City dwellers do not always find the time and opportunity to visit a sauna or bathhouse. And if you really want to pamper yourself with a fragrant steam room, improve your health and relax after a hard day at work, then a sauna in your apartment is the best solution to this problem.
The cost of arranging a compact steam room in a city apartment is much lower compared to the cost of constructing a full-fledged bathhouse in a suburban area.
Advantages and disadvantages
A home sauna in an apartment is a practical option for true lovers of sauna relaxation. This is an ergonomic design that can be installed in a typical city apartment. To install a standard sauna, it is enough to allocate a square meter of space in the bathroom, pantry, balcony or other free room.
A mini-bath in an apartment has the following advantages:
- Provides access to health procedures at any convenient time without leaving the apartment.
- Preparation for operation of the structure is carried out quickly and without the involvement of outside help.
- The device consumes a small amount of electricity.
- It has compact dimensions and low weight, which allows for quick installation.
- The costs of arranging a sauna in an apartment will be much lower than on a plot of land.
In addition to the positive aspects, a home bath has some disadvantages:
- Reducing the usable area in the apartment when it is necessary to carve out valuable meters for the steam room.
- Installation restriction - if the arrangement of a private sauna involves redevelopment of the apartment, then permission is required from the relevant institutions.
- A mini-sauna in an apartment requires the organization of a good ventilation system, reinforced electrical wiring and the ability to connect powerful electrical equipment.
What to do if the wiring power has not been calculated
Certain operational limitations of a sauna in an apartment may arise due to insufficiently powerful wiring. The problem can be complicated if there is an electric stove in the apartment with a power exceeding 3 kW. In such cases, you have to resort to a slight reconstruction of the wiring, and purchase a sauna stove with a power not exceeding 2 kW.
However, this risks causing the temperature inside the sauna to rise for too long. In addition, high-quality thermal insulation will be required.
When installing a sauna in an apartment, it is advisable to lay an individual power cable to it and connect it directly to the panel.
Important wiring requirements also apply inside the sauna. So, the wiring method must be closed. As for the cable, it must be heat-resistant. The sauna structure must be grounded, and an RCD must be installed on the line.
You must understand that if a 4-kilowatt electric stove is installed in your home, then it will not create an excessive load on the network. However, it is not recommended to turn on the sauna heater at the same time.
Kinds
Electric mini-saunas for the home are presented in a wide range on the construction market. Finished designs may differ:
- power;
- sizes;
- location option;
- design;
- type of heating equipment.
There are several available options for ergonomic saunas for home use:
- Phyto-barrel. A compact steam room of a special design, made in the shape of a barrel. There are heating elements in the lower part, and a wooden bench for sitting in the upper part. To carry out bath procedures, just open the door and go into the barrel. In this case, the head will be located outside the structure, and the body will be located inside. For health procedures, you can use herbal infusions and decoctions.
- Portable fabric bath. The basis is a durable frame on which fabric is stretched, capable of ensuring optimal temperature in the steam room. To operate such a design, it is necessary to strengthen the electrical wiring and install waterproof sockets. The main advantage of such a bathhouse is its small dimensions and ease of installation and dismantling work.
- Finnish sauna cabin. A ready-made version of the design, which is intended for use in large apartments. It is distinguished by high reliability, practicality and high cost.
- Stationary bathhouse in the apartment. A structure with a unique design, the required size and equipment, which you can make and install yourself.
What to do with the floors?
It is important to insulate and waterproof the floor. Initially, the polo is coated with waterproofing, and further work depends on what material the surface will be covered with. A self-leveling floor can be made under the ceramic tiles, you can use a self-leveling floor or a simple cement screed. Logs made of bars are laid under the wooden one and a floorboard is attached on top. The joists are attached to the concrete floors using dowels. You can lay foil insulation under the boards. It will add additional thermal insulation to the structure.
Modern baths in the apartment are made with your own hands with heated floors: infrared or eclectic. This way there will be less heat loss, and the bath will heat up faster.
If ceramic tiles are used as flooring, then wooden grates or a rubber mat are laid on top. Remember, safety comes first!
Microclimate types
A bathhouse in a bathroom is a functional design for creating a special microclimate that promotes relaxation and healing of the body. Home models provide three different types of microclimates:
- Dry sauna – air heating temperature ranges from 85 to 110 degrees with humidity up to 10%.
- Wet sauna - the air heating temperature reaches 90 degrees with a relative humidity of 24 to 42%.
- Steam sauna – the temperature does not exceed 62 degrees, and air humidity is artificially pumped up using a compact steam generator.
The most comfortable thermal regime for the human body is considered to be an air temperature of 40–45 degrees with 100 percent humidity.
When choosing the optimal microclimate in the first two types of saunas, it is recommended to follow a simple rule - 110. It involves the summation of two values - the heating temperature of the air and its humidity, the result should be 110. For example, temperature - 70 degrees, humidity - 40%.
Canopy - to be or not to be?
What is a bathhouse without a canopy? But the height of the ceiling in the bathroom does not always allow it to be fixed so that an adult can sit on it without any problems, keep in mind that when finishing the floors and ceiling there will be losses of at least 10 cm. If the height allows the curtain to be attached to the wall using long dowels. Additional rigidity is given by bars that are attached to the wall and from the wall to the floor.
If the height does not allow you to make a comfortable canopy, we make a bench for a bathhouse with our own hands. It will not be difficult to do the work after finishing the walls and ceiling. During any work, do not forget to hide the caps of metal fasteners. Otherwise, you may get burned at high temperatures.
Preparatory work for arranging a home sauna
How to make a mini-sauna at home? Preparatory work begins with choosing a suitable location in which the structure will be located. The following premises are often used for its installation:
- bathroom;
- kitchen;
- pantry;
- corridor;
- balcony or loggia.
In most cases, a steam room installed in a bathroom does not cause technical difficulties; exceptions are other rooms that require:
- carrying out redevelopment;
- water supply supply and drainage;
- laying reinforced electrical wiring;
- organization of the ventilation system.
To set up a home sauna, it is recommended to obtain permits from the following authorities:
- housing inspection;
- fire safety services;
- department for internal redevelopment;
- sanitary epidemiological service.
Requirements for a bathhouse in an apartment
Nowadays, it does not seem difficult to equip a sauna in an apartment. But, first of all, remember some of the requirements that apply to a bathhouse located in an apartment. The sauna must have a fire safety certificate, so you cannot avoid meeting the valiant firefighters, and the apartment must be equipped with a fire safety system.
The power of an electric furnace in a home bath should not be more than 4.5 kW. The oven must support an automatic shutdown option at a certain temperature. It is necessary to install a basic fire extinguishing system around the perimeter of the cabin, which is represented by water sprayers, and therefore it is worth considering the possibility of connecting to a water supply and additional waterproofing of the cabin.
These requirements are due to objective necessity, since we are making a sauna in an apartment in a multi-story building.
Design features of the steam room
Next, you should determine the appropriate type and size of the future sauna, create a working design, and think over the layout of the main utilities.
Important! The dimensions of the home steam room are determined individually, taking into account the number of people simultaneously taking the procedures. The optimal dimensions of the structure for one person are 200 × 70 cm.
Double cabins can have dimensions from 200 × 165 cm to 200 × 200 cm. In such devices, procedures can be carried out by two people in a sitting or lying position.
The standard height of finished booths is 200 cm.
The finished apartment sauna is equipped with an electric heater, wooden benches or shelves in several tiers. The ceiling and walls of the structure are three-layer sandwich panels, which consist of wooden planks, heat-insulating material and have decorative finishing.
It is also worth deciding on the dimensions and type of entrance door to the steam room. Modern doors for mini-saunas can be made of wood, heat-resistant glass, or presented in a combined version - a wooden panel with a glass insert.
Necessary equipment
The sauna consists of a cabin and a special stove. The choice of stove power depends on the area of the steam room. On average, 0.6 kW per 1 m3 is calculated. If you buy more powerful equipment, you will have to spend more money on electricity. If the stove is weak, the sauna will take longer to heat up.
As for the cabin itself, you can make it yourself or purchase a ready-made factory model. For the frame, aspen, linden or coniferous trees are mainly used. Aluminum or galvanized steel can be used to construct the floor frame, but you can also use wood to construct a slatted floor.
Sun loungers should also be installed. Their number depends on the size of the room. They can also have different shapes, for example, L or U-shaped.
Electrical wiring and ventilation system
The safety of operating an apartment sauna depends on the reliability of the electrical wiring.
The main heating equipment is an electric heater with a power of up to 3.5 kW. To connect it to the electrical network, it is necessary to install a waterproof socket, and run the current-carrying cable through the floor surface, placing it in a protective box.
The cable inside the cabin is placed in a thermostatic frame that can withstand high heating temperatures.
For an electric stove, it is also worth providing a special insulating base, located at a safe distance from the bathtub or sink.
The next important stage in organizing a home sauna is arranging a reliable ventilation system. In multi-storey buildings there is a standard ventilation shaft with apartment-by-apartment ducts. It would be a good idea to provide additional holes in the cabin design for mounting fans that are resistant to elevated temperatures.
Installation
Let's consider the stages of installing a sauna in an apartment.
Frame preparation and insulation
Before assembly begins, all bathroom surfaces are carefully treated with an antiseptic composition intended for baths or saunas. The wood for the frame is also treated with an antifungal agent.
To improve the thermal insulation characteristics of the room, the ceiling surface is covered with mineral wool mats and foil.
The design of the sauna also requires insulation, this will ensure long-term maintenance of the set temperature. Basalt-based cotton wool or quilted cotton wool mats are suitable for these purposes. The thickness of home insulation is 10 cm.
The sauna design does not require additional insulation if cork panels are used as decorative finishing.
The insulation is mounted between the frame elements and fixed with metal nails.
Vapor barrier and ventilation
A bathhouse in a bathroom must have high-quality thermal insulation and a ventilation system. To create a thermal insulation layer, it is recommended to use a non-toxic foil-based material. It is fixed from the floor towards the ceiling with an overlap of 10 cm, the joints are carefully taped with construction tape.
The material is attached to the wooden frame using bars mounted on metal nails or staples.
The sheathing is mounted on top, observing technological gaps for heat transfer. A lining made of linden or alder is installed on the sheathing.
To visually enlarge the room in which the sauna is installed, the lining is mounted in a horizontal direction. At the same time, fans and protective dampers are built into the provided openings.
The best flooring option for a home sauna is ceramic tiles or porcelain stoneware.
Entrance door installation
Sauna doors vary in type, design, materials and dimensions. They are presented in swing, sliding or folding structures.
For a sauna with an electric stove, it is better to choose a door made of wood or MDF, for an infrared sauna - a glass one.
The main thing is that the entrance is sealed and practical. To ensure a tight fit of the wooden door to the frame, it is recommended to decorate the edge of the jamb in three steps. For a glass structure, it is enough to use silicone sealing tape.
Installation of stove and lighting equipment
At the next stage of assembling the structure, the installation of the stove and lamps is carried out. The electric stove in the sauna is installed in a convenient place. The wall behind the heating equipment is covered with a protective heat-reflecting screen made of wood.
Important! Do not use brick, stone, ceramic tiles or asbestos sheets for the screen base.
For a mini-sauna, it is better to choose compact spotlights in a heat-resistant housing, which require installation around the perimeter of the structure. Lighting should not be installed dangerously close to a heating device.
Do-it-yourself barrel sauna
You can also make a barrel sauna with your own hands. For the construction, choose high-quality cedar or larch wood. These are edged boards up to 95 mm long and 4-5 mm thick with a groove connection.
Depending on the height of the structure, wood is prepared for the front wall and back wall. A stand is made from strong beams, on which the panels for the walls are assembled, fitting the beam tightly and immediately fixing the materials with a screed.
After the center of the shield is determined, a circle of the required diameter is marked (according to the height of the bath). The ends are cut off; it is important that there are no irregularities, chips or other defects at the ends.
The assembled barrel is tightened as tightly as possible in 4 places with stainless steel tape using screws. After this, you can cut out the opening for the door and window. Finally, the wood is treated with a special waterproof impregnation.
The bathhouse can be equipped with a wood-burning or electric stove; in the first case, a chimney and ventilation will be required. In addition to electrical wiring, you will need to install a fire protection device.
Do-it-yourself home baths are much cheaper than purchased options. However, you need to understand the installation process in order to build a truly high-quality and safe structure that will last for a long time.
