Baths in Russia have been built since ancient times. Recently, saunas have become fashionable in our country. Both of these types of structures intended for the adoption of water procedures have many similarities. However, there are also differences in the bath and sauna in the way of both operation and construction.
What is the difference
The main difference between a sauna and a bath is that the heat in such rooms is always dry. In the bath, as you know, it is customary not only to take water procedures, but also to steam. Bathers pour water on hot stones. As a result, a lot of steam is generated in the room.
In the sauna, as in the bath, water procedures are taken at high temperatures. However, heat in such rooms is formed, at most, without water. People in such buildings usually warm up first in dry air. Then, in some varieties of saunas, for example Finnish, water is poured on stones, as well as in baths. After that, the steam becomes wet, but only for a short time.
The air temperature in the sauna can reach a maximum of 140 ° C. The humidity in such rooms usually does not exceed 10%. In the bath, these indicators are equal to 80 ° C and 40-80%, respectively.
How the bath is arranged
In Russia, the sauna in the country is usually a one-story detached building with a locker room, a bathhouse and a steam room. Sometimes the last two types of premises can be combined into one. In large saunas, among other things, relaxation rooms, billiards, etc. are often equipped.
To heat the rooms in Russian baths, stoves of a special design — heaters — are installed. At the top of such heating equipment, a tank for heating water is mounted. Also in such furnaces provides a compartment for stones.
Baths are most often heated by firewood. But recently, gas stoves have sometimes been installed in such rooms.
In order to take water procedures and steaming in the bath was more convenient, wooden benches are mounted in the bathhouse. The steam room is equipped with a shelf - a bed of boards in 1-3 tiers.
A distinctive feature of the bath, among other things, are low ceilings. Thus, such structures are erected so that then “light” steam is formed in them. The floors in the baths are always wooden. Quite often, large fonts are installed near the baths or the washroom.
Sauna device
Bathrooms of this type can have a different design. In our country, the most popular variety is the Finnish sauna. In such buildings, as in the bath, three rooms are usually equipped: a dressing room, a swimming pool and a steam room. Instead of a font in the sauna, a shower is installed.
Of course, saunas with a pool can also be built on suburban areas. Inexpensive, however, such a structure will most likely not be erected. Pool equipment is relatively expensive. Indeed, under such a design element of the sauna, you will have to dig a pit, fill the walls and floor with concrete, use a large amount of waterproofing material and special moisture-resistant tiles.
Sauna compared to the bath - the building is usually also higher. There is practically no wet steam in such a structure. And therefore, the ceilings here can be equipped higher.
Heaters in Finnish baths are also installed. However, they usually have a different design than in Russian baths. Stones in this case are stacked outside. Therefore, the sauna warms up and cools faster than the bath.
Stoves work in Finnish saunas, usually not on wood. The air in such rooms is dry. Therefore, heaters are often installed here simply electric.
The floors in saunas in most cases are covered with some kind of moisture-resistant, not too slippery modern material. This can be, for example, a rough tile, which is subsequently covered with rubber mats.
Unlike baths, saunas can sometimes be equipped even in city apartments. Today, compact prefabricated structures designed for the adoption of water procedures and warming up in dry air are also on sale. Owners of apartments usually install in their bathrooms such saunas for weight loss or just health improvements.
What materials are used
They build baths in the country in most cases from wood. Exactly the same material is used for the construction of saunas. At the same time, only hardwood timber is taken for construction. The fact is that with strong heating from the wood, for example, spruce or pine, ether vapors of the resin begin to stand out. And this may not be too good for your health.
Deciduous boards are also used for assembling benches and shelves inside bathhouses or saunas, as well as for wall and floor cladding. Resin released can not only harm the respiratory system. You can still get burned about her.
Sometimes baths and saunas these days can be built from brick or, for example, concrete blocks. In this case, the box of the bath is most often insulated. Materials for these purposes today are in most cases used modern. Mineral wool and polystyrene foam can be used for this purpose.
How much will the construction cost?
Which is better - a Finnish sauna or a Russian bath, one cannot say for sure. The choice in this case depends only on the personal preferences of the owners of the suburban area. Both the bathhouse and the sauna make life in the country much more enjoyable. But in our country, of course, traditional Russian baths are still traditionally built. Many people find wet steam more pleasant than dry steam.
Whatever the owners of a suburban area choose for construction — a bathhouse or a sauna, the construction of such a structure is likely to cost not too cheap. Sawn timber today is quite expensive.
The costs of building baths and saunas depend on many factors. In any case, the cost of the construction of such a structure includes the following expenses:
to fill the foundation;
for the purchase of roofing material and roof assembly;
for the assembly of walls and internal partitions;
for laying engineering communications;
for the purchase of a stove;
wall decoration of the interior and ceiling;
for the acquisition of tools and materials;
for unforeseen expenses.
The foundation for a bath or sauna is usually erected tape or columnar. In this case, pouring is done with cement mortar. To prepare the latter, cement, sand and gravel itself are acquired. In different regions, the price of these materials may vary. But on average in Russia, a bag of cement of 50 kg costs about 250-300 rubles. The price of 1 m 3 of sand in our country is also equal to 150-300 rubles. For the same amount of crushed stone, you will have to pay at least 600-1000 rubles.
The roofs of budget baths are usually covered with inexpensive metal tiles. The cost per square meter of such material, depending on the brand, is 400-500 rubles.
The walls of baths and saunas in our country are erected most often from logs. One cubic meter of such material in Russia costs about 8-9 thousand rubles. depending on the diameter. At the same time, the price of boards, which will be needed for wall cladding and assembly of shops, as well as for timber, is about 8 thousand per m 3 (25 x 100 x 6 m).
Ordinary wood-burning stoves for baths cost 10-15 thousand rubles. An electric furnace of this type for a sauna will cost 10-30 thousand rubles. depending on the design.
Thus, it will not be too difficult to calculate the approximate cost of building a bath, knowing the prices of materials and equipment. The final result will depend on the area of the bath, the height of its walls and the features of the layout. A small log bath will cost the owners of a suburban area, of course, much cheaper than a large building made of logs or bricks.
Which is more expensive
The cost of building a bath or sauna is usually high. The costs in this case, as we have found, will depend on the size of the structure and its layout.
However, the construction of a sauna usually still costs the owners of suburban areas is usually a little more expensive than a bath. Indeed, in this case, it is necessary to additionally purchase a modern moisture-resistant finishing material for the floor. In addition, electric heaters are, of course, more expensive than conventional stoves. Unlike a bath, a sauna will also have to buy a shower.
Construction Technology: Foundation
Like any other building, they begin to build a bathhouse or sauna with the pouring of a reliable foundation. Under the most popular log baths, since the walls of such a material are rather heavy, a strip foundation is usually poured.
The technology of construction of such a design includes the following steps:
Egyptian triangle marking;
digging a trench;
backfilling of crushed-sand pillows;
formwork installation;
installation of reinforcing cage;
pouring concrete mixture;
dismantling of formwork.
Laying under the foundation is performed using pegs and an inelastic cord. The trench under the tape base is usually dug manually. After such a ditch is ready, perform the alignment of its bottom. Next, a layer of coarse gravel is poured into the trench. Smaller crushed stone is laid on top of it. Lastly, sand is poured into the trench.
The formwork for the foundation is knocked down from ordinary boards. The reinforcement for the foundation under the bath is knitted from a rod of 8-10 mm. The finished frame is installed on special plastic supports at the bottom of the trench.
The concrete mixture is poured manually in layers. If it is intended to use a log for the construction of walls, the two parallel sides of the tape are made slightly higher than the other two. This is necessary for the convenience of laying the first crown.
Wall assembly
The vertical enclosing structure of the bath is usually collected by the method of "in the bowl." Today, if desired, you can buy logs with bowls already cut out. Such material is slightly more expensive than usual. But collecting a bath from ready-made logs will be easier.
Street and internal doors for saunas and baths - elements, of course, are also mandatory. Under the street doors in such buildings, large openings usually do not. Otherwise, the heat in the rooms of the bathhouse or sauna will subsequently remain worse. The windows in the baths are also most often made small.
Ready log house before erection of the roof can withstand about six months. Otherwise, due to the strong shrinkage of the roof structure in the future, it can simply skew.
Floor mounting
The lower floor of the bath and sauna has a special design. Before erecting such a structure, including pouring the foundation, a trench is dug out at a site selected for construction under a drain. Next, a pipe is laid in this ditch. Inside the future bath, a tee is mounted to discharge the drain. The free end of the tee is closed with a plug. During the construction of the sauna, two drains are equipped: the main one and the one intended for a shower cabin.
After the construction of the box inside it is filled with gravel, and then the concrete screed is poured. At the same time maintain a bias towards the drain. They continue to assemble the floor by laying logs and stuffing boards on them.
In the bath, the floorboards are laid at a certain distance from each other (about 4 mm). In the sauna, the drain tee is brought to the level of the finishing floor. Next, the boards are covered with some moisture-resistant modern finishing material.
Ceiling mounting
The upper floor in the bath is done in a standard way. That is, they lay the beams and hem them from the bottom with boards. Then, on top of the resulting ceiling, a waterproofing material and some kind of insulation are mounted. Then hem the floor of the attic.
In the bath during the installation of the ceiling leave, among other things, a hole for the pipe. At the same time, its dimensions are chosen in such a way that the chimney through it could subsequently be carried out in a heat-insulating fire protection sleeve.
Roof installation
The roof in the baths is usually collected gable. The assembly technology of this design is approximately as follows:
two extreme roof trusses are installed;
an approximate cord stretches between them;
all other farms are mounted;
the crate is stuffed;
installation of roofing material is in progress.
Interior decoration
In order to subsequently retain as much heat as possible in the bathhouse in the country house, at the first stage, its walls and ceiling are usually sheathed with some kind of foil material. Next, the actual upholstery is carried out with a trim board or lining on the frame.
In the same way, the ceiling of the bath is finished. Benches are assembled from edged boards, connecting elements with nails. The hats of the latter are recessed into the wood by 0.5 mm.
Installing a heater
This is, therefore, technologically relatively uncomplicated - the independent construction of a bath and sauna. And the equipment in such a building, the owners of the countryside can also install their own hands if they wish.
Both in the bathhouse and in the sauna, the oven is usually installed in the center of the box of the building. In this case, in the subsequent construction, all three main rooms will equally well warm up: the locker room, the steam room and the washing room.
In the sauna, in addition to benches, a shelf and a stove, a shower is installed. They usually mount it in the washroom near the wall. When building a bathhouse, they simply put a font near the entrance.
Doors and windows
The owners of suburban areas sometimes collect these elements for baths and saunas on their own. But more often than not, prefabricated structures of this type are still mounted in such buildings. At the same time, owners of suburban areas can use glass or wooden doors for baths and saunas. Windows in such buildings are usually mounted modern sealed wooden or plastic.
Owners of suburban areas do not use glass doors for baths and saunas too often. Such structures are more expensive than wooden ones. In addition, it is more difficult to care for them. Such doors are usually mounted only in large baths and saunas with expensive interiors.