Types of glass doors for saunas, their sizes, fittings, design and installation methods

The traditional material for a bathhouse is wood, but this does not mean that other materials cannot be used. It is even possible if their characteristics are not inferior to or superior to wood. A fairly striking example of a worthy replacement is glass doors for a bathhouse or sauna. When using glass doors in a steam room, there are practically no negative aspects.

Glass doors to the steam room

There are three main disadvantages:

• Great price (it's justified).
• Thermal conductivity is higher than that of wood, but special doors for baths and saunas use tempered glass, which not only withstands high temperatures, but also has reduced thermal conductivity. It is impossible to get burned by touching such doors.
• Fragility. This problem is partially solved by tempering: the treated glass is not so fragile, and when it breaks, it breaks into many fragments without sharp edges. Also, to increase strength in the manufacture of glass doors to the bathhouse, glass with a thickness of at least 8 mm is used. Both hardening and thickness affect the cost, so good glass doors cost a lot, but they are not easy to break.

Glass doors to the steam room with a pattern
These are, perhaps, all the shortcomings. But there are plenty of advantages:

• Through the glass door you can see people in the steam room. From a safety point of view, this is great: you can come to the rescue in a timely manner if you suddenly feel sick.
• It becomes lighter in the steam room and this light is dim, diffused, pleasant to the eye and conducive to relaxation.
• The service life of a glass door to a bathhouse made of tempered glass is almost unlimited, unless it is broken.
• Cleaning glass doors in a bathhouse is much easier than cleaning wooden ones. Any detergent is suitable.
• The glass doors in the steam room are not threatened by fungi and mold; there is simply no place for them to multiply on a timely cleaned glass surface.
• No deformation under any operating conditions: neither temperature, nor humidity, nor their changes and differences in any way affect the dimensions of the glass door leaf.
• Modern glass doors for a sauna or bathhouse are beautiful.

Glass door for a bathhouse
With all the advantages of glass doors, not everyone recommends installing them in a bathhouse. This is due to the fact that it is important to retain steam in the steam room of a Russian bath. To do this, make a high threshold - at least 10 cm, and a door leaf that fits tightly to the jamb. In a sauna, on the contrary, they often make a gap under the door leaf to ensure air flow. Therefore, you can safely install glass doors in the sauna.

For lovers of high quality, we can recommend products from the Finnish company Harvia. We have previously talked about Harvia sauna stoves, but in addition to stoves, the company produces a large assortment of glass doors for saunas and baths.

Glass doors for baths and saunas from the Finnish company Harvia. Glass color (from left to right): bronze, gray, white, satin (matte)

Having read the reviews of those who have a glass door installed in a Russian bathhouse, we came to the conclusion: it is also possible to install glass doors in a bathhouse. And this will not interfere with retaining steam at all. The doors should open outward “from the steam room” (to the right or left, as is convenient), and they can be installed so that it is possible to fill a threshold on the side of the steam room, which perfectly retains all the moisture inside. Good glass doors are made in such a way that they practically do not allow steam to pass through at the points of contact with the frame (the kit includes a seal that is inserted into the frame). So they install a glass door in the bathhouse and don’t complain.

Glass door with a pattern

According to reviews from bath attendants, some use the glass door to determine the humidity in the steam room - they say it “works” no worse than a hygrometer, some are pleased with the ease of care, but everyone unanimously claims that they have no regrets. And the main advantage of a glass door to a Russian bath is that it does not react to changes in humidity: it does not swell or shrink, because any wooden door either swells or shrinks. Because of this, it is difficult to open/close, which is not good, or large cracks appear through which the same steam escapes and heat loss increases. Everyone who has installed glass doors in their bathhouse or sauna definitely advises, in addition to the quality of the glass, to pay attention to the fittings.

Glass doors to the steam room: installation instructions

A modern bathhouse may well look stylish and original, without losing its direct functional purpose. One of the elements that can significantly “refresh” a bath complex is a glass door to the steam room. Moreover, such a construction innovation is in many ways even superior to its classic “brother” - a wooden door. If you see your sauna in a modern design, we invite you to try your hand at installing a glass door to the steam room with your own hands.

Advantages of a glass door for a steam room

The main requirements for a glass door for installation in a steam room are no different from the requirements for a wooden door - safety and tightness. Keep this in mind when choosing a product and consider only heat- and impact-resistant tempered glass options.

1. Resistance to aggressive steam room environment
   . Tempered glass is not susceptible to deformation by high humidity and temperature, so it will retain the shape and functionality of the door for a very long time.

Types of glass doors for steam rooms

Today, the construction market offers a fairly wide selection of similar products, so you can choose any glass doors for a steam room - the size, color of glass, type and presence of decorative elements can solve a design problem of any complexity. Thus, in the assortment of many manufacturers you will find doors made of tempered glass in transparent, matte, mirrored or decorated versions of different colors (gray, green, “bronze”). Even if you don’t find a ready-made model suitable for your idea in terms of size or decor, they will make it for you to order.

Preparation before installing glass doors in the steam room

To ensure that the installation of a glass door in a steam room is successful and of the highest quality, consider the following points in advance:

Accuracy of measurements. Please take into account the fact that a finished product made of tempered glass can no longer be “tweaked” during installation, like a wooden one. Therefore, take your measurements seriously: if you are setting up a sauna, then the door to the steam room should have a small gap at the bottom (about 5 mm).

The requirements for fittings for glass doors to a steam room are the same as for wooden ones. They must be resistant to moisture, not burn and be comfortable to use.

However, aesthetic requirements in the case of glass products also become important.

Therefore, before installing a glass door in the steam room, pay attention to the choice of fittings. Here, the priority will be materials with anti-corrosion properties (for hinges) and hardwood (for handles and door frames), which can withstand a heavy door leaf

Technology for installing glass doors in a steam room

When you have prepared a place for installing a glass door in the steam room, selected and purchased the door itself, and enlisted the support of an “assistant,” you can proceed to the process of installing the door leaf. When unpacking the doors, we recommend that you do not put the wooden strips far from the packaging - they can be used to lay the door leaf on the floor for more convenient lifting it from the floor.

Glass doors to the steam room are a modern solution that will allow you to realize the most daring ideas in terms of interior design without compromising functionality. At the same time, the process of installing such doors is quite accessible for doing it yourself: the main thing is to think through all the nuances in advance and carefully follow our instructions.

Installation of doors with frame

• Remove the door from the frame and remove the plastic film.
• Secure the door frame in the opening with wood wedges. Align its position, checking not only the vertical, but also the presence of distortions. To do this, try on the door leaf and use the level.
• Secure the box with screws and place decorative plugs to hide the bolts.
• Fill the gaps between the wall and the frame, remove any visible filler residue.
• Hang the door on its hinges using spacers.
• Install handles and decorative fasteners.

How to make a steam room door with your own hands

The best solution to the problem of steam room doors is to make them yourself, and at the same time save 7-10 thousand rubles in real money if you make the entrance to the steam room from wood. Purchasing the material will cost 2-3 thousand rubles, the remaining costs depend on the qualifications of the master.

To make a glass door, you will need to find a sheet of expensive tempered glass, at least 10 mm thick. The total cost of equipping a door block will be comparable to the price of a budget model of average quality, so building a glass entrance block with your own hands is not interesting for economic reasons.

The door block to the steam room is obviously made massive and very durable. There are no locks in the leaf structure, so the door is always made heavy, usually from a board no less than 35-40 mm thick. Connoisseurs of Russian baths and light steam require that the fabric be hung with a slight slope towards the steam compartment. In this case, the unclosed sash slams shut under its own weight.

First of all, we find a version of the door block that is available for manufacturing. It’s best to look at the most popular models from well-known manufacturers, or you can borrow an idea from steam room connoisseurs and make your own drawings for the steam room door, photos.

For your information! If you plan to make a door block from pine, then after cleaning the surface of the board is heated several times to 150°C and deresined with a solution.

The process of building a door block to enter the steam room consists of the following steps:

• The initially selected material is peeled off on a jointer and cut to size according to the dimensions of the web;
• The tongue and groove boards are glued and tightened with clamps into one prefabricated board;
• After the glue has dried, the workpiece is processed with a grinding machine along the planes and end surface, chamfers and corners are removed;
• Next, on the side of the workpiece that will be facing away from the steam room, foil polyethylene foam is laid and covered with cladding.

The insulation is stretched and fixed with staples, then covered with stuffed wooden slats made of aspen or linden plywood.

To attach the crossbars to the assembled panel of the future door, two grooves are milled with a cross-section that exactly matches the “needle” profile. Thanks to its wedge-shaped shape, the block easily wedges and pulls together the boards into one strong shield.

To make the box, you can use cedar or oak boards, timber, or any type of heavy wood that does not emit volatile substances.

The finished door leaf is laid out on a flat surface, blanks of the vertical sides of the door frame are alternately applied to the ends to apply markings for the mounting grooves.

At the corners, the sidewalls are connected to the sill and the top crossbar either “in a tenon” or “in the floor of a block”. The joining corner grooves are cut on all four door frame blanks, after which the core is assembled around the door leaf and adjusted to the size of the future door.

On a frame with a door laid horizontally, the unfolded hinges are applied and the markings of the drilling points for each canopy are transferred to both parts. Next, using a chisel, grooves are cut out on the door panel along the marked contour of the hinges, after which the parts are attached to the canvas using self-tapping screws.

Reducing glass transparency

The transparency of the door leaf in the bathhouse confuses many. But this drawback can be easily corrected without reducing the reliability of the door structure. To do this, you can tint the transparent surface, paint it, etc.

Film tinting

If you decide to cover the glass panel of the door block in the sauna with a special tinting film, the room and the structure itself must first be prepared. To do this, wet cleaning is done in the bathhouse, and the glass surface is thoroughly wiped with a damp rag.

Next, the material is marked according to the dimensions of the canvas. Additionally, you need to add 2 cm for the allowance.

Before sticking, the tint film on both sides and the surface of the base are sprayed with a pre-prepared soap solution. Next, the protective layer is removed from the film and the adhesive surface is also moistened with a soap solution.

The finishing material is applied to the glass surface and slowly smoothed out while simultaneously removing any air bubbles that form. Next, a solution of water and soap is removed from the surface of the film using a squeegee. Excess material is cut off with a sharp knife.

The tinting film must be allowed to dry completely for up to 3 days.

Other options

There are other ways to eliminate the transparency of glass structures. For example, using a sandblasting unit, glass can be made matte. Today everyone can afford the cost of such work.

If you have the skills to draw on glass, you can apply any image to the door leaf yourself. Especially for such purposes, manufacturers of paints and varnishes offer a wide range of colors of waterproof paints.

Many companies involved in the renovation of residential and non-residential premises offer decorative spraying on glass door blocks.

Advantages of glass doors in a steam room

By and large, these shortcomings cannot be taken too seriously, because most of them are easy to fix. But the advantages of these products should be discussed separately.

As for the material, it is better to choose stainless steel hinges, which do not rust or wear out too quickly.

The fittings also include door latches. In inexpensive models of glass doors, ball latches are often installed, however, they are short-lived, wear out quite quickly and can jam at any time. It is unlikely that anyone will object that it is not particularly pleasant to be locked inside a steam room when you urgently want to get out and cool off. But magnetic latches are the best option for a sauna. They are very durable and never jam.

• glass sheet;
• hardwood timber measuring 4x80 mm;
• door hinges;
• fittings (wooden or metal);
• closer;
• soft silicone seals;
• platbands;
• fastening elements (anchors);
• polyurethane foam;
• means for impregnation of wooden structural elements.

Door installation tools:

• electric screwdriver;
• hammer;
• hacksaw;
• building level;
• construction pencil;
• tape measure, square.

Installing a steam room door with your own hands

Therefore, if maintaining high humidity is not critical for you, feel free to install glass; it will not sweat. However, it must be said here that the atmosphere in a steam room with high convection is not compatible with the regime of a Russian bath. This microclimate is already closer to a Finnish sauna.

Another important disadvantage of glass structures is that they have a minimum height of 1.8 meters. When arranging a steam room for use in Russian bath mode, this can become a big problem. To get a good steam cake, there must be at least 40-50 cm from the top edge of the door to the ceiling, which leads to the need to design a steam room with ceilings of at least 2.3-2.4 meters.

In a Russian bathhouse, where high humidity is of particular importance, only glass doors should be installed in wooden frames with a threshold and a seal around the entire perimeter. Often when purchasing glass doors, they are taken without a threshold or without a seal, which leads to excessive ventilation of the steam room and disruption of the necessary microclimate.

Glass has a feature that can be a significant drawback in wooden baths. This feature lies in the impossibility of changing the dimensions of the canvas. If a wooden bathhouse changes the geometry of the internal walls during the shrinkage process, then you can always trim the wooden door a little and continue to use it.

Since there are some details you may or may not like:

• This material is environmentally friendly and will not harm a person even in a wet environment;
• Glass doors to the bathhouse perfectly tolerate high humidity and temperature and therefore will last for quite a long time, and under the action of the listed loads will not change their structure;
• The disadvantage can be considered the possibility of damage to the canvas by mechanical means. But this issue is being resolved and it is possible to apply an armored film to the surface;
• Glass doors to the bathhouse are sufficient (see Installation of glass doors in residential and public buildings) and this is completely possible to do with your own hands and without resorting to outside help;
• This design visually enlarges the room and therefore for small rooms it is simply a godsend;
• A glass door for a sauna will not require a lot of maintenance, unlike a wooden structure;
• Glass bath doors are transparent and this confuses some. But this issue is easily resolved and the glass can be tinted, we will talk about this below;
• The price of the material is not high and is significantly lower than some types of wood.

If you take them into account when purchasing, then you will not be disappointed at the end of the installation:

Glass doors for baths should be selected according to glass thickness, this indicator should not be less than 7 mm

• The glass door for a bathhouse must fit well enough to the jamb, otherwise there will be a draft and if you installed such a door in a steam room, then heat will escape;
• The fittings for glass doors to the sauna should not be heated, otherwise you may damage the skin.

Features of Tempered Glass

To make a glass door to a bathhouse to order or any other room, only material after special processing is used. The most popular option is tempered glass. The raw materials for its production are sheets of ordinary silicate glass. First, they are heated to such a state that the material practically begins to melt. After this, the layer is blown with cool air. This temperature contrast is hardening. By purchasing glass doors for your steam room, you can be sure of their reliability and durability.

As a result , glass sauna doors acquire new qualities:

1. Increased strength. Tempered glass, when compared with regular glass, is 6-8 times stronger. Therefore, it can only be broken by deliberately applying brute force and a metal object. The usual slams of such a glass door are not scary. Even if the door hits the wall of the bathhouse when it swings open, nothing will happen to it.
2. Complete security. The main problem of glass and its fragility is the fragments when broken. In the case of large bodies of glass, they can cause serious injuries. But this is all true for ordinary glass; this will not happen with tempered material. Not only is it quite problematic to break it, but it crumbles into small pieces with blunt edges. That is why the material is used for rooms where people stay - it is completely safe. All edges of transparent sheets are carefully polished; they cannot cause injury.
3. Ability to withstand significant heat. Heat-resistant tempered glass is not afraid of temperatures up to 800 degrees. Under normal bath conditions, the door will not get very hot. If on one side of the room the temperature is +80, then the canvas on the other side will not heat up above +40 degrees.

Another good thing about tempered glass is that it can be decorated in various ways. The lowest price for a glass door to a sauna is sandblasting or chemical etching. These two methods produce a frosted glass door to the bathhouse. Surface rough to the touch. The silk-screen printing method is also used, when a design is applied to glass using stencils. Patterns on glass can also be formed through laser processing. You can buy similar glass bath doors at any specialized store.

Products that turn out to be original are after bending: the sash does not come out flat, it has curved shapes. If you need to create beveled edges at the edges, then the bevelling method is used. An expensive and very beautiful result is obtained with fusing. These glass bath doors come in different sizes. To do this, a panel is assembled from multi-colored glass fragments, and then the collage is processed at high temperature. In the furnace it is fused into a single monolith and a beautiful stained glass window is obtained. If you want to put not just a small drawing on the sash, but a whole picture, then you can use photo printing. The image obtained on glass will be durable and unique. The price of such glass doors to the steam room is quite high.

The disadvantage of tempered glass is its fragility during mechanical processing after hardening. Cutting and drilling such material is very difficult, so you should not try to do it yourself, especially without the appropriate equipment. All holes for fastening the fittings must be made by the manufacturer, then during installation all that remains is to screw them on.

General requirements for canopies

The main difference and advantage of glass models is their transparency. Such structures are installed at the entrance to country houses, shopping and office centers. Glass systems are popular in apartments; they are suitable for bathrooms, baths and saunas. The products are also in demand in furniture production. Loops are the main element that holds the transparent fabric. Of course they must be strong.

But besides this, they are subject to the following requirements:

1. External attractiveness. Since glass doors come without a frame, if the door is completely transparent, the hinges must not be too large and look nice from any side. The fittings should not visually weigh down the canvas, otherwise the whole meaning of the design will be lost.
2. Protection. Metal elements should not scratch the sash. To do this, pads made of polymer materials are usually installed under the canopies. Also, additional glue can be used for maximum fixation.
3. Possibility of mounting without holes. If the door leaf has a frame made of plastic, wood or metal, then there are no problems with fixing the fittings. In the case of frameless models, awnings are sometimes secured using clamps. In this case, no holes are drilled.

For the manufacture of doors, the most durable types of glass are used, such as triplex or tempered material, but they also do not like drilling after processing. All technological holes for canopies are made in the doors at the stage of their production, in the conditions of the enterprise. This reduces the risk of material cracking. To make holes, special drills are used that are coated with diamond dust, as well as cooling lubricant.

Methods of fastening canopies and design features

For doors that are made of wood or metal, PVC and plastic, holes must be drilled to fix the awnings.

According to the method of fastening for glass products, there are two types of fittings:

• with drilling;
• without drilling.

Each method has its own pros and cons. The main factor that determines the choice of fixation method is the weight of the canvas. Depending on the type, design, and purpose, canopies can be pendulum, with a built-in closer, or with a ceiling, or hinged. Special requirements apply to fittings for shower cabins or saunas, as well as doors for furniture (cabinets, sideboards). Before purchasing, you need to understand the features of each type of canopy.

Another point in which fasteners differ is the installation location. They are not always located at the end. In the case of glass sashes, the canopies can be located at the top or bottom, in the corners. Such options are more suitable for attaching frameless panels.

Sliding structures

They are quite convenient if there is not much space in the room. Sliding systems do not interfere with anyone when opening; they cannot cause injury. Also among the advantages is elegance, so they can be installed in large rooms.

To install sliding glass doors, guides (rails) are required; the panel moves along them. Its movement is provided by rollers that are fixed on the sash. The wheels are made of polymer materials or metal with a rubberized coating, the guides are made of a durable metal profile. Depending on the weight of the door, they are made of steel and aluminum.

Before proceeding with the installation of the system, it is necessary to arrange a place for sliding the sashes: clear the space along the wall or create a special niche in it. If necessary, the doorway should be strengthened, especially if the width of the panels is significant, two of them are installed. The total weight of the structure in some cases can reach 150 kg. Therefore, it is better to first fix a powerful wooden beam in the upper part, and then install a guide on it.

Installation of a glass sliding door involves the following steps:

Fixing the top guide. Attach it to a wooden beam with bolts

It is important that the rail is positioned strictly vertically. Even a minimal tilt will cause the sash to move away on its own. Bottom rail installation

It should coincide with the top one, without any shifts, and correspond to the thickness of the door. Installing a glass sash on the lower roller. Secure the door in the top guide. This needs to be done together. Adjustment of elements located in the floor. The sash moves smoothly, without pushing or effort. Installation of the limiter. It will prevent the blade from slipping off the guides. Installation of other fittings. There is usually already a hole in the glass for the handle.

Installation of a sliding glass door is shown in this video:

In order for the canvas to move as smoothly as possible, the bottom rail should be mounted exactly according to the thickness of the glass so that there is no gap left. In this case, there will be no backlash and the blade will move exactly in a straight line.

Basic materials

In addition to their direct purpose - to support the weight of the canvas, the loops must also perform a protective function. Despite tempering or the use of polymer films, glass still remains a fairly fragile material. Awnings prevent and soften the shocks and impacts of the canvas that occur when opening incorrectly or in a draft. Shock-absorbing properties are provided by rubberized gaskets that are installed under the awnings. They are also made of PVC. They prevent the appearance of cracks during the installation of fittings and the further functioning of the structure.

Canopies for glass doors are produced from the following metals:

1. Steel, definitely stainless. This is the most durable material that can withstand the heavy weight of the canvas. If the thickness and geometric dimensions of the sash are significant, then it is better to purchase steel canopies. Their number is calculated taking into account the weight of the door. Steel is not afraid of moisture, if it is stainless, or any temperature fluctuations. Therefore, such products are useful for the bathroom, kitchen, bath or sauna. The metal does not need polishing and is easy to care for. This is the most durable material, products made from it will last a long time. Steel hinges can be smooth (glossy) or matte (rough).
2. Aluminum or silumin. Aluminum and its alloys have an affordable price and attractive appearance, therefore they are widely used in the production of accessories for glass products. This metal is not subject to corrosion. It is suitable for not too massive structures. Otherwise, it is also a practical material that will last a long time. All aluminum alloys combine well with transparent fabrics.
3. Brass. This material has an attractive appearance, but may darken over time. Therefore, brass fittings will have to be periodically cleaned and polished. Brass is often coated with a coating that imitates gold, and it is aged. Fittings made from this alloy are especially popular when arranging bathrooms. In its pure form, this material is quite soft, so its composition must include additives.

The color of the material varies greatly. It needs to be selected so that the hinges are the same shade as the rest of the fittings (handle, lock). The most popular are steel and silver, black, gold and bronze colors for decorative finishes.

Choice

As soon as the parameters are taken, we go to the selected manufacturer and order windows. You will have to select the following window design features:

• valve type;
• accessories;
• fastener

There are 2 types of fastening - through the frame and on the supporting reinforcement. In the first case, the window is mounted in the mounting plane, and in the second, it is necessary to install reinforcement during the production of the frame. It is believed that for self-installation it is better to choose the second method, since this is less likely to damage the structure. However, keep in mind that the weight of the window will increase significantly, which means it will be extremely difficult to handle alone. In this case, be sure to get an assistant. If you decide to give preference to the first option, be prepared to disassemble the double-glazed window.

Glass doors for baths

Glass doors in a bathhouse or sauna are not only a bright interior detail, but also a practical partition that is easy to use. Such products have gained popularity for installation in saunas quite recently, because previously only solid linden doors met all the requirements. At the same time, glass products are presented in a wide variety: they differ in appearance, functionality, parameters and other characteristics.

Glass doors look stylish and beautiful in any room

The variety of glass partitions designed for baths makes it easy to choose a model that meets the requirements of safety, design, and practicality

To do this, when choosing, you need to pay attention to the following features:

• the canvas must be made of thermal glass with a thickness of 8 mm, which ensures the strength and reliability of the structure;
• the glass door must be supplemented with components that ensure the safety and durability of the product;
• the door for a bath or sauna is installed in a wooden frame, and without it there will be no optimal thermal insulation of the room;
• transparent doors are not always appropriate in a bathhouse, so you can choose models made of frosted glass, with a pattern or with a tint film;
• the opening mechanism must be made of stainless steel, and the parameters of the hinges must withstand the weight of the blade;
• There should be no sharp, protruding metal parts on the door that could lead to injury when operating the steam room.

Transparent doors are almost invisible, but models with a pattern are more beautiful

Swing door

A door consisting of one leaf is called single-leaf. In a bathhouse, such a structure opens to the outside of the room and has a tight vestibule that prevents the penetration of cold. Opening to the outside, that is, from the steam room, is due to safety requirements that must be taken into account when arranging saunas and baths.

Hinged doors are compact and provide heat retention in the room

The advantages of swinging glass doors for a bath are expressed in the following:

• dense vestibule without the risk of cold air penetration;
• many design options: frosted glass, with a pattern, transparent or tinted;
• convenient and safe type of opening;
• wide selection of doors with different parameters.

Bath doors of this type should be made only of tempered glass, otherwise the panel will not withstand temperature changes and will crack. The disadvantage of high-quality designs is their high cost, but such door models last for many years and do not lose their performance characteristics.

Frosted glass door

Frosted heat-resistant glass is a beautiful and practical material for a door in a bathhouse or sauna. The canvas can be completely matte or with a translucent pattern. Any option is appropriate for a modern bathhouse and will effectively complement the interior. Such structures are often hinged, since this type of door provides the best thermal insulation of the room.

Doors can be made of frosted colored glass

The advantages of frosted glass products are expressed in the following qualities:

• ensuring the comfort of sauna or bathhouse users, since the door is opaque;
• high light transmittance;
• compatibility with any finishing materials;
• practicality in care and operation.

Cloths made of frosted durable glass have a higher cost than transparent doors. The design can be equipped with metal, wooden or plastic handles and decorative details.

Door made of combined materials

If the layout of the bathhouse does not involve installing a door made entirely of glass, then the optimal options are wood structures that contain glass inserts. This option allows you to combine the environmental friendliness of wood and the practicality of glass, the insert of which can be of any shape and size.

Glass gives the canvas an interesting look, and wood ensures environmental friendliness

The advantages of combined door models include the following qualities:

• many design options due to the variety of insert shapes;
• low light transmission and ensuring the comfort of bathhouse users;
• the ability to install any hinges for swing doors;
• light weight compared to glass panels.

Negative features are characteristic of low-quality products. If the wood used to create the door has not been properly processed, then there is a high probability of gaps, cracks and other defects.

Features of bath handles

As for the handles, on ordinary glass doors that are installed inside country houses, they are mounted from metal. Especially if the frame for the glass door is also metal. But this option is not suitable for a bathhouse: the metal handle will instantly heat up, and if you try to open the door you can easily get burned with it. If the fittings are made of metal, then they must have a protective coating on them. But by far the best solution for a steam room is to install a wooden handle.

There are special requirements for bath handles:

1. The fittings should have low thermal conductivity and not heat up too much. In this parameter, wood has no equal. It won't burn your hands even in a Finnish sauna.
2. The material must be selected that is resistant to high humidity or special treatment must be used. Only in this case can you count on a long service life.
3. The size should be impressive, the strength should be good. In the steam room, due to poor visibility, you usually find the handle by touch. If it is too small, this will be difficult to do.
4. The product should not get dirty quickly.

The optimal material for door handles in a bathhouse is natural wood. If it is well treated, then such a product will last about 10 years. The disadvantage of wood fittings is their considerable price, because products are often made by hand. But this approach allows you to create beautiful decor on the handle in the form of carvings, give it an original shape, and turn it into a real work of art.

The most popular models are products in the form of:

1. Arcs. Such fittings are made from wood, tree roots or branches, trying to preserve the natural pattern. The products are beautiful, handmade, with carved patterns. Such fittings for a glass door to a bathhouse have different sizes and prices.
2. Direct. This is the simplest, most laconic design option. Such pens are made in factories, they are inexpensive, but do not differ in individuality.
3. Combined or double. In this case, the handle is combined with a bolt or latch, which is quite convenient.
4. Furniture models. These are handles made in the form of a ball or a similar shape. They can be very simple in design or with little finishing.

Wooden products are pleasant to the touch and do not get dirty much. To avoid damaging the glass when attaching them, silicone gaskets are installed under the fittings. The most suitable species for making handles for glass doors are alder and linden. During use, their surface is polished by touch and becomes smooth. The wood of these species heats up less than larch or oak, but they are also useful for arranging a steam room. It is also permissible to use beech and poplar. It’s easy to buy glass bathhouse doors with fittings and delivery. Many manufacturers provide this service.

The nuances of replacing double-glazed windows

Plastic windows are very popular. They protect the room well from cold and wind, and retain heat well inside the room.

It is important to know how double-glazed windows are installed, because its correctness determines whether the window will function as planned. If the glass unit is damaged, it is quite possible to replace it yourself

In a wooden frame

The nuance of a wooden frame for installing double-glazed windows lies in the method of fastening the glazing beads. The glazing beads themselves look normal, but instead of a rubber seal, sealant is used in wooden windows.

When dismantling the package, remove the glazing beads and then remove the old sealant. The installation procedure, on the contrary, begins with the application of sealant, after which the glazing beads are installed.

From the instructions described above, it is clear how to change ordinary glass in a double-glazed window; however, you will not be able to replace stained glass yourself for the following reasons:

• often stained glass windows are installed from the outside, so to dismantle the package with a stationary sash you will have to hire a tower or use scaffolding;
• high-quality replacement of glass in a double-glazed window is possible only in a stationary workshop;
• color selection also needs to be done in the workshop to avoid tonal differences between adjacent glasses in the frame.

Mortise hinges

Drilled or mortise hinges are a more reliable installation method and should be chosen when it comes to massive panels. For them, at the stage of cutting glass before it is tempered, all the necessary holes are made. Making them yourself in canvas is quite problematic: at the slightest stress, the material can burst. If the awnings are fixed in this way, then the rest of the fittings (lock, handle) will have a similar fastening. This is the best option for doors that have a frame and glass inserts, entrance products, and panels with a thickness of more than 10 mm.

The main advantages of this fastening method:

• the mounting location is clearly defined;
• fixation is the most durable and reliable;
• the load is distributed evenly across the canopies;
• there cannot be any displacement of the loops.

The disadvantages of mortise fittings include the fact that it is difficult to install it yourself; you cannot make a hole without a special tool. If the holes need to be large, then they can be made on a machine. In the case when the blade cracks during the drilling process, but there is no way to fix it. Therefore, all holes for installing mortise fittings must be provided by the seller (manufacturer) of the door.

Installing hinges

It is the overhead type of fastener that is easiest to install on your own, since it does not require drilling the glass. The hinges always come with everything you need: clamping screws, plastic or rubber gaskets, and instructions.

The general installation diagram is as follows:

1. First you need to make markings - mark the location of the canopies on the frame and glass sheet. If it is necessary to mount two canopies, then retreat 5-7 cm from the top and edge of the canvas.
2. Fix the awnings on the door frame. To do this, you need to drill holes in it. Then install the glass partition into the fastener until it stops. We must not forget that protective gaskets must also be installed.
3. The inner part of the hinge must be pressed against the glass; the outer part is secured using fastening screws.
4. To make the fastening as strong as possible, glue must be applied around the perimeter of the overlay element. If decorative trims are provided, install them.

After the leaf is installed, you need to check the correct operation of the door and the tightness of its fit. It is important that there are no distortions and that the canvas does not rub off.

If the awnings are mortise, then you will have to turn to specialists for help. They must make all the necessary holes. After this, installing the fasteners will be easy. You just need to secure the fittings with self-tapping screws.

Without hinges, no door can function properly. For glass sashes, it is important to choose not only durable, but also visually attractive fasteners. Depending on the weight of the canvas, you need to select their quantity and material. Only in this case will the door open smoothly and silently. You can buy hinges for glass doors to a sauna, apartment or office in a specialized store. There are representatives of the Leroy Merlin company in Ukraine who offer high-quality fittings at an affordable price.

Features of furniture hinges for glass doors

Hinges for glass doors must withstand heavy loads, so they are made of durable materials. Stainless steel, hard alloy brass, aluminum and bronze are used for fasteners. Glass is a fragile material that is easily damaged. To securely fasten the hinges, a sealing gasket is used. Thanks to it, the fasteners are connected to the doors.

The hinges should fit organically into the design of the glass doors. Their aesthetic value is of great importance. Transparent material perfectly demonstrates fasteners from all sides. Mortise parts of double-sided hinges are hidden with plugs.

The main difference between glass door fittings and standard hinges is their high cost. The price is due to the use of more durable materials. The fittings are selected according to the thickness and dimensions of the doors. Glass is quite heavy, the material is four times the weight of veneer. Glass door hinges can last up to 50 years.

Hinge and door closer at the same time

A damper or closer is additionally mounted in this fitting. Due to it, the glass panel closes with a light touch of the hand, the sash closes smoothly, without shocks. This is a big plus for glass: with a door closer, doors made of fragile material will not be damaged.

In addition, during their operation there will be no pops or unnecessary noise. These are fittings that guarantee the comfort of residents and the durability of the door. The hinges are quite strong, each canopy can withstand a load of up to 20 kg.

Can it be installed in a steam room?

To understand whether it is possible to install glass doors in a steam room or shower room, you need to study several facts:

1. If the door was manufactured according to all standards, with additional processing, its service life is considered unlimited under normal operating conditions.
2. Glass panels do not collapse under the influence of moisture, and fungus and mold do not form on them. According to these characteristics, glass is superior to wood. It does not need to be coated with antiseptics or impregnations.
3. Glass sheets are made of impact-resistant glass, which undergoes additional hardening. This results in a highly durable material that can withstand temperature changes, high humidity, and mechanical stress.
4. If there are visitors in the shower room, they may notice that a person has become ill inside the steam room, take him out of there, and provide first aid.

You also need to pay attention to glass tempering, or more precisely to the properties that the material receives after such processing:

1. Increase in strength index. If you compare tempered glass with regular glass, it is 8 times faster in this indicator. To break glass, you need a directed blow with a metal object with a sharp end or brute physical force.
2. Increased resistance to high temperatures. Surfaces can heat up to 800°C and be exposed to this temperature for a long time without deformation.
3. If you break tempered glass, it will shatter into small shards with blunt edges. This reduces the risk of getting cut by splinters.

The glass structure will not swell due to high humidity and temperature changes. It will close tightly. The same cannot be said about wooden doors.

Glass doors (Photo: Instagram / allglass_systems)

Features of the door frame

You can buy a glass door for a steam room in Moscow with a frame in two versions: made of wood or made of aluminum (its alloys).

Making a box from metal makes the structure more expensive, but it eliminates many of the problems associated with wood:

1. This profile will not rot. Fungus and rot are the main disadvantages of a wooden structure. Without special impregnation, the material’s resistance to moisture cannot be achieved. But it does not guarantee long-term protection of the beams from rotting. There are no such problems with aluminum.
2. It does not warp or wear out. Due to high humidity, wood swells and becomes distorted. Aluminum is not afraid of either steam or direct exposure to water, and for a long time. The temperature in the bath is not high enough to cause deformation of the aluminum. An aluminum profile is suitable for an entrance door, a structure for a steam room or a washroom.
3. The metal has precise geometric dimensions, and they are stable. Since aluminum is not hygroscopic like wood, it does not distort. The only thing that will have to be adjusted over time is the hinges.
4. The aluminum profile has grooves in which it is easier and more convenient to install the seal for a tight door seal. It needs to be glued to a wooden box; due to high humidity, this method of fixation is not the most reliable; the seal falls off over time.
5. The aluminum box guarantees better tightness, so it is more suitable for hammam and similar steam rooms. The price of such glass doors for saunas and baths will be significantly higher.

The choice of material also depends on the type of steam room and its modes. Wood responds well to high temperatures, but does not tolerate constant exposure to moisture. Therefore, if you plan to build a Finnish sauna, where the humidity is relatively low, but there are very high temperatures, then it is better to choose a wooden box made of hardwood. The optimal raw materials for it are timber made from alder, pine, as well as linden and aspen.

If you are setting up a Turkish sauna or a Russian steam room, where the main factor is high humidity and the temperature is not too high, then in this case an aluminum frame is needed to accompany the glass doors.

The use of wood and aluminum also differs in the installation method. A wooden box can be installed in a steam room before or after its decorative finishing, there is not much difference. The metal profile is always installed before the start of finishing work. We must not forget about this.

Which is better: wood or glass?

In addition to glass panels, you can install a wooden door in the steam room. Canvases of this type have been used to decorate baths and saunas since the time such buildings appeared

Many people who decide to build a bathhouse are faced with the question: which door to install? Should you choose the classic solid version or purchase a model made of tempered glass?

Experts from the field of design and decor have developed a list of principles with which you can choose the ideal fabric for a steam room:

Regardless of the material, the door must have increased resistance to moisture and high temperature

Products made from special glass or certain types of wood can have all of the above parameters. The price of the product and its appearance depend on the raw materials.

Use of glass

As soon as glass door panels appeared on the domestic market, they immediately gained immense popularity. It was said above in the article that a special material is used to make doors. Now let's talk about it in more detail.

There are certain requirements for raw materials. It must be hardened, shock-resistant and heat-resistant. These characteristics are unchanged, regardless of the price and appearance of the product. The thickness of the material should be 8 millimeters. In specialized stores you can find the following models: mirror, transparent and translucent, matte, colored, patterned.

Despite the heavy weight of the product, due to its texture and thickness, the glass looks light and weightless. It creates an atmosphere of freshness and space in the room. This material is actively used to add a touch of sophistication to the overall decor. Glass doors harmoniously combine with various modern elements installed in baths or saunas.

Characteristics of wood

Long before glass appeared as a raw material, wood was used to make steam room doors. Despite the development of technology and the creation of artificial substitutes, the array does not lose its relevance. Today it is an expensive and high-status raw material.

Linden is actively used in production. This tree grows in Russia and neighboring countries. Therefore, the price for such products is affordable. Some manufacturers use Canadian cedar, abash.

Sometimes you can find products made from ash. Each of the above varieties has high performance properties. It is worth noting that products made from abasha almost do not heat up, do not deform and do not rot. The only negative is the high price, which is not affordable for everyone. As a more profitable alternative, you can choose products made from linden wood.

In large stores you can find doors made of solid oak. This type of wood is famous for its strength, reliability and wear resistance. He looks stylish and masculine. Despite their strength, oak doors are massive and bulky products. This option puts off some buyers.

Combined options

In addition to products made from a specific material, combined models are available for sale. The tandem of “warm” wood and shiny glass creates a unique and expressive duet

Advantages of choosing tempered glass over wood:

• Easy care.
• Resistant to rot, moisture, dampness and temperature.
• Safe to use.
• Easy opening.

• Huge selection of products (different texture, color, shape).
• Any image at the customer’s request can be applied to the glass using diamond engraving or sandblasting.
• Preservation of heat due to reliable docking. The door comes with a special silicone seal.
• Simple installation process compared to solid models.
• Better price.

Hinges for heavy bath doors

The weight of the door is another important factor that determines both the quality and quantity of hinges and hinges used.

You have two options: either look for especially strong hinges for heavy bath doors, or simply increase the number of regular hinges , which also increases the strength and durability of the fastening.

In general, when purchasing, you should ask what maximum weight this or that model is designed for . Because there are also plastic fittings on sale that are suitable only for the lightest door panels.

On the other hand, there are companies that produce models specifically designed for heavy or frequently used doors. ASSA ABLOY Group Company as an example .

You should also know the principle of calculating the number of fittings: