The bathhouse in Russia is not just a washing establishment, but an essential element of Russian culture. In the bathhouse you can have a good time with friends, take a break from the daily hustle and bustle, and calm down. In the bathhouse, illness leaves the body, and bad thoughts leave the head. Baths in Rus' were built differently in different places and at different times. Mostly from logs, less often from stone, and in ancient times they dug a small pit in the ground and built a dugout bathhouse. And now there are people who like to build such an exotic bathhouse.
A little history
In Russia, during the construction of a bathhouse, a log house was built, and then two zones were set up - a dressing room and a steam room. There was always a stove in the bathhouse. If the stone hearth did not have a chimney, and there was a hole in the roof for the smoke to escape, then this method of burning was called “black”. In the room, soot settled on everything - on the walls, on the shelves, on people. To create steam, it was necessary to splash water on the hot stones. The bathhouse with a normal stove, equipped with a chimney and pipe, was heated “white-hot,” and everyone came out clean.
Bathhouse-dugout
What are the benefits of dugout baths?
Such a bathhouse creates its own microclimate. The room is filled with moist steam, the temperature is set in the range of +45-60 °C. This promotes slower sweating than in other baths, which is much more beneficial for the body, which is calmly cleansed of toxins.
Dugouts are more economical in construction than above-ground structures. Such a structure does not require an expensive foundation. A bathhouse can be built in two to three days. Earthen walls have higher heat transfer than above-ground buildings. These walls are less susceptible to the negative effects of temperature changes. The soil surrounding the dugout provides good protection from noise, because people also go to the bathhouse to relax. In hot summers, the bathhouse is cooler than outside. And in winter it’s warm, there’s somewhere to warm up.
But to have only one good thing - that doesn’t happen in life. Even in a barrel of honey there is a fly in the ointment. In the bathhouse, you need to solve the problem of wastewater. Even if the floor is earthen and water passes through it, dirt will gradually accumulate there, and an unpleasant odor will appear in the bathhouse. You need to spend money on time and make high-quality drainage. And there will be problems with ventilation. And the walls will require waterproofing so that groundwater does not penetrate into the bathhouse through them.
Bathhouse-dugout
How to build a sauna cheaply?
Content
If a person wants to build a bathhouse, then the key point is the financial issue. People who are limited in funds want to kill two birds with one stone - to do everything efficiently, but cheaply. Is it possible? There are several ways to build a bathhouse cheaply . We will tell you the principles of building a budget sauna.
Construction of a budget bathhouse. General Tips
- Choose moisture-resistant materials! Damage to material has a negative impact on savings.
- If you are interested in the question “ how to build a bathhouse at minimal cost ?”, then we give advice - build a small bathhouse. The larger the bathhouse, the more materials are needed.
- Watch out for fire safety!
- The construction site must be level, otherwise additional material will be required for the foundation.
- The bathhouse is a relatively lightweight structure, which allows the use of a floating foundation. It's profitable.
Bathhouse made of plastic film - it happens!
If you are going on a hike or you have a summer house that you don’t visit often, then a temporary type of bathhouse may be suitable for you. This type of construction is very inexpensive. You will need a couple of pieces of plastic film, a couple of fabric sheets and rope. Pieces of film need to be selected according to the size of 3 by 5 meters, and fabric - one and a half by 3 meters. You will use rope to connect the frame elements. This is what is cheaper to build a bathhouse from . Other materials can be easily found in nature.
Stages of construction of a temporary bath:
- Construction of a foundation for a stove made of stones.
- Bake. Larger stones are placed on the foundation. Later, large and flat stone slabs are placed on such a structure. It is necessary to leave a gap between them through which the heat will penetrate. The process ends with the installation of a flat boulder on the hole. A container of water will be placed on it.
- Frame. It is constructed from branches that are tied together with a rope.
- Finally, the stove is lit and the frame is surrounded with polyethylene. An awning is used for the door. The final size of the structure: 1.5×3×1.7 meters.
Summer view of the bathhouse
There is another option for how to build a bathhouse with your own hands cheaply - the summer type. This bathhouse does not contain a stove in its design. Indoor air and water are heated by the sun during the day. The southern wall must be made at an angle. Under the material of such a wall, polyethylene film is used. The side should not be shaded throughout the daylight hours. Wood is used as material for the northern wall. The boards are fitted with maximum density - it is necessary to fix the heated air without allowing leakage.
The door is also made of wood on the eastern side of the bathhouse. Roofing felt or a black aluminum sheet is perfect for the roof (you can paint it yourself). Both options are good for attracting heat from sunlight. It is possible to install a water tank on the roof. A tap or watering can is led from such a reservoir into the bathhouse. The water heated during the day will provide the owner with a warm evening shower.
The ideal place to build a permanent bathhouse is the bank of a river. If this is not possible, then you will need to place a bowl measuring one and a half by two meters. During construction, a room for storing firewood and necessary bath accessories is being considered. A steam room, a dressing room and the stove itself are also being built.
The sauna stove is the main element with a strict arrangement. One side of the stove heats the dressing room, and the other side heats the hot water tank. You can also choose a place for stones, watering which gives rise to heat. Cold water is poured into a separate tank or supplied via a tap - depending on your budget.
So, how much does it cost to build a bathhouse is a very vague question. Much depends on your goals and desires. If we compare the listed types of baths, the cheapest will be a temporary bath. A permanent bathhouse is the most expensive option. Well, a summer bath is an ideal option for a summer cottage.
How to build a sauna cheaply?
Is it possible? There are several ways to build a sauna cheaply. We will tell you the principles of building a budget sauna.
Source: beribanyu.ru
Construction of a bathhouse
As with any construction, the first thing you need to do is choose the place where the bathhouse will be built. You can also build a bathhouse on a long hiking trip if you plan to stay for two or three days. But if the construction takes place on a local plot, and its size is more than 6 acres, then the location must be chosen carefully. For construction, you will need a plot with dimensions of 3x5x1.8 m. It’s good if there is at least a small slope in the corner of the plot. Its slope naturally suggests an entrance. It is imperative to check at what depth the groundwater is located. It will not be good if they penetrate the room through the walls. You should look at how far the trees grow. It will be very difficult to dig a pit among the roots. And the trees are of little benefit from this neighborhood.
Entrance to the bathhouse in the hill
It would be nice to leave the bathhouse on the shore of a natural reservoir. It’s beautiful, and you can take a dip in the cool water after the steam room.
Bathhouse on the shore of a pond
Construction specialists recommend starting construction by marking the selected area. It is necessary to mark the general contours of the structure and estimate the future internal layout. Then remove the top turf and dig a pit. The complexity of the preparatory work can be a couple of working days.
After this, you need to waterproof the walls and work on the drainage system. To create it you will need a drainage pipe, small and large gravel, sand, geotextiles. From the corner of the main pit, you should dig a ditch as long as possible to the place where stagnation of flowing water is no longer dangerous. The ditch must go through a layer of clay and reach the sand. A drainage pipe must be laid in it so that its holes point down. Install a ventilation pipe at its end. After this, the ditch can be filled in and a drainage septic tank can be laid. Now you can begin to improve this area - sow grass, make a path.
Scheme of the drainage system After completing the construction of the drainage system, you can begin building the building structures of the main part. A house is being built inside the pit. The requirements for it are slightly weaker than for a residential hut, but the design and construction technology are similar. The material can be used inexpensively. The main pillars are installed at the corners of the pit. Then, in accordance with the plan, pillars for dividing walls and roof supports. Walls made of logs are laid between the pillars.
Traditionally, the bathhouse has three sections - a dressing room, a wash room and a steam room. The same thing is being built in the dugout. The rafter structure is laid along the pillars and partitions, then the ceiling and roof are installed. A chimney is installed through the roof, and the roof is covered with waterproofing material. And you can lay turf completely over the top.
There must be a stove inside the room. And each owner equips the interior in accordance with his imagination, artistic taste and wallet size.
Interior option for a dugout bathhouse
Underground bath
In a commercial proper bathhouse with our stove (Ramunas stove built by the author) and the treatment area built by us on a turn-key basis, the blower door broke - someone stepped on it. We maintain good relationships with customers both during the warranty period (three years) and after warranty service, as well as in cases of non-warranty breakdowns and new tasks for the bathhouse.
So that our customer did not lose money from the downtime of his small but successful business in an underground bathhouse, a prompt visit was carried out to carry out the work, additionally modifying the stove to the latest modification of the 2020 model year, and making an audit of what inside the stove had changed during the daily (5 days a week the bathhouse is heated) use? This is a clear example that the right bathhouse with our solutions built for commerce will always be full! Next, let's talk about the stove and solutions. Ramunas' sauna stove is the first original stove, with subsequent modifications by other authors. The stove is ergonomic, safe and easy to use, and provides the most pleasant conditions and modes in the sauna - black sauna in white sauna (the so-called gray sauna by some). In addition to all its functions, the stove provides air exchange (ventilation) in the bathhouse. An inclined sheet above the heater serves to direct the steam-air mixture, and was first used on Ramunas stoves. The stove is repairable, as evidenced by quick overhaul and assembly and combustion in less than one working day. Shown is cleaning a reactor with a patented floating rock bin. Ramunas's brick sauna stove is unique (the best or one of the best, but exactly the right one for a proper sauna), combining the functions of heating, steam generation, air exchange, infrared radiation, having high efficiency, ease of use, a wide range for various bath and SPA procedures , while being safe, convenient and enjoyable to prepare and use. The furnace allows you to obtain conditions and modes in a wide range from 25-30 degrees Celsius with low humidity (light washing mode) to steelmaking modes, so that it “doesn’t seem like much” when carrying out the procedures of various national baths, while easily switching between these modes. The Ramunas stove is the right stove for a bathhouse, as it provides the functions assigned to a stove in a bathhouse, allows you to obtain and change a wide range of modes and conditions for carrying out various procedures of various national baths and SPA, and is also safe (steam shoots upward, bending around a person without letting opportunity to scald him), comfortable and pleasant.
Building options
Each builder does what he is capable of. As a result, bathhouses differ in location, depth, construction material, appearance and interior. But any bathhouse is a pleasure.
Bathhouse in the hill
Bathhouse in the forest
In a bathhouse you definitely need a stove - either a homemade one made of stone or a purchased metal one.
Heater stove in dugout bathhouse
Do-it-yourself bathhouse from a barn
You can get by without building a dugout if there is an old barn in the yard. After a little modernization, the building will turn out to be a good bathhouse. The shed is suitable from any material: wood, stone, foam block, brick.
The construction of a bathhouse begins with the layout. Most of the barn is used for the steam room. It is optimal to calculate 2 m2 of steam room area for 1 person.
Under the stove, choose a place where there will be a partition separating the steam room from the locker room. When planning a bathhouse, think through a convenient arrangement of shelves. It is optimal to make the floor pourable. The underground is filled with concrete screed or laid out with slabs and waterproofed with bitumen. Logs are laid on the base, a board 50 mm thick is laid with a gap of about 5 mm.
Ventilation windows - vents - are cut out in the foundation of the barn. Through them, they organize the drainage of water from the underground of the pouring floor.
What reduces the cost
A dugout bathhouse costs the owner much less than building a standard above-ground bathhouse. The dugout does not require expensive insulation materials. The entire globe is around the bathhouse, and heat loss is minimal. And in winter, snow is an insulator. You don’t have to spend money on expensive building material, but use dead wood. As a rule, there are no windows in such a bathhouse. And this is also a significant expense item. And its architecture is primitive.
A simple bathhouse in the forest