Bath doors

Doors are the most important element of a bathhouse. They serve to keep the heat of the stove, steam and moisture inside the steam room, and also help to maintain the optimal temperature throughout the bath, making relaxation in it pleasant and comfortable. Since the canvases are operated under conditions of increased loads due to high temperature and humidity conditions, high requirements are imposed on their quality and performance. In our article, we tried to pay attention to all the key issues related to the purchase, installation and operation of a door for a bath.

The concept of a door for a bath combines several types of door structures with different functionality and purpose. All of them, fulfilling their specific tasks, serve a common goal - to make the bathhouse as comfortable and safe as possible. Let's find out what is the difference between them.

Products differ in device and are:

• Wedge wedges with a solid blade glued into a micro-tenon-groove, and two wedges that provide reliable fixation of the boards. This type of assembly eliminates deformation and cracking of the canvas due to active use in difficult bathing conditions.
• Paneled from several components - a door leaf, a frame, rectangular, semicircular or radius platbands and extensions.
• Panel boards, for filling the frame of which wooden slats, MDF, veneer are used to choose from. The elements forming the frame part have multidirectional fibers, which eliminates the violation of the door frame geometry due to high temperatures and high humidity conditions.

At the place of installation, external structures are distinguished with which the entrance to the building is equipped, internal ones for closed rooms - steam rooms, washing rooms, dressing rooms and interior interroom structures for rest rooms. Street doors should be massive, strong and reliable, preferably with a frame made of iron or steel. Inside doors are used with a lightweight leaf.

According to the opening mechanism, the doors are sliding and hinged. There is an immutable rule for all single-leaf sauna doors. They must necessarily open from the room, and not inside it - this is a guarantee of a safe stay in the bath.

Sliding structures are found mainly in large bath complexes, where the style solution provides for their use for arranging the interior space. They are absolutely not suitable for steam rooms: with this design, instant steam leakage is guaranteed. In a modest bathhouse in the country, there is simply no point in using sliding doors.

Door hinges. For front doors, it makes no difference what kind of awnings they have. Another thing is the products with which the steam room is equipped. For safety reasons, they should not have potentially dangerous elements on which you can get burned or injured.

Doors installed in double rooms are selected according to the following criteria:

• Heat resistance, fire safety, deformation resistance. These are some of the most important qualities that are required from bath products. The canvases must withstand harsh operating conditions without problems and retain their original shape under the influence of moisture and high temperature. High-quality structures are designed for operation in conditions of sharp temperature fluctuations.

• The ability to effectively store and retain internal heat. Good doors are airtight, small in size, equipped with a heat and vapor insulator that ensures minimal heat loss.
• Wear resistance - due to the enormous load that bath doors have to withstand in the above conditions, their strength also plays an important role.
• The absence of harmful vapors when heated - a visit to the bath should strengthen health, and not pose a threat to it. Therefore, the heat and vapor insulation filling of doors should be made of environmentally friendly materials that exclude the release of toxins under the influence of high temperatures.

• Appearance - any owner wants his bath to differ from others in design. Installing original doors makes it possible.
• Security. Single-leaf structures that open outward, not only contribute to the rational use of the usable area of ​​the steam room, but also allow you to quickly leave it in emergency situations.

There are no special requirements for the entrance doors. It is important that they provide good thermal insulation and close tightly, helping to retain valuable heat throughout the bath. Any wooden or metal models presented in the manufacturers' lines are suitable for these criteria.

Ordinary street doors are single-leaf and with a high sill. In the smokestack sauna, which is not widely used today, the entrance is equipped with double doors.

Many modern bath complexes have a large number of recreational facilities. Therefore, the density of the door structures that isolate the rooms from each other is fundamentally important here in order to limit the access of moisture to them as much as possible.

When installing the canvas, it is placed in such a way as to leave a small gap at the bottom for the ventilation gap. If the bath is equipped with a ventilation system, then there is no special need for this. Clearances may also be necessary for the bath equipment to function properly.

When visiting the bathhouse, we feel comfortable and relaxed, precisely because of the certain temperature regime, which is created with the participation of the bath stove - one and doors - two. Therefore, the materials that go to the manufacture of street and interior doors are of great importance. They are wooden (deaf), glass, combined type: glass + wood.

Which of them is better to use for installation in a bath depends largely on its type. The Russian bath, like the Finnish sauna, can be equipped with any of the listed types of products, and the Turkish (hamam) is recommended to be equipped with glass models with a duralumin box.

Wooden doors in the bath are a classic. They can be found both in modest country baths and in luxurious state-of-the-art health centers with several types of baths.

Advantages:

• Environmental friendliness and safety.
• Good thermal insulation and low thermal conductivity.
• The aroma of natural wood contributes to relaxation, and some types of wood have healing properties, which increases the healing effect of the bathhouse.
• Aesthetic appearance.

Disadvantages:

• The probable possibility of shrinkage and deformation of the web due to constant exposure to steam, moisture, high temperatures.
• Without a bactericidal and antiseptic coating, wood becomes defenseless against fungus, mold and insects.

In terms of materials, the door factories use softwood or hardwood:

• Linden, which has a low heat capacity, therefore, with a linden door, the steam room warms up quickly. Linden linens are valued for their useful properties and excellent aesthetic qualities. They are durable, do not crack, have a low resin content, a light honey aroma and a pleasant color to the eye.
• Aspen. It is considered a soft, easy-to-work, relatively inexpensive material. Aspen products have a low content of resinous substances and pleasant colors in gentle natural tones. Cons: Ability to darken over time and predisposition to woody diseases.

• Alder, whose medicinal properties have made it one of the most sought-after materials. Under the influence of high temperature, the usual color of the canvas is replaced by a beautiful ruby ​​hue, which gradually disappears when the door begins to cool down.
• Larch. Cloths made of it have a high density, good moisture resistance and excellent decorative qualities.
• Pine is durable, moisture resistant, with excellent resistance to fungus.

• Expensive products are made from African abasha oak - light, strong, heat-resistant wood with low resin content and Canadian cedar of a very beautiful chocolate color and with an amazing aroma.
• When self-manufacturing doors, the base is made of pine floorboards, and in order to give them a beautiful appearance and strengthen the structure, tongue-and-groove lining is used for cladding.

Iron doors are perfect for organizing the entrance to the bath. They are durable, reliable and protect against unauthorized entry. Compared with iron, steel products have higher strength characteristics and increased resistance to external factors.

It is possible to increase their functionality with the help of insulation, and their attractiveness - by facing with Euro lining or wooden slats. In this case, a metal street door will provide good thermal insulation, which is never superfluous in a bath. Minus a door made of metal without finishing - the risk of freezing to its surface in frost.

If the issue of security is not a matter of principle, then the front door can be plastic. Considering that it is not at all necessary to equip the entrance with a white structure, but you can choose an aesthetic solution with an imitation of wood texture. You can only understand that it is plastic by touch.... Another plus is the low price. Public baths are often equipped with low-cost PVC doors that are resistant to steam, moisture and mildew.

Minuses:

• Easily hacked.
• Installation, by definition, is impossible if the premises are stylized in antiquity or their design is designed in ethnic style.

The use of 8mm tempered glass allows for the manufacture of lightweight, sleek and durable doors. The consistently high demand for glass models is due to their excellent performance characteristics:

• High temperature resistance combined with excellent moisture resistance properties.
• Increased strength indicators and safety.Possible destruction of the canvas excludes harm to health, since the fragments do not contain sharp edges.

• Vibration resistant. The breaking strength of tempered glass is five times higher than that of conventional glass.
• Increased shock resistance.
• Good light transmittance and light absorbing ability.

A few more reasons for buying them:

• Relatively lightweight, therefore easy to open.
• They look attractive, retaining the aesthetics of appearance throughout the entire service life.
• They guarantee minimal heat loss, thanks to the equipping of the leaves with a silicone seal, which ensures a tight fit to the door frame.

• Easy to install. They have a universal door frame, due to which, during installation, you can choose in which direction the sash will open - to the left or right.
• Service-free. Care comes down to periodic treatment with detergents.
• They differ in a variety of textures, colors, decor, which expands the choice of the desired model.

Individual production of doors provides a significant advantage for buyers - it is an unlimited choice of door designs. When buying a glass door, you can choose a model with a transparent, matte or tinted cloth.

Lining is another available material for the manufacture of sauna doors.

Advantages:

• Excellent sound insulating properties.
• Durability and resistance to external influences due to impregnation with protective compounds.
• Resistant to deformation, mold and mildew.
• Unique visual appeal thanks to the never-repeating natural pattern of the wood.

Alder, linden and cedar panels are ideal materials. Bath doors made of them can easily withstand high temperature and humidity conditions, releasing a mixture of useful phytoncides when heated.

Entrance doors come in a variety of sizes, taking into account the individual characteristics of the architecture of the bath buildings. The classic version is external doors with dimensions of 1800x650 mm and an obligatory high threshold.

The doors for the washroom are of the usual dimensions, although sometimes they are narrower in order to prevent the spread of moisture, which is necessarily increased in this compartment. The recommended width of the doors for the sink is 0.60 cm.

The requirement of resistance to moisture must be taken into account. When choosing doors from solid wood, you need to leave a ventilation gap - the gap from the bottom of the door leaf to the door frame, as already mentioned. For ordinary interior doors, a gap of 2 to 3 mm is enough, while when mounting a door for a sink from below, a minimum of 5 mm is left, otherwise the swollen canvas will stick when closing and opening.

In the steam room, steam accumulates under the ceiling. On average, such a layer has a thickness of 0.6-0.8 m.Therefore, it is necessary that a pocket of 0.6-0.8 m remains between the lintel - the upper door edge and the finished ceiling.

The optimum door height is 1.6 m. A high threshold is required. Its height should be about 18-20 cm, to successfully solve several problems at once:

• Restrict access to cold air when entering and leaving the steam room.
• Prevent drafts.
• Act as insurance against head bumps on the top edge of the door: when we step over something, we automatically bend down. That is, thanks to the threshold, we avoid possible injury.

Now about the width of the doors for the steam room. Regardless of what most sources call the standard dimensions 700x1900 and 800x1900 mm, there are other opinions regarding the width of the canvas.Many craftsmen advise installing wide doors, and, interestingly, much wider than the standard, recommending 900-1000 mm and even more for the frame. For example, if a door is 1600 mm high, then with a width of 1300 mm it will be very convenient to enter, especially when you need to bring in and take out some equipment.

It is better to refuse from non-standard 2-meter structures, which are produced by foreign factories.

Traditionally, the bath building has a washing, dressing room, steam room, and many modern baths also have a swimming pool. When arranging openings, they are guided by the principles of safety, heat conservation and ease of use of doors not only inside, but also from the street.

So, let's summarize everything said in the article about the installation of door structures in different rooms:

• Street - builders recommend orienting the front door to the south in order to minimize the influence of unfavorable weather conditions. So rain, snow drifts, gusts of wind will be less disturbing. The requirements for the door itself are reliability, strength, burglary protection, ideally - good thermal insulation, which is easily solved by warming and facing the leaf.

• Interroom - it makes sense to install them in the presence of additional premises - showers, rest rooms. You are aware of the main requirement for them - density, in order to limit the access of moisture. The design of the canvases should harmoniously complement the interior, so try to eliminate contradictions in style and color.

• To the sink - standard doors are suitable here, since the heat preservation property is not as important here as in the steam room. The same applies to the dressing room. In the absence of a ventilation system, remember the need for clearances if the door is solid. An alternative, albeit more expensive, option is glass structures with a lot of practical advantages, if the price does not bother you.

• On the pediment of the building solid doors are no less important. Since their size is arbitrary and depends on the design features and dimensions of the pediment itself, you can order them or make yourself from an inch edged board. The recommended size of the box is 1050x900, the canvases are 940x790 mm.

Recommendations and tips for organizing openings:

• It is best to install wedge doors in the washroom and steam room, which is considered a classic. Such canvases guarantee excellent thermal insulation and no heat loss. Can be deaf or with a window.
• Massive external doors are the best option as they guarantee reliable protection against burglars. Excessive massiveness of the canvas at the internal doors is not only inappropriate, but also dangerous, as it makes it difficult to exit in the event of a fire or sudden health problems. When seconds are counted, any delay can cost your life.

• Steam room doors with metal handles are a gross violation of safety rules and a potential health hazard. It is permissible to make only canopies from metal, while they must be treated with anti-corrosion compounds.
• Safe fittings - wooden, ceramic, glass, plastic, that is, made of materials that exclude strong heating, and therefore the possibility of burns. Glass products must be equipped with 3-4-element magnetic latches - they remain functional in any situation.

• The use of varnish, drying oil, paint as an antiseptic for processing the inner surface of the canvas entails two negative points. Such coatings create a barrier that slows down the natural absorption of moisture by the wood, and release toxins under the influence of high temperature.

Wood is considered the ideal material for baths. The best option in terms of functionality and economy remains a linden door.Although many bath attendants agree that a glass door in a Russian bathhouse copes with all important tasks just as well.

Its advantage over wood is the complete lack of reaction to moisture. Roughly speaking, a wooden canvas has two states: shrunken and swollen, the third is intermediate, which does not change the essence: constant transformations provoke the formation of cracks that contribute to the release of steam and an increase in heat loss.

After analyzing the reviews, the overwhelming majority of users are satisfied with the purchase of glass doors, despite the price. Some even use them as a hygrometer to measure humidity in a steam room. Leaders in the production of glass models - Estonia and Finland, excellent quality will delight the products of the Finnish brand Harvia... Although there are also many worthy options in the lines of Russian companies.

Good sauna doors are characterized by a combination of maximum tightness and low thermal conductivity. These requirements are met by sealed glass models, but a simple wooden product that “works” in a shriveled-dry mode cannot solve such problems. Therefore, one cannot do without insulation. Neglecting the sealing of the canvas, you should be prepared for an increase in heat loss in the steam room by 60%, since due to non-insulated windows, the room loses heat only by 20%, and 20% goes out through the ceilings and floors, and poorly insulated doors provide an outlet for the rest of the heat.

Only an environmentally friendly, moisture-resistant, vapor-permeable material is suitable for the role of a sauna door seal. The choice is most often made in favor of natural felt, basalt wool, ecowool, foil insulation - materials with good "breathing" properties.

Popular sealing methods include:

• Equipping the canvas with a thermal frame with felt insulation + linden clapboard facing. This is the simplest option.
• Sealing the door perimeter with Energoflex - a soft tube used to insulate sewer pipes. If the tightness of the canvas is severely broken, then an additional frame is formed or a foil-insulated coating is made.

• Creation of a thermal curtain at the entrance: upholstery with felt + curtain made of reinforced leatherette or tarpaulin. This is the most accurate way.
• Felt upholstery + heat-insulating roller along the edges of the canvas + lathing + linden clapboard facing. It turns out not only durable, but also aesthetically pleasing.

The doors in the bath, like the structures in houses and apartments, also participate in the formation of the interior and can act as style-forming elements of the bath space. And the decor of the canvases plays an important role here.

Wooden crafts. To decorate canvases made of wood, artistic carving is used - this is the privilege of exclusive products to order. Budget imitations are trying to compete with carved solid wood doors, but true connoisseurs of wood carving are unlikely to be interested in them. Although the prices for carved products from expensive wood species (oak, cedar, abasha) are simply fabulous. Home craftsmen decorate doors with lath patterns, volumetric panels and carved decor, no less beautiful than their factory counterparts.

Paneled doors made of semi-antique larch or pine in the corresponding design of the bath space look simply luxurious, giving the impression of expensive antiques, which adds exclusivity to the interior and emphasizes the status of the owner. Artificial aging of the canvas is an effective way of individualizing wood by creating a unique pattern through brushing, staining, patina and abrasions, which are played up with various color gradations.

Glass models.In the lines of tempered glass doors, models with a pattern deserve special attention. One-color or colored drawings on canvases are created using various unique technologies - diamond engraving, sandblasting, silk-screen printing, which allow you to create drawings of any complexity with geometric, abstract, floristic subjects.

For more information on how to choose a quality bath door, you can find out by watching the video below.