Is it possible to combine a steam room with a washing room? In what cases is this advisable?

The bathhouse is one of the most pleasant places to relax and recuperate. This is especially true for Russian people.

However, not everyone understands how to rationally, and most importantly comfortably, arrange such an important area in a bathhouse as the washing room. The finishing of the bathhouse in the washroom is also important.

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Photo of the interior of the bathhouse

This article contains a brief description of options for arranging the washing area in a Russian bathhouse.

Advantages of the washing compartment

The washing compartment in the bathhouse is arranged in a separate area, fenced off from the steam room, dressing room and relaxation room. In small baths, all rooms are combined, and the washing area is separated from other functional areas by a decorative partition.

The combined option of a washing compartment with a steam room provides significant space savings, but makes the room less convenient to use.

The advantages of a separate sink include:

• the ability to create a unique and practical interior;
• possibility of accommodating a large number of people;
• the possibility of using wear-resistant and durable materials for internal lining;
• simplicity and accessibility of washing machine maintenance.

In a small-sized private bathhouse there can be two rooms: in one there is a dressing room with a relaxation area, in the other there is a steam room with a sink. A stove for a bath and an area for storing bath accessories are located in the steam room, a shower and benches for relaxation are located in the washing bath.

This design has some advantages, including:

• Economical consumption of fuel material for heating combined rooms.
• A laconic and practical interior, when a heater with an extended firebox can be installed in a steam room and washing room. This will provide simultaneous heating of the premises and hot water supply.

How to properly make a washing device in a bathhouse - tips with examples

Currently, the bathhouse is a whole complex of special rooms for bathing procedures and relaxation. In addition to the actual washing, there you can take a break from the hustle and bustle, socialize in pleasant company, improve your body health and improve your morale. Further in the material we will talk about what the structure of a bathhouse washing machine is, what materials are best used for finishing and where to start this process.

The finishing of the steam room and wash room must meet special requirements, since they are the ones that are most intensively used during bathing procedures.

Not so long ago, it was customary to combine a steam room with a washing room in order to save space and better warm up both rooms. However, at present, this idea is increasingly being abandoned, since these rooms are completely different in terms of functional load. In addition, not everyone can tolerate high temperatures in a steam room for a long time. However, everyone is free to decide for themselves what they want.

Most professionals believe that a tiled sink in a bathhouse will look best. In addition, such material is relatively inexpensive.

Requirements for the washing department

Distinctive features of a washing room in a wooden bath are changes in temperature conditions and high humidity, which leads to the creation of comfortable conditions for long-term visitors.

For this reason, such a department must have a reliable ventilation system for good air exchange.

The results of insufficient ventilation are overheating of the body, the appearance of mold and mildew, and the concentration of unpleasant odors and moisture.

The washing room in the bathhouse must meet the basic technical requirements:

• Equipped with forced ventilation of supply or natural type with an air duct pipe. The pipe is equipped with protective flaps to regulate the air flow.
• The air pipe is brought out through a special hole in the ceiling to the roof.
• Installation of the supply pipe 200 cm above the soil level.
• Arrangement of hot and cold water supply systems.
• Carrying out various types of massage using bath cosmetics. For this purpose, a standard massage table or trestle bed is installed in the department.

Protective compounds for processing

If it is possible to change the internal lining of the steam room, then treatment with additional compounds is not required. This can often be quite costly and time-consuming, so it is recommended to treat not only the ceiling in a Russian steam bath, but also in other rooms, as well as walls and other elements.

When actively using the steam room, there will inevitably be stains on the ceiling from splashing water with aromatic oils and drops of sweat. To avoid this, it is recommended to treat the ceiling in a sauna or bathhouse with a special water-soluble antiseptic, which forms a protective, breathable film on the surface.

In addition, it has dirt- and water-repellent properties. The composition has antimicrobial properties and prevents the formation of mold and the proliferation of microbes. If you don’t know how to paint the ceiling in a bathhouse, you can simply add a colored tint to the protective composition. This will not only preserve the wood for a long time, but also give it the desired shade.

Information. For the ceiling, you should choose special mixtures that are intended specifically for it. Compositions for treating walls are not suitable.

Features of finishing material for washing

The washing room in a wooden bath is practically not subject to heating, but is in contact with water, which eliminates the possibility of using wood for interior decoration. To maintain the overall design of the premises in a bathhouse made of timber, you can use its high-quality imitation.

When choosing materials for the interior decoration of the washing compartment, the following parameters are taken into account:

• resistance to high humidity;
• environmental safety;
• practicality and durability;
• convenient and affordable installation;
• ease of maintenance;
• price.

The most popular finishing materials include wood, tiles, stone, paint, and plastic.

According to their purpose, they are divided into types: for finishing floor, wall and ceiling surfaces. Each of the available options has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Design styles

Now a bathhouse is not a modest hut with one large room in which people steam, but a full-fledged complex that has several rooms for different purposes.

When choosing a design style for rooms in a bathhouse, it is recommended to settle on a single option. It will give the room a holistic look. When creating a design, you need to pay attention to a number of factors:

1. The classic option for interior cladding of bathhouses is lining made from different types of wood. It is important to choose wood varieties that do not release resins when exposed to high heat.
2. It is necessary to allocate places for storing body care products and washcloths. They should be at hand, but not create chaos.

The most popular design styles:

1. Modern - a combination of simplicity and elegance. The wooden panels that line the rooms are sanded to such a state that the natural grain of the wood disappears. The equipment inside is modern, without classical elements.
2. Chalet style. The interior is dominated by antique decorations. This could be bladed weapons, armor, paintings, figurines, precious stones.
3. Classic Russian style. It assumes a wooden finish, which is decorated with hand carvings.

You can combine styles if desired.

Wooden panels and lining

Wood is the most sought-after and popular material used for decorative cladding of wall and ceiling surfaces. Finishing a bathhouse sink with wooden panels and lining is the best choice for those who want to get an original interior style.

Due to the high content of resin compounds, the wood is resistant to high humidity, drying out and rotting.

With additional treatment of wood with protective paints, natural oils and wax, the service life of the material is doubled.

• Oil compositions are able to penetrate deeply into the wood structure and reliably protect it from the inside. Before processing, the wooden base is thoroughly cleaned and sanded. The oil is applied evenly in several thin layers. After drying, the surface becomes resistant to the negative effects of moisture.
• Wax is an alternative option for protecting wood, more expensive and durable. It is applied in a circular motion using a piece of soft cloth. Wax is capable of creating a thin film that protects the surface from darkening, drying out and rotting.
• Paints with moisture-repellent properties are used to treat wooden surfaces. They come in matte or glossy. The paint is evenly applied to the surface to be treated with a soft brush in 2-3 layers and left until completely dry.

Finishing a shower room in a bathhouse with clapboards or panels can be made from the following types of wood:

• Larch is a material with high performance characteristics. It is strong, durable and resistant to high humidity. Despite the difficulty in pre-processing, such wood has incredible beauty and aroma.
• Linden is a wear-resistant material that can be used for high-quality sheathing of a sink. It is resistant to darkening, drying out and rotting, and also exudes a pleasant medicinal aroma.
• Cedar, pine and spruce are wood species that are widely used for cladding ceiling and wall surfaces. They are impervious to heat and high humidity, and have a pleasant pine scent.
• Abashi is an exotic wood that is distinguished by its delicate texture and aesthetics, and is resistant to deformation and damage.

Wood finishes can be combined with decorative elements made from natural or artificial stone.

Protecting slats from moisture

Regardless of the chosen type and grade of lining, a prerequisite for a long service life is to cover the surface of the finished product with specialized water-repellent agents, which are made on the basis of natural oils, wax or water.

Water-based paints come in a variety of colors and shades, but the coating wears off relatively quickly, so re-treatment is required at least once a year. Oily substances penetrate deep into the wood and last quite a long time, and such coatings, as a rule, are transparent and well emphasize the natural beauty of the wood. Wax products are not cheap, but they protect the wood best, and the native texture becomes much more expressive.

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Ceramic tile

Tiles are wear-resistant, strong and durable materials that have high moisture-resistant properties. It is distinguished by a wide range of colors, texture and size variability. Floors and walls up to 1.7 meters high are tiled.

Before tiling wooden walls, the surface is thoroughly cleaned, a layer of waterproofing is installed and leveled. A moisture-resistant adhesive composition is used to lay the tiles.

In order to properly tile the floor, it is necessary to properly arrange the drainage hole and make a concrete screed. The base is made at a slight angle with respect to the drain hole connected to the sewer pipe.

Tiles have important advantages:

• resistance to high humidity;
• high strength and wear resistance;
• environmental safety and durability;
• resistance to fading and darkening;
• ease of maintenance;
• wide range of colors.

The disadvantages of the finishing material include:

• slippery surface that can lead to injury;
• the difficulty of doing installation yourself (practical skills and knowledge are required);
• susceptibility to mechanical damage.

The ceramic tile finish is successfully combined with natural moisture-resistant paint.

What types of floors are there?

There are several options for installing floors in a washroom. The coating can be: concrete with ceramic tiles, wood with grating, continuous with water drainage.

In public baths and saunas, the floors are often made of concrete using a glass wool insulation system. In small home baths, wooden flooring made from softwood is usually installed. Larch has proven itself especially well.

To install wooden floors, mineral wool is placed between the joists for insulation. For flooring, ordinary boards are used; they are covered with a polyethylene sheet with high edges and a hole for drainage.

Wooden floors in the washroom are easy to install and do not require special costs, but are not durable.

A concrete-ceramic floor covering will not be as warm, but will last for several decades.

Artificial and natural stone

Finishing the sink with stone is a practical and durable option. The material is suitable for cladding floors and wall surfaces up to 50 cm in height. An excellent solution for finishing a shower is a combined masonry made of natural and artificial stone.

Natural stone has a number of advantages:

• high environmental friendliness and safety;
• practicality and durability;
• inertness to mechanical damage;
• resistance to high humidity;
• attractiveness and aesthetics.

Among the disadvantages are:

• heavy weight;
• the difficulty of doing independent masonry;
• high cost.

An alternative to expensive natural stone is its artificial counterpart. It is less environmentally friendly, but at the same time lightweight and easy to install.

Steam room height

The height of the steam room is the most important parameter that needs to be decided. The quality of steam depends on this parameter. The steam room should not be too low so that it has a sufficient volume of stable steam. In a steam room with a ceiling that is too high, steam will be wasted, so the recommended ceiling height is from 2.2 m to 2.4 m. In this case, you should focus on the height of the tallest family member, because with a height below 2.1 m, people with height above average, it will be uncomfortable to be in the steam room; moreover, there will not be enough fresh air there, and the steam will quickly evaporate. But, if you make the ceiling 2.5 m high, then the fuel consumption and time for lighting the heater will increase, because the volume of the steam room will increase by about 0.5 m3. At the same time, the entire volume of useful hot steam will accumulate not where those steaming are located, but right under the ceiling. The height of the steam room door should be standard (65-70 cm by 170-180 cm), always with a high threshold to reduce the access of cold air from outside.

Plastic panels

Finishing a washing room in a wooden bath using PVC panels is an affordable and cheap option. This material is characterized by high moisture resistance, practicality and ease of installation. It is used for cladding ceiling and wall surfaces. Thanks to the wide range of models and variety of colors, you can choose the most suitable option for cladding wall and ceiling surfaces.

The walls and ceiling in the washroom, lined with plastic panels or lining, can look quite presentable.

The advantages of the material include:

• affordable price;
• practicality;
• resistance to high humidity;
• easy installation on a wooden grid or adhesive base;
• attractive appearance.

PVC cashing has some disadvantages:

• susceptibility to mechanical stress;
• tendency to darken and burn out;
• short service life;
• low environmental friendliness.

Important! Plastic panels are installed after installing waterproofing on wall and ceiling surfaces. All work is carried out only after the finished bath has shrunk, in order to prevent distortion and violation of the tightness of the lining.

Ventilation

Before you start using any bathhouse, you need to take care of a high-quality ventilation system. There are two types of similar systems that are relevant for wooden showers:

1. Natural - two windows located at different heights. Through one, the flow of fresh air enters the room, through the other it is discharged outside.
2. Forced - the design resembles a natural system, but a fan is installed at the exhaust vent, which speeds up the process of air circulation in the room.

The second ventilation option is suitable for large showers. The first is sufficient for small buildings.

Choosing a shower stall

To choose a shower stall for a bath, you need to listen to the opinions of experienced bathhouse attendants:

1. If the shower stall only needs washing, it is enough to install the simplest open model.
2. If there is enough space in the washing room, it is better to take a shower stall model with swinging doors.
3. For small rooms, it is better to purchase a design with doors that slide together.
4. If after visiting the steam room you want to relax under streams of warm water, it is better to choose closed-type structures.

Furniture selection

Standard equipment for shower bath furniture:

• shelves for storing washcloths, shampoos, shower gels;
• a barrel of cold water;
• sink, mirror;
• shower;
• shop.

Can be supplemented with buckets, ladles, moisture-absorbing mats or rubber plates on the floor to prevent the tiles from slipping.

Options from the store

You can buy bath furniture in specialized stores. Benches and water barrels are made of oak, ash, birch, maple, and linden. Ready-made furniture is more expensive than homemade furniture.

Making furniture yourself

To make a bench for a bathhouse with your own hands, you need to prepare bars and linden boards. Additionally, you will need self-tapping screws, a hand or electric saw, and a screwdriver. Build process:

1. The side parts on which the bench will be supported are rectangles with legs.
2. After assembling the side parts, you need to connect them together with a long transverse board.
3. Place 3 boards 10–15 cm wide on top of the two parts.

Communications

Particular attention should be paid to communications. Thick, moist steam is a good conductor of electricity. Therefore, switches, panels, sockets should be installed inside the dressing room, and not in the shower or steam room. When choosing lamps, it is better to give preference to devices with ceramic sockets and wooden lampshades.

If we talk about drain pipes, they should be installed inside the floor during the first stages of construction. The drains are discharged into a special well, which consists of separate concrete rings.