Do-it-yourself wooden bathtub: professional advice

An ordinary bathtub is a well-known cast iron product, that is, a fairly durable container that faithfully served our parents. Modern industry offers us steel and acrylic models. Their advantages and disadvantages are known to everyone. Okay, but what did people wash in before? Literature, familiar to us from childhood, assures us that “in a tub, in a trough, in a tub.”

But all of the containers listed are made of wood! It turns out that a wooden bathtub built and installed in an apartment with your own hands is not a myth. Moreover, it is an excellent alternative to all industrial models. After all, it can be made taking into account your own needs.

Is wood afraid of water?

We know that the presence of water is the most important condition for the existence of life on earth. A tree, during its growth and development, also needs regular watering and absorbs liquid in significant volumes.

According to scientists, approximately 200 million trees grow even at the bottom of artificial reservoirs. And this is about one percent of the world's wood resource.

Environmentalists believe that transporting wood by water is harmful to nature, but it is still used

But even after the tree is cut down, its contact with water can continue. Whips and logs are floated down rivers, transported to the place of further use. They are even processed using the flooding method.

For example, oak, after several years spent in a flooded state, acquires special strength. Even before the processing stage, the cost of such material is very high.

It turns out that wood is quite compatible with water. But what she doesn’t like is frequent changes in temperature and humidity. We all know that an oak barrel filled with water swells. If you leave it for a long time without liquid, it can dry out and become unusable.

Preparation for waterproofing work

Before laying waterproofing materials, it is necessary to remove the previous flooring, cladding, all dirt, dust, debris, wash the walls and floor, and allow the wood to dry. Then the wood needs to be treated with an antiseptic, the necessary moisture-repellent agents, and the surface thoroughly leveled. Existing cracks and crevices are covered with special means.

Before starting work, you need to remove the previous materials and clean the walls and floor

The next stage of work will be to apply a primer to the floor and walls - this will promote good adhesion of the waterproofing to the base. Let it dry thoroughly. Waterproof tape is applied to the joints between the floor and the wall, the ceiling and the wall, in hard-to-reach places, and corners - it will not allow moisture to get into the joints between the bases. Not only walls, floors, but also ceilings need to be treated with waterproofing materials. The basement, located under the bathroom, also needs to be waterproofed.

Primer must be applied to walls and floors

Advantages and disadvantages of wooden models

Of course, a bathtub made of wood should have certain advantages. Otherwise, all the effort spent on its production would simply not make sense.

An amazing property of wood is that it is able to radiate life-giving force throughout the entire period of its existence.

So, let's list its main advantages:

• Environmentally friendly. Wood is part of the Earth's natural resources. It is natural, like Nature itself, and does not cause negative reactions from the human body. The only thing you should pay attention to is that high-quality glue is used during the assembly of the wooden font. It is he who can spoil the environmental friendliness of the design.
• Durability. A wooden bathtub can last much longer than a cast iron model if it is properly cared for. Just remember that in the absence of moisture such a container may dry out. Therefore, if you are not going to use it for a long time, fill it with water.
• Healing properties. A properly treated surface of solid wood releases substances beneficial to humans into the heated water. It is believed that products made from cedar or larch have a beneficial effect on the nervous system and increase a person’s vitality.
• Aesthetic enjoyment. The well-treated surface of such a bathtub attracts everything: wonderful tactile sensations, pleasant color and natural structure. Of course, compared to the usual models that we are used to seeing in the bathroom, wood products look excellent.

Wooden models can be equipped with functions of aero- and hydromassage, aromatherapy and other achievements of modern civilization. Including multimedia entertainment systems, lighting and control panel

To make an informed choice, you need to see not only the front side of the future acquisition, but also its backside. Therefore, let's talk about the shortcomings. There are not many of them, but they also exist.

This wonderful bathtub does not require such complicated care: after use, you need to carefully wipe it with a cloth, removing excess moisture from the surface

• Price. Of course, no one produces such products en masse, so each such model is a handmade piece. And this means that its price will be rather high. If you don’t make a wooden bathtub with your own hands, the finished product will not be cheap for the future owner.
• Care. It is not enough to simply monitor the temperature in the room and fill the bathtub with water without allowing it to dry out. To care for it, you need to use special wood products. You cannot use conventional chemicals to clean plumbing fixtures!
• Purpose. This plumbing fixture is intended exclusively for bathing. Moreover, it is people who will bathe in the bathtub. Pets can damage expensive items. You also cannot soak laundry in such a container and use it for washing.

It may actually be better to separate the procedure of washing away dirt from your body from the wonderful opportunity to simply enjoy water treatments

It’s not for nothing that we mentioned the word “swim”. The fact is that it is also not recommended to wash thoroughly in such a bath, no matter how paradoxical it may sound.

A dirty human body releases fats, which, when absorbed into the wood, spoil it. So a shower in a bathroom with a wooden font is a necessary thing.

Performing adhesive moisture protection

For adhesive waterproofing, film or roll materials are used. They are either glued or fused, usually applied in 2-3 layers. For work, bitumen-polymer, polymer, bitumen-containing materials are used. Mastic for gluing is used polymer, bitumen-rubber, bitumen, bitumen-polymer.

First of all, a thin layer of mastic is applied to the prepared surface, then the roll is rolled out, it needs to be secured, and the surface is again coated with mastic. This procedure must be carried out several times. The material is glued to the walls, starting from the floor. Which waterproofing method you choose will depend on your budget and how often the area is used.

Adhesive waterproofing is glued to mastic

Don't ignore waterproofing. After all, it will not only protect against mold and mildew, but will also increase the service life of the room.

Selecting the source material

On the one hand, the bathtub must be durable, and, on the other hand, it is important that its appearance gives aesthetic pleasure to its owners. It should provide exceptionally pleasant emotions. It is this combination of qualities that the following types of wood can guarantee:

• wenge;
• teak;
• mahogany;
• cedar;
• oak;
• beech;
• larch.

The type of wood the bathtub is made from is extremely important. Not only its service life, but also your precious health depends on this.

The wood of these species takes the desired shape well, is not subject to rotting, and withstands high humidity. It is very important that the bathroom does not develop fungi or mold, which are detrimental to human health.

The bowl should be smooth, neatly maintained and absolutely clean. In this case, swimming will give you pleasure and add vigor and good mood.

It’s not in vain that we try to surround ourselves with not just comfortable, but also beautiful objects. By receiving aesthetic pleasure, we prolong our life

Some manufacturers use innovative technologies that allow them to combine materials, creating surprisingly effective combinations. For example, a bowl combined of glass and wood looks like a large aquarium with a lounger inside.

This model of the font allows you not to worry about the wood drying out. As a last resort, you can simply replace the sunbed.

Price

It all depends on the raw materials that were used to make the bowl. Wooden bathtubs are more expensive than cast iron or, for example, acrylic ones, because they are always created by hand. This means they are unique and special. No large factories or factories are involved here.

Many consumers believe that wood and water are incompatible things and bathtubs cannot be made from such material. They are completely wrong. Wood soaked in water for quite a long time becomes much stronger. There is even such a method of wood processing.

The best options are considered to be hot tubs made from wenge, larch, teak or mahogany wood. It is from these rocks that boats and ships have been made since ancient times. The cost of such baths can be more than a million rubles . But bathtubs made of walnut or birch will be many times cheaper, especially if they are made in the form of a barrel. They will cost you 50 - 100 thousand rubles.

Bathtub shape made of wood

The shape of the bathtub usually matches the character of its owner. But in any case, such a font is a kind of interior decoration, and, therefore, should be located not in a corner, but in the central part of the room and on a special pedestal or stand.

You want to plunge your whole body into such a bath-boat and, closing your eyes, float, enjoying the pleasant warmth and bliss, leaving all your problems behind.

The most commonly used forms are:

• Rook or boat. It is these floating means that in the human mind personify the connection between water and wood. By the way, it was the shipwrights who were the authors of the first fonts made from wood. In modern Italy, popular wooden bathtubs are produced by a company that was previously involved in the construction of yachts. Models of this shape are considered difficult to manufacture and expensive.
• Barrel. There are common features that unite all “barrel” type models: their sides and bottom are tightened with copper and brass hoops. Each element of the product is carefully adjusted and additionally impregnated with special compounds: this ensures the tightness of the container. The shape of a barrel-shaped model can be not only round, but also oval or similar to a tub equipped with handles. In short, a variety of variations on the barrel theme are possible. This type of font can be considered the most common.
• Rectangular. A bowl like this is less common, but not because it is less convenient. On the contrary, a rectangular bathtub resembles a conventional cast iron or steel model. Especially if the design includes an internal curved insert that supports the bather’s back. It is for this reason that the rectangular bowl is in little demand. If a person decides to be original when choosing a piece of plumbing fixtures made of wood, he wants the shape of the product to be non-standard. Although in a small bathroom the rectangular shape of the font would look better than any other.
• Ofuro. This is the name of the traditional Japanese font , which is most often made of oak, cedar or larch. The shape of the ofuro is a cross between a barrel and a rectangular box. According to ancient traditions, it is made 1.4 m long, 1 meter wide and 81 cm deep. There is a special protrusion inside the structure, with which you can take a comfortable position for the body. After completing water procedures, the Japanese often use a dry barrel containing sawdust, herbs and evaporation of medicinal oils. But in this case we are talking not so much about hygiene, but about health procedures.

This is how you can take wellness treatments in an ofuro bath filled with sawdust. They say that it is not only very pleasant, but also useful

In addition to the original bowl, you can decorate your bathroom with a variety of accessories made from wood of the same species. With the help of such a simple technique, the integrity of the interior design of the room is ensured.

In general, a wooden bathtub looks great in the interior. Make sure of this by watching the video:

What are they?

Wooden baths can be classified according to production technology, type of wood and the shape of the finished bowl. Today, fonts are made in different ways:

• from a solid log;
• from bars glued together;
• using boards fastened with metal hoops.

A bathtub made of solid wood is an ideal option. But it is difficult to find a suitable piece of wood for it, and not everyone is up to the task of whittling a solid bowl. It's a very labor-intensive job. Hence the high price.

It is much easier and cheaper to make a bathtub from bars glued together . The most important condition is to make the product airtight and durable.

We will talk about this production method below.

A font made from boards is an even simpler option. True, it’s difficult to call it a bathroom - it’s more like a barrel for taking water procedures. Its main feature is its almost vertical sides.

The shape of wooden fonts can be completely different:

• oval;
• round;
• square
• asymmetrical.

And even in the shape of a floating ship (products in this style have recently become very popular).

Photo

Below are interesting designs of wooden bathtubs and examples of bathroom interiors:

Making a wooden font with your own hands

If you are already thinking about how to make a simple wooden bathtub with your own hands, we will tell you about some of the nuances and sequence of this difficult work.

The task is truly difficult, but for craftsmen who are fluent in special woodworking tools and are willing to take risks, nothing is impossible.

It’s difficult to say which is better: spend money and buy a bathtub made by a specialist, or spend time and effort and make a unique model yourself

We will choose beech as the material from which the bowl will be made. Our work does not require metal, except as a decorative finish, which we will talk about a little later. Nails fastening the elements of the product will successfully replace wooden dowels.

In addition, we will need a waterproof and waterproof adhesive and a reliable seam sealant. And at the end of all the work, the product will need to be coated with a special waterproof varnish. But the most important element of the bathroom has always been and remains high-quality wood.

Tools needed for work

All the tools we need in our work should be at hand. Therefore, they should be prepared in advance.

List of tools:

• milling machine;
• tape measure and marker;
• jigsaw;
• grinding tools;
• drill and a set of drills for it;
• hammer;
• glue, sealant, brushes and varnishes.

When all the tools are assembled and the material is ready for use, you can begin the process itself. First you need to measure the place where you plan to install the future bathtub and make a working drawing of the structure.

Of course, you should prepare all the necessary tools for work and be sure to make working drawings: without them it is impossible to cut the material into parts

Types of modern tiles

The tiles are produced for floor and wall. Fundamental differences: thickness and strength. Wood-effect floor tiles are always thicker and more durable - after all, people will walk on them. Standard sizes, colors, and simulated patterns vary.

Waterproofing concrete floor

Waterproofing a concrete floor can be done using all of the above methods. New types of waterproofing of concrete bases include applying a special plaster mixture with polymer additives to the concrete. After hardening, this mixture forms a durable moisture-proof coating. For optimal results, carefully follow the instructions for preparing and applying the solution.

More recently, penetrating waterproofing has appeared. Components of a special composition penetrate into the pores of the concrete base, forming waterproof crystalline compounds. The structure of the concrete does not change; the composition protects the concrete not only from moisture, but also from adverse chemical influences.

Penetrating waterproofing will protect the concrete floor well without destroying it Source stroim24.info

Cast floor waterproofing

Cast waterproofing of a bathroom in a wooden house can be done hot or cold.

The hot application method must be performed with extreme caution. Plastic compositions based on bitumen with this method of application are heated to a temperature of 50-120 ° C, so it is better to entrust such work to a specialist.

Cold way. This is a very popular self-leveling floor today, consisting of an epoxy mixture, liquid glass or high-strength polymers. If the first 2 types are usually a self-leveling base for the subsequent laying of finishing materials, such as laminate, on the floor, then a polymer self-leveling floor forms a beautiful, high-quality coating, which, in addition to excellent protective properties, is very beautiful. It can serve as an independent decoration for the bathroom interior. Of course, this is not a cheap coating, but it is very high quality and durable.

A self-leveling floor can be such an interesting solution Source diaocsg.top