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Barrel sauna: reviews from owners
Before purchasing a mobile sauna, many people start reading reviews and watching YouTube videos from real owners. Indeed, a barrel sauna is not quite a standard solution for Russians, but nevertheless it is already loved by many for its ease of operation and beautiful appearance. Next, using reviews as an example, we will consider why such a steam room is good and what its disadvantages are.
The owner of a round barrel sauna writes after a year of use:
“We bought a barrel sauna a year ago, we didn’t install any special drain, everything runs directly into the ground. The neighbors began to complain that a lot of water was running towards them, so they had to move the bathhouse to another place. Ours is small - 3.5 m in length, so it was not particularly difficult to throw it from one place to another using a manipulator.
The bathhouse consists of two sections, plus another one on the street - a small porch, by the way, regarding the porch - you can easily do without it, while increasing the locker room or steam room by half a meter. This is my advice to future owners of such a round bathhouse. The size of our steam room is 2 meters. It can comfortably accommodate 2 adults at the same time or, for example, one adult and two children.
In summer we heat for about 30 minutes, in winter we need to heat for 45-60 minutes so that it becomes hot and the water in the tank has time to warm up.
In winter, I personally steamed only a few times, and it took no more than an hour to kindle.
For my family, I have so far only noted the positive aspects of such a round design: original appearance, mobility and efficiency in terms of firewood and preparation time for soaring.”
Another owner of a cedar barrel sauna writes about her first impressions:
“We ordered a bathhouse with an internal firebox, fired the stove outside in advance, it took about two hours to burn it, but then when they fired it up, there was no burning or smoke in the steam room.
If you do not burn the stove outside, but do it inside the bathhouse, then you will have to ventilate the steam room for a long time, so it is better not to rush, but still carry out all these operations outside. Next, I was pleased with the consumption of firewood: a couple of armfuls and in 30 minutes the bathhouse was ready for steaming. 5 adults calmly enter our 5-meter-long barrel at the same time, two are steaming, two are washing, one is drinking tea in the locker room, where we have a folding table. Everything to make everyone comfortable: both those taking a break from steaming and those just starting their bathing procedures. The company gave us a 3-year warranty on the structure; we ordered it with coatings inside and outside. As for the downsides, I don’t see them yet, perhaps something will be discovered in the future, but for now I like everything!” An expert on our products writes (formerly, .
A lover of noisy companies and feasts talks about his experience:
“To be honest, I didn’t read the reviews, I was bought by the appearance of the design, I really liked it, and immediately with the purchase of such a bathhouse I want to warn you that the number of guests and those who want to take a steam bath in such a wonder will increase significantly. When I installed it on my site and tried it out, I was absolutely delighted, but when a bunch of friends came to visit me and everyone piled into the sauna (6 m long) at the same time, I had to group somehow: if 4 people are in the steam room at the same time, then they only sit, if someone got up and started to hover the second one, then the other two are better off sitting on the shelves in this case, because There is no longer much room for two people standing in the steam room. The same applies to the washing room. One is rinsing, and the other two, for example, are sitting and waiting. But this is all, I think, a matter of habit; my friends and I got used to this group a couple of times and understood what and how to do, and who and where to be, so as not to disturb each other.
steam in black. I myself am a very mobile person and bought a bathhouse for myself so that in case of emergency I could take it with me and transfer it from one place to another or even to another city. Overall, I am satisfied with the configuration and operation.”
Pros and cons of a mobile barrel sauna
To summarize, we can say that most clients note the original appearance, the speed of preparing the bath for steaming, its efficiency, and the ability to transfer it. Among the disadvantages of actively using a barrel in winter, we can note the fact that you need to think carefully about the drain, so that no leaks form under the steam room. Some owners note that the barrel cools down quickly in winter, but everything is known by comparison: for some, within an hour is fast, but for others, it’s quite normal. At the very least, if you keep the stove running continuously for 3-4 hours, the sauna will cool down within two hours. During this time, all rooms can be cleaned of broom remnants, ventilated, dried, and put in proper shape for the following procedures.
On our own behalf, we can add that when purchasing a barrel for 1-2 people, it will be enough to choose a structure length of 2-3.5 meters, and for 3 or more people it is better to choose a length of 4-6 meters.
We wish you and your loved ones good health and light steam!
Features and appearance
Having your own bathhouse on your summer cottage is the dream of every second landowner. For many, it is unattainable, since implementing the idea requires money, time, and free space. However, there is a solution - building a bathhouse in the form of a barrel. Peculiarities:
- Dimensions – the structure can be placed within a small area;
- Warm-up speed – the sauna owner saves fuel for kindling.
Despite its compactness, all the primary attributes are located inside: steam room, shower room, place to relax. If there is a pond on the site or nearby, then it’s better not to imagine: you can go straight from the bathhouse into a cold ice hole.
Another feature is that the construction of an oval building requires the use of high-quality materials. For a simple bath, the requirements are not as stringent, but the barrel does not have extra space and cannot be decorated from the inside.
Common Questions
After 2 months of use, the barrel sauna began to resin from the inside. What to do?
You will have to remove the resin manually. Heat the bath to a temperature of 130 degrees. The resin will begin to actively release. Scrape it off with any device. Repeat the procedure several times. Gradually all the resin will come out of the wood.
I have been using the sauna for 5 years. The functionality does not fail, but the appearance has suffered. Is it possible to somehow restore the light tone of wood?
You can lighten wood with a special chlorine-based bleach.
Is it possible to take away a sauna in your gazelle?
The minimum weight of the barrel is 500 kg. The gazelle will survive, but for loading and unloading you will need a crane.
Is it necessary to insulate a barrel sauna?
If the assembly technology is followed, the barrel does not need insulation. If this is done, increased humidity is created inside, which means conditions for the development of fungus in the wood. Such a bathhouse will gain heat faster and retain it, but its overall service life will be reduced.
A barrel sauna is an excellent solution for anyone who dreams of having their own sauna on site with minimal investment. With the right choice and compliance with the rules of operation, it will last for many years and bring lovers of this type of recreation a lot of pleasure.
Advantages and disadvantages
The pros and cons of a barrel bath depend on the dimensions and materials of assembly. Advantages:
- Warms up quickly;
- Consumes little fuel;
- Can be placed anywhere;
- Easy to install;
- It is not necessary to pour the foundation.
The main disadvantage of such a bathhouse is that there is little space in it.
Compactness is one of the features of the barrel sauna Source megalife.com.ua
No. 5. Form
The standard shape of a barrel sauna is round, hence the name, but some manufacturers offer their own variations. The most popular forms are:
- round barrel sauna - the standard and most common option. It looks original, requires a small area for installation, and warms up quickly;
- an oval (elliptical) barrel sauna does not take up much more space on the site, but at the same time the internal usable space increases significantly, and the steam room warms up almost as quickly as in a round barrel;
- A square, or more precisely semi-circular-semi-square , barrel sauna in cross-section looks like a square with rounded corners. It has the largest usable area among other buildings; here you can comfortably place more benches, tables, shelves, etc. The room warms up relatively quickly. Such a bathhouse will look great on the site.
Device
The barrel sauna consists of end walls assembled from tongue-and-groove boards. The frame is rounded. The top of the base is finished with boards. For strength and reliability, the structure is tightened with metal rings.
The dimensions of the barrel bath may vary. Dimensions are calculated at the design stage and depend on factors:
- The number of people who will be inside;
- Budget of the site owner;
- Free space allocated for construction.
Inside the barrel bath, shelves are equipped to accommodate the attributes for the steam room (brooms, towels, detergents). The heater stove is responsible for heating - it should be located at the end, opposite the front door.
Inside there can be a tank with hot water and a shower. Tempered glass doors are usually used to separate sections of a bathhouse - they let in light and visually expand the limited space.
How a barrel sauna works Source stroyfora.ru
The smoke exhaust pipe is directed under the roof or exits through the end wall. Mobile baths are additionally equipped with a wheelbase - they cling to the car and can move without problems. The entrance door is mounted in the end part, but can also be installed on the side.
Varieties
The peculiarity of a round bathhouse is that it can be equipped for any type of steam room. The design is universal: Finnish, Russian - whatever pleases the arc. If the owner often goes outdoors with friends, it doesn’t matter. He can set up a mobile sauna. Varieties:
- Finnish . Drier steam is formed inside - this is its main difference from the Russian one. A section for washing in such a bathhouse is not required; it is usually arranged near a reservoir or an additional font or swimming pool is built nearby.
- Japanese – Asians are famous for their love of cleanliness. The bathhouse should become the center of unity of the energy of the elements. The Ofura barrel is a vertical structure: that is, a cylinder that is heated at the bottom by the firebox. You can’t take a steam bath in such a bath, but relaxing in the water is no problem.
Japanese barrel sauna Ofuro Source forestlumber.com
- Russian . The bathhouse consists of two sections: a steam room and a shower. For convenience during construction, an elongated shape is used. It is important to design the water drainage. The firebox is usually located outside to keep the steam moist.
- Mobile . It should be compact. It is important to equip a full-fledged mobile drain and wheelbase.
If necessary, mobile baths can be easily transported in a trailer Source mordvinov-wood.ru
Dimensions
The construction of a barrel bath requires taking into account parameters. The cylinder should not be longer than 6 meters - this is enough to accommodate a steam room, a washing section and a relaxation room. It is impossible to place a pool inside a barrel. If your budget allows, you can build a porch, a swimming pool, a canopy, etc. next to the bathhouse.
The most compact barrels are 2 meters. They only accommodate a compartment for the stove and steam room. Separately, it is worth considering barrels with water or oval shapes. They can be built in a ratio of 4*4 or 2.4*4 meters. A standard barrel is up to 2.2 meters high. This is enough to be inside without hesitation.
The massiveness of the structure depends on the foundation for the barrel bath, cladding materials, and the number of sections. Typically the weight ranges from 400 kg to 1.5 tons.
Stationary barrel sauna on a prepared base Source prom.st
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in the design and construction of baths of any complexity
User reviews
Maksim. Krasnoyarsk
In our climate, it is not possible to heat a barrel sauna all year round. In severe frost it is difficult to heat it, there is too much wood, and the desired temperature is not obtained. But from spring to late autumn, and even at the beginning of winter, as long as it is not below minus 15 degrees, we heat without problems. The barrel, of course, is a bit cramped, but 2–3 people fit in it quite comfortably.
Natalia. Moscow region.
We ordered a barrel 3 years ago. They made it in 2 weeks, delivered it disassembled and installed it in 5 hours. We are very happy, we heat it once a week. In winter too.
Andrey. Ryazan Oblast.
I ordered the smallest barrel, it only contains a steam room combined with a washing room. I already regret it. Undressing on the street is somehow not very pleasant. Although in other respects the bathhouse is quite satisfactory. I'm already thinking about changing it to a more comfortable model so that there is a rest room/dressing room. If funds allow, I advise you to take a more spacious barrel so that it looks more like a real bathhouse.
Maria. Chelyabinsk.
We read positive reviews and decided to buy a barrel sauna. My husband suggested it and said that building a real bathhouse would be expensive and take a long time. I gave in to persuasion and regretted it in the first year. This building is just for washing. For true connoisseurs, baths are not an option. For me the main drawback is the cold floor. Grandma had a real bathhouse, it was so hot there. And here my feet are cold all the time. I also don't like the low shelves. You can only steam while lying down.
Vladimir. Nizhny Novgorod.
I installed a barrel sauna 2 months ago. The manufacturer is not Nizhny Novgorod. So far very pleased. Compact 6X2.15 m, but roomy, 8 people can enter the relaxation room, 6 people can enter the steam room. It fries as it should, warms up quickly and with a minimum of firewood. Costs less than traditional stationary. I'm happy.
Materials
A standard Russian bathhouse is not so fancy - it can be built from any material. The inside of the structure is lined with wood and everything is ready. A board for a barrel sauna is a different matter, since here the materials need to be selected at the design stage. The following trees are suitable:
Oak
Oak boards are more durable than others. The strength of wood allows it not to be afraid of humidity and mechanical stress. On the contrary, water only strengthens the oak surface. The boards have an impressive appearance and a beautiful cut pattern - the finished barrel will look more expensive than it actually is.
The oak bathhouse looks massive and impressive Source ruskemping.ru
Linden
Linden is famous for its natural healing properties. This steam room is recommended for people suffering from respiratory diseases. Linden baths have an effect on skin elasticity. The boards retain heat, are easy to process and are cheaper than oak. The only drawback is that the linden quickly fills with water and begins to rot.
Linden barrel sauna Source kavkazlipa.ru
Aspen
It's cheap material. Aspen is not inferior in strength to linden, but is not as susceptible to impact and moisture. The wood does not become cracked as it is used, so it is well suited for a bathhouse.
Aspen barrel sauna Source osinavam.ru
Cedar
Coniferous trees are considered reliable for building a bathhouse. All thanks to the features:
- Durability - wood lasts for several decades without losing its external luster;
- Siberian cedar is considered a medicinal plant, because the steam room has a healing effect (makes the skin elastic, calms the nervous system);
- Heat capacity – a wooden bathhouse quickly warms up and does not release heat;
- Resinous tree species do not absorb moisture well, so they do not rot or collapse;
- Cedar is characterized as an antiseptic, due to which odors and bacteria do not spread inside;
- The beautiful wood structure looks beautiful even without additional finishing on the outside.
The cut of cedar boards looks colorful Source sklad-pilomaterialov.ru
However, the material also has disadvantages. For example, due to the heterogeneity of color, boards must be selected so that together they do not form too bright a color. A cedar sauna is more expensive, but lasts longer. Wood is not recommended for lining a steam room - the resins are too viscous. If they fill the air inside, the pores on the skin will begin to clog. People with respiratory diseases may feel ill inside such a bathhouse.
Characteristics
There are many options for round baths, each of which has its own characteristics, ranging from size to internal arrangement. Thus, after going through all the possible options, you can choose your “ideal” barrel sauna.
Dimensions
The smallest bathhouse, located horizontally, is 2 meters long. Its design implies the presence of 1-2 rooms. You can undress here at the entrance if the bathhouse has a porch with a canopy. The weight of such a building is about 1.5 tons.
The largest barrels reach a little over 6 meters. There can already be up to 3 rooms: a dressing room (with a well-thought-out resting place, a table, clothes hangers, benches), a wash room (with a shower or water containers), a steam room (with comfortable benches and loungers); or in the case of a sauna, the washing room can become a relaxation room. On average, the length of each room will be 1-2 meters.
Classic round baths can be of the following sizes - up to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 meters in length, about 2 meters in diameter (1.95 m is the internal diameter). Quad and oval baths may have slightly different parameters: 4x4, 3x6. Almost any bathhouse can accommodate comfortable sun loungers with a width of 500 mm.
In two-meter baths there is only one room. In the three- to four-meter ones there are already two – a small locker room and a steam room. The largest ones have space for three rooms.
Forms
The classic shape of a barrel bath is a circle, or rather a cylinder, located horizontally.
Less common are oval, square or rectangle shapes with rounded corners. In addition, there are options for baths with a semicircular top and rectangular bottom.
The entrance to both oval and quad baths can be from the front or the side. The entrance can be framed by a canopy or equipped with a gazebo. And the barrel sauna can be additionally enclosed in the frame of a gable roof.
Double-rounded baths have a rectangular outline. Vertical barrel baths are most often round-shaped buildings, less often oval or rectangular with rounded corners.
Materials
The main performance characteristics of a bathhouse depend on the materials from which it is made. The bathhouse is built from wood, or rather, specially processed profiled timber with a moongroove or tongue-and-groove fastening. The following types of wood are usually used for construction:
- Oak is a very high-quality material that becomes even stronger when exposed to water. It has excellent properties and can serve for many years. It has a beautiful structure, but is very expensive.
- Linden is an excellent material for a bathhouse. Known for its medicinal properties. Unfortunately, poorly treated wood of this species is easily susceptible to rotting and other negative effects.
- Aspen is an analogue of linden. With its help you can also create a favorable microclimate. But unlike linden, it is more resistant to harmful effects.
- Larch is a material that does not rot, and therefore will last a very long time. True, the price for round timber of this breed is quite high.
- Cedar is the only conifer that is highly recommended as a building material. It can also be used to create a healing microclimate. It has a beautiful unique structure. It has one drawback - it is quite expensive.
- Spruce, pine and other conifers are not recommended as building materials for baths. This is due to the fact that when exposed to high temperatures, wood is capable of releasing resins, which can cause burns. However, this effect only occurs from temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. Moreover, if such wood has undergone good chamber drying, then this process is minimal.
- Alder and birch are not suitable for building a barrel sauna, as they get very hot.
In addition to wooden elements, you will need ties, which are made from iron tape (strip), or steel hoops. Of course, metal corners, screws and other fasteners will be needed.
Bath stove
Assembling a barrel sauna allows you to use a wood-burning or electric stove. Advantages of stone structures:
- Compact and small in size - they are easy to assemble and install, if necessary they can be moved inside the bathhouse;
- There is no need to install a chimney;
- The steam room warms up faster than with wood – you just need to turn on the appropriate mode;
- Safety – the electric furnace will not become a source of fire;
- Cleanliness - no ash, soot or smoke is formed around.
An electric stove is not as healthy as a wood stove. In addition, the design does not consume much energy. If there are power outages, the bath will take longer to warm up or even remain cold. The design is not suitable for summer cottages that are not connected to a general power supply.
The electric oven is compact - it does not take up extra space Source pechiexpert.ru
Wood-burning stoves are considered a classic option and are more popular for Russian baths. They have advantages:
- Possibility of installation on any site, even if electricity is not supplied to it;
- The cost of fuel is lower than electricity;
- Environmental Safety;
- The ability to assemble the stove with your own hands (you need to be careful, otherwise there is a risk of fire).
Fire hazard is the main disadvantage of wood stoves. In addition, the bathhouse will need a chimney. Fuel has to be prepared in advance and stored in a special dry place, which takes up additional space on the site.
A wood stove requires a chimney. Source slovyanka.com
Another arrangement option is a boiler. They are:
- Solid fuel (firewood, coal, briquettes);
- Electrical;
- Gas;
- Liquid fuel (diesel fuel, oil, kerosene, etc.).
You can make boilers yourself, but this requires skills and experience.
Compact sauna
A sauna differs from a bath only in the temperature regime and the type of steam used. In order to monitor the volume of steam generated, it is enough to additionally install an electrical steam generator device, a special boiler or an electric masonry stove in the room. It is recommended to use alder, linden or pine as interior decoration. It is recommended to make small saunas that are used in summer cottages virtually airtight. In this case, special attention is paid to the thermal insulation layer. This will allow you to maintain and maintain optimal temperature conditions for a long time, while energy costs will be minimal.
Bath assembly
The owner of the site can buy a ready-made kit for turnkey assembly. When placing an order, he indicates dimensions, materials and other characteristics. You can also build a barrel with your own hands. First you need to prepare materials:
- You need dried and solid wood, pre-sawn into bars;
- Board width – 9 cm, thickness – 5 cm;
- If you choose boards with locks (tenon and groove), then assembly will take less time (you can make the locks yourself);
- You need to purchase or weld steel hoops (they strengthen the barrel around the perimeter);
- You will need insulation (mineral wool).
The bathhouse is being built in stages, starting from the foundation Source houser.su
Assembly consists of the following stages:
- The foundation for a barrel sauna is made of crushed stone and concrete screed. Base thickness – from 10 cm.
- A frame wooden support is mounted on the leveled area.
- Direct construction begins - first the steam room. 5*20 boards are cut into pieces around the perimeter of the bathhouse. The number of supports is determined taking into account the length of the building.
- The connection is made by cutting grooves in the upper ends of the boards (they follow the circumference of the cylinder).
- Next, the internal partitions and ends are designed - a tongue and groove board is useful for this. They are fixed to each other using transverse bars. They should not interfere with the installation of windows and doors.
- The tongue and groove board is cut taking into account the length of the building. The ends are polished. The boards are treated with an antiseptic.
Video description
The step-by-step assembly of the bathhouse is shown in this video:
You need to install the supports:
- It is important to maintain an equal step. The bottom of the barrel, made of boards fastened to each other (tongue and groove), is placed on them.
- After a sufficient circle shape has been formed, the end walls are laid out.
- The circle is completed. Now the structure needs to be secured with metal hoops. Next, windows and doors and a roof are installed.
A font or rinsing pool can be installed nearby. During the construction of the floor, it is worth calculating the slope towards the drain (1 degree for each meter).
After the main part is ready, you can begin the roofing Source mainavi.ru
