The steam room floor has several important functions. First of all, it ensures the safe movement of people. The steam room is always humid. Therefore, the floor must be non-slip so that visitors are not injured. Also under the base of the premises are sewer communications. The floor should be equipped so that the water is discharged as efficiently as possible. In this case, the coating and all the finishing materials inside the steam room will last much longer.
To arrange the floor in the bath room correctly, you need to familiarize yourself with the recommendations of experienced builders. In this case, you will be able to do all the work yourself.
Materials
Considering how to make a floor in the steam room, you should start with the choice of material. There are two main options. In the first case, the floor is made of wood, and in the second of concrete. Everyone chooses the best type of material for themselves.
A concrete floor will require more time and effort. It is also a more expensive type of material. However, the duration of operation of the concrete floor is more than 50 years. It is believed that arranging a wood floor is easier. Such material is cheaper. Work in this case is faster and easier.
Wooden flooring has been in use for 7-8 years. Despite such a short duration of operation of the material, in most cases, masters prefer this particular option. It is quite possible to mount a wooden coating on your own.
Wood selection
The quality finish of the steam room depends on the correct choice of wood. This material should be well dried. Boards should not have defects, cracks or chips. Traces of decay are also not allowed.
Hardwood is preferred for a steam room. It is believed that such material has a different effect on the human body. For example, birch is able to energize visitors to the bath, and aspen, on the contrary, removes negative emotions.
Birch is considered one of the best materials for decorating a steam room. It is well treated with protective compounds. Larch is also considered one of the best options for a bath. It is a durable material. It tolerates temperature extremes, high humidity.
With proper processing, you can use linden for decoration. Shelves in the steam room are also made from the listed materials, they create a finish for the ceiling and walls.
Leaking floor
A bathhouse, the steam room of which is finished with wood, can be of two types. The first option involves the presence of gaps between the boards. Accumulated moisture will simply leak down. The second floor option in the steam room is called non-leaking. It settles out a bit more complicated.
Leaking floor is the easiest finish. There are gaps in the flooring through which water seeps into the soil. Sewerage in this case is not equipped. Only in the underground space is a drainage pit created. Sometimes it is replaced with a special capacity that communicates with sewer communications. Insulation of the floor in the steam room also do not.
The presented version of the floor is suitable only for the southern regions and buildings that are operated exclusively in the summer. Boards in this case are not nailed to the lags. They are periodically removed and taken out into the street. Here they are dried and returned to their original place.
Waterproof floor
The bathhouse, the steam room of which is created in accordance with all building codes, must be non-leaking. When creating its floor, the boards are laid in two rows. On the logs, first set the rough flooring. Hardwood sheet pile wood is laid on top of it.
There are no gaps between the boards in this case. An insulation layer is laid under the floor. The final coating should have a slight bias towards the drainage site. Here, a hole with a siphon is arranged to divert water to the sewer.
In order to eliminate the appearance of deflections in the wooden coating over time, supports are installed in the middle of the lag system. They can be brick, concrete. It is also allowed to use wood for such purposes.
Arrangement of the underground
The steam room floor needs proper arrangement of the space under it. If a leaking floor is created, the filtration properties of the soil are first evaluated. If there is sand under the base of the bath, it will be enough to pour gravel on it. The layer should be about 25 cm. Gravel will clean the drains before they enter directly into the ground. There should be a distance of at least 10 cm between the backfill and the lags.
If loamy soils, clay are located under the leaking bath, you will need to install a tray to drain the water into the sewer. To do this, a clay castle is created under the floor. It should have a bias towards the sewer.
If the bath is leaking, the foundation is covered with expanded clay. There must be a distance of at least 15 cm between it and the lags. This is necessary to create adequate ventilation.
Beginning of work
The device of the floor in the steam room involves the installation of a lag. They are based on the foundation. A similar design is typical for almost all modern baths. Creating a foundation and a sewage system under the floor allows you to meet the requirements of sanitary standards. Otherwise, an unpleasant odor appears in the room over time, and the wooden coating is destroyed.
After arranging the foundation, it is necessary to install lags on it. If the area of the steam room is large, you will need to build additional nightstands. They will help to reduce the intervals between lags.
For the arrangement of the rough floor, hardwood is chosen. It is also allowed to use a slab or thick boards for these purposes. By means of self-tapping screws or by means of tongue-and-groove method, the rough flooring is attached to the beams. Further, a heat-insulating layer is necessarily equipped.
Insulation Installation
The wooden floor in the steam room necessarily requires thermal insulation. In this case, the room will warm up faster. Heat loss is significantly reduced. This allows you to save on energy.
The modern market of heaters offers many varieties of materials. They differ in cost and technical characteristics. Mineral wool is best suited for flooring in the bath. It is an environmentally friendly material. He is able to reliably isolate the room without letting heat out.
In order for the thermal insulation and the entire construction of the wooden floor to last for a long time, it is necessary to lay a waterproofing layer on top of the insulation. To do this, you can buy glassine, ruberoid or a polymer membrane.
Laying the finishing floor
The steam room floor is equipped immediately after installation of the rough foundation, mineral wool and waterproofing. To do this, prepare grooved boards. Their thickness should not be less than 3 cm.
Boards should not be stacked too tightly. If moisture gets on them, the material will swell. If there is not enough space for linear expansion, the wood will lead. To avoid this, it is recommended to leave small gaps between the boards on the finishing coating.
It is also important to consider the direction of the tree rings. At adjacent boards, they should look in different directions. With this installation technique, it is possible to achieve a high level of evenness of the coating.
All trim elements must be installed with the convex side up. In this case, the floor will be strong and reliable.
Final stage
At the final stage, wood is treated with special solutions. On sale are many options for such tools. The master decides on his own how to process the floors in the steam room . It should be an antiseptic that will prevent the appearance of fungus and rot on the surface of the floor. This solution is also treated with two lateral and lower sides of the boards.
When laying the finish coat, it is important to slope towards the drain hole. After that, you can loop and install skirting boards. You can remove unevenness on the surface of the coating manually. However, it is advisable to use an electric planer for these purposes. Before starting such work, it is necessary to check whether nails are sticking out on the floor surface.
Further in the foundation it is necessary to make several outlets. This will prevent the development of dampness under the floor.
Wall and ceiling decoration
After arranging the floor, the walls, ceiling are finished, the door to the steam room and shelves are installed. In this case, it is also allowed to use wood, lining. It is finished with a ceiling and walls. A layer of insulation and waterproofing is also installed under the front cover. It is not necessary to purchase polystyrene or expanded polystyrene for such purposes. In a steam room, such heaters will emit substances unsafe for the human body.
It should be remembered that it is impossible to finish the ceiling and walls in the steam room indoors with plastic, wood panels, chipboard, plywood, etc. Coniferous woods are also not suitable for these purposes. They will release tar when heated. This will cause burns.
It is not recommended to cover the lining in the bath with special means. Varnish, stain or other similar coatings will release harmful substances when heated, an unpleasant odor will appear. Being in such a room would be unbearable.
Interior design
After finishing the ceiling and walls, it is necessary to install the door to the steam room. It can be made of special heat-resistant glass or wood. The first option is preferable. Glass allows you to create a stylish look inside the steam room.
Shelves in the steam room should be arranged in several rows. To create them, hardwood is used. The surface of the material must be well sanded. It should not have defects, chips. It is also unacceptable that the metal caps of studs protrude on the surface of the shelves. At elevated temperatures, this can cause a burn.
An important element of the interior of the bath is the stove. Many different models are on sale. The stove can be wood or have an electric heater. Each owner chooses the best option for himself. Some owners prefer to build it from brick directly on the spot. It is easier for others to purchase finished steel or cast iron stoves. Electric heater does not imply the ability to pour hot stones over water. If the owners love a high humidity bath, they should give preference to a traditional stone stove.
Room finishing options
Experts recommend that you do not use too much wood when decorating the interior of the bath. The steam room looks original, in which the lining is combined with tile, plexiglass, natural stone. If you wish, you can seek help from a professional designer. He will develop an original interior design. Being in such a room will be pleasant to all visitors.
The steam room should be decorated with taste. You should also pay attention to the choice of fixtures. The steam room should be light enough. Lampshades can be made of natural wood or other heat-resistant materials.
It is very important to provide a ventilation hole inside the bath. Airing will avoid the appearance of dampness, pathogens. However, making a ventilation window inside the steam room is useless. It is best to equip it in a dressing room or a washing room. The steam room is aired when the door is opened.
After considering the technology, how the floor in the steam room is arranged, the interior is finished and decorated, each owner of the country house will be able to properly arrange the bathhouse on his own.