Installing a sauna in the apartment

Setting up a sauna in the apartment can be quite a promising idea. It is extremely important to know therefore how to make a sauna with their own hands in the bathroom. It is worth to additionally deal with the Finnish home steam room, with the installation of a mini-sauna and with other options.

So, to begin with, it is worth finding out whether the idea of setting up a sauna in an apartment with a steam room is justified, or whether it is not worth doing it. There are definitely advantages.

• Visiting the sauna in your home without going anywhere else will be a very good endeavor.
• Installation will be much cheaper and more profitable than at the cottage or other country site.
• The connection is far from as complicated as it may seem.

The downsides will be:

• The need to obtain permits from a number of organizations;
• the need to strengthen the home electrical wiring;
• mandatory equipment of ventilation;
• Taking away a part of the useful space in the dwelling.

There may be another important question - how legal will be the arrangement of a sauna in a city apartment in an apartment building. Theoretically it is quite possible. And the law looks equally at both self-made and purchased ready-made products. Not everywhere (not in every room) is allowed to have a miniature steam room, including they can not be in the kitchens and living rooms.

Establishment of saunas allowed only in brick and monolithic buildings with reinforced concrete ceilings. Their placement in a wooden apartment house is categorically unacceptable. According to the rules of fire protection, it is also not allowed to put wash rooms on the top floors of high-rise buildings to eliminate the risk of excessive energy consumption. An exception is made only for infrared cabins, which are allowed on any floor. There are also other requirements:

• The minimum size of two-bedroom apartments is 54 square meters;
• the size of three-room apartments must be at least 68 square meters;
• the steam room itself with the whole body can not occupy more than 2 "squares";
• If you choose the electric version, it is necessary to use a stove with a thermostat and a safety switch, as well as to provide for reinforced electrical wiring.

General permission for a home bath only gives Rospotrebnadzor. In addition, it will be necessary to obtain approval and other institutions:

• fire supervision authorities;
• power company;
• housing inspection.

It is to such variants for some reason is reduced to consideration of modern saunas in most cases. And just in the variant with the apartment, it is quite justified, in contrast to what is arranged in private houses and on country plots. The use of open fire in an apartment house is categorically unacceptable.

To organize a full-fledged Scandinavian bath with a steam room, an electric stove is good for the reason that it allows you to refuse from the equipment of the chimney. A side benefit is complete independence from the weather and draft. Adjustment of operating modes can be much more subtle than in a traditional fireplace. A powerful foundation will not be needed, and the heating is very fast. However, it is worth taking into account that you will need a powerful electrical wiring, and sometimes - increase the voltage to 380 V (which the energy regulator may not allow).

Such compact cabins are quite a relevant alternative to conventional electric fixtures. It has been found that these options contribute to an increase in immunity. A few sessions are enough to boost the metabolism. Similarly, all life on Earth has been warming the sun for hundreds of millions of years, so there is simply no risk.

In the infrared sauna the temperature does not exceed 45-50 degrees. It is well suited for the elderly and those for whom high temperatures cause discomfort. In favor of such designs also shows a significant saving of useful space. Operation and maintenance will be cheaper than in the case of traditional electric furnaces.

Such a device does not heat the head, and affects only the body. Medicinal plants will be delivered to the heated, steamed skin. Thanks to the phyto-bath you can get maximum results in a short period of time. Cedar bath occupies an area of only about 1.5 square meters.

Such mobile mini constructions are called more bath-baths-bags. For the most part they have a single format. Despite the apparent simplicity, the equipment is very comfortable and functional. Infrared heating elements are most often used as the basis. Using these products is not particularly difficult.

Such a traditional solution is more and more common in the apartment environment. With a skilful approach, you can guarantee the placement of the Finnish miniature sauna even on loggias and balconies. There are ready variants of such products on sale. In the cabin both wet and dry microclimate can be recreated. In the second version, the humidity is only 5-10%.

Built-in sauna of hammam type is also gaining popularity from year to year. Of course, about recreating the classic version - with the ducts under the floor and so on - is out of the question. But the absence of such built-in elements, including in a corner apartment, should not be upsetting. High-quality panels from various manufacturers support the microclimate no worse.

It is quite logical to allocate space for the home sauna in the bathroom. It is categorically forbidden to allocate for it the space of living rooms and the kitchen. These requirements are enshrined in law, and the deviation from them in any type of building is not allowed. The equipment in a studio apartment, sauna or bath is allowed in the closet, hallways, on the loggias or balconies, but in any case, while respecting safety standards and arrangement of communications. We should also not forget about the inadmissibility of placing such rooms in the basement and ground floors.

One of the possible variants of the sauna in the apartment is shown in the following drawing. Corner construction has faces with the following dimensions in cm:

• 144;
• 260;
• 207;
• 69,9;
• 177.

Installing with your own hands a small sauna at home is not particularly difficult. Using prefabricated panel blocks, you can install everything in a few hours. Of course, still have to get permission in advance, including confirming the validity of the redevelopment. If it is not registered in the prescribed manner, the housing authorities and electricity providers have the right to seek through the courts to return the structure of the dwelling to its original form.

And yet the main role is played, rather, technical subtleties. So, if you decide to put a steam generating device, then the quality of tap water is critical. Without filtration nozzles are unable to last long. Since it is important to have a stable pressure of the liquid in the pipes, if the head is weak you will have to use a special pump.

To arrange the sauna in the apartment, you can not forget about the design of the room. Mostly it is finished with coniferous wood from the inside. Along with pine and fir, Canadian cedar is popular. A more elite option is cladding with African oak. The choice of such species for the manufacture of saunas is quite predictable, because they do not cause burns and guarantee an optimal imitation of a conventional bath.

The appearance can also be varied through different designs. Modern manufacturers produce a variety of sets that differ in color and geometry. It is necessary to determine at once what will be the functionality of the finished mini-room. Even the most simple sauna can be supplemented with a shower. A more advanced version provides for the use of:

• thermometer;
• hygrometer;
• control panel (it is usually taken outdoors).

To properly install the sauna it is required to measure all the dimensions of the sauna in advance. If the package includes a steam room, you must first form the shower cabin, and only after that mount the sauna compartment. In some cases, a separate entrance is designed, although it is possible to enter the steam room through the washing area. Another important point is to maintain airtightness, which is achieved through the strict execution of elaborate drawings.

Even if it is decided to build a dry sauna in an apartment, it is necessary to carefully comply with electrical safety requirements. Every detail must be scrupulously grounded, including the body frame. The threads must not be damaged when screwing in the nuts. Since the power supply must be powerful, separate wiring must be laid in advance and connected via an automatic meter. Feed current lead to a thick cable, the cross section of which is chosen with a reserve.

When finishing home saunas very widely used imitation logs, better known as the block house. The main part of the assembly is erected by the frame technique. Walls, floors and ceilings are insulated with a combination of traditional and reflective thermal insulator. Such a solution will guarantee a minimum loss of time. Specialists consider roll-up heat protection with an outer foil layer, which is impermeable to steam, to be the optimal choice.

Due to the protection of the frame structure from the penetration of steam, the total service life increases. It is obligatory to treat all wooden parts with antiseptic components and fire retardants. Worth paying attention, however, and to the style of the room, not just the technical nuances. In most cases, preference is given to a classic design. It can be expressed in the arrangement of a glass door, easily joined to the tiled walls.

Classic design also implies the use of aesthetic battens, which are made of:

• juniper;
• cedar of Canadian or Siberian origin;
• alder wood;
• linden;
• abacha;
• Hemlock.

It is difficult to use other rocks for finishing due to their increased thermal conductivity. If the cabin is completed with a shower, it is not necessary to use classic transparent glass. Frosted or tinted materials are no worse in practice, while they are much more interesting in terms of design.

The center of the bath room in the apartment is predictably the heater. To select it, including the characteristics, must be approached very carefully. Modes of temperature and humidity are determined at your discretion. For small size steam room is equipped with a canopy, which includes 2 or 3 steps. If the space is slightly larger, it is possible to arrange a full-size growth bed.

The furnace should be fenced with a special railing placed on the posts. They provide an excellent level of safety and prevent burns. The necessary safety should also have lighting connections. Watertight light fixtures are considered a good option. In some cases, LED strips are used, but they must also be well protected. Sensors that monitor temperature and humidity levels are also recommended.

To make it as comfortable as possible, it is useful to apply:

• shower;
• a tray supplemented with a ladder;
• removable or transformable seats;
• original shelves and floors.

There are also a number of subtleties that should be considered. So, phyto and infrared booths are mainly finished with clapboard. The door is usually made of moisture-resistant glass. Also, the door can be made of glass. If you equip a hammam, then instead of marble most often used to decorate the floor mosaic or plain ceramic tiles, it is better if they will look in the oriental style.

Some people choose an avant-garde style in the mini-bath. In this case, it is recommended to create cabins of tempered glass, adjacent to the shower block. It is reasonable for the avant-garde to emphasize the most modern technical means. In such an environment, the usual bathing and spa treatments are especially enjoyable. Accentuate the ultra-modern mood with chrome inclusions and glass blocks, which also create unusual lighting effects.

Very interesting from the design point of view is a corner home sauna. It is perceived very well and does not take up much space. At the same time inside there is a maximum of useful space. In some cases, wood is also finished on the outside walls of the cabins, which increases their importance in the interior.

Moving on to the structural design, it is worth emphasizing that any home sauna is created according to the scheme "thermos". It is recommended to choose individually designed schemes, taking into account the peculiarities of a particular home. Exterior walls are assembled in the same way as the frame partitions. To accelerate heating and reduce heat loss, the ceiling is made no more than 2 m.

As insulation, mineral wool is usually used. Its thickness of 5 to 10 cm is quite enough for reliable protection. In order that the insulation did not dry out, a steam barrier is used. The film sheet is placed with overlaps, but without tension. After attaching the construction stapler at the joints adhesive tape.

Inside the apartment sauna is finished with clapboard or block house. The thickness of the coating should be from 1 to 1.2 cm. Heat-resistant varnish is used if desired. The external frame is clad with cladding. If it does not fit in the style of the room, gypsum board is used, which is optionally covered with ceramic tiles or other material.

Returning to thermal insulation, it is worth emphasizing that instead of roll materials it is better to use board products. They are much denser and do not roll. The only requirement - not allowed to use foam plastic or EPPS, which melt at 75 degrees.

The best vapor barrier is aluminum foil. Its thickness is only 50 microns, which requires very careful work. Much stronger is a film of two layers on the basis of kraft paper. In some cases, use specialized thermal insulation for saunas, which are mounted with the metal side inside.

The floor should also be insulated. In this case, mineral wool must not be used, so that the floor will not "wobble" and the tiles will not sag. Concrete and tile layer does not transmit heat, which allows the use of extruded polystyrene foam. Boards of ESPS are cut in advance according to the dimensions. In addition to gluing the joints will have to fill the gaps with installation foam, as well as fill the screed for the floor before installing ceramic tiles.

Waterproofing the floor when using ESPS is necessary - it itself will not let moisture through. All passages, so as not to slip and fall, decorate with wooden grates. To ensure good water drainage, siphon traps-receivers are installed. Both shelves and benches are made of hardwood. Among them, the best options are aspen and basswood.

Shelves are mainly decorated with a pair of tiers. At the level of 55 cm do the first level, and stepping back 40 cm above, make the second tier. If you use a glass door, you can do without the installation of lamps. In the presence of lighting, the booth can be equipped with a blind door made of wood. Exit width of less than 60 cm is categorically impractical.

A few more tips:

• The door should open from the outside;
• locks and latches are not allowed;
• There must not be any metal objects installed on the inside of the sauna;
• If the room is extremely small, a sliding or swinging door is used to save space;
• Ventilation ducts must be installed near the floor, ideally with a cross-section of 50-60 mm near the hearth;
• The exhaust ventilation duct must have a cross-section of at least 9 cm;
• an electric fan which starts automatically is useful.

• A home sauna, separated from the rest of the room by a box, looks quite good. Inside is everything you need for comfortable hygienic procedures.

• It is worth looking at such a variant of arrangement of the room. Covering the walls and floor with light wood is visually diluted by the dark area, in which the stove was placed.

• And here is how a cozy sauna, complemented by a shower cabin looks like.

About how to make a sauna in the apartment with your own hands, see the following video.