The traditional option for sauna doors is a solid wooden structure that can survive decades of active use of the steam room. But you have to take care of them especially carefully, because under the influence of high humidity, fungus forms on the tree. Also, due to moisture and sudden temperature changes, the tree can swell or shrink, causing inconvenience to the owner. A modern steam room can be equipped with glass bath doors, which will solve all of the above problems in one fell swoop. Although many people who are thinking about this option are confused by the danger of getting burned on hot glass when leaving the steam room. Another factor that drives bathhouse owners into deep thought is the possible fragility of this material - after all, wood is probably stronger.
But experts assure that modern technologies make it possible to create ultra-strong glass doors that can withstand the influence of many external factors. Just be sure to purchase designs that are specifically designed for baths. And it would be nice from reputable manufacturers who have proven their skills over years of successful work. It is equally important to install the structure correctly so that it does not cause trouble in the future while relaxing in the steam room. Our simple instructions will help you cope with this task yourself without the involvement of professionals.
Installing a glass door in a bathhouse
Installing a glass door in a bathhouse is not just a tribute to the modern fashion for light-transmitting structures in the interior, but also an absolutely environmentally friendly high-tech solution. There are practically no negative aspects when using this material in saunas and hammams.
In terms of its properties, glass that has undergone high-temperature treatment significantly exceeds traditionally used wood. It is safe, easy to clean, does not allow heat to pass through, does not swell, does not dry out, ensures complete tightness and has the longest service life. It is extremely difficult to break tempered glass. And numerous photos of glass doors to the bathhouse confirm that such a design solution looks much more stylish and aesthetically pleasing than wooden structures.
Photo No. 1: sauna with glass door
Doors for hammam: basic materials
For such rooms, a solid wood option is suitable, as well as a combination of materials. A good solution is wooden swing models with glass from Sawo. They are provided with a cedar or aspen frame and base. The bronze savo successfully complements the interior.
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Bravo products are made of tempered glass and are completely safe. Fully transparent options are available, as well as a choice with photo printing. The matte Vesuvius model will emphasize the space with the right combination of shades. Stability is provided by a larch box, which blends well with the rest of the decoration in the premises.
Aldo doors are available in reliable sliding and hinged designs of various sizes. The frame is made of linden, protecting against heat loss and penetration of cold air. They are well suited for a hammam, as they feature interesting decorative elements. The patterned option transforms a neutral space.
Attention is paid to the selection of handles. The hammam uses wooden handles. The exception is the Tylo series - wood is used inside and aluminum outside. Easy opening is ensured, and your hands do not get burned.
Advantages of installing glass doors in a steam room over other types
The advantages that glass sauna doors have compared to other materials (plastic, wood, metal):
- diffused, dim light in the room, comfortable for vision and promoting complete relaxation;
- the ability to see the people inside - if someone feels unwell, you can immediately notice it;
- Regardless of the environmental conditions, the properties of the glass remain unchanged and the doors do not deform;
- to clean glass surfaces, you can use any cleaning agents, which ensures savings;
- The door to the sauna with glass does not require systematic adjustments.
The nuances of operation and care of glass structures
If you have chosen a glass door for a bathhouse with a wooden frame, then at the end of each bathing day, be sure to wipe it after the procedures to protect the wood from moisture. In any case, it is treated with special moisture-resistant agents, but such a simple precaution will help extend the life of the wooden box.
Wipe the glass itself regularly with a soft cloth soaked in safe household chemicals designed for the care of glass surfaces. Please note that you should not wipe them with laundry or toilet soap. If you have installed a door with frosted glass, it is recommended to clean it with special household chemicals or a simple solution of water and vinegar.
And the list of prohibited cleaning agents for frosted glass includes the following:
- alkaline solution;
- acid solution;
- petrol;
- ammonia;
- abrasive cleaning powders.
All types of glass surfaces can be washed only with soft materials. Even if you need to get rid of stubborn dirt, do not use washing powders. And especially do not use steel wool.
For personal safety, make it a rule to carefully inspect all glass door structures at least once every couple of months.
Check their serviceability and integrity of structure. If any problems are found, make repairs immediately to prevent further damage. Often you just need to tighten the fasteners so that all the elements are in the correct position.
Glass door for a bath - what color to choose?
Modern glass sauna doors can vary in color. Manufacturers process this material in many different ways, allowing them to produce exclusive products - colored, with complex patterns, with various effects and relief structures. A classic option is transparent glass sauna doors that fit perfectly into any style. The canvas can be matted - completely or partially. The glass bronze sauna door is now at the peak of popularity. This option gives nobility to the interior and visually increases the space.
Photo No. 2: glass bronze sauna door
Film abundance and its use
Films for glass are:
- Protective. Their strength is such that glass coated with such a film cannot be broken with a hammer.
- Thermal. After gluing such a film onto glass, the glass almost stops conducting heat (up to 80% of thermal energy is retained).
- Mirror (architectural). After gluing such a film, sauna visitors will see everything in the dressing room, but it will be impossible to see them (especially if the light is on near the entrance to the steam room) - the door will seem like a huge mirror.
- Decorative. They allow you to imitate stained glass, etching, matting, painted paintings and other beautiful exotic things on glass.
Using self-adhesive opaque films is simple - just cut the workpiece exactly to the size of the glass, separate the base layer and gradually apply the film to the glass, carefully smoothing it out.
The situation is more complicated with films on a transparent basis. Primarily due to increased requirements for the cleanliness of glass, the surrounding area and the installer’s hands. The fact is that an invisible speck remaining on the glass or film becomes visible after installation. And it can no longer be deleted.
Secondly, because of the need to use special tools. Their presence makes installation easier:
- It is best to purchase a squeegee (sometimes also called a squeegee) where they sell the film.
- Squeegee for washing windows. Allows you to quickly wash glass. It is advisable to buy not a plastic “disposable” product, but a metal professional one.
- Spray bottle for spraying cleaning solution onto glass and film.
- A sharp utility knife with replaceable blades.
- Soap solution. For a liter of water (it is advisable to use soft filtered or distilled water), a few drops of neutral shampoo are enough.
Procedure for covering a sauna door with transparent film
- Before you start pasting, wet clean the dressing room and wash the glass door.
- We mark the material according to the size of the door, depending on the design of the pasting. Be sure to cut out the material with an allowance of two to three centimeters.
- Spray the glass door with a soap solution from a spray bottle.
- We wet the film on both sides with a soap solution to remove dust from it. We remove the protective layer from the film (it is better to do the operation with an assistant) and wet the adhesive surface.
- We glue the film onto the glass and smooth it, simultaneously removing air bubbles from under the film.
- Using a squeegee, we smooth the surface of the film several times, removing the soap solution.
- Cut off the excess film with a knife.
The film dries in 2-3 days. After this, the glass sauna door is ready for use.
How to install a glass door in a bathhouse
How to install a glass door in a bathhouse? Much depends on the location of the structure. The glass doors for saunas and bathhouses have the same properties, but different sizes. This is due to the absence of a threshold in the sauna, as a result of which free space above the floor is preserved. In a bathhouse, the presence of a threshold is necessary to retain moisture inside.
Installation of glass doors in a sauna and bathhouse is technically similar to the installation of wooden structures. However, there are a number of features:
- for glass panels, two guides are used, whereas when using other materials, one element is sufficient;
- It is important to use high-density gaskets so that the canvas holds as firmly as possible.
Photo No. 3: sauna door diagram
Installing a glass door in a bathhouse with your own hands
Installing a glass door to a bathhouse with your own hands will require the following tools: a building level, a drill, masking tape, a tape measure, and wooden wedges.
You can buy glass doors with or without a frame. Let's consider both installation options:
- Glass doors with a frame to the bathhouse are mounted according to the following algorithm:
- the door is removed from the frame;
- the box is fixed in the opening with wedges and secured with screws;
- the canvas is hung on hinges, using spacers;
- a handle and other additional fittings are installed.
- The structure without a box is mounted like this:
- wooden supports are installed so as to provide free space above the floor with a height of 100-200 millimeters;
- gaskets with stops are installed to fix the canvas;
- the door is leveled using wedges;
- the hinges are removed and screwed according to the markings;
- the door is installed in hinges;
- accessories are fixed: handle, magnetic latch for the glass door to the sauna, etc.
Photo No. 4: installing a glass door in a bathhouse
Installation features
Since glass doors are supplied assembled and with a frame, their installation should not cause difficulties. The most important thing is not to drop the heavy canvas and install the box correctly using a level.
Advice. You need to decide on the size of the door in advance in order to create an accurate opening. Its perimeter dimensions should be 15-20 mm larger than the dimensions of the box.
The table describes step by step how to install the door to the steam room:
| Image | Description of the stage |
| Remove the door from its packaging and remove the decorative trim from the hinges. |
| Remove the screws from the hinges and turn them perpendicular to the box. |
| Remove the door leaf by leaning it against the wall or laying it on a flat surface. It is advisable to lay cardboard or a rug. |
| Remove the processing strip at the bottom of the box. Check whether the position of the hinges corresponds to the opening side. If not, then move the top beam of the box in place of the bottom bar. |
| Place the box in the opening. |
| Secure the box in the opening with self-tapping screws or dowels, depending on the wall material. |
| Insert wood sealing plugs into the gaps between the frame and the opening. |
| Hang the door on its hinges. This should be done with an assistant who will hold the canvas while screwing in the screws. |
| Place decorative covers on the hinges. |
| Install the door handle. handle |
The main installation is now complete. All that remains is to foam the cracks or fill them with insulation and decorate the opening with platbands.
Compliance with safety regulations
The selection and installation of a glass door to the sauna should be carried out taking into account safety precautions. This applies to both the characteristics of the material and the design. It is recommended to purchase thick glass (from 7 mm) so that it cannot be damaged by mechanical impact. A hardwood box is preferred. If the structure is made of coniferous wood, this can be dangerous - when heated, resin will begin to be released that can burn human skin.
Also pay attention to the material from which the fittings for the glass doors to the sauna are made. Handles and other elements should not overheat so as not to cause burns when touched.
Photo No. 5: fittings for glass doors
Door tinting
This is not as difficult a job as it might seem at first glance. But just go here and do everything slowly.
Tool
- First of all, prepare the knife and most importantly, it must be sharp;
- A rubber spatula will come in handy, but not very soft;
- Prepare a soap solution and a spray bottle;
- Tinting film.
Applying film
This issue can be divided into two stages: preparation of the material and bright installation. You should not rush during the entire process.
Do your work carefully:
- First of all, choose a hard and flat surface and roll out a roll of film on it. We put glass on it and cut it to the required size. We do this so that there are no folds, and later they will not be smoothed out. When cutting, it is necessary to increase the film by a couple of cm on each side;
- Now the surface of the glass must be carefully cleaned of grease stains, dust and dirt. We do this by applying a soap solution to the surface and then removing the liquid using a rubber spatula. We run the spatula a couple of times, we should have a completely clean surface;
- Now we apply a soap solution to a clean surface using a spray bottle;
- Now we remove the protective layer from the film, it is called “Liner”. This work is best done together;
- We apply a soap solution to the adhesive layer of the film, thus neutralizing it for a certain time. Then the film is simply much easier to attach and does not immediately stick to the surface, which allows it to be placed correctly;
- Now we apply the film to the surface and immediately smooth it out onto the plane with our hand;
Attention: The film should be smoothed as follows. First, draw a line in the middle and then begin smoothing from the center and to the sides.
- Now go do the same with a spatula. All water from under the film must be removed;
- Then trim the edges with a sharp knife. Then we go along the edge of the cut again with a spatula and press the film completely.
How to adjust a glass door in a bathhouse
When installing it yourself, it is important to know how to adjust the glass door in the bathhouse and sauna. Modern designs of door hinges are mostly equipped with a special mechanism that allows you to move the leaf horizontally and vertically over a certain distance. In some cases, to get to it, you will need to unscrew the hinge screw, which is then installed in place.
Photo No. 6: adjusting glass doors
