From what material, you need to build a good bath? Materials for building a bath: what materials are better to build a bath from? What to build a bath from

Many thought about creating on their own suburban area small cozy bath. With its help, you can take high-quality water procedures and recharge your batteries, as well as relieve stress.

But at the stage of design and installation of structures, the majority faces serious problems. One of the most common of these is the choice the right material for construction.

To help you understand, we will consider this issue in detail, as well as determine the main advantages and disadvantages of various building solutions for the construction of a bath.

Basic requirements for a country bath

The arrangement of the bath, as well as other structures, provides for the implementation of general architectural standards and building regulations. However, our case is complicated by the need to comply with the general fire safety rules during construction.

Did you know?The bath has its roots in the 6th millennium BC. e. During this period, special steam rooms appeared everywhere in ancient Egypt, accessible to all segments of the population.

So, in order to equip a bathhouse in a summer cottage correctly, the following requirements must be observed:

• Compliance with architectural norms: the most successful place for a bath is the site as far as possible from all kinds of structures. However, in modern conditions, it will not be easy to achieve a complete absence of building structures near the bath. Therefore, such a structure should be at a distance of at least 8 meters from a residential building, no closer than 8 meters to a neighboring site and at least 12 meters from a well. In addition, the place for construction must be leveled relative to the entire site, since on a hill the bathhouse will be in an excessive view, and in the lowland it will suffer annually from spring flooding.
• Compliance with sanitary standards: the structure must be provided with ventilation, and also equipped with a water drainage system. Otherwise, this will lead to stagnation of air and moisture, and with this - to the development of fungus and other pathogens.
• Compliance with fire safety standards: all parts of the structure that are subject to heating must be made of non-combustible materials. The part of the building in which the heating furnace is equipped must be additionally protected by insulating materials that prevent the structure from igniting.
• Environmental friendliness of the building material: bath - a place with high temperature and humidity, so the materials for its construction should be made to the maximum of natural and non-toxic components, without the addition of any synthetic compounds.

Video: fire requirements for the bath

Important!If the proximity to a neighboring site does not allow to equip a bath, the distance of the structure to it can be reduced to 1 meter, however, this must be agreed with the neighbors, and their permission is certified in writing by lawyers.

Advantages and disadvantages of a wooden bath

Most often, a bath is constructed from wood. Wood is quite easy to process, so almost any part of the structure can be created from it, both load-bearing elements and sheathing.

Such structures are characterized by strength, and their shrinkage on the ground takes place evenly, without the occurrence of cracks and faults. In addition, the tree is resistant to fluctuations in moisture and temperature, and also has high thermal insulation qualities, which makes this material almost perfect.

However, it also has a lot of disadvantages, first of all, these are:

• fragility;
• wooden baths require especially careful compliance with fire safety standards;
• shrinkage lasts a long time and can be more than 10 cm;
• a wooden bath takes at least 2 years to dry thoroughly;
• after drying, wooden structures must be caulked.

Did you know?Finland is the leader in the number of steam rooms per capita. In a country with a population of about 5 million, more than 2 million operate.

This is the most common tree in construction, so it is not surprising that baths are often built from this material.

Pine has many advantages:

• wood grows in almost any conditions, so it is one of the cheapest and most common materials;
• pine has a smooth and even trunk, which facilitates its processing;
• this wood is light, but durable, rarely cracks, so such structures are reliable and shrink slightly;
• pine contains a huge amount of aromatic resins, so water procedures in such baths are especially beneficial for general human health.

Pine has few cons, but they still exist. First of all, this is an increased release of wood resin, so often in such baths the resin from the walls will have to be cleaned over the next few years.

Also, pine is not resistant to all kinds of atmospheric manifestations, fungi and insects, so such a tree requires additional processing costs. protective equipment.

Spruce

Baths from no less quality than from pine, but less common. Like the coniferous species described above, spruce is also quite easy to process, practical and has a low price.

In addition, this material, like pine, is enriched with many resinous compounds that can saturate the bath with aromas useful for the respiratory system.

However, spruce structures in our open spaces are not common, since, in addition to the above-described disadvantages, this coniferous species is less resistant to various atmospheric manifestations and fungi, and also shrinks more than pine. Therefore, such structures require not only constant treatment with protective equipment, but are also short-lived.

Cedar

They are not found in every region, so baths from this wood are built exclusively in Siberia, in the Urals. This material has the same positive qualities, as the conifers described above, however, it has a number of advantages.

First of all, it is a more aesthetic view of the structure. Cedar wood - with a pinkish-red middle and a golden-pink hue of the outer layers, this gives the bath a more interesting look.

In addition, cedar is highly resistant to all kinds of fungi and other microorganisms, as well as to high humidity conditions, so such structures are more durable and less costly to maintain than pine or spruce.

The main disadvantages of this wood can be called:

• excessive resin emission during the first few years after construction;
• high material cost.

Larch

It belongs to a rather rare species, therefore, this tree is rarely found as a building material. But, despite this, relative to coniferous counterparts, this wood has several advantages:

The main disadvantage of larch can be called a high price, so baths from this tree can only be found in the zone of mass tree plantations. In addition, this wood has an excessively dense structure and is not easy to process.

Oak

It is rightfully considered a unique material. Such wood has a noble shade and pattern on the cut, has high strength, resistance to moisture, temperature, fungus and decay for decades.

However, this material is considered not the easiest to process, as it has an excessively dense structure. In addition, oak is a rather weighty material, so such structures give serious shrinkage. Do not forget about the high cost of oak, so such a bath is possible only in the case of an unlimited budget for its construction.

Aspen

Less popular material for construction, as the price-quality ratio of this wood is inferior to the above types of wood. It is not easy to create a building from aspen, each individual tree has its own size and shape, so structures from this wood are possible only after its careful processing.

Do not forget that aspen is not resistant to various atmospheric manifestations and pests, so the tree will darken in a few years, and the building itself will become unusable in a few decades. But aspen also has its advantages: the tree perfectly absorbs varnishes and paints, so such a building can be given external aesthetics without even having special skills.

Did you know?AT Ancient Russia aspen was the most common material for building baths, since coniferous wood as a building material could only be afforded by the nobility.

Bath blocks

Buildings from blocks are an excellent and inexpensive alternative to wood for arranging a steam room on your own site. This material makes it possible to quickly create a solid structure that will last more than one year. In addition, all kinds of block structures are particularly easy to create and maintain, so every year they are gaining more and more popularity.

The main advantages of blocks:

• cheapness. Structures from even the most expensive types of blocks are much cheaper than structures from any other material;
• low weight of structures, which contributes to minimal shrinkage of the entire structure;
• ease and speed of installation, so steam rooms from blocks can be created with your own hands, without having specialized knowledge.

But this material also has its drawbacks. First of all, it is:

• insufficient resistance to high humidity and sudden changes in temperature, which reduces the durability of the blocks at times;
• the material does not have low thermal conductivity, therefore, such structures must be insulated;
• block buildings require a solid foundation, at least 70 cm deep (in the northern regions - at least 1 meter);
• both internal and external walls of such a room require mandatory finishing.

Aerated concrete is a cellular concrete material made from cement, quartz sand and special foaming agents. The dry components of aerated concrete are thoroughly mixed, and then poured into special molds and water is added.

Under its influence, an active chemical reaction occurs, as a result of which the necessary structure of the material is created. To improve strength, some brands of gas blocks are treated with steam in special autoclave machines.

Today on the market there is a large number of types of aerated concrete, differing both in their quality and conditions of use. The best option for a bath would be blocks of the D500 brand. They have the necessary strength to create durable one-story structures.
This material has many advantages: ease of installation, low weight, strength, high fire safety. But there are also no less disadvantages: significant hygroscopicity, rather high price (relative to other types of building blocks), the need for special expensive glue for laying blocks.

Important!When choosing aerated concrete, preference should be given to material pre-treated with high steam in autoclaves, since only in this case the blocks will have the necessary strength and moisture resistance.

The main technical characteristics of aerated concrete:

• strength, kg/cm2 - 5-20;
• thermal conductivity, W / (m K) - 0.15-0.3;
• volume weight, kg/m3 - 200-600;
• frost resistance (number of cycles) - 50-75;
• shrinkage, mm/m - 1.5;
• water absorption,% - 45.

Video: aerated concrete bath

gas silicate

Gas silicate can be called a more profitable analogue of aerated concrete. This material is made according to the same principle as the previous one, however, it contains quartz sand and a small amount of lime as a binder.

Unlike aerated concrete, in order to obtain high-quality gas silicate, the blocks must be steam treated high pressure. The material has the same advantages and disadvantages as aerated concrete, however, from a technical point of view, it loses to it.

Since lime is included in the composition of the gas silicate, this block quickly absorbs moisture and rapidly collapses under its influence. Therefore, such surfaces require careful waterproofing and all the associated additional costs.

The main technical characteristics of gas silicate:

• strength, kg/cm2 - 28-40;
• thermal conductivity, W / (m K) - 0.1-0.2;
• volumetric weight, kg/m3 - 480-720;
• shrinkage, mm/m - 0.3;
• water absorption,% - 47.

A fairly inexpensive option for cellular concrete are foam blocks. They are made from a mixture of sand, cement and water, which are further enriched with foam from a special generator.

For the construction of a steam room, it is best to choose a material of grade D 600 or higher, since less durable foam concrete is used exclusively as a heater. Foam concretes are quite seriously inferior to the aerated concrete or gas silicate described above in terms of technical characteristics, but their main advantage will be the price.

The main technical characteristics of foam concrete:

• strength, kg/cm2 - 10-50;
• thermal conductivity, W / (m K) - 0.2-0.4;
• volumetric weight, kg/m3 - 450-900;
• frost resistance (number of cycles) - up to 25;
• shrinkage, mm/m - 0.6-1.2;
• water absorption,% - 52.

The cinder block is construction material, which is made on the basis of cement mortars, as well as slag - waste from coal production and other industries. This is a rather cheap material, since often its production has one goal - to maximize the utilization of slag formations.

However, cinder block is not the best choice for building a bath. Such blocks absorb moisture quickly and for a long time, and also do not differ in high strength, especially in conditions of high humidity.
Even with high-quality insulation, such a bath will function for no more than 15-20 years, after which serious repairs will be required.

Important!It is strictly forbidden to use the cinder block as a building material immediately after production, since slags emit various toxic substances for quite a long time. Therefore, before use, it must be aged for outdoors at least 1 year.

Sawdust can also be used as the main component in the production of cinder blocks, in which case it is possible to obtain not only cheap, but also environmentally friendly material. To create one-story structures, a material of a grade of at least M 75 will be required, since less durable options are used exclusively as facade insulation.

The main technical characteristics of the cinder block:

• strength, kg/cm2 - 25-75;
• thermal conductivity, W / (m K) - 0.3-0.5;
• volumetric weight, kg/m3 - 500-1000;
• frost resistance (number of cycles) - up to 20;
• shrinkage, mm/m - 0;
• water absorption,% - 55.

Video: cinder block bath

Expanded clay blocks are almost complete, but better analogue of cinder blocks. This material is made from a cement mixture, as well as expanded clay - fired in special conditions fine clays. Expanded clay blocks have a lot of advantages over other cell blocks.

First of all, it is environmental friendliness, low weight, which almost completely eliminates the risk of shrinkage. In addition, this material has a low percentage of water absorption, as well as low thermal conductivity, which makes it almost ideal for creating a high-quality, but inexpensive steam room.

However, for the arrangement of the bath, blocks of the M100-M150 brand will be required, since the less durable expanded clay concrete is used exclusively as a facade insulation. The main technical characteristics of expanded clay concrete:

• strength, kg/cm2 - 50-150;
• thermal conductivity, W / (m K) - 0.15-0.45;
• volumetric weight, kg/m3 - 700-1500;
• frost resistance (number of cycles) - up to 50;
• shrinkage, mm/m - 0;
• water absorption,% - 12.

Keramoblok is not as common material in modern construction as the above, but you can often see budget bath right from it. Ceramic blocks are quite environmentally friendly, as they only contain cement, sand, ceramic powder and water.

Like the materials described above, such blocks are cheap, easy to lay, light in weight, and durable. The main disadvantage of the material is a higher thermal conductivity.
In addition, you should not forget about the fragility of the material, so when installing a bath from ceramic blocks, be sure that the calculated amount of material will have to be increased by at least 5%. That is why it is not worth saving on the quality of this one, the brand should be at least M100.

The main technical characteristics of the ceramic block:

• strength, kg/cm2 - 25-175;
• thermal conductivity, W / (m K) - 0.08-0.18;
• volumetric weight, kg/m3 - 650-1000;
• frost resistance (number of cycles) - more than 50;
• shrinkage, mm/m - 0.3;
• water absorption,% - 10-15.

Important!Block structures provide for additional reinforcement of the masonry with a metal mesh every 2-3 rows, otherwise the durability of the structure is significantly reduced. This feature must be taken into account when creating an estimate.

A brick bath is one of the best alternatives to arranging a steam room at home.
With the help of bricks, you can create a reliable and high-quality structure that will delight its owners for many decades. That is why an increasing number of fans of life-giving steam prefer this particular material.

The main advantages of a brick steam room are:

• reliability and durability;
• low coefficient of water absorption. This contributes not only to the durability of the structure, but also helps to resist the development of fungi and dangerous bacteria on the surface of the walls;
• versatility. Brick makes it possible to use it for almost any purpose: from erecting walls to arranging a furnace;
• exclusivity. By using brickwork it is possible to create a structure of any architectural shape and size;
• simplicity. The brick is easy to use and maintain, in addition, it is quite aesthetic and does not require mandatory internal and exterior finish;
• high fire safety. Even at critical temperatures, the brick is not able to ignite, which makes it an ideal (in terms of fire safety) material;
• environmental friendliness. The composition of the brick includes the maximum amount of natural ingredients.

Video: brick bath However, a brick bath is not without serious drawbacks:

• high price. Even the simplest brick structure will be noticeably more expensive than any wooden or block building;
• high thermal conductivity. This negatively affects fuel consumption, as well as the overall speed of warming up the bath and reaching optimal temperatures.

Traditionally, red brick is used to build a bath in modern construction practice. For the construction of a steam room, several types of it are used: although they carry a general task, they must be used exclusively for highly specialized purposes.

These are the so-called pipe, ceramic and refractory types. Next, we consider in more detail the need and objectives of each of these materials. .

Important! Qualitatively fired brick has a uniform shade throughout the volume, and when struck with a hammer, it characteristically “rings”. In the absence of these signs, the material must be rejected.

Pipe (full-bodied)

The task of the pipe brick is to remove gaseous wastes resulting from the combustion of fuel during the kindling of the sauna stove. This is perhaps one of the few building materials that can cope with such a task without being adversely affected by sudden changes in temperature.

It is made from a special clay mixture subjected to semi-dry pressing. As a result, it is possible to obtain a product with high hygroscopicity, smooth surface and strict dimensions. This contributes to the creation of ideal tightness for the removal of combustion derivatives.

Today, there are many varieties of such bricks on the market, but only full-bodied pipe bricks will become the most suitable. Despite the higher price relative to hollow, it is not recommended to use excessively porous materials at elevated temperatures, as this can cause its destruction.
However, the completeness of the material is not a guarantee of reliable chimney. In conditions of elevated temperatures, strength plays a decisive role in maintaining the integrity of the structure, therefore the best choice there will be a brick not lower than the M200 brand.

The main technical characteristics of bricks for pipes:

• thermal conductivity, W / (m K) - 0.3-0.8;
• volumetric weight, kg/m3 - 1500 - 1900;
• heat resistance, °С - up to 1000;
• shrinkage, % - 5;
• water absorption,% - 10.

Ceramic (pipe)

Ceramic pipe brick is a kind of hollow brick, which is used for the construction of buildings no higher than 2-3 floors. It is made from special clay solutions subjected to high-temperature heating in furnaces at a temperature of about 1000 ° C.

This building material is practically no different in composition from solid ceramic bricks and has the same advantages and disadvantages.
An advantageous advantage of such a brick is its low cost. Each of the molds for the production of material has small bulges, which creates artificial cavities in each brick, as a result of which a reduction in the amount of raw materials for production is achieved, and with this, the final unit price.

In addition, the presence of cavities improves the thermal insulation capabilities of the product, so steam rooms made of hollow bricks heat up much faster than those made of solid bricks. Such a brick has many disadvantages.

Did you know?The largest steam room is located in the German town of Sinsheim, its area is 160 square meters. meters.

First of all, it is low strength, as well as the ability to collapse under the influence of high moisture. This leads to an increase in the cost of high-quality finishing and vapor barrier of the material, otherwise the durability of the structure decreases significantly. The best type of hollow ceramic brick for the construction of a bath will be a grade of at least M200.
The main technical characteristics of ceramic hollow bricks:

• strength, kg/cm2 - 75-300;
• thermal conductivity, W / (m K) - 0.2-0.5;
• volumetric weight, kg/m3 - 1300 - 1500;
• frost resistance (number of cycles) - more than 75;
• heat resistance, °С - up to 1000;
• shrinkage, % - 5;
• water absorption,% - 10.

Did you know?In the old days, in order to determine the quality of a brick, 600 bricks were placed on a wooden pallet, after which the pallet was raised to a height of about 2 meters, and then abruptly dropped to the ground. If at least one crashed, the whole batch was discarded.

Refractory (chamotte)

Refractory or fireclay bricks are used for both stone and wooden baths as the basis for the manufacture of the furnace. It is the only building material that can withstand the direct impact of fire.
It is made from a mixture of special refractory clay and various additives (coke, graphite powders, large grains of quartz, etc.), fired at a temperature of 1300 ... 1500 ° C. This makes it possible to obtain a material resistant to sudden changes in temperature and durable.

On the modern market, there are a lot of various types of fireclay bricks (SHA, SHB, SHAK, SHUS, SHV, PV and PB). For the construction of a home steam room, materials of the ShB-5 and ShB-8 brands will be the most profitable. This is the so-called class B fireclay brick, capable of withstanding a maximum temperature of 1400 ° C.

These are one of the cheapest varieties of refractory bricks, but despite this, this choice will be an ideal option in terms of price and quality.

The main technical characteristics of refractory bricks:

• strength, kg/cm2 - 100-150;
• thermal conductivity, W / (m K) - 0.6-0.9;
• volumetric weight, kg/m3 - 1800-2000;
• frost resistance (number of cycles) - up to 50;
• heat resistance, °С - up to 1500;
• shrinkage, % - 5;
• water absorption,% - 5-8.

Important!For laying fireclay bricks, heat-resistant mixtures or refractory clay are used. Simple cement mortars under the influence of high temperatures instantly crack and collapse

Stone bath: pros and cons

Stone in construction is the best option for those regions where it is not so easy to acquire wood. In addition, the stone bath looks spectacular and unusual, which will definitely help create a truly unique steam room.

The advantages of the stone are many, first of all, it is:

• low price;
• publicity;
• high fire safety;
• durability;
• low shrinkage factor.

However, despite its advantages, the stone also has many disadvantages, which are the main reason for the low distribution of stone baths.

These include:

• technological complexity. Due to the uneven size of the stones, it is much more difficult to create a building of the correct shape than from brick or wood;
• high cost. Even the most expensive wooden bath will be much cheaper than a stone one, since such a steam room requires a large amount of related materials;
• high thermal conductivity. The stone hardly retains heat, therefore, for high-quality ignition of the bath, an order of magnitude more fuel is required than for steam rooms made of other materials;
• low gas permeability. A stone bath requires a high-quality ventilation system in order to avoid air stagnation;
• oversized structure. The walls of the stone bath are constructed with a thickness of at least 75 cm, which negatively affects the amount of space required for construction.

Video: which bath is better, wooden or stone

Optimal choice

Today, in modern market conditions, it is not so easy to choose the optimal type of material for a home bath, since for most domestic consumers the question of the appropriateness of the money spent is not only acute, but is also the dominant factor in budget planning.

Let's analyze all of the above and find out why it is still best to build a bathhouse, and what materials it is better to refuse. The highest quality construction is a wooden steam room (pine, spruce).

A wooden bath will perfectly cope with all the duties assigned to it, give a lot of positive emotions as well as pleasant sensations. In addition, such a steam room looks very colorful and will last for several decades.

Video: how to choose materials for building a bath

In the absence of extra funds, you can also build a bathhouse from building blocks - you should pay attention to expanded clay concrete. This material not only has low thermal conductivity and durability, but also makes it possible to quickly and inexpensively create a full-fledged steam room of any size and number of storeys.

However, in pursuit of cheapness, you should not choose the cheapest materials, since such structures will not only last a couple of decades, but will also cause a lot of trouble in maintenance. Therefore, a bathhouse made of aspen, foam blocks or cinder blocks is not worth building on your site.

In this case, even with a sparing regime, after 10-15 years your steam room may become completely unusable. A properly equipped bathhouse is the best thing that can please you in a cold winter sometimes in your own summer cottage.

Today, there are many materials with which in just a few months you can create a full-fledged steam room, even with my own hands. However, if you don’t have extra money in reserve, it is best to postpone the construction of a bath until a later time, since a cheap steam room will soon become a serious headache.

Initially, "towns" - wooden chocks - were used as point supports. But over time, any wood rots and needs to be replaced, so it was replaced by concrete structures.

This type of foundation is good because its device can smooth out the unevenness of the site: it is enough to deepen a number of bases to the desired level to obtain a flat area. It can be used in the construction of small one-story baths.

pile gained great popularity, especially due to the fact that screw piles can be installed even in winter. Therefore, the construction of other types of baths, for which such a foundation is suitable, can be started at any time of the year.

The bottom line is to twist specially made piles at regular intervals (the distance between them is regulated depending on the massiveness and size of the building).

Pile foundations also include bored pile foundations, we recommend reading about this, as well as about pile foundations in general.

What is better to build a bathhouse from: the main question is the walls

Wall material directly determines:

• type of foundation required;
• types of insulation and their application (outside or inside).

Therefore, it is so important to deal with the walls in the topic “What is it better to build a bath from”.

Blocks: what material?

Block baths have won love among builders and buyers for good reason: they are distinguished by incredibly short construction times with a relatively low cost. If you have a certain amount of skills, you can independently cope with the construction of a bath from blocks. The most common types of blocks are:

1. foam concrete;
2. expanded clay concrete;
3. aerated concrete;
4. gas silicate;
5. cinder blocks.

Block baths need a decorative finish, because. do not differ in special aesthetic qualities in a "pure" form.

From what blocks is it better to build a bath?

Ease of manufacture cinder blocks leads to the development of handicraft production, which cannot meet the standards of production. However, they undoubtedly have one plus - a low price.

gas silicate blocks have high hygroscopicity, require high-quality hydro and vapor barrier, in addition, it is important not to make a mistake in its types: they all have different parameters for strength and thermal insulation. The use for the construction of a bath is not always justified.

Therefore, answering the question: from which blocks it is better to build a bath, we say: they are well suited aerated concrete and foam concrete They are easy to use, light weight and easy to process. The cellular structure guarantees excellent thermal insulation properties, but also needs high-quality vapor barrier and waterproofing.

Wood

Wood is one of the most traditional materials that meet all environmental requirements. Today, the industry offers different types treated wood:

1. log(the most solid material);
2. beam(processed wood of certain dimensions, for example: 100*100, 200*200);
3. carriage(a log hewn from two opposite sides - especially popular in the Scandinavian countries);
4. double beam(represents 2 boards with grooves between which a heater is placed, most often mineral wool or ecowool).

What wood is better to build a bath?

The main division of wood building material lies in the nature of the logs used: resinous (coniferous) or non-resinous (deciduous) species.

What wood is better to build a bath? From dense and well dried. Aspen is one of the non-resinous species, but such wood is very expensive, and oak is especially expensive. The fundamental difference is that a poorly dried coniferous forest will tar for a long time (resin smudges will form).

Therefore, most often they are built from pine and other conifers. In addition to a lower price (compared to the same aspen), they have such advantages as:

1. smooth and straight trunk;
2. easy processing of a log;
3. knots do not spread inside the wood (as, for example, in birch);
4. keep heat well (aspen is significantly inferior in this characteristic).

In view of the foregoing, if you chose pine as an answer to the question: what tree is better to build a bath from, then you should give preference to a well-dried forest.

From which forest is it better to build a bath? It is desirable if it is a winter forest(i.e. chopped in winter and dried during the summer under cover).

REFERENCE. Dead wood is periodically offered as a building material, and this is justified to some extent, such wood has a high density. But it requires special treatment with antiseptics, otherwise there is a great chance of damage by rot in places of high humidity.

Timber or log: what to make a bath from?

Each of these materials has its own advantages:

• log bath does not require additional thermal insulation, except for interventional insulation;
• a bath from a bar it is easier to fold than from a log, a minimum qualification is enough to lay a beam with minimal gaps.

Therefore, when choosing a material and what to make a bath from - use the additional information from.

What kind of timber is better to build a bath?

For the construction of a bath, it is best to use a well-dried timber: it will shrink less, in addition, there will be a lower risk that the timber will begin to bend. high humidity timber reduces its thermal insulation properties.

What kind of timber is better to build a bath? For, based on the type of wood from which it is made, you can use the table below:

wood species	Shrinkage ratio, %		Mechanical strength for wood with 15% moisture content, MPa (kgf/cm²)
	in the radial direction	in the tangential direction	in compression along the fibers	bending	chipping
					in the radial plane	in the tangential plane
Coniferous tree species
Pine	0,18	0,33	43,9	79,3	6,9 (68)	7,3 (73)
Spruce	0,14	0,24	42,3	74,4	5,3 (53)	5,2 (52)
Larch	0,22	0,40	51,1	97,3	8,3 (83)	7,2 (72)
Fir	0,9	0,33	33,7	51,9	4,7 (47)	5,3 (53)
Hardwood tree species
Oak	0,18	0,28	52,0	93,5	8,5 (85)	10,4 (104)
Ash	0,19	0,30	51,0	115	13,8 (138)	13,3 (133)
Birch	0,26	0,31	44,7	99,7	8,5 (85)	11 (110)
Maple	0,21	0,34	54,0	109,7	8,7 (87)	12,4 (124)
Elm	0,22	0,44	48,6	105,7	–	13,8 (138)
Elm	0,15	0,32	38,9	85,2	7 (70)	7,7 (77)
Softwood tree species
Aspen	0,2	0,32	37,4	76,6	5,7 (57)	7,7 (77)
Linden	0,26	0,39	39	68	7,3 (73)	8 (80)
black alder	0,16	0,23	36,8	69,2	–	–
black aspen	0,16	0,31	35,1	60	5,8 (58)	7,4 (74)

According to the results of many studies, a double beam is ahead of similar indicators for a conventional beam, but its use as internal insulation mineral wool casts doubt on its use in the construction of baths.

Useful video:

Watch a video explaining the advantages of a double beam. It seems reasonable to conclude that the technology is more suitable for homes than baths.

For a good warm bath, it is best to use a bar 200 * 200, the use of a thinner bar or half-bar (for example, 100 * 50) will require significant financial costs for external insulation. Although, if the bathhouse is heated only in summer (country option), then not thick walls, 10 centimeters, may be enough.

Foam block

As already mentioned, it has a high ability to absorb moisture due to its porous structure, therefore competent vapor and waterproofing is required. You can read about the advantages and strengths of a foam concrete bath in these articles:

• , as well as .

Frame baths

They gained great popularity due to the short construction time, as well as others that allow them to be carried out. Caution should be taken when choosing a heater for the frame, since the bath is a building with a high temperature regime of use. Therefore, the insulation must be safe and not emit harmful substances when heated. You can read more information in this article:.

The choice of the type of foundation for frame baths is devoted.

Warming

Log baths it was not without reason that they were so popular, because before there was no such assortment of heaters, so everyone managed with a simple caulk: plugging cracks and gaps with natural materials: moss, flax, etc.

Baths made of timber already require little insulation from the outside, especially in areas in cold winters.

But during the construction of block and brick baths, you can’t do without insulation at all.

What needs to be insulated in any bath?

In any bath, no matter what building material it is built from, it is required. This is no accident: after all, warm air always tends to rise. If the ceiling is not insulated, then all the heat will go outside. baths. Frame baths have insulation already inside the frame, so additional insulation is appropriate if you are in an area with extremely cold winters. More .

Floor

Any floor needs to be insulated, especially if the foundation has not been thermally insulated. Depending on the organization of the floor in your bath (pouring or non-pouring), the choice of insulation depends. If the floor is pouring, then the insulation must be protected from moisture, otherwise it will lose all its properties when wet. More information .

Roof

Roof insulation will be needed if you organize attic floor, in this case, you can use foam or mineral wool.

Insulation from inside or outside

Most often, insulation is done from the inside, log baths and baths are insulated from the outside, which are used in winter in cold regions. often combined with decorative trim. creates the effect of a thermos and protects the wall material from damage by high temperatures. It should be remembered that .

A little about heaters

It must be understood that it is impossible to purchase a batch of one type of insulation and use it to insulate the entire bath.

This topic is the subject of heated debate, which only flares up brighter with the advent of another new product on the heater market.

From what to make a bath quickly and inexpensively?

From what to make a bath quickly and inexpensively? Choose one, or build your own from timber or. These materials require minimal skill and skill. The use of natural insulation will also reduce the cost of the project.

They are also popular because of their cheapness and ease of execution, we recommend that you familiarize yourself.

Conclusion

It is difficult to give an unambiguous answer to the question: what is better to build a bath from, as you can see, the choice is huge. It is worth focusing on your personal preferences and budget possibilities. We have tried to provide you with a detailed section of information that will make it easier for you to understand this difficult topic and find the solution you need.

For Russia, the banya is considered a place where you can not only spend time. It has long been known that in order to cleanse the spirit and body, you need to take a good steam bath with a birch or oak whisk. But the question arises of how to efficiently, economically build at least a mini-bath on your site.

In this article, we'll show you how to do it, what is the best material to choose, how much does it cost. Consider the main mistakes in construction, time and financial aspects.

What is important in the beginning?

Having decided to build, one should understand a small but significant thing. A nice, small bath needs a project. Many underestimate the importance of drawings and calculations. And this depends on the speed, reliability, comfort and cost.

Advice! Before going to the architect, you need to decide on the material.

log walls

In Russia, it so happened that wooden baths were built. There are reasons for this. Usually choose the following breeds:

• Pine.
• Fir.
• Cedar.

The log bath will not be subject to rotting, resistant to moisture. No need for additional vapor barrier.

Pros:

• Natural material, environmentally friendly.
• Holds heat well.
• "Log" are considered the most durable. The quality is superior to frame, stone - buildings. Observing construction technologies, the service life without repair reaches 70-80 years.
• Relatively inexpensive material, it all depends on the region.
• Great aesthetic look.

Minuses:

The disadvantage of this material is the mandatory subsidence of the building by 15–20 cm. After the construction of the frame, it is recommended to wait a year.

Construction from timber

Most often, timber is used in the construction of baths. It exists in four types:

• Planed.
• Glued.
• Not planed.
• profiled.

It is possible to use any of the listed materials. But the most popular is profiled or planed. Let's consider each separately.

Planed

Special processing makes it virtually invulnerable to cracking. The lumber that has undergone chamber drying will be more expensive. It all depends on the professionalism of the builders. For example, if you build with your own hands, then it is advisable to choose high-quality processing.

It is good to make the installation from the prepared timber. This is easier thanks to the “comb”, which provides an easy, reliable and tight grip. This allows the construction to be carried out with less effort.

Mezhventsovye sections are protected thanks to a special profile. It also allows you to do without repairs for many years, to save the heat of the walls.

Advantages:

• Long service life.
• Environmentally friendly material.
• Low cost.
• Easy to mount.

Flaws:

• Violations in the drying technique leads to deformation, twisting.
• "Susceptible" to crackling even with processing.
• It may darken over time.

Glued

More "difficult" to manufacture. It is made from boards and logs. Passes high-quality drying and gluing. Due to the processing of two or more lamellas, it is considered the most good material for the construction and decoration of baths and saunas. It is chosen by people who are not used to saving.

Pros:

• Allows for a month or two to build a building.
• "Chic" in aesthetic terms.
• Practically not subject to shrinkage.
• Does not deform.
• Thanks to its high-quality processing - it does not crack.
• Optimum humidity eliminates the appearance of fungus, mold.

Minuses:

• Expensive stuff.
• The use of adhesives makes it not environmentally friendly.
• To assemble a shield bath very quickly, which is what commercial enterprises use.

not planed

The most inexpensive and sought after of the materials. Unplaned timber (sawn) is a square or rectangular section. Production is carried out from spruce or pine. Drying of wood takes place not in chambers, but in the fresh air. This made it possible to significantly reduce the cost of the material.

Pros:

• The minimum cost for the construction of the frame.
• Perhaps used as a finishing material.
• Does not require highly qualified specialists.

Minuses:

• After the construction of the box, the building is left for a year to shrink.
• It is necessary to additionally insulate, caulk the cracks. Cracks may appear during use of the building.
• Requires external insulation.
• Needs additional interior finishing.

Profiled

It got its name thanks to the connecting locks. They can be divided into the following:

• Comb.
• With one spike.
• With two spikes.
• Norwegian.
• Finnish.

Easy to install. Slots and interventional corners are cut at the construction site. The most suitable type of material.

Advantages:

• High-quality grinding allows you to use it in the finish.
• No harmful chemicals are used.
• Produced from spruce, pine, oak.
• Due to its low thermal conductivity, it retains heat well.
• A weak share of shrinkage is 4–5 cm.
• Fast erection with small forces.

Flaws:

• Poor drying will lead to more sagging.
• Must be treated with fire extinguishers.
• After the construction, there will be no possibility of redevelopment.

Now very popular bath-barrel, made of profiled material. The price starts from 60 thousand for an already assembled structure, which is convenient to fit even on the very small area cottages in six acres. And the construction is in operation. without foundation.

Modern building materials for a bath

Few people know that baths built with brick and cement will look and function no worse than wooden ones. Consider the common options from expanded clay (cinder block) and bricks.

brick bath

Buildings made of stone have a number of advantages over wooden structures. The advantages include:

• weather resistance,
• practicality,
• the possibility of redevelopment.

But the cost will increase significantly - this is due to the preparation and installation of the foundation. As well as mandatory interior decoration.

For the construction of brick baths, the services of professional builders of various specialties are required. If only carpenters are needed for wood, then here you will need:

• Bricklayers.
• Plasterers.
• Finishers.
• Roofers.

To independently build quickly, you will need tremendous knowledge and experience. Improper laying of walls will lead to the formation of condensate and instability of the structure. You will also need additional thermal insulation of the facade of the building.

Foam blocks

This material is more suitable for construction. Although it is considered "young" material. He got his fans. Successfully used in the construction of residential facilities, including baths from foam blocks.

Light weight, excellent thermal conductivity allows you to make a warm building. But just like a brick, the foam block needs a foundation and additional thermal insulation. Of the main qualities of the stone, its fire resistance is distinguished. For example: a brick crumbles under the influence of high temperature. The same cannot be said for .

It is made from environmentally friendly materials. Easy to handle. Low price allows you to compete with other building materials.

The most expensive materials in construction

Common mistakes in construction

In order for the bath to turn out to be solid, it is necessary to pay attention to the mistakes that are made by both professionals and amateurs:

• The tree should be dense from conifers: spruce, pine.
• Incorrectly calculated foundation.
• Logs should be from 20 to 25 cm. Too thin will fit only for a rural "temporary house", will lead to heat loss.
• To preserve heat - in the decoration it is necessary to use moisture-resistant wood; alder, poplar or aspen can handle this.

Due attention should be given bricks for oven. First, it must be red refractory. Secondly, solid, you can not use hollow ones. An error is considered too large or small window. For a bath, it should be at least 50 * 50.

Which is better - to build it yourself or use the services of a company?

The construction of a bath brings with it a number of problems. This is a dilemma: build on your own or through a firm. Choosing self-construction, you need to be prepared for such processes as:

• Responsibility for quality.
• It takes a lot of time and effort.
• Building experience required.
• You can forget about the quick completion of construction.
• Hire assistants (shabashniki).
• Purchase, delivery - materials.
• Foundation calculation.

Of course, there are advantages to self-building. Namely:

• Freedom of choice.
• Phased construction.
• Better quality control.
• Money saving.

Advantages and disadvantages of the company:

• Hiring a company removes a number of problems with finding workers.
• The responsibility for quality lies with the company.
• Responsible for the development of the project and supervision of the construction process.
• Professionals will build.
• Rapid project completion. You can even order a project of a bath with a pool.

Of the minuses:

• additional financial costs.

It is obvious that hiring a company that can carry out turnkey construction is much more profitable than doing such a difficult job alone.

Cost Overview

Pivot table. Prices are for various materials along with work:

How to build a budget bath with your own hands: let's go through the basic steps

The first step is to decide on the materials and placement, area. And you will also have to face obstacles such as:

• calculation and laying the foundation,
• frame construction,
• finishing,
• decide on insulation
• vapor barrier,
• Consider installing equipment.

Foundation

1. To make the foundation strong and economical, a pile version is suitable for its device. It is much easier to make than tape.
2. The next step is markup. Do not forget about the partitions inside the room.
3. Then the location of the piles is marked. The distance between them should wash two meters. Piles must be located at the intersection of the walls and at each corner.
4. The wells should be 25–30 cm wide and 1–1.5 meters deep.
5. The well is half filled with sand, spilled with water, followed by tamping.
6. After that, you can start immersing asbestos pipes. Reinforcement is created around them and wooden frame for pouring concrete.
7. Leave this design to dry completely - for five days.

Caracas

1. You will need a well-dried timber.
2. Before installation, it should be treated with an anti-corrosion compound.
3. At intersections and corners - reinforced bars are installed (vertically).
4. Each such pillar should stand every meter apart, not forgetting to leave openings for windows.
5. The whole structure is combined with bars or boards, and fastened with the help of lintels from a bar.
6. In such unpretentious images, a frame with a roof is assembled.

Finishing - insulation

1. OSB boards are used in the decoration.
2. Sheets are screwed with wood screws.
3. Joint gaps are filled with mounting foam.
4. Inside, the decoration takes place according to the same principle with only one difference: insulation and vapor barrier are inserted before sewing.

Completion

After sheathing and insulation, you can proceed to the arrangement of furniture and additional equipment.

Important! Furniture should be made of moisture resistant wood. As a furnace, you can use purchased electric ones.

Results

Building on your own is a long, nervous and seasonal process. The fastest way to assemble a bath on the site is from foam concrete or a finished dried log house. If you work with four or more hands, then one season is enough to build the foundation, walls and roof. Well, the external and internal component of the cladding is a secondary issue.

The optimal combination according to the conditional characteristic "Price-quality" concerns:

1. Dry log buildings (medium diameter);
2. Red brick baths (subject to normal interior decoration). Fire resistant;
3. Premises from a bar 15 X 15, 20 X 20, preferably dry.

Advice! When planning a purchase, plan and time of year for construction, do not rush to calculate the area. A log house or masonry 4 by 4 meters is enough for the whole family, where even a washing room can fit.

For your information, barrel baths do not count, because this is a prefabricated structure, a kind of temporary option for several years.

The best video about building a bath with your own hands

Sergey Zhornachuk's material deservedly gained more than 200 thousand views, thousands of likes and approving comments. Well-mounted, informative, sensible video about the construction of a bath with his own hands.

Own bathhouse at the dacha or on the territory country house- the dream of many owners. The benefits of bath procedures are obvious - they strengthen the spirit, improve blood circulation, improve skin condition, and are an effective prevention of colds.

Today, the construction market offers a lot of building materials for the construction of a bath.

Peculiarities

All steam rooms for private use must comply with SNiP standards. Requirements for the rules for building personal plots are set out in SNiP 30-02-97, requirements for creating projects personal plot- in SNiP 11-106-97. You need to start building a bath with the familiarization of this documentation.

It is also important that the requirements for the construction of baths are more stringent than the standard standards for residential premises - this is due to the high fire hazard of bath buildings due to the presence of a stove in it.

When buying materials, you should focus not only on personal preferences and cost, but also on the compliance of the products offered with the conditions inside the steam room and in adjacent rooms.

The materials used for the construction of the facility must meet the following requirements:

• provide high rates of thermal insulation;
• have the necessary fire safety threshold;
• be environmentally friendly - do not emit toxic compounds during operation and heating;
• be resistant to moisture.

It is almost impossible to find a material that simultaneously meets all these requirements. However, special processing or the use of auxiliary materials allows you to achieve a balance. For example, wood is an environmentally friendly and warm material that is durable. To increase the moisture and fire resistance of wood, impregnation with fire retardants allows.

When planning the construction of a bath, it should be understood that even a small building needs preliminary design. Drawing up drawings and the availability of calculations guarantees a high-quality and reliable design, so it is better to start with the creation of a project.

Do not forget that the bath should be built at a distance of 10-15 m from residential buildings.

What material to choose?

When installing a bath, climate features, its size and number of storeys are taken into account. For example, if a bath with accommodation is supposed, for example, having a second floor or a used attic, then a solid foundation is required, the selection of certain materials for the construction of walls.

The walls of the structure are traditionally laid out of wood or brick. However, today the construction market offers new materials. Each of them has characteristic advantages and disadvantages, so the choice of one or another option should be approached responsibly.

A mandatory element of most baths is a heater. The only exceptions are steam rooms in the country, which are used only in the warm season, while it is desirable that they be built of wood.

Exterior decoration of baths allows you to increase the protection of the material of the walls, to give the structure an external appeal. It is recommended to choose a single finish for the house, bath and other buildings, which will create a single exterior.

Wood

wooden buildings It's kind of a classic. Depending on the type of wood used, the structure will have certain characteristics. Among the popular varieties, the breeds described below are distinguished.

Pine

This wood, thanks to the resin it releases, is protected from mold and pests. The material is moisture resistant, pleasant to look at, has a low cost. However, during the heating process, pine releases a resin that can burn you.

Linden

Aspen

At first glance, it seems that aspen is the optimal variety for organizing a steam room. It has such qualities as high density, which only increases over the years, moisture resistance, the ability to retain heat and a pleasant reddish tint. However, due to the increased density, the material is difficult to process, and also has a considerable cost. main feature- the release of substances that negatively affect a person when heated (the head starts to hurt).

Fir

Alder

Wood of a beautiful reddish hue does not shrink, does not emit toxic substances when heated. To prevent rotting of the material allows the use of special impregnations. Among the shortcomings, it is worth noting the ability of the material to darken after several years of operation, as well as the high cost.

The construction of a bath can also be carried out from a bar - rounded or profiled. The first type is considered environmentally friendly and attractive, and therefore the design does not need external and internal cladding. Thanks to the ability to connect the bars at different angles, it is possible to implement a variety of design solutions. Another advantage is high thermal insulation. You should know that the material shrinks, so it is important to follow the installation technology and give the building time to shrink the log house.

Profiled timber is solid and glued. Unlike the rounded analogue, it does not shrink. Thanks to special impregnations (flame retardants and antiseptics), it is possible to increase performance characteristics material.

The one-piece option is environmentally friendly, because it does not contain adhesive components, and glued laminated timber has greater strength and is not subject to cracking.

A wooden bath retains heat well, removes gases and toxins. Due to its low weight, it does not require additional reinforcement of the foundation. It is worth noting the environmental safety of wood - in the process of heating, it releases useful elements. The tree is able to absorb moisture, so the walls are “breathable”, moist air does not accumulate in the room, the steam in the bath is dry and light.

However, this ability negatively affects the state of the wood itself - it darkens, becomes damp and rots. To find the "golden mean" allows the use special impregnation. Another disadvantage of the material is its increased fire resistance. To increase the fire safety of wood, treatment with antipyrines allows. Finally, the shrinkage of the tree is about 13%, which is quite a lot, so a year and a half after construction, the bath will have to be caulked again.

For the construction of a bath, it is unacceptable to use birch, beech and maple.

The frame bath is considered budget option- this is due to the lower cost of the frame compared to brick and timber baths. However, it should be borne in mind that during the installation of frame baths, expenses for insulation and internal lining of the building will increase, while you will have to abandon the use of mineral wool and foam plastic heat-insulating materials and look for another material that would be moisture resistant and fireproof.

The advantage of frame baths is the high speed of installation (on average 2-3 weeks), which is partly due to the low weight of the material. This, by the way, allows you to abandon the additional strengthening of the base. Finally, such a bath can be collected at any time of the year, including at temperatures down to -15C.

The building material is environmentally friendly, “breathable”, and in terms of its thermal insulation characteristics, the frame structure is not inferior to analogues made of timber or brick.

Brick

The most important advantages of such material are the following positions:

• long period of service (the average period of operation is 15-20 years, but in practice this period is 2.5-3 times longer);
• external attractiveness and no need for external cladding;
• fire resistance - the material is not combustible;
• low coefficient of moisture absorption, which ensures the durability of the bath and the absence of mold and fungus on its walls.

However, the brick is characterized by considerable weight, therefore, under the steam room, it is necessary to make a strip base.

This determines the duration of the construction process - it is necessary to build concrete foundation and wait until he gains strength. Laying brick walls also takes a lot of time. In addition, the material is more expensive compared to a frame or block bath.

Brick walls do not "breathe", so ventilation gaps should be left during construction. It is better to warm the bath from the inside. When erecting a brick structure, it should be borne in mind that it will warm up for a rather long time - about 1-1.5 hours.

The most convenient for work is a red one and a half or gas silicate brick. The ceramic brick used has slotted holes, which significantly increases the thermal efficiency of the material. In addition, it is durable, attractive in appearance.

Solid brick has a large margin of safety, so it is recommended to use it for the construction of load-bearing walls and parts of the building that are subject to increased loads. silicate brick It has high thermal insulation performance, but at the same time it has a democratic cost. For cement mortar, cement is required, the grade strength of which is not less than M200.

For the construction of walls, red brick is usually used, for the steam room - refractory or ceramic. Refractory bricks are based on a clay mixture subjected to dry pressing. The result of this technology is a full-bodied brick with perfectly even shapes, a smooth surface and a high ability to absorb moisture. Only such a material is capable of removing gaseous wastes arising from the combustion process, and at the same time not being destroyed under the influence of high temperatures. The brand of such a brick must be at least M200.

Ceramic bricks are obtained by high-temperature firing of clay solutions. Thanks to this technology, hollow brick with high thermal insulation performance. A ceramic brick bath warms up faster than a full-bodied counterpart, which is achieved due to the presence of cavities in this material.

However, ceramic bricks quickly collapse under the influence of hot moisture, which implies high-quality steam and waterproofing of the bath.

For laying the sauna stove, fireclay bricks are used, which is the only material that can withstand exposure to open fire. Its basis is clay, to which quartz grains, graphite powder and other additives are added. Raw materials are fired at high temperatures, which reach 1500C.

For a sauna stove, fireclay bricks of the ShB-5 and ShB-8 brands are suitable, which can withstand temperatures up to 1400C. Fireclay bricks are laid on refractory clay or special mixtures. Ordinary cement mortar will not work - it will crack under the influence of heat.

Blocks

Blocks in the construction of baths are gaining more and more popularity, which is due to the ease of installation of such a design, high speed of construction and the availability of material.

When building a bath, gas or foam blocks are usually used, which are considered a type of cellular concrete. They are based on cement and quartz sand, as well as foam concentrates. The product has a regular rectangular shape and is characterized by increased strength. Strength can be achieved by processing in special autoclaves.

Among the advantages of the material are the following indicators:

• fire resistance;
• high strength;
• light weight - thanks to this, you can refuse to additionally strengthen the foundation;
• ease of use - if necessary, the material is easily cut into pieces with a hacksaw, holes can be made in it with a drill.

A clear disadvantage of the material is the hygroscopicity of the blocks. The special processing of the blocks, as well as the use of a hydro- and vapor barrier system, allows avoiding the absorption of moisture by the material.

The thermal conductivity of the material varies depending on its density: the lower the density, the lower the thermal conductivity, which means the warmer the bath. This is because low density blocks contain a small amount of air bubbles.

When heated, they expand and prevent heat from escaping to the outside - the effect of a "thermos" is obtained. The average coefficient of thermal conductivity of blocks is 0.072-0.141. When moisture gets inside the material, this indicator decreases.

Cement glue is used for mounting the blocks. The use of cement is unacceptable, since it contains water.

A more durable type of aerated concrete blocks are gas silicate counterparts. Their increased reliability is due to the presence of quartz sand in the composition.

The most affordable type of blocks are cinder blocks. They include cement mortars and wastes from coal and other industries (slags). This material is characterized by low moisture resistance, therefore it is not recommended for use in the construction of a bath. When wet, the material becomes brittle.

In addition, cinder blocks have low thermal insulation, so when building a steam room from cinder blocks, you need to take care of a reliable heat and waterproofing system.

Before use, the material should be kept outdoors for a year - this is necessary so that harmful fumes and toxins disappear from the blocks.

A better analogue of cinder blocks are almost hollow expanded clay concrete blocks. Due to the voids inside, the material has the lowest weight compared to other blocks, which speeds up the installation process and does not require strengthening the foundation.

The basis of the material is a cement mixture and expanded clay (fired fine-grained clay). It is characterized by environmental friendliness, low thermal conductivity (depending on the fraction of expanded clay - an average of 0.15-0.45) and low moisture absorption. This allows you to create an inexpensive and warm steam room from expanded clay blocks that will last for several decades. It is important to use M100-M150 grade materials for construction. Less durable blocks are only suitable for building cladding.

Expanded clay blocks are optimal for the construction of baths in the northern regions, since their frost resistance (and hence the duration of operation) is 2 times higher than that of foam blocks, and 5 times higher than that of gas blocks. As a heater, basalt fiber with a foil paper layer is recommended. When laying thermal insulation, it is important not to forget to leave 2-3 cm of air gap.

Another budget view blocks are ceramic blocks. It contains a cement mixture and ceramic powder, which allows us to talk about the environmental friendliness of the material. Like expanded clay counterparts, this material is characterized by low weight and durability. However, ceramic blocks have a high thermal conductivity, which forces them to install a thicker layer of thermal insulation.

For construction, blocks with a strength of at least M100 should be used.

Stone

The stone bath looks monumental and unusual. The material has many advantages: fire safety, low shrinkage, long service life. The stone is publicly available and has a low cost. The shrinkage of a stone bath is only 5%.

However, along with the positive qualities, the stone has many disadvantages, which is why it has received little distribution in the construction of baths.

The complexity of construction is one of them. Due to the irregular shapes of the stones, it is not easy to create a structure of the correct shape. The stone does not retain heat well, therefore it requires careful thermal insulation, as well as an increased consumption of raw materials for lighting the stove. In addition, the material has low gas permeability, so a powerful ventilation system to prevent stagnant air.

Since the stone is large in size, the thickness of the walls of the bath will be very large - on average it is 75 cm. For comparison: the thickness of the masonry is 51 cm, wooden walls- 15-20 cm. Big sizes and, accordingly, the weight of the material requires strengthening the foundation.

In addition, stone buildings do not "breathe", condensation forms on their walls. It is possible to level such a disadvantage only by organizing ventilation and a powerful vapor barrier system.

Despite the low cost of the material, building a stone bath will cost more than building a bath even from an expensive type of wood. This is due to the peculiarity of the installation of a stone steam room, a large number thermal insulation material, the complexity of processing and the large weight of the stone itself.

Other materials

For the construction of a bath, you can use other materials, for example, wood concrete blocks. Their basis (up to 90% of the composition) is wood waste, pre-crushed to the desired size. They are filled with a mixture of cement with the addition liquid glass or calcium chloride. The latter prevent the destruction of wood under the influence of resin acids, and also accelerate the hardening of concrete.

The material has the following features:

• low thermal conductivity;
• environmental Safety;
• high hygroscopicity, which necessitates the use of high-quality waterproofing;
• low cost.

In addition, other points can be noted:

• Higher heat capacity of the material compared to the heat capacity of air, which means the ability to create a favorable microclimate in the bath. First, the air in the room warms up, and then the walls. In a brick bath, everything will be the other way around.
• The low strength of the material, which means the inability to withstand heavy loads. It does wood concrete blocks suitable only for low-rise construction.
• The need for external cladding of the building from wood concrete. For these purposes, it is better to use lining (the most affordable option, in terms of price), brick or wood impregnated with water-repellent mixtures.

In addition to choosing and buying materials for the walls of the bath, difficulties may arise when choosing materials for the foundation and insulation.

Below are the types of foundations that can be used in the construction of baths.

Tape

It is a "ribbon" of concrete, which is located around the perimeter of the building. Thereby strip foundation is considered not only the most durable and reliable, but also the most expensive.

Such a foundation is required for brick and stone baths, as well as high-rise buildings (more than one floor, baths with attics).

Columnar

It has concrete foundations, columns located at equal intervals from each other. The columns are connected with wooden profiles, on which the walls are then laid. The advantage of the base is the ease of installation, as well as the ability to put them on uneven areas. Suitable for small wooden baths on one floor. This type of foundation is recommended for wooden baths, as it allows for additional ventilation of the room, which is important in conditions of high humidity.

pile

This type is somewhat similar to the columnar version, but instead of concrete columns, piles screwed into the ground are used. The advantage of the method is the ability to build even with frozen ground, that is, in winter. For baths of a large area or number of storeys, after the installation of piles, concrete pouring is performed, and in some cases, welding of piles around the perimeter is performed.

slab

This type of foundation is suitable for moving soils, including in proximity ground water. More simple option is the use of ready-made plates. If you need to save money, then they resort to reinforcing the base, after which it is poured with concrete.

Having considered the features of the materials usually used for the construction of a bath, you can decide on the choice of a specific option.

The highest quality is considered a wooden bath made of spruce and pine. Ideally, if it is produced in the northern regions - such material is characterized by increased strength and moisture resistance. This option will allow you to maintain the necessary microclimate in the steam room, give you a pleasant feeling. Warming up, the wood fills the air with a forest aroma, which has a beneficial effect on the human condition. In addition, wooden baths are attractive and durable.

If you choose thermally modified wood, it will not absorb moisture and swell, which means it will last longer. This material is recommended to sheathe at least "wet" places of the bath. In addition, thermally modified wood has a lower thermal conductivity than conventional woods. If funds allow, then you can sheathe the bath with a thermally modified clapboard - this will make the structure warmer and save on insulation.

Wood for wooden baths should be harvested in winter, because at this time of the year it has a high density, and hence moisture resistance.

If logs are used, then their diameter should be 18-25 cm. If the diameter of the logs is larger, then this will contribute to greater heat loss. Logs of the same batch must be identical - the maximum allowable difference between individual logs must be no more than 3 cm, otherwise they will not fit snugly against each other in the log house.

For the lower crowns of the structure, larch is suitable, as a more moisture-resistant material that is not afraid of mechanical stress and frost, the rest of the crowns are made of pine or spruce. Special processing or the use of thermal wood allows avoiding the release of resin by coniferous species. Another option is not to use conifers for the interior of the steam room. For these purposes, cedar (an expensive option), alder, poplar and linden are well suited - these tree varieties are distinguished by increased moisture resistance and the ability to retain heat.

High-quality logs do not have dark spots on the cut, the cut itself is hard, and the core occupies a third of the cut of the log and is distinguished by a uniform dark color. The surface of the logs has a dark or light yellow color, without knots, cracks and resin pockets. Similar requirements apply to the beam.

During construction, you should choose a profiled timber that has better processing - this is a material that has undergone chamber drying. If funds allow, then you can choose glued laminated timber. In addition to being more aesthetic appearance, it shrinks less, does not “turn out” during operation. However, the glued version is not suitable for those who are looking for an environmentally friendly material, as well as for people with allergies, chronic diseases upper respiratory tract.

The cheapest type of timber is considered to be an unplaned option. The decrease in cost is due to the fact that it is not dried in special chambers, but in the fresh air. However, the low cost of the material does not always mean the cost-effectiveness of the construction process. When using unplaned timber, high-quality thermal insulation, exterior and interior finishes are required. In addition, the material shrinks, so after erecting the base of the bath, it is recommended to wait a year before proceeding with further construction.

Before use, the wood must be treated with an impregnation that increases its waterproofing ability, fire and bioresistance. A similar treatment is recommended to be repeated every two years during operation.

If you need a structure cheaper, then you should pay attention to expanded clay concrete. It will be possible to build a structure quickly due to the convenient block sizes. Moreover, it can be of any size: 2 or even 3 floors. The material has low thermal conductivity and durability.

In an effort to build a budget steam room, you do not need to choose the cheapest materials - foam and cinder blocks or aspen. Such a bath will last only about 10-12 years, and during operation it will cause a lot of trouble.

If we analyze the cost of the material, then the tree is considered the most expensive for the construction of a steam room. If you make calculations in cubes, then it is 2 times more expensive than bricks and blocks. However, when analyzing the total cost of construction, the use of wood is cheaper. This is due to the lack of large expenditures on the foundation (some types of baths, for example, an assembled barrel bath, do not require the usual foundation), thermal insulation, exterior and interior decoration.

Dear wooden material for the construction of a bath is a log, a bar has a slightly lower cost (the cost varies depending on the type). It is followed in price by a carriage, which is a log hewn from opposite sides (especially popular in the Scandinavian countries), and a double beam (represents two boards with grooves - a heater, usually mineral wool, is enclosed between them).

It is important to choose the right insulation. Some baths require better thermal insulation, while other options involve only interventional insulation. However, regardless of the material used, any bath requires insulation of the ceiling - this is due to the fact that warm air always tends to the top.

To insulate the ceiling in a bathhouse where an attic is not expected to be used, bulk heaters (expanded clay, sawdust) can be used, or a clay ceiling is made. When organizing an attic, it is recommended to use tile materials or organize an attic floor screed with the addition of components that provide thermal insulation to the concrete composition for the screed. Ready mixes can be found in stores. For baths with an attic, insulation of the roof slopes with mineral wool or foam materials is required.

Wall insulation is required by all baths, with the exception of log ones. This is especially true for block and brick steam rooms. Frame buildings assume the presence of a "regular" heat-insulating material inside the frame. However, if you plan to heat the bath in the winter and at the same time live in a rather harsh climate, then it makes sense to take care of additional insulation walls.

The most fire-resistant insulators are mineral and basalt wool. Such material is able to withstand heating up to 800 C, which is due to the peculiarities of the production of materials - rocks are heated up to 1500 C.

If year-round use of the bath is expected, then thermal insulation of the floor will also be required. The choice of material depends on the type of foundation and the features of laying the floor. For screw baths, a draft and finishing floor is required, between which a layer of mineral wool, extruded polystyrene foam or foam is laid.

Expanded clay is suitable for a pile foundation. It is important that it be of different sizes: a larger one will retain heat, a smaller one will fill the space between the expanded clay balls. Since expanded clay is hygroscopic, and when wet it loses its heat-insulating properties, it is important to carry out high-quality hydro and vapor barrier.

To create a comfortable atmosphere in the steam room and protect the walls from exposure to high temperatures allows internal insulation. By protecting the walls with a layer of insulation and waterproofing, the owner protects them from moisture and thereby prolongs the life of the bath. For greater thermal efficiency of the steam zone, when finishing it, it makes sense to use a double layer of insulation. The area around the furnace - walls and floor - is additionally insulated with protective screens. If it's about wooden building, then a refractory layer is needed, made of asbestos sheet coated with iron.

The minimum thickness of insulation for brick baths, operated and in winter time must be at least 10 cm.

When choosing a heater and floor covering it is important to purchase an option that does not emit harmful components when heated. From this point of view, the use of linoleum is unacceptable.

It is not recommended to use in the steam room area. mineral wool, which is due to the release of phenol-formaldehyde resins from it, which are the binding component of the insulation, when heated. Ecowool is also unsuitable for use in a steam room, as it has a high hygroscopicity. In the steam room area, the use of foil polyurethane foam, as well as expanded polystyrene and polystyrene, which emit toxic substances when heated above 60 ° C, is not recommended. However, they can be mounted in the area of ​​​​the washing and dressing room - that is, where the temperature does not reach the specified indicators.

From the point of view of environmental friendliness, the use of basalt wool is preferable. The disadvantage of the material is the tendency to shrink, which means the thinning of the insulation layer during operation.

Foamed glass is used on walls that can withstand heavy loads, such as brick walls. It is the optimal insulation for a bath - it retains heat, does not burn, does not shrink, is bio-resistant and environmentally friendly. The only disadvantage is the high cost and the need to strictly observe the installation technology.

External thermal insulation is usually combined with decorative cladding, choosing suitable materials for this. Brick and block baths do not need external insulation if they are supposed to be used seasonally.

Log baths are always insulated from the outside. Natural or synthetic insulating materials can be used for this. The most common natural insulation is jute, as well as linen, their combined variants and moss. Their main advantage is absolute environmental friendliness, and the disadvantage is the laboriousness of the insulation process.

Synthetic heaters are represented by heat-insulating tapes and combined materials.

Separately, it is necessary to highlight the insulation based on sheep wool, which is considered the best option for a bath from profiled timber. The material is practical, since it performs the functions of not only a heater, but also a moisture and windproof material. It is important that in the process of using the bath, the material does not become thinner. Among the shortcomings, it is worth noting the high price, as well as the risk of moths appearing in the heater.

The most common for creating a door in the bath received wooden models. The use of the paneled version should be immediately abandoned - it warps under the influence of moisture. Best Option- Solid wood door.

It consists of boards or glued panels up to 5 cm thick. A cheaper option is a frame structure - a frame made of bars, lined with clapboard on both sides. If necessary, insulation can be laid between the frame and the lining. Best variety wood in this case - linden.

Building a bath involves investing time, effort and, of course, money into this business. But not everyone can afford to purchase a “turnkey bath” - it is quite expensive. Therefore, many people prefer to build this useful structure on their site on their own. And here a reasonable question arises before everyone: “What material to choose for the construction of your future bath?” For its construction, you can use the most different materials: brick, adobe, wood and different kinds modern blocks. The easiest and most affordable option for many will be the construction of a bath from a bar or log.

If a log is sawn or trimmed from two or four sides, a beam is obtained, the thickness of which, as a rule, starts from 100 mm. The cross section of the beam is a rectangle or square with an aspect ratio not exceeding 1:2.

A log, also called round timber, is obtained by cleaning cut trees from knots, bark and branches, sawing it to the required length across the trunk.

The comparison below of these two materials will help you make a choice - from which it is better to build a bath - from a bar or a log:

• The core of solid logs is protected from the weather by the skin of a wooden trunk, but the beam does not have such protection.
• Possible annual shrinkage for a log cabin is 10-12 cm, and for a log cabin - 6-10 cm.
• According to the manufacturing technology, a log house from a bar is much simpler than a log house from logs.
• It is better not to order a ready-made log house from a log, since some of the log beams can “lead” during shrinkage, i.e. they will serve as a "propeller", making the assembly of such a log house impossible without replacing unusable bars. Logs are less susceptible to hygroscopicity, therefore, a finished log cabin can be bought without any fear. Only when buying, be sure to pay attention to the presence of numbering on all crowns, otherwise, when disassembling and transporting a log house, work on its construction will become seriously complicated.
• The shrinkage process gives logs cracking, mainly vertically, although cracks can also appear on them from the sides, but in a small amount. In a beam, the direction of cracks is chaotic and unpredictable.

But, nevertheless, it is the bar, according to numerous reviews of the happy owners of the baths, that is the ideal material for the construction of this structure (see We build a bath from a bar with our own hands). It is technologically advanced, it is easily sheathed with clapboard (along the logs) from the side of the steam room, it is easy to fix elements of external insulation on it, such as a ventilated facade. But, the most important thing, probably, is that today the market offers already dried timber, therefore, finishing the log house of such a bath can be started immediately.

Judging by the reviews, in the construction of baths, pine timber is often used, finished on the inside with boards or clapboard made of spruce or hardwood, with the arrangement of a mandatory air gap between the walls and the finish in order to ensure ventilation.

In general, in the construction of a bath, wood of various types of wood can be used. For example, oak logs are perfect for foundation pillars, floor logs, lower crown bath house. And for the third and fourth crowns, larch or pine will be good. top crowns, and inner lining the walls and ceiling of the bath are good to make from linden or spruce.

What blocks are best to build a bath?

At present, more and more often began to build baths from a variety of blocks: expanded clay concrete, foam concrete, gas silicate. This building material has many significant advantages:

• High strength and density.
• Excellent resistance to temperature changes.
• Ability to withstand a large number of defrosting-freezing cycles.
• High moisture resistance.
• Shrinkage in the structure of the blocks is either absent or very small.

What material is better to choose for the construction of a bath: foam blocks or gas blocks?

Foam concrete blocks made from cement, screened sand and foam concentrates are used in the construction of load-bearing walls and partitions. They are laid on a cement mortar or special glue. For the construction of a bath, foam blocks of the M25 brand with a size of 200x300x600 and a density of D700 are perfect. (see. Foam block bath - Photo)

The use of such blocks has a number of advantages:

• The cost of the block is low.
• The light weight of the block makes it easy and quick to carry out construction, since neither an additional number of workers nor the presence of special equipment is required.
• The dimensions of the blocks allow for faster construction of buildings, reducing construction time.
• The blocks have increased wear resistance and excellent thermal insulation properties.

Gas blocks are made from sand, a foaming agent and a binder of silicate material. Lay them on a special glue. But bearing walls it is not recommended to build from such blocks. Only partitions can be built from aerated concrete blocks (see Aerated concrete bath project).

When building a bath from foam blocks or gas blocks, you must follow a few simple rules:

To give additional strength to the masonry and prevent cracking over time, the walls are erected with a metal mesh every two layers of stacked blocks.

For a steam room, where the humidity is high, it is necessary to perform vapor and waterproofing, as well as external insulation.

Facing work can begin only after applying plaster to the erected walls, both inside and outside the building. The facade can be painted, and ceramic tiles can be laid in the washing department.

Brick bath

For the walls of the bath, it is also possible to use stone or brick. Such baths will last much longer than wooden ones (see How to build a brick bath with your own hands). But the brick here needs lighter varieties that have voids inside. There is one more nuance that you must know: the high thermal conductivity of a brick does not allow it to retain heat well, and therefore stone or brick walls after erection, they will require mandatory wood cladding from the inside.

The bathhouse built on the site will be an excellent place for rest and relaxation after hard working days, giving new strength, relieving accumulated stress, returning an optimistic view of the world and a good mood.