces the body to intensively produce sweat. Very deep layers of the epithelium are warmed up, metabolic processes are accelerated. In this case, increased burning of body fat occurs, toxins are removed from the body.
- Wet sauna. Here the air is heated to a temperature of 70-90º, but the humidity will be higher. It is 25-40%. To ensure the desired level of humidity, hot stones are watered with water, which are located in a special compartment of the furnace.
- Steam sauna (hammam). This is the bathhouse with the lowest temperature, which is up to 60 º. The air must be saturated with water vapor. To do this, you need to use a special steam generator. You can add not only water to it, but also infusions of herbs. This will allow you to take inhalations directly in the sauna. The microclimate in such a sauna is comfortable for almost everyone, including children and the elderly. Almost everyone feels very well at a temperature of 40 º and a humidity of 100%. With this microclimate, there are no loads on the body. Therefore, you can attend such procedures at least every day, the procedure has practically no contraindications.
When creating a microclimate in the steam room, you must adhere to the "rule 110". This means that the total humidity and temperature should not exceed 110. This is true for dry and wet saunas. So, for example, if the temperature in the steam room is 90 º, then the humidity should be 20%.
Individual project or turnkey solution?
The sauna in the bathroom in the photo below looks very harmonious. Before starting construction and repair work, the owners must decide which option of the steam room will be preferable. You can build a sauna on a special project. In this case, you need to purchase the appropriate building materials and make a bath from scratch in the bathroom.
Today there is an opportunity to go a simpler way. In specialized hypermarkets you can buy a ready booth. It has a heating element (most often an infrared fireplace). You can choose a booth with the appropriate dimensions. They are made of boards or more budget building materials. It will be easy to install a finished steam room at home on your own. This is even easier than installing a shower.
It is worth considering one nuance. The legislation of the Russian Federation provides that before the construction of a sauna in an apartment in the bathroom you need to get permission for this. To do this, you need to prepare a project that meets all construction requirements, and then coordinate it with the State Fire Service.
To obtain permission, you will need to change the wiring if it does not meet the requirements of the heater, as well as provide certificates for materials for construction. After this, the project must be approved by the Housing Inspectorate. If the house is managed by the Homeowners Partnership, its management will need to be informed about future construction.
Next, you need to get permission in the sanitation, whose representatives will check whether the norms and requirements of the sanitary-hygienic direction are being met. In this instance also provide design documentation, quality certificates.
After this, you need to contact the Office of Rospotrebnadzor. A commission consisting of representatives of the Inspectorate of State Architectural and Construction Supervision will visit the house or apartment. They inspect the finished sauna, and then give an opinion on the possibility of its operation. The arrangement of a mini-sauna refers to the procedure for the reconstruction of housing, so it must be performed in accordance with established requirements.
Infrared sauna
One of the best solutions for a small room is an infrared sauna in the bathroom. These booths are sold ready to use. Do not confuse them with panel or film varieties. This is due to the features of the heating element. In the presented saunas, special panels or film produce thermal energy of the infrared spectrum. Such booths are able to pump up a temperature of no higher than 70º. Heat transfer occurs by convection. Infrared rays are less involved.
Real infrared saunas in the bathroom have a lot of advantages over film or panel types of booths. In the latter, it is impossible to change the level of humidity. In this case, the heating level will be low. This infrared bath is equipped with efficient, high-temperature heaters. They radiate many times more heat. So, infrared heaters in the sauna produce heat at a level of 230-290 º. This creates a special microclimate in the steam room. Moreover, the temperature here is provided to a greater extent by infrared rays, and not by convection.
Experts say that the healing effect in panel and film booths is minimal. In real infrared saunas, it is achieved by maintaining high temperatures. Thermal cabins are not able to provide the desired level of heating. Therefore, they are not recommended for installation in the bathroom. It is better to install a real infrared sauna or build a sauna with a heater.
Such varieties of baths allow you to carry out procedures with maximum benefit for the body. In this case, the metabolism is accelerated, many chronic ailments are cured.
Dimensions and Design
The interior of the bathroom with sauna needs to be carefully planned. To do this, you need to create a preliminary sketch and drawing, according to which the reconstruction will be carried out. Please note that the size of the cabin may be different. The smallest are single saunas, in which you can only sit. Also similar in size are the double cabins.
According to experts, it is much more comfortable to take bath procedures in a sauna, the size of which is 200x160 cm or 200x200 cm. Here you can lie on a shelf, take procedures with the whole family. The height inside the booth should be 200 cm. In such a booth, you can install a stove-stove, install wooden shelves. They can be located in two or even three levels.
When choosing materials, it is important to follow the advice of specialists. Interior decoration is best done from natural wood. When heated, it will release substances into the air that have a therapeutic effect on the respiratory system, heal the body.
It is best to take care of the arrangement of the sauna even at the stage of building a house. In this case, the bathroom should have significant dimensions. It is necessary to consider which plumbing devices should be installed in the room. Perhaps here, in addition to the sauna, you will need to install a bath or a jacuzzi. They need enough space. If you plan to install a shower, you can provide a smaller area for the bathroom.
In the apartment, one of the best options would be to equip a finished sauna with a shower. For a bathroom with small dimensions, this solution allows you to use the space rationally. In this case, you do not need to select a shower cabin for the style of the sauna. They will fit together perfectly.
Cabs that are equipped with rectangular glass doors are very popular. The walls can also be glass. But from the side of the sauna they should be made of heat-resistant glass. Such a design solution is suitable for designing a modern interior style.
However, it is more comfortable to take procedures in a cabin made of natural wood. In this case, you need to harmoniously fit it into the existing interior. The design of the bathroom with the sauna needs to be thought out to the smallest detail before the start of the repair. Wood is suitable for eco-style. If you plan to equip a sauna in the bathroom, you need to plan the entire interior in advance.
Construction work procedure
To make a sauna in the bathroom with your own hands, it will take a lot of time and effort. But the result, when all the work is done correctly, will exceed all expectations. When the project is completed, a building permit is obtained, the necessary materials must be purchased.
The walls that will separate the steam room from other rooms are assembled using frame technology. The ceiling should not be higher than 2 m. Otherwise, more energy will be required for heating. Be sure to use thermal insulation during construction work. It is best to use mineral wool in such conditions. Its thickness should be from 5 to 10 cm.
You also need to purchase steam and waterproofing. The first of these materials will protect the insulation from getting wet. Waterproofing is used for flooring. This is especially important if the sauna is equipped in an apartment on the second or higher floors. Cloths will need to be laid without tension, fastening them with construction tape.
Finishing inside the cabin will look harmonious if you use a lining for this. Sheathing should be 10-12 mm thick. Wood without fail will need to be treated with an antiseptic and a flame retardant. Also need to apply heat-resistant varnish. This will significantly increase the life of the finish.
Sauna in a small bathroom will require a minimum amount of building materials. They are purchased with a small margin in accordance with the prepared plan. There should be a distance of at least 2 cm between the film and the lining.
Outside, the frame can be closed with wood. But in the bathroom you need to think through the design to the smallest detail. Instead of lining the exterior walls with lining, it is possible to sheathe them with moisture-resistant drywall. Ceramic tiles are subsequently laid on it. You can pick up any material with which the walls are finished in the bathroom.
The choice of heat and vapor barrier
Sauna in the bathroom in the house or apartment requires the use of insulation. Otherwise, the heat will quickly leave the cabin, so you will need to spend more energy. As a heater, it is best to use mineral wool. This is a non-combustible material that does not emit harmful, toxic substances into the environment. Cotton wool must be purchased not in rolls, but in slabs. They are tougher, so it’s more convenient to work with them. It is also worth noting that dense plates hold their shape better, they will not slide down over time.
Professionals do not recommend the use of expanded polystyrene or expanded polystyrene when arranging a mini-sauna in the bathroom. These are synthetic materials that can burn. Moreover, they release toxins into the environment when heated. It is forbidden to use this kind of insulation for a sauna, since the maximum level of ambient temperature should not exceed 75º.
Also, do not use glass wool when arranging a sauna. It is impossible to completely remove small pieces of glass fiber after repair. It will get on the skin, eyes and respiratory tract, causing irritation and burning.
The vapor barrier must have a foil layer. It will reflect heat, returning it back to the steam room. This reduces the heating time of the sauna. It is worth considering that the foil is torn, so it is more convenient to use a two-layer film for these purposes, the basis of which is kraft paper. You can also use foil, which is coated with a layer of special insulation. In this case, vapor barrier may be common. The metal side should be turned inside the room.
Flooring
When considering how to make a sauna in the bathroom, you need to pay attention to the technology of flooring. It will also need to be insulated (like walls and ceiling). Mineral wool is not suitable for the floor. This material will be compressed under load. Therefore, it is necessary to apply expanded polystyrene for these purposes. It is covered with a layer of screed 3 cm, and then finish the tiles. In this case, the material will not be exposed to high temperatures.
First you need to completely remove the old flooring until the floor. Sheets of expanded polystyrene are laid on a surface cleared of building debris. They are placed close to each other. Gaps and joints are blown with foam. If a sauna is installed in the bathroom in the apartment, it is necessary to cover the floor with waterproofing before pouring the screed. Otherwise, you can spoil the finish of the bathroom at the neighbors.
Next, a cement-sand mortar is prepared, into which it is desirable to add a plasticizer. Concrete must harden properly. For this, it is covered with a film and the surface is periodically watered. So the screed layer does not crack.
The drying process takes about 3-4 weeks. You can’t start finishing before. A few days after pouring concrete, it will be possible to walk on it, since the top layer will become sufficiently strong. Embossed ceramic tiles must be laid on the floor. You can also apply for these purposes a terrace board.
When arranging the floor, it is necessary to provide for the presence of a drain. A slight slope of the floor is made in his direction. A drain is installed on the drain hole. On the floor you need to lay wooden grates. This will protect against injuries during the operation of the sauna.
Shelves
During the construction of a sauna in the bathroom with your own hands, you need to pay attention to creating shelves inside the steam room. They are made from natural hardwood. If you purchase boards made of pine or spruce for these purposes, you can get burns during the operation of the room. At high temperature, tar will stand out from them. In contact with skin, it leaves burns.
It is best to use linden wood, aspen to create shelves. They do not heat up too much, so they are comfortable sitting or lying on them.
Most often, two tiers of shelves are made. The first one should be at a height of 50-60 cm. The second tier should be 40 cm higher than the first. The lower shelf should be wider than the second. This will allow, if desired, not only to lie down, but also to sit down. If the space in the steam room is small, the top shelf can be made folding or removable.
Door
Sauna in the bathroom must have a door. In an open booth, the temperature will not be able to stay for long. One of the best options is to use a glass door. This material must withstand high heat. With a glass door, you can do without installing additional lighting.
It should be noted that ready-made glass doors are available for sale, which can have different fittings and shades. This allows you to choose the best option in accordance with the features of interior design in the bathroom.
The door may be wooden. In this case, you need to hold the light in the booth. The door must open outward. It should not interfere with leaving the room.
Door handles should not be metal.They should not be heated. If it is not possible to install a conventional swing door due to lack of space, you can choose a booth with sliding doors. If there is not enough space inside the sauna in the bathroom, you need to protect the heater with a special side. Otherwise, accidentally touching it, you can get a serious burn.
Ventilation
Sauna in the bathroom should have good ventilation. Air intake is carried out using the channel at the bottom of the room. It is best to place its hole (diameter about 5-6 cm) near the stove. Outflow will be made in the upper part of the room. The exhaust opening must be at least 2 times larger than the inlet. Therefore, at the top of the room you need to make a channel with a diameter of 10 cm. This is the best option, since the temperature in such a room will decrease slowly.