We all love to soak in a hot bath. But have you ever thought about doing this in your garden while enjoying the sunset or the starry sky? But this is a great idea! This is not difficult, but it does take time as you will have to wait a few days for the foundation to harden and the plaster to dry. So, a DIY bath. Go!
What material to choose for assembling the font
You can build a structure yourself from concrete, wood or polypropylene sheets. Factory hot tubs are also made of plastic, steel or cast iron. To choose the right material, you should know the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.
Concrete structure
A similar bathing container is displayed both inside the bathhouse building and in the open area. The depth, width and length of the bowl are chosen depending on personal preferences.
It is advisable to decorate the walls with waterproof material: mosaics, ceramic tiles or cover them with film. For ease of descent, an iron ladder is fixed or monolithic steps are brought to the edge.
By following the rules for pouring concrete, it is easy to build a durable and comfortable structure with a unique design. It will be complemented by a mini-waterfall or hydromassage mechanism, and will be decorated with LED lighting.
A concrete font can be placed indoors, sunk into the floor
When building a concrete font, it is important to install a high-quality water supply and drain it. All connections are checked for leaks. Ceramic tiles or mosaics are laid in accordance with the process technology so that during use of the structure the decorative finish does not fall to the bottom.
Disadvantages of a concrete font:
- a large amount of preparatory work - excavation of soil for a foundation pit, installation of formwork, reinforcement, pouring and compacting concrete mortar, laying waterproofing material, installing water drainage;
- production time - concrete completely sets and hardens in about 30 days;
- unsafe operation - the lining is slippery, which requires care and compliance with safety measures at the time of immersion and exit.
A concrete font will last a long time if it is built according to all the rules and high-quality materials are used.
Video: construction and operation of a sauna font made of brick and concrete
Hot tub made of fiberglass and polypropylene
A plastic container is suitable for those who do not want to spend time decorating the walls. Most often they are made in blue or green, the bottom is decorated with a pattern. Such factory fonts are cast in various shapes and sizes. The optimal depth is from 1.2 to 1.4 m. The volume depends on the dimensions - 0.95–2.65 m3. Walls 5–12 mm thick.
The service life of a polypropylene product is about 50 years. Plastic does not fade in the sun and does not lose its seal due to sudden changes in temperature.
In such a font you will need to install a faucet and a connecting pipe to the water supply and sewerage pipes. To prevent the bowl from being crushed under the weight of water, it is equipped with stiffening ribs on the outside. It is possible to install lighting, shelves, stairs and other parts. Water heating is carried out using an external heating device: a wood-burning or electric stove.
A plastic font is quickly installed and does not require additional sealing of the walls
Installation of a plastic font is carried out in a short time. Before deepening the container into the pit, you will need to concrete the bottom and walls. Insulation is mandatory. Around the structure you need to build a wooden podium on a metal frame. There is no need to wait for the concrete to completely harden: after removing the formwork, you can already install the plastic bowl. The surface of the plastic, if desired, is covered with a special anti-slip layer.
In the case of ground-based installation, such a font is decorated with wood.
A plastic hot tub, lined with slats on the outside, takes on the appearance of a wooden container and fits perfectly into the interior of the bathhouse.
Such a plastic liner extends the service life of the wood. The advantage is that such a structure does not need to be additionally treated with sealants, and the water can not be drained for several days.
To clean plastic, use any non-abrasive detergent, but without chlorine, otherwise the coating will be damaged.
Metal font
Metal structures are rarely installed in bathhouses due to the complexity of their installation. More often there are vats made of cast iron or steel, suspended on a chain to a tripod made of logs, taken outside the room. The water is heated slowly using a fire built under the bottom, and then drained through a pipe at the bottom of the product. River pebbles or shield flooring are placed at the bottom of the bowl to prevent burns.
A steel font is suspended on a stable structure with the possibility of heating water from below
In some cases, a “floor” recessed installation of a metal vat is carried out. Then the fire will have to be built on the side of the bowl. For the recessed version, a concrete base is also poured.
But such bathtubs are heavy and expensive: a design measuring 2x0.73 cm costs at least 200 thousand rubles, and the weight of the product is more than 1200 kg.
Wooden font
The main advantages of a wooden font:
- environmental friendliness;
- aesthetic appearance;
- procedures with benefit;
- aroma of the material.
If we compare the cost of structures, wooden ones cost 2-3 times more than plastic ones. For example, a bowl made of larch measuring 1.2 x 0.7 x 1.1 m will cost 45 thousand rubles, and a round container made of oak measuring 1.5 x 1.3 m will cost 110 thousand rubles. The average cost of a cedar barrel is 70 thousand rubles, and a plastic one is within 20 thousand rubles.
If you want to save money, make the design yourself. However, in this case, carpentry equipment, fasteners, a special adhesive mixture and skills in working with wood will be necessary.
To preserve the appearance and service life of the structure, it is important to follow these recommendations:
- do not keep an empty font under the sun - the wood will burn out and dry out;
- do not place it near heating sources - installing the structure on a heated floor system leads to drying out of the wood. Make an insulating platform from a plywood sheet with a layer of polystyrene foam and rubber gaskets;
- After bathing, drain the water to prevent green mold from forming;
- in cold weather, leave unused outdoor structures dry so that water does not freeze and destroy the wood;
- to clean walls, use liquid cleaning mixtures and a soft cloth;
- Once every 30 days, check the tension level of the hoops and tighten the nuts if necessary;
- Do not leave the container unused for a long time - the wood begins to deform and dry out. If the barrel has not been used for too long, soak it first in cold water.
The outside of the font also needs to be looked after using wood care products.
Fonts made from wooden boards are divided into 2 types according to the manufacturing method: those connected without glue and those connected using glue and a layer of varnish for protection. The optimum moisture content of the material is 8–10%. The slats are connected to each other using a tongue-and-groove type.
Adjacent slats should be connected using the tongue-and-groove method - such fastening is considered reliable
The joints are treated with a moisture-resistant adhesive mixture. The bottom is installed in the transverse recess of the lamella, and their connection is covered with a moisture-resistant sealant.
If we talk about the benefits of wood, then the healing effect is achieved only in a font made without glue. However, glue barrels have a longer service life and can be used intermittently without causing damage to the product.
Video: making a homemade outdoor swimming pool from a PVC membrane
How to hide a battery in the bathroom
How to make a radiator less noticeable? There are four ways to disguise radiators in the bathroom:
- Construction of a plasterboard box. To do this, you need to use moisture-resistant plasterboard sheets, because ordinary ones will not cope with extreme temperature conditions. The structure is constructed in the simplest way: a box is made from profiles, sheets cut to shape are placed on it. You need to make several holes in the top sheet so that warm air can escape into the room.
- Decor using tiles. This method is similar to the previous one, but differs in an increased level of energy consumption.
- Disguise behind plastic panels. This method is the simplest and relatively cheap. The low level of fire resistance is the main disadvantage of this method.
- Disguise with blinds. This method is suitable for those who value the usable space of the bathroom. Blinds allow you to have constant access to communications.
In addition to these four methods, there is also a radical one - installing the battery directly into the bathroom wall. However, due to the complexity and impossibility of servicing during an unusual situation, it is better not to tempt fate and not to commit rash acts.
Nowadays this is becoming less and less common, but some still have a cast-iron radiator in the bathroom, which was installed under the Soviets. It is clear that during repairs it is replaced with a heated towel rail, the thermal power of which is usually sufficient. In an apartment, the bathroom is small, but in cottages, for example, bathrooms are made large, so just a towel is not enough to heat it. You need to install an additional battery.
Comfort “Umnitsa” TKV-2000 W
Minimum weight Country: Russia (produced in China) Average price: 2200 rub.
Rating (2020): 4.8 The fan heater is designed for wall mounting. Its flat body is made of high-quality plastic, which is resistant to temperature changes and does not deform or crack over time. The electric device is equipped with towel holders, which users call among the best design features of the model along with the weight of 1.6 kg.
But the positive aspects of bathroom equipment do not end there. It is equipped with 2 power modes - 1000 and 2000 W, which are set by simply switching the mechanical regulator. The ceramic heating element is considered the most environmentally friendly, since its operation does not lead to the combustion of oxygen. Additionally, the device has a thermostat with 3 types of airflow. The overheating protection option prevents fire and premature failure of the device.
Calculation of material for a wooden font
The optimal thickness of the slats is 35–50 mm.
For a glue-free method of fixing parts, prepare:
- boards, slats;
- large metal clamps;
- polypropylene pipes;
- siphon for draining water;
- beam;
- nails;
- sealant;
- bolts;
- durable cord;
- float mechanism;
- hose.
You will also need tools:
- hacksaw;
- building level;
- electric drill;
- roulette.
Before starting work, draw up a schematic representation of the structure with exact dimensions and number of parts.
A diagram of the font indicating the dimensions of the parts will allow you to determine how much material you need to buy for its manufacture
Draw out the diagram in different projections - this will allow you to calculate the dimensions of all parts: walls, stairs, bottom and other parts. The staircase is decorated with flat steps or rungs made of wood. If you are planning a portable ladder, then calculate the height of its attachment to the edge of the font.
You will need:
- Slats - for cladding.
- Wood with a section of 120x20 mm - for the main parts. The extreme parts of the planks will be processed. Their length is equal to the height of the font (usually 1 m in height and 1.2 m in diameter). Calculate the number of boards.
- Beam 100x100 mm or 150x150 mm - for stands. The length of the parts depends on the size of the oval font.
- Metal strips and bolts for fastening boards. Take iron that is strong and pliable.
- Self-tapping screws - for external fixation of elements in the lower part of the font (no iron parts are placed inside the structure!).
Decorating Tips
Use sandpaper to sand the wooden container inside and out, paying special attention to the edges of the walls: smooth out small flaws, prime. After the primer has dried on the outside, sand it, oil it and coat it with varnish or paint.
To finish other types of fonts, mosaics, ceramic tiles, and PVC film coating are used. The last option allows you to save money. Sometimes a deep font is made in bathhouses, if the structure of the room allows. The deepened bowl is more attractive and looks like a swimming pool.
The recessed font has an attractive appearance and does not take up space
It is easy to get in and out of, and only a small amount of materials is required for finishing. However, it will not be possible to move a deep font from one place to another.
Operating rules
Remember, wooden hot tubs are extremely capricious and do not perform well without prolonged use. So periodically warm up the hot tub completely.
In summer, you can leave 5-10 cm of water in the bowl to avoid drying out. In winter, it is not recommended to leave water. It is better to maintain the density of the boards, in order to avoid destruction by ice, to use a layer of clean snow in a covering of 15-20 cm.
To better preserve the font, change the water every 3-4 days. The heating temperature of the hot tub should not exceed 40 ˚С.
Preparing tools
The technology for manufacturing a wooden tank requires a certain set of tools. To work, you need a tape measure, a building level, a simple pencil, a hacksaw, a can of sealant and a glue gun. You will also need a drill and a round wood bit, a router that allows you to make grooves in the panels and process the edges. To process boards, you need a sanding machine and special sandpaper. This is due to the fact that all surfaces of the font must be smooth and even.
The router allows you to create grooves in panels
Tips for choosing material
When purchasing wooden blanks for self-assembly of a hot tub, it is important that the material has the following qualities:
- excellent appearance;
- high strength;
- rot resistance.
Oak and pine are more susceptible to rotting. And Siberian larch has high biostability and gains strength every year. A larch font is cheaper than an oak structure. This is due to minimizing waste when processing lumber.
The most preferred option for constructing a font is Siberian larch wood
But oak is also a high-quality material and has significant advantages: beautiful appearance, high strength, and a structure made from such a material does not deform.
Disadvantages of an oak font:
- blackness periodically appears on the walls;
- the outside of the wall must be lubricated with linseed oil - this will emphasize the texture of the wood and increase the service life;
- it cannot be installed on concrete - you need to use rubber pads several cm thick;
- it must be moved carefully, placing thin rolling logs so as not to damage the bottom or lower parts of the planks.
Pine wood is cheaper than others. Procedures in such a font are pleasant and useful - pine contains many phytoncides. To prevent cracking of the material, when making a pine barrel, the lamellas are not glued together. And to extend its service life, it is enough to burn the wood once every 3 years or coat it with an antiseptic.
To strengthen the outer layer of wood, the pine font should be fired from time to time.
Spruce structures are inferior to pine ones both in terms of the benefits of the procedure and in the quality of the material. It is also not recommended to use alder, aspen, ash and linden wood. Cedar is inferior in strength to larch, but its cost is higher.
So, the preferred option is pine or larch. Select the color of the product taking into account the color scheme of the bathhouse lining. Before first use, the walls of the font should be coated with a layer of primer and painted.
The hoops that hold the font together are made of stainless steel. Pay attention to their fit to the wood. The adjustment bolts should fit tightly in the holes and not wobble.
The hoops pull the barrel together in several places, giving the structure strength and stability.
An important stage in the construction of the font is the execution of facing work. Correctly selected material and accessories will create a complete image. There are 2 options for materials for cladding any structure: wood and mosaic (or ceramic tiles).
If you plan to cover the font with wooden elements, then choose parts treated with wax. Combine the appearance of the font harmoniously with the interior of the bathhouse itself.
Determining the power of heating equipment
In order not to make a mistake with the purchased device, first of all you will need to decide on its power. Since the ability of the equipment to heat a room of the required area depends on it.
Before you buy a heater for your bathroom , it’s a good idea to measure the room. And in the store make your choice based on these indicators:
- 500 W will be required to heat about 5-6 sq.m.
- 700-800 W – for 7-9 sq.m.
- 900-1100 W – 11 sq.m.
- 1250 W – 12-14 sq.m.
- 1500 W can heat a room of 16 sq.m.
- 1750 W – 18-19 sq.m.
- 2000 W will heat 20-23 sq.m.
- 2500 W will heat a room of 24-27 sq.m.
Electric heaters
If the bathroom does not have a connection to the heating circuit or the house does not have central water heating at all, then electric models of heated towel rails come to the rescue. They work on the principle of oil radiators and only require connection to an electrical outlet. Electric heated towel rails are designed in such a way that coolant circulates freely through their tubes due to convection formed as a result of contact with the heating element. There are models with power from 100 to 1500 W. Such a wide power range allows you to choose the optimal device for any bathroom.
Advanced models of electric heaters for bathrooms are able to cope with their basic functions, spending no more energy than an incandescent light bulb. Of course, the cost of such devices will be higher than that of more wasteful ones. Economical heaters last longer and manage to pay for themselves many times over during their operation.
One of the main advantages of electric heated towel rails is that they can be turned on and off as needed. Not all water models can provide this opportunity. Electric models are equipped with operation timers, with which you can set a schedule for the operation of the device. So, when you wake up in the morning and go into the bathroom, you can take a shower at a comfortable temperature, which is considered to be 24°C.
Based on the optimal temperature and area of the bathroom, it is necessary to select an electric heater of appropriate power. To maintain a temperature of 24°C, it is necessary that for each square meter there is 100-120 W of heating device power. If there is a window in the bathroom, the power must be increased to 130-150 W/m².
Electric models of heated towel rails are mainly made of stainless or low-carbon steel. The former are more expensive, but have a very long service life. Low-carbon steel models are less resistant to corrosion, but can last up to 15 years. By choosing products from well-known manufacturers, you can be confident in the guarantee of their quality.
Installation nuances
A heated font can be built for use indoors or outdoors by allocating an appropriate place on the site.
On the street
It is necessary to prepare a flat and solid base for mounting the bowl. This takes into account the weight of the structure when filled with water, along with the weight of the intended users. In order to comfortably take water procedures, the outdoor version of the font is surrounded by decorative plantings overlooking a beautiful garden landscape. It is necessary to build a canopy; if necessary, you can supplement the outdoor bathing complex with a hedge.
In room
Often, bathtubs are placed in a bathhouse; if desired, the bowl can be mounted on a veranda, in a garage, or an indoor pool. Indoors, the structure should not be installed close to heating appliances. If you have a heated floor system, it is recommended to equip the podium with insulating materials, for example, plywood with a layer of polystyrene foam and a rubber backing.
Photo gallery: different types of fonts
The font, lined with bricks below the floor level, can be well decorated with oriental-style mosaics
The font, which does not take up space in the room, is decorated with tiles and lighting
The wooden model harmonizes perfectly with the interior lining of the bathhouse
The electric hot tub is made with heating and a hydromassage system
An external heater is connected to the plastic hot tub: it is safer and does not take up space
In the bathhouse you can place a wooden font with internal heating, but only separate it with a partition
