I recently decided it was time to add a plunge pool to my sauna. “Why not?” I thought. I was already tired of making do with a modest tub of water, I wanted real extreme sensations. To get out of the hot steam room and straight into the ice water! Since I am not a particularly skilled craftsman, I immediately dismissed the idea of making a wooden or concrete font with my own hands - I can’t handle it! But composite hot tubs in the form of ready-made fiberglass forms interested me.
Not only can you choose a hot tub of almost any shape, but also, according to manufacturers, the strength of fiberglass is close to the strength of concrete. And buying what you want is not a problem - there are a lot of offers on Internet sites. Therefore, without thinking twice, I ordered a square-shaped font, the upper part of which is a cube with plan dimensions of 250x170 cm, and the lower part is a cube with dimensions of 190x110 cm. At the point where they connect, a ledge is formed on which you can stand and climb out of the font - this is very convenient at the installation stage, and during operation too, especially if for some reason there is no ladder.
After purchasing the hot tub, my brother and I immediately began installation. In total, the work took 2 days - for me, that’s very fast. Therefore, deciding that my experience could become an example for the public, I decided to post a description of the installation here. Use it!
Digging a hole to install a font
It was immediately decided to install the future font on the street - it would not fit inside my bathhouse. Therefore, a few meters from the bathhouse, we marked the corners of the future pit with pegs, pulled a rope along them and began to dig.
A stretched rope marks the boundaries of the “excavation”
Since our font measures 250x170 cm on top and 190x110 cm on the bottom, we initially stuck to the pit dimensions of 280x200 m (so that after installing the font there would be a 30 cm gap on the sides), and then we began narrowing.
It was planned that the upper sides of the font would not be level with the ground surface, but 20 cm higher. Therefore, the depth of the pit was 160 cm - this took into account the height of the font (170 cm) and the thickness of the sand cushion (10 cm), which was necessary “ throw" to the bottom of the hole.
The shape of the pit follows the outline of the font
What are there
According to the installation method, bath fonts can be portable or stationary. Portable ones are usually made of wood, sometimes metal. Their walls are rigid enough to independently withstand a lot of water and serve as good support for a person. Stationary ones are those that either hide in a pit dug for them, or around which a protective wall is erected.
By shape
The shape of the bowl varies. For a small room, corner baths are convenient: they take up little space. There are also round and oval ones. You already need to think about where to put them, but the approach is possible from any direction. Occasionally, rectangular or square bowls are found. In some layouts, this form also fits very well into the premises.
Wooden bath tubs can be found in different shapes. Corner models are convenient - they take up little space
Wooden bathtubs are often made in a round shape and resemble a large barrel. That, by the way, is sometimes called a barrel for a bath. There are double sauna barrels for contrasting procedures. Cold water is poured into one, warm water into the other. There is a platform between them to make it easier to cross.
By size
In terms of size, bathhouses or saunas come in single and double sizes, and there are four, five and even six seater ones. The smallest ones are wooden. They are one- and two-seaters.
The smallest volume of a plastic, composite or PVC hot tub is about one cubic meter, and corner models are often made small. At maximum they can hold up to 19-20 m3. You will need a lot of water and you will definitely have to arrange a cleaning system, as well as drainage and supply, and you may need a heating system.
Plastic hot tubs come in different shapes and sizes.
Fonts are installed either indoors (usually in the washing rooms of baths) or outdoors, not very far from the entrance. When installing outdoors, care must be taken to ensure that leaves, insects and debris do not fall into the bowl of water. To do this you need to do:
- a shield that can be used to cover the water;
- canopy, such as ready-made pavilions for swimming pools;
- cover.
The whole point is that it is desirable to make sure that the sun at least partially heats the water. For example, polycarbonate can be used for a canopy. It is adapted to “existence” on the street, and transmits light well. Lids or blankets will also serve to ensure that the temperature does not drop so much during the night.
This is a ready-made pool cover, but you can make something similar yourself
Leveling the bottom and walls of the pit
When we went deeper to the required 160 cm, the bottom of the pit was leveled. We also leveled the walls, cutting off noticeable bulges with a shovel, so that when installing the font, the earth would not crumble from them and “distort” the already leveled bottom. Next, we placed guides on the bottom - two wooden slats made of timber, 10 cm high. A perfectly smooth sand cushion was poured along these guides. It is necessary to level the bottom with great precision so that the font can be installed in the future without distortions. After the sand was filled in, we laid a wide board at the bottom of the hole and, standing on it, pulled out the guides. The remaining depressions from them were also filled with sand.
Leveling the bottom of the pit using guides
Which material is better
As usual, the question “Which is better?” It's very difficult to answer. If we look at it from the point of view of naturalness, wood is ahead, naturally. Fonts are made of cedar, larch, oak, and aspen. They give the water medicinal properties, thereby achieving a therapeutic effect. Thus, larch improves the functioning of the respiratory system, cedar contains many antioxidants, and oak improves skin condition. But this is the case if the inner surface of the container is not varnished. Then all that remains from these advantages is an attractive appearance.
Plastic hot tubs are a more practical choice
If we talk about durability, it is better to buy a font made of polypropylene. Its service life is about 50 years. Not even an oak tree can survive that long. So in this sense, polypropylene fonts are better.
When considering maintenance, again plastic bowls are the best. They are easier to wash, nothing is absorbed into them, and they respond well to any cleaning products. It’s more difficult with wood: it can swell or shrink. Small changes in size can be solved by tightening or loosening the hoops; larger ones can (possibly) be handled by a carpenter. To process and wash a wooden bathtub, you will have to carefully select the means: on the one hand, you need to ensure disinfection, on the other hand, not to damage the structure of the material.
A plastic hot tub winters well outdoors
When installing outdoors, the question may arise as to whether the material will withstand frost. This can be especially critical in the northern regions. Wood saturated with moisture may crack at subzero temperatures. And the fiberglass font will withstand any frost. The disadvantage of bowls made from this material is their high price. But they can be of any shape and are highly durable and reliable.
So it turns out that the best font will be different from different points of view. And what is more important - everyone chooses for themselves.
Pouring water into the font and filling the hole with sand
The remaining voids between the walls of the font and the pit must be filled with sand at the same time as the bowl is filled with water. Therefore, so that the collected water was clean and you could swim right away, we thoroughly washed the inside surface of the font.
Then they turned on the water from a hose. When the water level rose by 10-15 cm, they began to pour sand evenly from all sides of the bowl. The water level should always be higher than the sand level to prevent deformation of the walls of the font. The sand is poured in carefully, little by little. At the same time, you need to carefully compact it with a thin wooden stick. This will help avoid air pockets inside the sand walls. Naturally, to facilitate this work, the pressure of water poured into the font should be small. Otherwise, you simply won’t have time; the water will rise too high and “inflate” the walls.
Filling the font with water and the gaps between the walls of the pit with sand
In about 5 hours, our font was filled with water, and the gaps in the hole were filled. Now you can go swimming!
Hot tub installation completed
Optional equipment
The font can be equipped with additional equipment and increase the attractiveness of water procedures.
Important!!! It is impossible to drain water from the font into a septic tank or biological treatment plant. A large volume of water will overwhelm the treatment plant and disrupt the microflora, which will lead to a loss of efficiency of the septic tank.
- Installation for water filtration. The pump circulates water, driving it through a sand filter, thereby preventing it from stagnating and trapping particles that pollute the water.
- Backlight. An excellent decorative device and a good reference point in the dark.
- Heating device and thermostat. They will ensure a constant temperature of the water in the font within a comfortable range. Children and the elderly will especially like it.
- Aero-hydromassage. Increases the comfort of a hot tub to the level of a Jacuzzi and provides a relaxing massage.
- Stairs and handrails are safety elements that will ensure comfortable entry and exit from the water.
General requirements for the premises
Installation and operation of the hot tub automatically changes the status of the room from dry to wet, damp or especially damp depending on the relative air humidity - 75%, 85% or 99%. This is a very important point, especially if the bathhouse is made of wood. In general, the moisture problem can be solved as follows:
- Cover the water surface area with a floating blanket;
- Install a dehumidifier.
It is necessary to install a residual current device (RCD) with a rating of no more than 30 mA in the electrical panel. If possible, move sockets and distribution boxes to an adjacent room. If this is not possible, installation should be carried out with waterproof products. To insulate wires, use heat-shrinkable tubes (caps) instead of electrical tape. They provide the required tightness of the “twisted” wires.
Important!!! If there is no grounding loop, it will be necessary to manufacture and connect it.
Correct installation of a polypropylene hot tub and compliance with general requirements is the key to long and safe operation. Don't deprive yourself of pleasure and joy.
Landscaping
Of course, you cannot leave sand gaps open. Firstly, it is unsightly, and secondly, sand will inevitably get into the water and pollute it. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the sanitary area around the font. We plan to lay non-slip porcelain tiles around the perimeter of the font and install a metal staircase. An awning can handle street debris, and a filter unit can deal with water “pollutants” (algae, for example). All this is planned to be done in the near future. Although we are still swimming with all our might – the feeling is indescribable!
Vladislav K.
How to install a composite (fiberglass) font near a bathhouse - first-hand information
I recently decided it was time to add a plunge pool to my sauna.
“Why not?” I thought. I was already tired of making do with a modest tub of water, I wanted real extreme sensations. To get out of the hot steam room and straight into the ice water! Since I am not a particularly skilled craftsman, I immediately dismissed the idea of making a wooden or concrete font with my own hands - I can’t handle it! But composite hot tubs in the form of ready-made fiberglass forms interested me. Not only can you choose a hot tub of almost any shape, but also, according to manufacturers, the strength of fiberglass is close to the strength of concrete. And buying what you want is not a problem - there are a lot of offers on Internet sites. Therefore, without thinking twice, I ordered a square-shaped font, the upper part of which is a cube with plan dimensions of 250x170 cm, and the lower part is a cube with dimensions of 190x110 cm. At the point where they connect, a ledge is formed on which you can stand and climb out of the font - this is very convenient at the installation stage, and during operation too, especially if for some reason there is no ladder.
Article on the topic: How to choose a stove for a sauna, reviews
After purchasing the hot tub, my brother and I immediately began installation. In total, the work took 2 days - for me, that’s very fast. Therefore, deciding that my experience could become an example for the public, I decided to post a description of the installation here. Use it!
Criterias of choice
When choosing insulation, you need to consider a number of factors:
- To secure it to a wooden frame, it is better to choose foil with a backing. You can make it yourself from mineral wool, foamed polyethylene, or kraft paper.
- The material must withstand heating up to at least 100°C.
- On the packaging you can read what thermal radiation the foil insulation will reflect. The indicator must be at least 95%.
- The material must be durable.
- The foil and substrate should not emit harmful substances when heated strongly.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages:
- environmental cleanliness;
- high reflectivity;
- ease of installation;
- resistance to fungi and mold.
The main disadvantage is low mechanical strength. You need to work with it carefully so as not to damage it.
Manufacturers and prices
Manufacturers:
- URSA;
- "Izolon";
- "Penofel".
The average price of 1 roll is 600 rubles.
Notes from experienced bath attendants
Those who constantly encounter bath products know all their best sides and problems. These little things are not talked about on the manufacturers’ websites, but they are useful for those who are planning to purchase a hot tub. Here are some subtleties from the professionals.
- The most convenient height option is 1.2 m.
- Ensure that the tank is in a vertical position. Provide it with steps, benches, and handrails. Eliminate slippery surfaces (place mats, towels).
- The most reliable tree is larch. This can even be installed outdoors. Next in terms of biostability are oak, cedar, and pine.
- If you choose one with a stove, look for one with an internal one, it is more efficient. Stainless steel with a thickness of at least 2 mm is guaranteed not to burn out or rust.
- A new wooden barrel may leak when first filled, this is normal. Within a day, the wood will swell and the flow will stop. If this does not happen, change the product, this is a defect.
- The wooden font must be constantly filled with water, which must be changed periodically. The water must be clean and fresh. Polypropylene models are absolutely unpretentious in everyday life.
- Do not place a wooden tank near heating sources, as this may cause the wood to dry out.
- Proper care of a wooden tank:
- cleaning with non-abrasive detergents;
- prevent water from freezing (outside);
- protect from direct sunlight;
- tighten the nuts on the hoops in a timely manner, preventing leakage (check once a month);
- Don’t forget to change the water, be sure to drain it to avoid the appearance of green mold.
9. It is practical, convenient, and useful to have a drain hole into the sewer, as well as a filter for water purification. Other bells and whistles can be added or not.
By the way! Having studied the materials, handy owners can build a font themselves. This applies to concrete street, metal, polypropylene (inside or outside the sauna) options. If you are not a carpenter, you can buy a wooden barrel in a store, and do the rest yourself. You will need skills in constructing a pit, the ability to lay concrete, lay tiles, and connect electrical and gas equipment.
Why do you need a font for a bath-sauna if there are snowdrifts in winter and a lake in summer? It is safer than natural sources, the water is cleaner, has a controlled temperature, and frees you from long distances in negligee to the reservoir and back. But in general, a bathhouse without a font cannot be considered a real Russian bathhouse, giving health, mood, and pleasure. Choose, use and improve your health with pleasure.
Finishing a polypropylene pool
To give the pool an aesthetic appearance, decorative finishing is performed. Even if the sheets of blue polypropylene look nice, the finished font can be given a different shade and texture. For these purposes, PVC or butyl rubber film is used. Strips of material are spread over the inner surface of the pool with the edges overlapping. Using cold welding, the film reliably adheres to the polypropylene surface.
The approach to the pool is laid out with paving slabs. You can use decking boards made of composite materials. Sides made of mosaic or ceramic tiles look beautiful. There is a staircase leading down to the pool. To make the water less clogged, you can install a polycarbonate canopy or make a full-fledged shelter in the form of a pavilion.
Wooden
Wood is a representative of natural and environmentally friendly materials. At the same time, a wooden font is the most expensive of the open structures.
The price depends on the type of wood, since each of them has unique properties:
- Oak normalizes sleep and has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, and also makes human skin healthier;
- Cedar in a wooden bath has the same properties as oak: a beneficial effect on the nervous system, skin and sleep;
- Larch wood is the most durable and durable material that promotes physical and spiritual relaxation of a person;
- The beech bath has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system and also promotes healthy skin.
The disadvantage of a wooden bathtub is the need for constant maintenance, since the material will begin to rot if it is not treated with special substances.
What is needed to make polypropylene pools
To make the bowl, you will first need sheets of polypropylene. They are sold in sizes 1.5x3 or 2x4 m. The optimal thickness is 8 mm polypropylene. Thin sheets will be deformed at the seams during soldering. Thick polypropylene is difficult to weld and will cost more.
Important! To solder polypropylene sheets you will need a special soldering iron with attachments.
An approximate calculation of the number of polypropylene sheets for a certain font size is shown in the table:
Phytospring
Product features and range
Wooden bathtubs
.
Traditional version. The wood used in production is larch, cedar or oak. Options: podiums, possibility of delivery in disassembled form, thermal cover, cover. This option is suitable for lovers of a real Russian bath. Characteristics of wooden hot tubs from “Fitorodnik”
| Material | Larch | Altai cedar | Oak |
| Form | Oval, round, corner, double round, double oval. | ||
| Dimensions, H×L×W or H×D, cm | (100…120)×(106…183)×(59…131)(100…120)×(117…180) It is possible to manufacture according to dimensions specified by the customer. | ||
| Wall thickness, mm | 28±5 | 35±5 | 25±5 |
| Attaching the hoops | Screw connection | ||
| Coating | Wax inside and out | ||
| Equipment | Wooden ladder and seat, drain/overflow, key for adjusting the hoops, passport. Additionally: “porch” or regular podium, supplied disassembled, thermal cover, cover. | ||
| Estimated cost | From 31900 rub. for a product measuring 100×106×59 (H×D×W) cm up to 215900 rub. for a double round model 120×150 (H×D) cm. | From 32900 rub. for a product measuring 100×106×59 (H×D×W) cm up to 183900 rub. for a double round model 120×150 (H×D) cm. | From 44900 rub. for a product measuring 100×106×59 (H×D×W) cm up to 293900 rub. for a double round model 120×150 (H×D) cm. |
Containers with wooden trim and insert made of polymer material
.
The manufacturer offers options, including electric heating, hydro and air massage, mixer, lighting, etc. This option will appeal to connoisseurs of comfort and SPA treatments. Characteristics of hot tubs with plastic inserts from “Fitorodnik”
| Insert | Composite | Polypropylene |
| Finishing | Pine, oak. | Altai cedar, larch, thermo-ash, oak. |
| Form | Oval, round, angular. | Oval, round, angular and their double models. |
| Dimensions, H×L×W or H×D, cm | 110×(125…175)×(79…98)110×195 | 128×(120…170)×(80…150)128×(120…200) |
| Wall thickness, mm | 25±5 | mostly 25±5, but there are options 35±5 |
| Attaching the hoops | Screw connection | |
| Coating | Water-repellent composition on the outside. | Varnish on the outside. |
| Equipment | Drain and overflow, wooden seat and ladder, passport. Free staining upon request. Additionally: thermal cover, cover, insulation. | Drain-overflow, passport.Additionally: electric heating, stainless steel ladder, hydro and air massage, mixer, lighting, wooden ladder and seat, plastic seats. |
| Estimated cost | From 63900 rub. for an oval font 110×125×79 cm with pine trim up to 131900 rub. for the model 110×160×160 cm with oak trim. | From 97900 rub. for an oval font 128×120×80 cm with Altai cedar trim up to 619900 rub. for a double model 128x200 cm with thermo-ash trim. |
Get to know the production better - watch a 6-minute video about all the intricacies of the production of Fitorodnik products, from developing the design of the future product to finishing.
Conclusion: if you are looking for a manufacturer with a wide range, then you should pay attention to Phytorodnik. Prices are average for the market
The company works in several directions at once, so in the catalog you can choose both a simple font for a cramped Russian bath and a multifunctional container for modern saunas.
How to make a plastic bath font with your own hands
- Advantages of a plastic font for saunas and baths
- Installation
- Choosing a font
In most cases, a full-fledged modern bathhouse requires the presence of a font. Plastic is considered the most practical, affordable and easy to install; it does not require specific skills and knowledge from the master. The main thing is to choose the right model and prepare a place for it.
Assortment of plastic containers
Plastic baths for baths and saunas are small pools that are filled with cold water. Swimming in them after completing procedures in the steam room is perceived by the human body as taking a contrast shower. Experts believe that immersing a hot body in cold water has a beneficial effect on health due to its therapeutic effect.
Article on the topic: Is it possible to take a bath at night?
On the domestic market, products such as plastic bath fonts are presented in a wide range. For this reason, it will not be difficult to choose a specific model that will best suit the characteristics of the bathhouse building and personal preferences.
Plastic mini-pools differ from each other in color, shape, standard sizes and materials used for their manufacture.
Pros and cons of a pool for a dacha made of polypropylene
Before buying a propylene hot tub, you need to know its strengths and weaknesses.
Advantages:
- If the operating rules are followed, a polypropylene bowl can last up to 30 years. A concrete font will last longer, but it is more difficult to build, will cost more, and the lining must be renewed periodically.
- Polypropylene is both a waterproofing and finishing material. Little dirt accumulates on smooth walls. The pool is easier to disinfect and clean.
- The price of a polypropylene bathtub is affordable for consumers with average incomes. When the bowl is used as an insert for a concrete pool, the owner saves on waterproofing and finishing materials.
- The speed of installation work is considered a big plus. A qualified team delivers a turnkey pool in about 1-2 weeks.
Flaws:
- Country pools made of polypropylene, obtained by soldering sheets, have more disadvantages. The service life of such a font is much shorter than a cast bowl. Even the best quality welding leaves seams that spoil the appearance of the pool.
- Limited variety of colors. Polypropylene is usually blue with a greenish or turquoise tint.
- For cast bowls, the choice of shapes is limited. Here the owner will have to choose: install what the manufacturer offers or create a font from polypropylene sheets of the desired shape, but with welding seams.
Despite the existing disadvantages, polypropylene is considered one of the best materials for arranging a swimming pool.
