Splash baths: features, advantages and disadvantages of structures

The bath-barrel is an entertaining and very original design. Of course, it attracts attention. Such buildings have a number of indisputable advantages over their classic counterparts.

Barrel baths stand out for their non-trivial forms. Such structures can not be overlooked, they "cling", cause surprise. It is due to the fact that they are round, many of their characteristics exceed many times the properties of ordinary bath buildings. The undoubted advantages of such barrel-baths:

• compactness of the structure assumes a small amount for heating
• original appearance;

• fast heating due to the fact that steam is in a spherical space - in hot weather, such a bath can be submerged in 15-20 minutes, and in winter it will take a little longer - about an hour somewhere;
• a smaller amount of energy required to solve this problem - if the stove is wood-burning, then in order to flood it, you will literally need 7-8 logs;
• the bath-barrel is a rather light construction, therefore, if desired, it can be moved, in addition, there are even mobile trailer baths;

• in comparison with the log-house baths, it will take only a few days to build a barrel-shaped structure (and then, if it is an independent assembly);
• construction does not require a capital foundation;
• effect of "thermos" - heat can stay for a very long time;
• manufacturers claim that the life of these buildings can reach 20 years or more;
• maintain cleanliness in the room is very easy;

• it is a fairly budgetary alternative to capital construction of a large building;
• presented a huge selection of a variety of designs of this type;
• The main building element is wood. Properly selected material, in addition to its outwardly attractive appearance, will also present a real therapeutic steam room. Such fine wood as linden and cedar can create a wonderful healing microclimate. But no one prohibits the use of aroma oils during the procedure.

So, if there is not enough free space on the site, you want exclusivity and originality, then there is no better option than a bath-barrel. But still, like any other building, there are also disadvantages for barrel-shaped structures. The main one is the relative constraint of the internal space of the bath. Even if you take the greatest length of such structures, it will be only 6 meters. Turning into them a big company is quite problematic. But 2-3 people are quite able to swim and knock off steam, and sincerely chat.

And there are unscrupulous developers who use low-quality materials for construction. After receiving the finished building and starting to use it, only over time you can find out that there is something wrong in the bath. As a rule, when defects appear, the manufacturer is no longer on the market.

In Russia, bath-barrels appeared not so long ago, unlike in Scandinavian countries, whence this “miracle” of engineering thought came to us.There is also a national bath-barrel originally from Japan, the so-called ofuro. The idea of ​​using a barrel shape for washing purposes is not new. And because there is a lot of varieties of this kind of baths.

Perhaps the oldest - mentioned above. ofuro. According to Japanese philosophy, visiting such a bath allows you to harmonize the soul, because it combines 4 elements in itself. The tree is the earth, the boiler (or stove) is the fire, the water fills the barrel, as well as the air you breathe.

The Japanese home bath is an open vertical structure, most often of circular shape. It is equipped with a stove, which is fenced off from bathing with a special partition. There are options for structures of oblong oval shape with the boiler taken out. But the temperature in such buildings is poorly maintained.

There are also other vertical bath-barrelswhich besides happen the closed type. "Barrel" is located vertically and has a roof. These baths are made for one person.

Fitobochki can also be attributed to the vertical structures of the baths. They are so small that they do not suggest a full roof. There is a cutout for the head. Himself soaring usually sits.Most fitobochek made of cedar.

Sauna-barrel is the simplest in terms of manufacturing. It does not require a washing room, drainage. This is only a steam room, which is created by a sealed room. And you can rinse the heated steamed body in a nearby pool or font, lake, river (if there is an exit to those).

Russian bath assumes the presence of at least two rooms - the one in which they are steamed and the one in which they are washed. In this regard, there are several nuances that need to be taken care of:

• how and where the water will go;
• make a drain pipe, pit;
• the building must be erected at a slight angle;
• protect the space near the stove.

There are also mobile options for bath-drums on wheels. They can be made as a trailer, and, accordingly, such a transport bath can be left at your dacha, and then easily transported with you to a new resting place.

Baths are usually used in summer, but if year-round use is necessary, then you need to take care of the insulated version of the building. But if construction is underway in such an area,where the climate is not as harsh and in winter the frost does not exceed 10 degrees Celsius, then it is quite possible to use the construction as it is, without additional insulation.

Bath-drums may differ by the location of the entrance. Alternatively, it can be on the side.

The presence or absence of a gazebo, with a visor or with a canopy, and without it (as a logical continuation of the bath, but simply an unclosed entrance) can be entered into the design of the bath. A barrel with a side entrance can also be decorated with a porch with a visor. In addition, the baths can be equipped with an outdoor street terrace or a veranda with a panoramic window.

Depending on the size of the building can be from 1 to 4 rooms:

• gazebo at the entrance;
• a small dressing room;
• washing room;
• steam room

The larger the area, the more opportunities to accommodate various kinds of devices for comfortable rest: a shower, a pool or a font, a toilet. In addition, the bath can be only a part of the architectural ensemble - it can go to the bank of a river or a lake, or it can be attached overlapping to a pool or a tank with water. In due course any bath can "acquire" an extension, for example, with a missing locker room.

The finished appearance of the bath becomes after laying the roof, which can be made of shingles, soft roofs, steel sheets, and can be framed in a gable roof frame. The last buildings look very original. Polycarbonate roofs also look very impressive.

Speaking of bath-barrels, it is worth noting that there are quite unusual buildings of this type. Their shape is not even round, but oval or square, rectangular with rounded corners. There are buildings only with a rounded top. Not so long ago, appeared and twice rounded bath-barrels. They are equipped with a terrace that follows the contour of the building. The area of ​​such baths is slightly larger than similar buildings, however, their properties for heating are slightly lower. Baths can differ in exterior decoration, decoration of windows, doors.

Depending on what kind of heating is installed in the bath, the building can be heated:

• wood burning stove;
• oven with hot water tank;
• electric furnace;
• electric stove;
• submersible stove or boiler (for ofuro or for heating the font);
• homemade stove.

The furnace can be located both indoors and outside.As an option - a stove on the wood inside with a firebox on the street when the logs are thrown outside.

There is a mass of options for round baths, each of which has its own characteristics, ranging from the size and ending with the internal arrangement. Thus, having gone through all possible options, you can pick up your “ideal” bath-flank.

The smallest bath, located horizontally, is 2 meters long. Its design implies the presence of 1-2 rooms. You can undress here at the entrance, if the bath is equipped with a porch with a visor. The weight of such a building is about 1.5 tons.

The largest barrels reach 6 meters with a little. There can already be up to 3 rooms: a dressing room (with a thoughtful resting place, a table, clothes hangers, benches), washing facilities (with a shower or water tanks), a steam room (with comfortable benches, sun beds); or in the case of a sauna, the washing room can become a rest room. On average, the length of each room will be 1-2 meters.

Classic round baths can be of the following sizes - in length reach 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 meters, in diameter - about 2 meters (1.95 m is the inner diameter). Quad, oval baths may have slightly different parameters: 4x4, 3x6. Practically in any bathhouse there can be comfortable loungers 500 mm wide.

In the two-meter baths there is only one room. In the three-four meters already two - a small changing room and steam room. In the largest there is space for three rooms.

The classic form of the barrel bath is a circle, or rather, a cylinder located horizontally.

Less common are an oval, square, or rectangle with rounded corners. In addition, there are options for baths with a semicircular top and a rectangular bottom.

The entrance to the oval or quad bath can be either from the front or from the side. The entrance can be framed with a visor or equipped with a gazebo. And the bath-flank can be additionally enclosed in a gable roof frame.

Double rounded baths have rectangular outlines.Vertical bath-barrels most often represent buildings of a round shape, less often oval or rectangular with rounded corners.

The main performance characteristics of the bath depend on the materials from which it is made. The bath is built of wood, or rather, a specially processed profiled bar with a moon groove or a thorn-groove attachment. The following types of wood are commonly used for construction:

• Oak - very high-quality material, which from the effects of water becomes even stronger. It has excellent properties and can serve for many years. He has a beautiful structure, but he is very expensive.
• Linden - great material for a bath. Known for its healing properties. Unfortunately, poorly processed wood of this breed is easily susceptible to rotting and other negative impacts.
• Aspen - analog linden. With its help, you can also create a favorable microclimate. But unlike linden, it is more resistant to harmful effects.

• Larch - material that does not rot, and therefore will last a very long time. True, the price of the round timber of this breed is quite high.
• Cedar - the only conifer, which is strongly recommended as a building material. With it, you can also create a healing microclimate. It has a beautiful unique structure. He has one drawback - he is quite expensive.
• Fur tree, pine tree and other conifers are not recommended as a building material for baths. All due to the fact that under the influence of high temperatures, wood is able to produce resins, which can burn. However, this effect occurs only on temperature in excess of 100 degrees. And besides, if such wood has gone through a good chamber drying, then this process is minimal.
• Alder and birch bath-barrels are not suitable for the construction, as they are very heated.

In addition to wooden elements, you will need screeds, which are made of iron tape (strip), or steel hoops. Of course, metal corners, screws and other fasteners will be needed.

Depending on the purpose of the room, right next to the threshold there can be a full-fledged gazebo in which hooks are installed, small benches (or chairs) are set. Next is the dressing room. It can have the same coat hooks, benches and even a small folding table attached to the wall. In the washbasin, on the one hand, you can install a shower head, and under it there is a pan, on the other hand, there can be small shelves for cosmetics, buckets and other things. In the steam room a lot of furniture is not needed. All that is needed is lounger benches where you can sit down and relax.

With regard to technical issues, then, as a rule, barrel-shaped design is arranged as follows:

• In the washing must be installed wooden pallet or grate, which will ensure the discharge of water. In addition, a floor should be equipped with a drain and a pipe should be installed between the bottom and the drain.
• If the water is heated from the stove, then in this case the heating element should be installed between the steam room and the washing room.
• In the sauna, the stove can be located near the wall or be taken out of the bath.
• In the event that heating occurs at the expense of the furnace inside the room, then it must be isolated to prevent inadvertent contact.
• The pipe can be displayed either from the side or directly in the middle. If it is a sauna bath, then it is necessary to think over all issues related to ventilation and provide a special damper for the chimney.

Most reviews of bath-barrel owners are positive. But there are also negative ones. Owners of such structures praise them primarily for the original design, as well as ease of assembly, mobility, quick warm-up. Many point out that this design implies only temporary use only in the warm season. Although there are those who used them in the winter.

There are a lot of records of bath owners who recently purchased them, in contrast to those who used them at least 3-4 years. Positive reviews are often so “sweet” that involuntarily there is a doubt about their reality and the non-commercial component. Therefore, negative comments are especially valuable. Those who oppose and scold bath-barrels - that is, of course real buyers, note the following:

• Over time, the boards crack, and after pulling them together, it becomes problematic. Although in many respects it testifies to the initially poor quality of building materials - they were not properly dried.
• In winter, the baths do not warm so quickly and cool down as quickly. It feels cold below when there is more steam above. There is no opportunity to sit long in the steam room.

• The need to monitor the drain, especially when used in cold weather. The drain pipe may burst, and this would entail poor drainage, stagnant water and the appearance of rot.
• The appearance of mold, fungus, even with proper care - regular airing and cleaning.
• Many users of summer baths are confused by the thickness of the walls.Boards that are used are rather thin - only 4-5 cm.
• Expensive - for the same amount it is possible to build a regular frame or foam block bathhouse, which will be more spacious.

Manufacturers offer turnkey baths. Barrel or brought to the site, or assembled on the spot. However, there are special offers from developers - ready-made kits for hand-made assembly with detailed step-by-step instructions for installing the structure. True, the price of such kits is not much different from the finished product.

Boards should be perfectly dried. The dimensions of each board must be identical. In addition, each board must go through a milling machine. To connect the elements use the connection "tongue-and-groove". Such a connection can be made only on professional equipment. In addition, each wooden element must be treated with special protective solutions.

To calculate, order and prepare the required amount of materials, it is necessary to make an accurate drawing of the future design. The more accurate the project, the better.

At the design stage, you will need to decide how the windows and doors will be located. They must be indicated in the figure.

According to the ready drawing or scheme, the master will cut the following blanks on the milling cutter:

• wooden boards for the floor, walls and ceiling with fastening tongue and groove with a cross section of not more than 45 * 90 mm;
• walls and partitions with a section of 50 * 200 mm;
• bases with semicircular cuts (the diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the bath). Section no more than 40 * 400 mm. Such grounds can be from 2 to 4, depending on the length and number of rooms.

When all the blanks are ready and pre-processed, you can proceed to assembly.

Bath-barrel should be collected on a flat surface (even leveled soil, paved paving ground or poured concrete area will be suitable). A solid foundation is not required and is not done. When building a bath-barrel with a steam room, a drain system should be provided.. The site may be slightly inclined.

When the future foundation is ready, then a bath is already assembled on it. For a start the bases are fixed.Metal corners, screws and screwdrivers here will be very helpful. Supports are placed in steps of 150 cm. Boards should be fixed as firmly as possible, so metal corners that create extra rigidity will be useful. These elements are fixed at the corners and at the junction of the transverse and longitudinal planks.

After the first board is laid. It is located exactly in the middle. It must be fastened securely, because it will be attached to it all the other boards.

According to the technology boards are mounted simultaneously in parallel from two sides. Every detail must be firmly mated with the previous one. Mount "moon groove" allows you to connect the boards with each other without the use of any connecting elements.

When the lower sector is assembled, the boards have filled the entire cutout of the stand, and the end walls are attached. In order to put partitions in the side boards, special grooves must be provided.

The final element will be a corrective bar. This detail allows to minimize gaps.

It remains only to pull the bath with steel cables. When the screeds are secured, take care of the drainage and chimney, the installation of the furnace, the laying of electrical wiring,sewers.

If you plan to use the bath all year round, then at this stage it is necessary to warm it. It is possible to warm the construction with the help of a special foil-rolled material that can withstand high temperatures. Traditional materials for these purposes - mineral wool.

Floor, ceiling, walls are ready. Now you can put the doors and windows. Note that they must be installed as tightly as possible. Then you need to go to the internal arrangement. Benches, seats, wooden pallet, folding table, hangers, shelves - all this is necessary for a comfortable pastime in the bath.

One of the last steps will be the construction of the roof. In a round bath, you can, for example, put shingles or other soft roofs, or you can build an additional frame for a gable roof.

And at the very end of construction it will be necessary to process all the wooden elements of the interior decoration of the bath. Flaxseed oil is an excellent impregnation, which has proven to be an additional protection against excessive moisture.It will be useful to treat the flame retardant composition of the external surfaces of the bath.

Bath is ready. But do not rush to use it immediately. The first firebox will be "technical" in order to completely erode all the compositions that were used. It is necessary to heat a hot bath for at least 4 hours. The temperature of the room should be above 60 degrees Celsius. Doors and windows should be open.

How to collect a bath-barrel, see the following video.

One of the advantages of the bath-barrel, of course, is its original look. He can not attract attention. Many people who hear that such a bath has appeared to their acquaintances tend to visit it and try it personally.

The interior of the bath-barrel from the inside also looks very original. Most of the furniture is made of wood. Spherical wooden room provides additional relaxation. Psychologically, it is comfortable, a person feels protected. In the context, it is a “sandwich” of several rooms: changing rooms, a waiting room, steam rooms. And if the bath is made of healing wood species, then it also becomes a home clinic, which improves not only immunity, but also mood.

But over time, even such an exclusive can podnadoest.Many owners begin to decorate the building, and the bath turns into a space shuttle or a submarine or other buildings that are cylindrical in shape. Some make a bath under the form of a fairy-tale hut, but with an oval oblong shape. The use of glass on a large part of the facade will give the construction notes of hi-tech or industrial style. As a winter version, such a bath, of course, will not work, but in the summer it will always please the eye with its original look.

Other owners begin to emphasize the shape of the barrel or additionally adjust it to the house structure (leaving the necessary “gap” of 6 meters), equip it with a roof and a veranda, adjust it to the pool or water tank. (If initially these architectural elements were not provided in a set with a bath).

With proper care, a bath-barrel will last more than one decade. The main thing:

• Do not forget to air the steam room, and the rest of the premises, at least 4-5 hours, preferably after each use and if the bath has not been heated for a long time.
• To make an additional "drying" of the bath. It is necessary to start the furnace at full capacity within one or two hours and at the same time keep the doors and windows open.
• At least once a year to process the structure with protective agents.
• If a wood-burning stove is installed, it is advisable to use non-coniferous firewood for heating. Firewood must be dry.

• The water tank must be at least half full. This is very important when heating. After use, it is advisable to remove the remaining water from the tank.
• Check and clean the chimney regularly.
• Ensure that the water in the drain does not stand and does not freeze.
• In the autumn period, the hoops that tighten the frame of the bath should be loosened. It is during the cold season that wood tends to expand slightly due to the surrounding moisture. In the summer, the reverse process occurs, the tree dries, and the hoops need to be tightened.