Brick bath: design features

It is believed that wood is the best material for a bath. Wood has been used in construction for more than a dozen years. However, modern realities do not imply a sole monopoly of wood. The market offers many equally decent options to choose from.

One of the options is a brick, using which you can implement any bath project with your own hands. Check out the pros and cons of a brick bath, as well as study the building instructions. So that you have the best idea about the features of a brick bath, consider the fundamental advantages and disadvantages of the material used in the construction.

Pros of brick:

• Excellent fire resistance. The fire safety indicators of bricks are the best in comparison with other materials.
• Long service life. A brick bath can last up to 50 years, or even more.
• Environmental friendliness. Different types of natural bases are used for bricks. Brick is considered safe for humans.
• A wide range of architectural solutions. Not only simple boxes can be built from bricks, but also baths of more complex shapes.

Cons of bricks:

• Increased heat capacity. Heating a brick bath will require more fuel than a wooden bath.
• High moisture absorption. Brick is a hygroscopic material and therefore requires careful insulation.
• Substantial price. Brick is not a cheap material, so a bath structure will turn out to be expensive. For the construction of a bath, it is allowed to use only red brick, which is distinguished by its durability and increased resistance to heat.
• Another nuance: a brick bath will require the construction of a more solid foundation.

During construction, it is allowed to use several options for wall construction. For example, well masonry is considered an acceptable option, which allows you to mount insulation inside the wall. Another rational way is to build a thin wall with the installation of high-quality insulation on the outside.

The most unsuitable masonry system for a bath construction is a solid type. For such a bath, the construction of very thick walls will be required, which will lead to an overspending of material. In addition, the operation of such a bath will be possible only in the summer season.

When building with your own hands, the main difficulty is planning the premises inside the building. Ready-made projects will help in solving the problem. You can build exactly with the found drawings, or you can take the project as an idea and modify it for your own purposes. Consider small brick baths that are easiest to build yourself.

The original version of the project assumes the presence of three rooms:

• Rest room (10.4 sq m).
• Washing room (1.75 sq m).
• Steam room (4.75 sq m).

The layout of the bath is easy to change by swapping the doorways. Keep in mind that going directly to the break room is not the best option, especially in winter. After all, when you open the doors, the cold will flow inside. To eliminate the disadvantage, a vestibule attached to the outside will serve. To eliminate the ingress of cold air from the street into the room, it is important to properly insulate the vestibule. Another similar method is the construction of a terrace.

A partition installed in the recreation room will serve as protection from the cold. With the help of a structure, you can separate a small section of the room.As a result of the redevelopment, you will get a long rest room.

A structure with sufficient dimensions can be turned into a guest house-bath.

Here are provided inside:

• hall;
• living room of a decent size;
• restroom;
• steam room;
• bathroom.

A distinctive feature is the veranda attached outside.

Despite such small dimensions, the 3x4 m bath is quite suitable for family use. In addition, the construction involves several options for the placement of rooms inside. Some layouts also include an entrance to the recreation room directly from the street. It is pointless to fence off a small room, and therefore an attached vestibule will serve as the protection of the rest room from the cold air.

Another option for changes is the exclusion of a separate washing room. The Russian bath assumes that you can wash and steam at the same time. The construction of a separate washroom is a modern interpretation of a traditional sauna. It is important here to provide for the correct positioning of the heater stove. For example, a corner stove will not interfere with people during water procedures. You can slightly increase the useful area of ​​the bath by building an underground. A cellar is needed, for example, for storing household items, or as a warehouse for household supplies.

In a large bath, it is important to take into account the position of the stove correctly. It is necessary that it heat all the premises. At the same time, it is important to choose a stove option, because it will also work as a heating one. When building brick baths, it is important to already own the brickwork technique. You can learn how to lay bricks by being present at the construction site. For example, if your neighbors are building a barn. Try to look at the process, check with them the questions of interest. Pay special attention to the construction of the corners of the building. The geometry and strength of the structure depends on this stage.

When designing a bathhouse yourself, do not forget about the rules. The main rule is compliance with fire safety standards. For example, wood, as well as other flammable objects, should be located a meter away from the stove. The interior decoration of the bath is desirable natural, environmentally friendly. Therefore, you should not use a budget plastic alternative that can be painted like a tree. Despite the monetary benefit, plastic is not practical, since it does not allow vapor to pass through. In addition, it will release harmful substances under the influence of steam and temperatures.

When trying to save a brick bath inside, you can not finish with anything at all. The modern design of the bath sometimes involves the use of finishing bricks to decorate the walls. The best option for inexpensive bath finishes is wood. It requires minimal skills in working with tools, such finishing will not be difficult. If we look in more detail, then it is better to read the design of the bath from the dressing room. When choosing options, it is worth considering that they rest in the room after water procedures, therefore it is important to provide the most comfortable functionality inside.

For example, a complete wardrobe, as well as places to relax. A standard set of necessary items: table, benches, wardrobe. Wall decoration material and furniture color can be chosen according to your taste.

A standard steam room includes: stove stove, shelves, which are usually erected at different levels. The steam room is a very important room for a bath. Arrange the shelves according to individual preferences. The higher the shelf, the hotter it will be on it.

If the shelves and walls of the steam room are trimmed with wood, then the place near the stove is necessarily brick or, as an option, natural stone.If the washing room is a separate room, then it also requires a design approach to design. In a standard shower room, benches, a shower or a tub of cold water must be present (as before, in a Russian bath). The shower room does not imply the obligatory wood trim. Decorative tiles or wall panels are suitable as finishing materials.

A special problem of brick baths is thermal conductivity and heat capacity. Thermal insulation of brick baths is correctly carried out from the inside. In this way, good thermal conductivity is achieved, and hot air is also cut off from the building material. The necessary heat remains inside the premises, and the brick on the outside will not freeze.

When choosing insulation materials, it should be borne in mind that a brick can withstand a different number of defrosting and freezing cycles. Moreover, for red, silicate (white) or hollow bricks, this parameter is different. Baths made of silicate bricks require additional external finishing, which plays the role of insulation, for example, from facing bricks.

The walls of a brick bath are often built according to the principle of a thermos. It can be a pair of thin verticals, between which there is a gap. An empty screen will act as a heat insulator, because air has excellent heat-absorbing characteristics. The distance between the verticals can be filled with insulating material. For example, it can be expanded clay. But in this case, the structure will require good waterproofing.

Optimal material options: polypropylene foam, polyethylene foam. Materials do not absorb moisture, they are not affected by fungus. Insulation of a brick bath will vary. For example, in humid rooms good ventilation of insulation materials is needed. Ventilation will provide quick warm-up, no condensation.

The best option for a brick bath is such a combined wall:

• lathing for the steam room, if a heat insulator is used, an aluminum profile for drywall;
• mineral wool - for a steam room 10 cm, for other rooms 5 cm;
• a roughing vertical made of moisture-resistant plywood or other panel material that will prevent the appearance of mold and mildew;

• steam and moisture insulation "Izospan";
• vertical control lathing;
• external cladding, for example, lining or ordinary wood plank.

The masonry will turn out with this option of considerable thickness. Consider this when planning. After all, the internal volume of the premises will be reduced due to the use of a mixture of insulation and waterproofing.

Do-it-yourself step-by-step construction instructions will help you to correctly make your own bathhouse on the site.

Any construction begins with the choice of a place for a structure. At the selected point, a marking is prepared, and after that, the arrangement of the foundation begins. For a brick bath, a tape base would be the best option. Such a foundation requires the preparation of a trench, which must be dug, then it is secured with boards. It is necessary to cover the walls of the trench with formwork, and the bottom is covered with sand. The sand pad will distribute the load evenly. After that, reinforcement is performed.

You can prepare the concrete solution for a small bath yourself. For large volumes of construction, you can order a ready-made solution. It takes time for the foundation to shrink. This period depends on the characteristics of the concrete solution. Sometimes the foundation is treated with waterproofing materials.

If the bath is being built with your own hands, then it is easier to use one and a half red brick in the work. The laying of walls for a bath is permissible in one brick. To calculate the amount of material, the planned width and height of the verticals must be divided by the product of the height and width of one brick. The amount of material is selected taking into account the required number of doors and windows.

Wall rows start from outside bricks. When laying, the material must be moistened, especially if it is hot enough outside. Lay bricks around the entire perimeter of the building, only then move on to a new row. The use of broken bricks is unacceptable for supporting structures. During the process, pay close attention to the quality of the seams.

Adequate openings must be prepared for the roof slabs. The ends of the beams that will lie on the bricks must be wrapped with roofing material. The simplest version of the ceiling of the bath is a single-pitched type. On top of the laid beams, a flooring of boards is made. As a waterproofing material, fabric asbestos is suitable. On top of it, a sawdust-clay mixture is applied. The dried base is sprinkled with sand.

Pay attention to the place for the chimney. It is important to highlight this area with a sheet of metal.

Complete the lathing of the brick bath truss system. Place roofing material on top of the rafters. It can be slate or profiled sheets.

The next step in the phased construction of a brick bath is laying the flooring. For this, the lower part of the floor is covered with a sand mixture. Logs are installed on the ledges of the foundation. The floor can be sewn up with planks. Another suitable option is porcelain stoneware. Tiling will ensure high fire safety of the structure.

For lining the ceiling, lining is suitable, in the steam room it can be lime wood, and in the dressing room you can use pine. The walls inside can also be sheathed with clapboard. Make the shelves parallel to the wall cladding. Use hardwood. Shelf strips are fixed with wooden pins, you can burn yourself on iron ones.

Install the doors. The outer structure can be ordinary, metal, and the door to the steam room can only be made of wood. Please note that it will be used in a humid environment and at high temperatures.

When choosing materials for interior decoration of a brick bath, pay special attention to comfort and use. For example, porcelain stoneware is cold, so that your feet are comfortable, you will have to walk in shoes. The installation of special wooden pallets will contribute to the best comfort.

Unusual materials can be used to decorate the walls of some bath rooms. For example, a high-quality and non-hazardous option will be made of natural stone. Special salt stones will be more useful. However, judging by the reviews of the owners, this will require not only additional costs, but also careful thought over the interior design.

The best design option for a bath is wood. However, due to high humidity and temperature changes, the tree tends to darken. Noticing this, do not be discouraged, it will not require repairs, this situation is considered normal.

• Consider the option of a brick bath with an original terrace that looks more like a gazebo. Inside the bath there are: a steam room, a washing room, one room. There is also a bathroom.
• Another good option for a simple bath. It is roomy enough. The yellow brick chosen for the construction goes well with the metal roof. The bathhouse has standard windows and one unusual one - a corner one.
• The third option is a small building made of red bricks. Individual bricks are lighter in color - laid out at the corners. The building combines well both the brown roof and the same outer door.

About which bath is better - made of brick or from a log house, see the next video.