Since ancient times, erecting private houses, people sought to complement them with a small and comfortable bathhouse. This trend has survived so much today that it is difficult to imagine a modern cottage, not equipped with a double room. Almost everyone knows about the benefits of the bath, but how to properly equip it, so that the rest is as safe as possible, you need to understand it separately. Today we will talk about how to choose and install the doors to the steam room, what types and sizes they can be and what accessories they need to be equipped with.
Modern door options
Based on centuries of experience and traditions, most owners make their choice in favor of the usual wooden doors. These designs have proven themselves in use due to their resistance to the aggressive microclimate of this room. Fans of newfangled designs prefer to install transparent tempered glass doors. This option, in addition to resistance to moisture, has a beautiful appearance and the ability to visually expand a small space.
Combined models combined the positive characteristics of both types. Combining wood and glass, manufacturers create the most unusual designs. Such doors to the steam room serve not only as a dividing element, but also as a decoration of the entire interior.
Next, we will consider each view in more detail.
Wooden doors
Doors made of solid wood do an excellent job of their main task - they reliably retain heat inside the steam room. Moreover, the natural material has a beautiful appearance and is pleasant to the touch. In this case, each owner of the bath, who decided to install wooden doors in the steam room, should be prepared for the fact that over time they are deformed, so they will have to be periodically tightened. Do not forget about the need for pre-treatment of the material with antiseptic solutions. They are designed to protect the structure of wood from the harmful effects of moisture and high temperatures, thereby significantly extending the life of the entire structure. It is very important that the material processing agent is not toxic and does not release toxic substances into the air when heated. Given this fact, it is strictly unacceptable to use drying oil and varnish.
Wood selection
When choosing doors from solid wood, it is necessary to pay attention to the operational characteristics of each presented breed.
The best option for arranging a steam room are lime and aspen boards. They well withstand temperature jumps, increased humidity of this room, are quite simple to use and have a low cost. In addition, during heating, linden releases a pleasant aroma into the air, which has a pronounced antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect.
Oak doors have always been considered the most durable and durable. In terms of its performance, the material surpasses all other tree species, since it does not deform, has the lowest thermal conductivity and does not dry out. Massive and noble oak doors can transform any interior and emphasize the high status of the owner of the bath. It should be noted that such an interior item will cost the buyer quite expensive, but given the enormous period of its operation, the costs are justified.
Separately, it is worth mentioning coniferous wood, which is not recommended for the manufacture of a steam room door. When heated, it releases essential oils and tar into the air. As a result, an unpleasant odor appears in the steam room, which can negatively affect the health of visitors.
Hardware
Doors for a sauna are equipped with accessories not prone to heating. The metal hinges on which the door is fixed are located exclusively on the outside. This is necessary in order to exclude the possibility of getting a burn as a result of touching a hot material. It should be remembered that in conditions of high humidity, iron elements undergo corrosion. That is why it is recommended to use stainless types of metal. Door handles should also not heat up. It is advisable to install wood products from both the inside and the outside of the door.
Glass doors
Despite the fact that glass doors appeared much later than wooden, today they have become very popular. This is facilitated by the excellent performance and simplicity of these products. The glass door to the steam room is made of heavy-duty material with a thickness of 8 mm. In the production process, the glass is heated to a high temperature, and then quickly cooled with strong air flows. Heat treatment makes it quite durable and resistant to high temperatures.
In addition, glass doors have several advantages over wooden paintings, which we will consider in more detail below.
Advantages of glass doors
I immediately want to note the unlimited life of such products. In comparison with wood, glass is not subject to deformation and temperature. If the door was installed in accordance with the rules, it will last for many years without requiring suspenders and repairs.
Glass doors are superior to wooden in hygiene and ease of care. Since the material does not accumulate moisture, does not form mold and rot, it does not need special treatment. They can be washed with any cleaning agent.
Translucent glass expands a small area of the steam room and does not prevent light from entering the room. This property allows you to do without additional moisture-proof lighting in the sauna and save finances.
The possibility of decorating glass with various spraying and patterns turns such doors into a real decorative element that brings a twist to the interior of the bathhouse.
disadvantages
Like any other modern material, glass doors have several drawbacks.
• Although it is very difficult to break tempered glass, there is still such a possibility. At the same time, human safety remains at a fairly high level, since a broken door crumbles into small crumbs, which eliminates the possibility of cuts.
• The glass door to the steam room has a high cost, which can be compensated for by a long service life and ease of use.
Door accessories for a steam room
For a glass door, a competent choice of fittings is very important. Since thick and heavy glass is used for its manufacture, special attention must be paid to the choice of strong and reliable hinges. Three metal brackets are usually installed.
In most cases, the products are equipped with roller or magnetic latches that prevent jamming of the door if people remain indoors. This is very important to ensure safety during your stay in the bath.
Door handles are made of wood or plastic, resistant to high temperature, which is sealed with a silicone gasket during installation.
The dimensions of the doors in the steam room
The size of the door leaf separating the steam room from the main room of the bath differs significantly from the usual parameters. In order to keep heat as best as possible, the doorway is made lower than indicated in building standards.
Everyone knows that steam builds up under the ceiling. For good soaring, it is necessary that its layer be at least 80 cm, provided that the temperature in the bath is constantly maintained. Based on these data, the optimal size of the door to the steam room is determined. So, with a ceiling height of 240 cm, the necessary for steam 80 cm recede from the top and get a door height of 160 cm.
The width of the opening depends on the preferences of the owner. For a more convenient passage, you can make it 130-150 cm. Most often, the size of the door to the steam room corresponds to the parameters of 60x160 cm, but these are only approximate figures, it is not necessary to adhere to them at all.
Installation of wooden doors
The functionality of the product and the entire room depends on how correctly the installation of the door to the steam room is completed. If the work is carried out in a freshly harvested log house, he must be given time to shrink or set a pigtail.
You should immediately pay attention to the fact that the doors leading to the steam room should open exclusively outward. This prevents cold air from entering the room when people exit. In order to keep steam inside the sauna, the door is supplemented with a high wooden door. Its height varies from 15 to 30 cm. The door leaf should be slightly narrower than the box so that in case of wood swelling it does not jam.
Work begins with the installation and fixation of the box. Here the same fasteners are used that were used during the construction of the bathhouse itself. When the box is aligned and fixed, proceed to install the door for the steam room. Wooden structures are recommended to be mounted on 3-4 loops. To do this, holes identical to the size of the canopies are drilled in the canvas and the box. The hinges are recessed into the finished recesses and fixed with self-tapping screws. The door is placed perpendicular to the floor, fixed in the opening with wedges and fixed with screws.
Features of the installation of glass doors
The installation of the door to the steam room is practically no different from the installation of interior paintings, however, some features should be emphasized.
Given the fragility of the material, it is necessary to stock up on cushioning materials in advance to help prevent cracks and scratches. It can be cardboard, wooden slats or other improvised items.
The edges of the glass cloth around the entire perimeter must be pasted over with masking tape. This will help protect them from chips and damage that occur during installation.
If the door was purchased with the box, then before installing it, it is necessary to remove the glass product and only then begin installing the structure in the opening. Please note that at the bottom of the box is the transport bar necessary for the safe movement of doors. This door is subject to dismantling, as it is not necessary during operation.
The box is fixed in the opening with wooden wedges, and is leveled on all sides by level. It is fastened with metal screws, which at the end of work must be closed with wooden plugs. Then the glass part is put on the hinges, after which the handles and the rest of the accessories are mounted.
It is very important that the distance between the box and the glass sheet is minimal so that the steam does not escape through the cracks. At the bottom of the door, leave a ventilation hole. Its width is usually 6-15 cm.
The cracks between the walls and the door frame are filled with polystyrene or other insulation material. Surpluses are trimmed and masked under decorative trims.
Regardless of the type of door to be installed, the work on arranging a steam room is quite troublesome. We hope that the recommendations in this article will help you cope with the task much easier and faster.