Barrel baths: features, advantages and disadvantages of designs

The barrel bath is an amusing and very original design. She certainly attracts attention. Buildings of this kind have a number of undeniable advantages over their classical counterparts.

Barrel-shaped baths stand out for their non-trivial shapes. Such structures cannot be unnoticed, they "catch", cause surprise. Due to the fact that they are round, many of their characteristics are many times higher than the properties of ordinary bath buildings. The undoubted advantages of such barrel-shaped baths:

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

• fast heating due to the fact that the steam is in a spherical space - in hot weather, such a bathhouse can be flooded in 15-20 minutes, and in winter it will take a little more time - about an hour;
• less energy required to solve this problem - if the stove is wood-burning, then literally 7-8 logs will be needed to flood it;
• a barrel bath is a rather light construction, therefore, if desired, it can be moved, in addition, there are even mobile trailed baths;

• compared to log baths, it will take only a few days to erect a barrel-shaped structure (and even then, if it is an independent assembly);
• construction does not require a capital foundation;
• "thermos" effect - heat can last for a very long time;
• manufacturers declare that the service life of these buildings can be up to 20 years or more;
• keeping the room clean is very easy;

• it is a fairly budgetary alternative to capital construction of a large building;
• a huge selection of a wide variety of structures of this type is presented;
• the main building element is wood. Correctly selected material, in addition to its outwardly attractive appearance, will also present a real therapeutic steam room. Wood species such as linden and cedar can create a wonderful healing microclimate. But no one forbids the use of aromatic oils during the adoption of procedures.

So, if there is not enough free space on the site, you want exclusivity and originality, then there is no better option than a barrel bath. But still, like any other building, barrel-shaped structures have their drawbacks. The main one is the relative tightness of the internal space of the bath. Even if we take the longest length of such structures, it will be only 6 meters. It is quite problematic to deploy a large company to them. But 2-3 people will be able to swim, and bring down steam, and sincerely chat.

And there are also unscrupulous developers who use substandard materials for construction. Having received a finished building and starting to use it, only over time can you find out that something is wrong in the bath. As a rule, when flaws appear, the manufacturer is no longer on the market.

In Russia, barrel-baths appeared not so long ago, in contrast to the Scandinavian countries, from where this "miracle" of engineering came to us. There is also a national barrel bath from Japan, the so-called ofuro. The idea of ​​using the barrel shape for washing purposes is not new.And therefore there are many varieties of this kind of baths.

Perhaps the most ancient - mentioned above ofuro... According to Japanese philosophy, visiting such a bath allows you to harmonize the soul, because it combines 4 elements. Wood is earth, cauldron (or stove) is fire, water fills the barrel, as well as the air you breathe.

A Japanese home bath is an open vertical building, most often of a round shape. It is equipped with a stove, which is fenced off from the bather by a special partition. There are options for constructions of an oblong oval shape with the boiler outside. But the temperature in such buildings is poorly maintained.

There are also others vertical barrel baths, which, moreover, are of a closed type. "Keg" is located vertically and has a roof. Such baths are made for one person.

Phyto-barrels can also be attributed to the vertical structures of the baths. They are so small that they don't have a full roof. There is a cutout for the head. The steamer himself usually sits. Most phyto barrels are made from cedar.

The barrel sauna is the easiest to manufacture. It does not require a washing compartment or drainage system. This is only a steam room, which is created by a sealed room. And you can rinse a heated steamed body in a nearby pool or font, lake, river (if there is an exit to those).

A Russian bath assumes the presence of at least two rooms - the one in which they steam, and the one in which they wash. 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, a pit;
• the building must be erected at a slight angle;
• secure the space next to the stove.

There are also mobile versions of barrel baths on wheels. They can be made as a trailer, and, accordingly, such a transportable bathhouse can be left at your dacha, and then easily transported with you to a new resting place.

As a rule, baths are 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 the construction is carried out in an area where the climate is not so harsh and frosts in winter do not exceed 10 degrees Celsius, then it is quite possible to use the structure as it is, without additional insulation.

Barrel-baths may differ in the peculiarities of the location of the entrance. Alternatively, it can be on the side.

The design of the bath can include the presence or absence of a gazebo, with a canopy or with a canopy and without (as a logical continuation of the bath, but simply an uncovered entrance). A side entry barrel can also have a porch with a canopy. In addition, the baths can be equipped with an open street terrace or a veranda with a panoramic window.

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

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

The larger the area, the more opportunities for placing all kinds of devices for a comfortable stay: shower, pool or hot tub, toilet. In addition, a bathhouse can be only a part of an architectural ensemble - it can go to the banks of a river or lake, or it can be attached overlapping to a pool or a container with water. Over time, any bathhouse can "overgrow" an extension, for example, a missing changing room.

The finished look of the bath becomes after the roof is laid, which can be made of bituminous tiles, soft roofs, steel sheets, or can be framed in a gable roof frame. The last buildings look very original. Polycarbonate roofs also look very impressive.

Speaking of barrel baths, it is worth noting that there are also quite unusual buildings of this type. Their shape is not even round, but oval or square, rectangular with rounded corners. There are only buildings with a rounded top.Not so long ago, double-rounded barrel-baths appeared. They are equipped with a terrace that follows the outline of the building. The area of ​​such baths is slightly larger than similar buildings, however, their heating properties 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;
• an oven with a hot water tank;
• electric oven;
• electric heater;
• submersible oven or boiler (for ofuro or heating fonts);
• homemade stove.

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

There are many options for round baths, each of which has its own characteristics, ranging from size to interior arrangement. Thus, after going through all the possible options, you can choose your “ideal” barrel-bath.

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

The largest barrels reach 6 meters with a small one. There can already be up to 3 rooms: a dressing room (with a thoughtful resting place, a table, clothes hangers, benches), a washing room (with a shower or containers with water), a steam room (with comfortable sun loungers); or in the case of a sauna, the washroom 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 inner diameter). Quadro, oval baths may have slightly different parameters: 4x4, 3x6. Almost any sauna can accommodate comfortable loungers 500 mm wide.

There is only one room in the two-meter saunas. In three or four meters there are already two - a small dressing room and a steam room. The largest have space for three rooms.

The classic shape of the barrel-bath is a circle, or rather, a horizontal cylinder.

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

The entrance to both the oval and the quad bath can be from the front or from the side. The entrance can be framed by a canopy or equipped with a gazebo. And the barrel bath can be additionally enclosed in a gable roof frame.

The double-rounded baths are rectangular in shape. Vertical barrel-baths are most often round-shaped buildings, 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 bathhouse is built of wood, or rather, a specially processed profiled timber with a lunar groove or thorn-groove fastening. The following types of wood are usually used for construction:

• Oak - a very high quality material, which becomes even stronger from exposure to water. Possesses excellent properties and can serve for many years. It has a beautiful structure but is very expensive.
• Linden - excellent material for a bath. It is known for its medicinal properties. Unfortunately, poorly processed wood of this species is easily susceptible to rotting and other negative influences.
• Aspen - analogue of 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 for round timber of this breed is quite high.
• Cedar - the only coniferous species that is highly recommended as a building material. It can also help create a healing microclimate. It has a beautiful, unique structure. It has only one drawback - it is quite expensive.
• Fur tree, pine tree and other conifers are not recommended as building materials for baths. This is due to the fact that, under the influence of high temperatures, wood is capable of releasing resins, which can be burned. However, this effect occurs only from temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. Moreover, if such wood has gone through a good chamber drying, then this process is minimal.
• Alder and birch barrels are not suitable for building a bath-house, as they get very hot.

In addition to wooden elements, you will need ties, 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, there may be a full-fledged gazebo right at the doorstep, in which hangers-hooks are installed, small benches (or chairs) are placed. Next is the dressing room. It can contain the same hangers, benches and even a small folding table attached to the wall. In the washroom, on one side, you can install a shower head, and under it a tray, on the other side, there can be small shelves for cosmetics, ladles and other things. You don't need a lot of furniture in a steam room. It is enough only benches, sun beds, on which it is convenient to sit down and take a steam bath.

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

• A wooden pallet or grate must be installed in the sink, which will ensure that the water is drained. In addition, a drain must be installed in the floor and a pipe must be installed between the bottom and the sewer.
• 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 against the wall or be moved outside the bath.
• In the event that heating occurs due to the stove inside the room, then it must be insulated to prevent accidental touching.
• The pipe can be output either from the side or directly in the middle. If this is a bath-sauna, then it is necessary to think over all the issues related to ventilation and provide a special damper for the chimney.

Most of the reviews from the owners of barrel baths are positive. But there are also negative ones. Owners of such designs praise them primarily for the original design, as well as ease of assembly, mobility, and quick warm-up. Many note that this design assumes exclusively temporary use only in the warm season. Although there are those who used them in winter.

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

• Over time, the boards dry out, and after pulling them off and putting them down becomes problematic. Although in many respects this indicates the initially poor quality of building materials - they were not properly dried.
• In winter, the baths do not warm up so quickly and cool down just as quickly. Feels cold below when there is still steam at the top. There is no way to sit for a long time in the steam room.

• The need to monitor the drain, especially when used in frosty conditions. The drain pipe can burst, and this will lead to poor drainage, stagnant water and rot.
• The appearance of mold, mildew, even with proper care - regular ventilation and cleaning.
• Many users of summer baths are confused by the thickness of the walls. The boards that are used are quite thin - only 4-5 cm.
• High cost - for the same amount, you can build an ordinary frame or foam block temporary bathhouse, which will be more spacious.

Manufacturers offer turnkey baths. The barrel will either be brought to the site or assembled on the spot. However, there are also special offers from developers - ready-made kits for self-assembly with detailed step-by-step instructions for installing the structure. True, the price of such kits does not differ much from the finished product.

The boards must be perfectly dry. The dimensions of each board must be identical. In addition, each board must go through a milling machine. To connect the elements, a thorn-groove connection is used. Such a connection can only be made using 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 structure. The more accurate the project is, the better.

At the design stage, it will be necessary to determine how the windows and doors will be located. They should be indicated in the figure.

According to the finished drawing or scheme, the master will cut the following blanks on the mill:

• wooden boards for floors, walls and ceilings with a thorn-groove fastening with a cross section of not more than 45 * 90 mm;
• walls and partitions with a section of 50 * 200 mm;
• bases with semicircular cutouts (the diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the bath). Section no more than 40 * 400 mm. There can be from 2 to 4 such bases, depending on the length and number of rooms.

When all the blanks are ready and pre-processed, you can start assembling.

The barrel-bath should be assembled on a flat surface (even leveled soil, a platform paved with paving slabs or an area filled with concrete will do). A solid foundation is neither required nor done. When erecting a barrel-bath with a steam room, a drainage system must be provided... The platform can be slightly sloped.

When the future foundation is ready, then a bath is already going on it. To begin with, the bases are fixed. Metal corners, screws and a screwdriver will be very useful here. The supports are placed in increments of 150 cm. The boards should be fixed as firmly as possible, therefore metal corners will come in handy, which create additional rigidity. These elements are attached at the corners and at the junction of the transverse and longitudinal strips.

After the first board is laid. It is located exactly in the middle. You need to fix it securely, because it is to it that all the other boards will be attached.

According to the technology, the boards are attached simultaneously on both sides in parallel. Each part must adhere firmly to the previous one. The lunar groove fastening allows the boards to be connected to each other without the use of any connecting elements.

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

The final element will be an adjustment bar. This detail will allow you to minimize gaps.

It remains only to pull together the bath with steel cables. When the ties are secured, take care of the drainage and chimney, installing the stove, laying electrical wiring, and sewerage.

If you plan to use the bath all year round, then at this stage it is necessary to insulate it. You can insulate the structure with a special foil roll material that can withstand high temperatures. Traditional materials for these purposes are mineral wool.

Floor, ceiling, walls are ready. Now you can put doors and windows. Please note that they must be installed as tightly as possible. Then you need to move on to the internal arrangement. Benches, seats, a wooden pallet, a 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. On a round bath, you can put, for example, bituminous tiles or other soft roof, or you can build an additional frame for a gable roof.

And at the very end of the construction, it will be necessary to process all the wooden elements of the interior decoration of the bath. Linseed oil is an excellent impregnation agent that has proven to be an additional protection against excess moisture. It will be useful to treat the outer surfaces of the bath with a fire retardant composition.

The bath is ready. But do not rush to use it right away. The first firebox will be "technical" in order to finally erode all the compounds that were used. It is necessary to heat a hot bath for at least 4 hours. The room temperature must be above 60 degrees Celsius. Doors and windows must be open at the same time.

For information on how to assemble a barrel bath, see the next video.

One of the advantages of the barrel-bath is undoubtedly its original appearance. He cannot but attract attention. Many, having heard that acquaintances have such a bath, strive to visit it and personally taste its steam.

The interior of the barrel-bath also looks very original from the inside. Most of the furniture is made of wood. A spherical wooden room contributes to additional relaxation. Psychologically, it is comfortable in it, a person feels protected. In the context, it is a "sandwich" of several rooms: changing rooms, dressing rooms, steam rooms. And if the bath is made of medicinal species of wood, then it also becomes a home hospital, which increases not only immunity, but also mood.

But over time, even such an exclusive can get boring. Many owners begin to decorate the building, and the bath turns into a space shuttle or submarine or other structures that are cylindrical in shape. Some people make a bathhouse that looks like a fabulous hut, but with an elongated oval shape. The use of glass on a large part of the facade will give the building a touch of high-tech or industrial style. As a winter version, such a bath, of course, will not work, but in the summer it will always delight the eye with its original look.

Other owners begin to emphasize the shape of the barrel or additionally adjust it to the structure of the house (leaving the required "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 included in the set with the bath).

With proper care, a barrel bath will last for decades. The main thing:

• Do not forget to ventilate the steam room, and the rest of the premises, for at least 4-5 hours, preferably after each use and if the bath has not been heated for a long time.
• Make additional "drying" of the bath. It is necessary to run the oven at full power within one to two hours and at the same time keep the doors and windows open.
• Treat the structure with protective equipment at least once a year.
• If a wood-burning stove is installed, it is advisable to use non-coniferous wood for heating. The wood must be dry.

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