Since ancient times, the bathhouse was just a bathhouse - they steamed, washed and occasionally rested in it. Today, more and more summer residents are choosing a project in which the construction of a steam room combines two functions: a bathhouse and a living area. And for this purpose, a second floor is often built, on which rooms for rest and sleep are located, devoting the first floor only to a steam room and a washing room. A terrace, gazebos and extensions are also used. The result is just one structure that has several purposes at once. It is cheaper and faster to erect such a structure than several one-story buildings on one site. In addition, a two-story bathhouse is perfect for temporary accommodation of guests, as well as for arranging a personal workshop, which is separated from the house.
The design of a two-story wooden bathhouse may include a second floor as an additional place for relaxation.
{advertisement1}
The projects are presented in a gallery at the end of the article - GO TO PROJECTS .
Projects for two-story baths, and even with extensions, are much more complex. But it’s not difficult to build a steam room on them yourself. The main thing is to choose the most successful design for a two-story bathhouse, which will take into account all the features of the area, all the wishes of the household and will guarantee ease and low cost of maintenance. On our website you can find many options for designing a two-story bathhouse. But first, it is important to understand some points for yourself.
Advantages of a two-story bathhouse
Why do many owners of a certain number of acres of land prefer two-story baths? Of course, first of all we are talking about the compactness of such a solution and saving space on the site.
Other benefits include the following:
- Availability of additional space on the second floor. It can be used in different ways - some arrange a recreation area here, others - a guest room and sleeping areas, and others - a warehouse for things that are not needed at hand every day. A billiard room is also possible - it all depends on the owner’s requests;
- By heating the bathhouse, the second floor also warms up, which can significantly reduce costs;
- Stylish appearance of the building.
Types of stairs
In a two-story building, of course, you cannot do without a convenient staircase, which will allow you to quickly and easily move between floors.
There are two options:
- an external staircase is only suitable for seasonal use of the bathhouse, since movement along it can become difficult and unsafe when wet, icy, etc.;
- The internal staircase is the best option for year-round operation of the building, since it is located indoors and is not exposed to adverse weather conditions.
What to consider when choosing a two-story bathhouse project
When deciding on a bathhouse project, it is necessary to take into account the following nuances:
- Relief features and soil type;
- The location of buildings already present on the site and their number;
- The functionality of each of the planned premises;
- The number of people who will use the sauna.
The most popular design is a two-story bathhouse measuring 6x8 - it fully meets all requirements.
Luxury option for a two-story bathhouse
If you have a room of sufficient size, you can equip a whole bathhouse complex, ready to receive a cheerful company of guests, combine a classic and Finnish bathhouse, a shower room, a small swimming pool - it all depends on the requirements of the homeowner and the thickness of his wallet.
As an example, we can give a structure that will successfully combine:
- Recreation room (second floor);
- Locker room;
- Terrace;
- Steam room and shower.
Also on the second floor, some owners equip several bedrooms, upholstered furniture, a home theater and a bar are installed in the hall.
Video description
Food for thought about the correct layout of the bathhouse in the video:
A mandatory attribute of the bathhouse is a high threshold in front of the entrance - about 15 cm above the floor level. The ceiling should not be made too high, this will increase the heating time; it should be no more than 2 m. You can calculate the required size of the bathhouse based on the number of family members visiting the bathhouse at the same time. For one person, it is recommended to measure at least 1.3 m2 of dressing area, 1 m2 in the steam room and about 2-2.5 m2 in the washing department.
Year-round and seasonal baths will differ in size. If you plan to use it in winter, you will have to insulate the walls, floor, and build in heating, so the size will be larger.
Materials for making a two-story bathhouse
Such structures are created from a wide variety of building materials - it all depends on the chosen construction technology and the budget allocated for this purpose.
Most lovers of “Light Steam” choose wood, although there are bathhouses made of foam concrete or brick.
Such materials are environmentally friendly, have excellent thermal insulation characteristics and durability, and therefore are quite comparable to wood in some properties. Alas, they still cannot be called similar.
Two-story bathhouse made of timber
Most often on modern garden plots you can find two-story bathhouses made of timber.
The popularity of the material is due to such factors as:
- Ease of processing. The construction of timber structures does not require additional skills;
- High level of thermal insulation;
- Possibility of long-term operation;
- Aesthetic appeal and compatibility with various finishing materials;
- Reasonable price.
At the same time, laminated veneer lumber is becoming increasingly popular - it is cheaper than solid wood and has outstanding strength, and is also resistant to fungus, mold and other external factors.
The material shows minimal shrinkage, and therefore such a bath is not afraid of distortions during use.
Rules for creating a foundation
Choosing the right foundation for a two-story building is very important, since the total weight of the entire structure will be very large, which means the base must be more massive and immersed in the ground than in the case of one-story buildings.
Experts do not recommend paying attention to a columnar foundation, even in cases where a minimal load will be created on it (during construction from foam blocks or profiled timber). Such a foundation will not be able to withstand a more significant load, and therefore it is better to take care of safety and pour a concrete monolithic reinforced strip foundation, laying it to a depth below the soil freezing level.
Two-story log sauna
You can also build a wooden sauna from solid logs. The material is environmentally friendly and does not emit substances harmful to human health at all. This “house” looks original, as if taking us back a couple of centuries to the old days. True, it will cost a little more.
The walls in the log bathhouse are smooth, the inside is cozy, and the space warms up quickly. When using rounded logs for construction, the following features should be taken into account:
- The need to have experience working with the material;
- Duration of construction and its dependence on weather conditions;
- Possibility of shrinkage, in some cases up to 10%.
Advantages of rounded logs
Log structures built according to all the rules are considered the most durable and aesthetically attractive. The problem is that to create them it is necessary to invite specialists with a high level of training.
Construction of a log bathhouse implies certain advantages:
- Structural strength ensured by reducing the gaps between logs. Walls made of logs are airtight and retain heat for a long time;
- Natural building material allows air to pass through perfectly, heats up evenly and cools down slowly. Thanks to this, a favorable microclimate and normal gas exchange are created in the room. If we are talking about structures made of brick or stone, such properties cannot be achieved;
- Rounded wood does not warp, and this structure will not warp over time.
Drainage system
If the bathhouse will be residential, even only in the summer, then it is important to take care of a good drainage system. If the drainage well is located close enough to the source of drinking water (main well or shallow well), then all the waste and harmful substances from the sewer can easily flow through the groundwater into the source of normal water.
It’s good if there is a collector nearby - it’s easy to cut a pipe into it. As a last resort, you can lay the sewer pipe as far as possible from the bathhouse into a special ditch, but it is better to take special permission from the local authorities for this.
Disadvantages of building a two-story bathhouse
The construction of a two-story bathhouse will cost a little more than if we were talking about a modest house with a dressing room and a steam room.
Also disadvantages include the following factors:
- Increased construction time due to the significant amount of work;
- Increased labor costs and material consumption;
- Significant weight of the building, forcing to increase the reliability of the foundation and the actual capacity of the supporting structures of the first floor;
- Complicated system of engineering communications;
- The need to heat two floors of the building - and this is especially important when compared with a “seasonal” one-story bathhouse.
Despite all of the above, two-story baths are in demand - such projects are especially popular among owners of personal plots.
The shortcomings are fully compensated by the rational use of space on both floors. By choosing the right design for a two-story bathhouse, you can make this building a meeting place with friends, despite the season and the weather outside the window.
