Since ancient times, building private houses, people sought to supplement them with a small and cozy bathhouse. This trend has been preserved in our days so much that it is already difficult to imagine a modern cottage that is not equipped with a double room. Almost everyone knows about the benefits of a bath, but how to properly equip it so that the rest is as safe as possible, you need to understand separately. Today we will talk about how to choose and install the doors to the steam room, what types and sizes they can be and what accessories they need to be equipped with.
Modern door options
Based on centuries of experience and tradition, most owners opt for familiar wooden doors. These structures have proven themselves in use due to their resistance to the aggressive microclimate of this room. Fans of newfangled designs prefer to install transparent tempered glass doors. This option, in addition to moisture resistance, has a beautiful appearance and the ability to visually expand a small space.
Combined models combine the positive characteristics of both types. Combining wood and glass, manufacturers create the most unusual designs. Such doors to the steam room serve not only as a separating element, but also as a decoration for the entire interior.
Next, we will look at each type in more detail.
Wooden doors
Doors made of solid wood perfectly cope with their main task - they reliably retain heat inside the steam room. Moreover, natural material has a beautiful appearance and is pleasant to the touch. At the same time, each owner of the bath, who decides to install wooden doors in the steam room, must be prepared for the fact that over time they are deformed, so they will have to be tightened periodically. Do not forget about the need for pre-treatment of the material with antiseptic solutions. They are designed to protect the structure of wood from the damaging effects of moisture and high temperatures, which significantly extend the life of the entire structure. It is very important that the material treatment agent is not toxic and does not release toxic substances into the air when heated. Given this fact, it is categorically unacceptable to use drying oil and varnish.
Wood selection
When choosing solid wood doors, you need to pay attention to the performance characteristics of each species presented.
Linden and aspen boards are considered the best option for arranging a steam room. They can withstand temperature fluctuations, high humidity in a given room, are quite simple to use and have a low cost. Moreover, inwhile heating, the linden tree releases a pleasant aroma into the air, which has a pronounced antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect.
Oak doors have always been considered the strongest and most durable. In terms of its performance, the material surpasses all other tree species, as it does not deform, has the lowest thermal conductivity and does not dry out. Massive and noble oak doors can transform any interior and emphasize the high status of the owner of the bath. It should be noted that such a piece of furniture will cost the buyer quite a lot, but given the huge period of its operation, the costs are fully justified.
Separately, it is worth mentioning softwood, which is not recommended for making doors to the steam room. When heated, it releases essential oils and resin into the air. As a result, an unpleasant smell appears in the steam room, which can adversely affect the he alth of visitors.
Fittings
Sauna doors are equipped with fittings that are not prone to heat. The metal hinges on which the door is fixed are located exclusively outside. This is necessary in order to exclude the possibility of burns as a result of touching hot material. It should be remembered that in conditions of high humidity, iron elements are subject to corrosion. That is why it is recommended to use stainless types of metal. Door handles should also not get hot. It is advisable to install wood products both from the inside and from the outsidedoors.
Glass doors
Despite the fact that glass doors appeared much later than wooden ones, today they have become very popular. This is facilitated by excellent performance and unpretentiousness of these products. The glass door to the steam room is made of heavy-duty material with a thickness of 8 mm. During the production process, the glass is heated to a high temperature, after which it is quickly cooled with strong air currents. Heat treatment makes it strong enough and resistant to high temperatures.
Besides this, glass doors have a number of advantages over wooden canvases, which we will consider in more detail below.
Advantages of glass doors
I would like to note the unlimited service life of such products. Compared to wood, glass is not subject to deformation and temperature effects. If the door was installed in accordance with the rules, it will last for many years without requiring braces and repairs.
Glass doors are superior to wooden doors in terms of hygiene and ease of maintenance. Since the material does not accumulate moisture, does not form mold and rot, it does not need special treatment. They can be washed with any cleaning agent.
Translucent glass expands the small area of the steam room and does not prevent the penetration of light into the room. This feature allows you to do without additional moisture-resistant lighting in the sauna and save money.
Possibility of decorating glass with various coatings and patternsturns such doors into a real decorative element that brings zest to the interior of the bath.
Flaws
Like any other modern material, glass doors have several disadvantages.
• Despite the fact that tempered glass is very difficult to break, it still exists. At the same time, human safety remains at a fairly high level, since a broken door crumbles into small crumbs, which eliminates the possibility of cuts.
• The glass door to the steam room is a high cost, which can be offset by a long service life and ease of use.
Steam Room Door Hardware
For a glass door, a competent choice of fittings is very important. Since thick and heavy glass is used for its manufacture, special attention must be paid to the choice of strong and reliable hinges. Three metal holders made of brass are usually installed.
In most cases, products are equipped with roller or magnetic latches that prevent the door from jamming if people are left inside the room. This is very important to ensure safety while in the bath.
Door handles are made of wood or high-temperature resistant plastic, which is sealed with a silicone gasket during installation.
Sizes of doors in the steam room
The size of the door leaf separating the steam room from the main room of the bath is significantly different fromfamiliar settings. In order to retain heat as best as possible, the doorway is made lower than specified in building standards.
Everyone knows that steam accumulates under the ceiling. For good soaring, it is necessary that its layer be at least 80 cm, provided that the temperature in the bath is constantly maintained. Based on these data, the optimal size of the door to the steam room is determined. So, with a ceiling height of 240 cm, the 80 cm necessary for steam recede from the top and get a door height of 160 cm.
The width of the opening depends on the preferences of the owner. For a more convenient passage, you can make it 130-150 cm. Most often, the size of the door to the steam room corresponds to the parameters 60x160 cm, but these are only approximate figures, it is not necessary to adhere to them at all.
Installation of wooden doors
The functionality of the product and the entire room depends on how correctly the door to the steam room is installed. If the work is carried out in a freshly assembled log house, it must be given time to shrink or install a pigtail.
You should immediately pay attention to the fact that the doors leading to the steam room should open exclusively outward. This prevents the flow of cold air into the room during the exit of people. In order to keep steam inside the sauna, the door is supplemented with a high wooden threshold. Its height varies from 15 to 30 cm. The door leaf should be slightly narrower than the box, so that it does not jam if the wood swells.
Work begins with the installation and fixation of the box. Apply herethe same fasteners that were used during the construction of the bath itself. When the box is aligned and secured, proceed to install the door for the steam room. Wooden structures are recommended to be fixed on 3-4 loops. To do this, holes are drilled in the canvas and the box, identical to the dimensions of the canopies. The hinges are recessed into ready-made recesses and fixed with self-tapping screws. The door is placed perpendicular to the floor, fixed in the opening with wedges and secured with screws.
Features of mounting glass doors
Installing a door to a steam room is practically the same as installing interior sheets, however, some features should be emphasized.
Given the fragility of the material, it is necessary to stock up on cushioning materials in advance to help avoid cracks and scratches. It can be cardboard, wooden slats or other improvised items.
The edges of the glass sheet around the entire perimeter must be pasted over with masking tape. This will help protect them from chipping and damage that occurs during the installation process.
If the door was purchased together with the frame, then before installing it, it is necessary to remove the glass product and only then begin installing the structure in the opening. Please note that at the bottom of the box there is a transport bar necessary for the safe movement of the doors. This threshold is subject to dismantling, as it is not necessary during operation.
The box is fixed in the opening with wooden wedges, and aligned withall sides by level. It is fastened with metal screws, which, upon completion of work, must be closed with wooden plugs. Next, the glass part is put on the hinges, after which the handles and all other fittings are mounted.
It is very important that the distance between the box and the glass sheet is minimal so that steam does not escape through the cracks. Leave a vent at the bottom of the door. Its width is usually 6-15 cm.
The gaps between the walls and the door frame are filled with foam or other insulating material. The excess is cut off and masked under the decorative strips.
Regardless of the type of door being installed, the work on arranging a steam room is quite troublesome. We hope that the recommendations outlined in this article will help you cope with the task much easier and faster.
