Steam Room (126 Photos): How To Make A Steam Room In A Bath With Your Own Hands, Sizes And Step-by-step Instructions

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 05:33

A spacious bath is a good addition to any site. In it you can not only wash, but also have a good rest in the company of friends. And the steam room is the main part in such a room. Many owners want to build a bathhouse with their own hands, so they try to consider all aspects of such construction. It should be noted that this is not difficult to do, because only the oven and shelves need to be installed.

Device: features

The most important room in any bath, be it a Russian steam room or a Finnish sauna, is the steam room. The quality of the procedures in the steam room will depend on her. Despite the fact that it is very important, it is not so difficult to build it, because it consists of a small number of elements. The most important thing is that the arrangement of the room is convenient and suitable for a good rest.

First of all, it is worth determining the number of shelves and racks with the calculation of how many people are planning to visit the bathhouse. They should be made of a material that does not fill the air with resins when exposed to high temperatures. The best option would be aspen, which has a low price and many positive characteristics.

It is also necessary to install a stove in the bath, which is the most important element in the steam room . After all, it provides the required temperature in the building, fully warming it up. Currently, the steam room allows you to install any stove. It can be made of brick, stone, metal, even electric models are used.

Do not forget about the washing room. It can be combined with a steam room, and the veranda can be used as a dressing room. However, this option is not very convenient. After all, then it will be necessary to suspend the process of using steam during the adoption of water procedures. To prevent this from happening, you can install a shower stall.

The decoration inside the steam room must be made of wood, as it is environmentally friendly and also aesthetically beautiful.

Project

To avoid problems with construction, you need to make a project and plan for a steam room for a bath. It would seem that nothing is easier, but still it will take a lot of time and effort. If a mini-bath or sauna is being designed, then certain zones should be included here: a dressing room, a washing room and a steam room.

The dressing room can also serve as a rest room . A separate room should be a washing room, where both a pool and a shower cabin can be located. And a steam room must be a separate room, the project of which must begin with the installation of a stove, which is the main part of the steam room.

During construction, it is necessary to choose the dimensions of the stove corresponding to the proportions of the steam room, that is, the volume of the entire room. It is also necessary to take into account the ratio of its power to the size of the entire room. For this, the following proportions are used: one kilowatt of thermal energy should be used per cubic meter in a steam room.

The number of people in the steam room is also important. According to unwritten standards, one person needs approximately 0.70 meters of area. You also need to take into account the height of the tallest family member by adding twenty centimeters to it. When calculating the project, do not forget that warming the steam room will take a couple of centimeters of space, and if you make the room too high, then the heat will be wasted.

The optimal height of the steam room is two meters and twenty centimeters.

The steam room can be built without windows, but in this case it is necessary to take care of artificial lighting. And if, nevertheless, there is a window, it should be deaf and have a minimum size of about fifty to fifty centimeters, so as not to let heat out into the street.

In this case, it is worth considering the quality of the double-glazed windows . They must be heat and sound insulated. Do not forget about the ventilation system. After all, if it is not there, the tree will quickly deteriorate, and mold will also form, which will have a bad effect on the health of any person. For additional insulation, you can use blocks, lining and other wall cladding options.

How to choose and where to put the oven?

The answer to this question is very complex. After all, in order to decide which stove to choose, you need to consider all its types, which have pros and cons.

Metal oven

It has a small size, a high degree of power, and the ability to heat the entire room. Such an oven heats up very quickly and cools down just as quickly. Touching it can cause burns. Therefore, when choosing such a stove, it is imperative to build a fence in order to avoid accidents.

Brick oven

Having chosen such a heating device, you need to know that a foundation is required for its installation. The dimensions of the stove can be selected based on the characteristics of the steam room and its dimensions. Installation of a brick stove is good in that, unlike metal stoves, brick products heat up slowly and do not cool down very quickly. After installing such a stove, the air in the steam room will be light and dry, moreover, touching it, it is practically impossible to get burned. Therefore, it can be installed closer to the shelves to keep it warm for a long time.

Electric ovens

For lovers of modern technology, electric ovens are suitable. They do not need to be melted with wood. However, they also have many disadvantages. Electric ovens are able to heat only a small room, cool down quickly, and also have a high price. In addition, the slightest insulation faults can lead to a short circuit. Therefore, when installing such ovens, you need to carefully check all the wiring.

Of soapstone

Soapstone has become popular in the modern world and is actively used for the construction of furnaces, as it is highly durable. He also has the ability to warm up the room gradually and evenly. The stone itself is expensive, however it is very economical in terms of fuel consumption. After heating the stove for just one hour, you can enjoy the heat all day. Plus, such a material has healing properties, while steaming in such a bath, you can not only get pleasure, but also improve your health.

Having familiarized yourself with the types of furnaces, as well as having made a choice, you can proceed with their installation. The basis for this should be flat. If it is an electric furnace or a metal furnace, you need to make a concrete base under them.

You can place the product either at the door or in the corner of the steam room, saving space . In addition, it is this space that will be the safest place.

If this is a brick oven, you need to lay the foundation.

Further, a large sheet of metal is fixed in the opening on the ceiling. This is necessary to make an outlet for one of the most important elements - the chimney. A hole must be made in the metal for the pipe in advance. A water tank is installed on the stove. And through a specially made opening, a pipe is brought up, insulated with any non-combustible materials.

After installing the stove, it is necessary to conduct a test fire to see if everything is done correctly. And only then can you invite your household or friends to the steam room.

Materials (edit)

Materials for building a steam room can be different, for example, brick, foam block, stone. But one of the best will of course be a tree. The most common types of wood used in the construction of baths and saunas are aspen, linden or birch, because they do not emit tar. However, pine is often used for exterior walls.

Usually, rounded bars are used for the steam room . But the most convenient and affordable is a profiled beam, which is resistant to various deformations.

In order to build a steam room, you need to stock up on the necessary materials that will be needed in the process of work, and also make the correct calculation.

The list of essentials includes:

• construction timber measuring 15 by 15 centimeters;
• timber for the construction of partitions measuring 15 by 10 centimeters;
• concrete solution;
• the necessary reinforcement to install the foundation;

• boards of the second grade intended for formwork;
• sand and clay, if the stove is made of bricks;
• refractory bricks for the base of the furnace;
• crushed stone;
• materials for waterproofing;

• stones for heating;
• insulation (it can be tow, and jute, as well as foil for vapor barrier, or mineral wool);
• lining with 12 millimeters for wall cladding;
• lining with fifty millimeters for ceilings;
• tile, if needed;

• slate, as well as galvanized;
• antiseptics;
• lamps or lighting strips;
• switches of different formats.

Tools and accessories

It is also necessary to make a list of the necessary tools so that everything is at hand.

Starting to build a steam room, you must have the following accessories in stock:

• shovels or a small excavator;
• saw or electric or gasoline;
• axe;
• concrete drill;

• cable of the required length;
• hammer or screwdriver;
• nails or screws;
• construction stapler;
• level.

Installation and insulation

Even if the steam room is made entirely of wood, it must be insulated. Thermal insulation will save money and create a favorable environment for procedures. If the process of insulation and installation will be done by hand, then you will need step-by-step instructions.

The insulation process is done from top to bottom, so the ceiling, walls are processed first, and only then the floor.

Ceiling: proper ventilation

If the steam room is wooden, then its ceiling is made along the ceiling structure of the beams. On top of them, a waterproofing film is laid, having a thickness of two millimeters. Its strips should overlap, attached to each other with self-adhesive tape, and to the beams - with staples - using a construction stapler.

On top of the waterproofing tape, sheets of moisture-resistant plywood are laid that are joined along the beams. Next - boards forty millimeters thick, which must be joined very precisely. The next stage of insulation takes place inside the steam room. To do this, between the beams, you need to lay the insulation in such an order that it is tight with the ceiling elements. This makes it impossible for the cold to get inside.

The next step is to put a vapor barrier. Everything is done in the same way as in the case of waterproofing. And only after that the surface of the ceiling is formed.

Also, do not forget about the ventilation system, which is absolutely necessary. After all, a person who takes a steam bath breathes hot steam, inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide. And there is no ventilation, there will be no fresh air, and there will be a lack of oxygen. In such a steam room, a person can simply begin to suffocate.

Therefore, the ventilation system plays an important role in the construction of a steam room . She not only delivers fresh air to the room, but also dries it out. For air circulation, two types of openings are needed: exhaust and supply. In order for the air to enter the steam room, inlet openings are needed, installed closer to the floor, moreover, located near the stove.

Exhaust pipes are made closer to the ceiling so that carbon monoxide and humidified hot air can escape through them.

Pie walls

After that, the walls are insulated or the so-called "pie" in the steam room, consisting of several elements. This is a wall upholstered with wooden beams, a heat insulator located between them, a vapor barrier, as well as a crate constructed from slats.

The wall insulation algorithm is as follows:

• The first step is to attach the bars to the wall.
• Later, it is necessary to lay a heat insulator here, with a thickness equal to the width of the bars.
• After that, a layer of vapor barrier is placed, which in most cases is foil.
• Then the lathing of 50x50 mm slats is attached. Finishing at this stage can be done both vertically and horizontally.

• The slats are exposed in one plane and fastened with self-tapping screws.
• Then the fishing line is stretched in three rows and vertical slats are attached every meter exactly along the indicated fishing lines.
• After the end of the lathing, a foil insulation is placed.
• After that, the entire wall is closed with a vapor barrier. The gap between the ceiling and walls must be sealed with self-adhesive foil tape.

Floor

In order to deal with the thermal insulation of the floor, you need to determine in advance what it will be: wood, ceramic or concrete.

For a wooden floor, the base of the steam room in the bath is made of logs, which are first installed between the foundation in the same plane. At the bottom, along their edges, rails of 40 by 40 millimeters are nailed. Boards are placed on top of them, and then they are covered with a vapor barrier film and only, after all this, the entire floor is covered with waterproofing in two layers. The floor of the boards fits very tightly on it.

To insulate a concrete floor, a completely different technology is needed . First, the soil is leveled, for which sand, crushed stone and gravel are poured in turn. And then the whole thing is rammed tightly. The next step will be to lay the frame from a metal mesh, and only then a layer of waterproofing film is applied.

Do not forget about ventilation in the steam room, which requires special care. After all, ventilation helps not to collect moisture, and also prevents fresh air from entering the steam room. For this, special channels are made near the stove, above the floor level, in the wall - closer to the ceiling, as well as in the ceiling itself. To regulate them, special valves are made.

Installation of windows and doors

Doors and windows in the steam room require a special approach. After all, heat can leak through them. Therefore, this issue must be considered in great detail.

Doors

The door to the steam room needs to be made small, and the threshold high - up to thirty centimeters. At the same time, it should be easy to close and always open inward. However, locks cannot be made for the reasons that a person may become ill, and in such a state he will not be able to open them.

Doors can be either wooden or glass, but many prefer the former. Because they are easy to insulate. But glass doors visually expand the space in the steam room. But they cannot withstand temperature changes. Therefore, they must be trimmed with foil or other insulation or hidden under a lining that is resistant to moisture.

Window

The windows in the steam room can be omitted at all. After all, window openings cannot be made large, and therefore there will be practically no lighting from them. In addition, they are not needed for ventilation, since special systems already exist for it. But if they do, then only small and deaf. At the same time, they need to be glazed with good double-glazed windows.

Finishing and arrangement

The most traditional finishing material for a steam room is wood. It does not get very hot, and also, thanks to its qualities, makes a visit to the bathhouse pleasant and comfortable. The lining inside the steam room is made of lining. As a material, durable wood species that do not emit resins are selected. Before starting work, the wood must be treated with a special oil impregnation to reduce its hygroscopicity.

The decoration of the steam room is directly related to a high-quality ventilation system, and also provides for a drain for water. This prevents excess moisture from accumulating in the steam room.

You should also insulate the ceiling, walls and floor in the steam room . And only after that you can start facing them. The walls can be finished with wall tiles that imitate stone or brick. A high-quality board is suitable for the floor, the material for which will be larch, which is considered very useful for human health.

However, many people make it from ceramic tiles. She is chosen because she washes well and is not subject to mold.

However, the tile is a very cold material, so special wooden gratings are laid on top of it, which can be removed and dried after the procedures.

Setting up a steam room should be as simple as possible . This small room should be based on an oven. One of the best materials for its construction is stone or brick, which can be used at the same time. After all, a brick accumulates heat well, and a stone makes it possible to make the necessary steam.

Also in the steam room there are shelves in two or three tiers, located opposite the stove. Their installation takes place simultaneously with the installation of the walls.

The design of the furniture in the steam room is very simple and beautiful. It consists only of sun loungers, sometimes made in the form of wooden sofas and having comfortable backrests. A pair of stools and accessories can also complement the room. All furniture should be rounded to avoid sharp corners. Indeed, it is very slippery in the steam room, and hitting such a corner can injure yourself.

Since the windows in the steam room are small or not at all, it is necessary to make good artificial lighting. If it is installed correctly, then you can create an atmosphere in the steam room that will dispose the interlocutor to sincere conversations. The lighting should not be very bright, semi-darkness is preferred. Warm muted shades are suitable, which will only emphasize the calm atmosphere.

One lamp will be enough for this . However, it must be positioned so that it does not interfere with steaming, for example, over the door. Today the lamps can be installed so as not to disturb the surroundings of the steam room. These can be lamps made of a wooden lampshade, and structures built into the wall, and specially insulated tapes. Also, lamps are often placed under the sun loungers, which creates a cozy atmosphere and at the same time does not interfere with enjoying the procedure.

The main thing is that the wiring and the light bulb itself are isolated from water and steam entering them. To do this, it is necessary to place the lamp in a housing made of stainless steel.

The wires must be carefully insulated, and the switch must be taken to another room.

Recommendations

When equipping a steam room, you need to take into account the peculiarities of this space. The main point is the equipment of a full-fledged drain. Any steam room should have a high-quality drain through which water flows. It must be equipped in such a way that the water drains towards the main pipe. It is through it that the water leaves the steam room. Despite the fact that many such a system seems more suitable for showers or sinks, it can be safely used in steam rooms.

By planning a complete sewer system it's worth working on this process from the beginning. To do this, you need to lay the pipe at the stage when the foundation is being created. Ideally, it should be taken out into a pit located at least three meters from the bath. Often this very pit is additionally laid out with bricks or dense concrete rings. The bottom in this case is laid out with gravel. All this guarantees reliable protection against waste leakage.

Another equally important point is thermal insulation. A good steam room must be properly insulated, and there are many ways to make this idea a reality. This is also a high-quality foil coating, which, due to its subtlety, does not allow building too dense a finish, as well as mineral wool and other materials.

When choosing one type of insulation, it should be borne in mind that most of them react negatively to high levels of humidity. If so, then it is necessary to additionally waterproof the protective layer.

It is also important to take into account the availability of full and high-quality ventilation. This is a very important detail. If the ventilation is poor, then it is unlikely that you will be able to fully relax in the steam room. Instead of relaxing and resting, headaches and problems with the cardiovascular system may occur.

Hoods, according to professionals, should be located at the top . The fact is that when the air heats up, the temperature rises first of all at the top. Therefore, it is in this area that the ventilation holes and supply vents are located. They must also be supplemented with special exhaust grilles. It is these structures that are responsible for ensuring that cool air enters the room.

In some cases, the owners of the steam rooms prefer to do with the fact that during the procedures they periodically open the doors or vents. It is easy to guess that this is not enough, and you cannot do without a full-fledged ventilation system. Its installation must be taken responsibly, and, if possible, the structure should be placed closer to the stove so that the cold air coming from the street immediately warms up, because cold air is contraindicated in such conditions.

In conclusion, we can say that if a person can correctly make a steam room, that is, equip and insulate it, then he will be able to get maximum pleasure. And this will give you the opportunity to enjoy not only the work done, but also from visiting the steam room. The main thing is to avoid even minor oversights.