Brick bathhouse: pros and cons reviews. Brick bath projects

There is an opinion that the best material for constructing baths is wood, which has been used for this purpose for several centuries. However, even today, with all the abundance of variations, its monopoly can hardly be unjustified, although there is a huge amount of very, very worthy alternative materials. For example, the same brick, using which you can even implement almost any of their original bathhouse projects with your own hands. True, an undertaking of this kind will be successful only in a situation where you familiarize yourself in advance with the main advantages and disadvantages of this material, having simultaneously studied the instructions for building baths.

Pros and cons of building materials for baths

To get the most complete picture of all the features of baths built of brick, it is important to learn about the fundamental pros and cons of such a building material.

Advantages

great fire resistance. It is known that brick is significantly superior to all traditional materials for bath construction;
long service life. A brick bathhouse can be used for more than 50 years if it was built technologically correctly;
environmental friendliness of the material. The fact is that brick is made from various types of natural raw materials, therefore this material is safe for people;
breadth of architectural possibilities. Not only ordinary “boxes” can be built from brick, but also bathhouses of more complex shapes and configurations.

Minuses

The disadvantages of brick baths are:

heat capacity too high. Heating a brick steam room will require much more time than heating a wooden building;
the high hygroscopicity of brick is bad because the walls will absorb moisture very quickly, so if you do not provide hydro- and vapor barrier, the bathhouse building will become damp;
high cost of construction. Brick can hardly be called a cheap building material, and therefore the construction of a bathhouse from it will be very expensive.

Advice

To understand the essence and possible pitfalls of such an undertaking, you should consider the technology of building a brick bathhouse. For simplicity, we can roughly divide the entire process into 3 key stages.

Laying the foundation - the first stage

Initially, you should take care of a high-quality and sufficiently deep foundation, only it can support a heavy brick-based structure. To do this, the future foundation is marked, after which special stakes are dug into it along its perimeter. This way you have defined your working boundaries. Next, you need to dig a pit with a depth of at least 1 meter.

Advice

If your site is located on clay soils, then the depth of the foundation should be 1.5 meters or more.

Then a pillow is arranged at the bottom. For this, sand and crushed stone are taken. You must first pour 15 centimeters of sand, moisten its layer with water, and then compact it thoroughly. Next, a layer of crushed stone about 15-20 centimeters thick is poured on top, nothing more. Next, one ball of sand is laid again and again covered with crushed stone. Afterwards, the final compaction of the resulting base or, as they say, “pie” is performed. Then proceed to the installation of wooden formwork, after which the fixing frame is installed on the base. The frame is constructed from reinforcing bars.

Next, a cement mortar is prepared, which will need to be carefully poured into the foundation. Each layer is leveled using a rule. After the cement has completely hardened, you can begin building the base. A couple of rows of bricks are enough for a bathhouse. After this, a vapor barrier should be performed on the foundation. For this purpose, 2 layers of roofing material are laid on a cement base. The last, final step will be to arrange holes for water supply, ventilation and sewerage.

There are a huge number of ways to lay brick walls, however, when you are doing construction work for the first time, you should pay special attention to the 2 most structurally simplest methods. The first is single-row masonry, in which one brick is placed across and the second along. This brickwork system is also called “chain”. Here, of course, a certain skill will be needed, but the difficulty in execution is entirely justified by its thoroughness and strength.

The second method is multi-row masonry. With it, one brick is placed across, and five blocks are placed lengthwise. This system is good because it has the ability to significantly save on building materials, as well as on masonry time. Although if we compare the strength, it is somewhat inferior to the single-row method.

Whatever masonry method you choose, you will need to make a cement mortar to connect the bricks together. Sand, lime and water are added to it. The resulting mixture should be moderately plastic, but not too liquid so as not to spread over the material. To fix the bricks as efficiently as possible, lay the mortar in a layer of about 7-10 millimeters.

Roof

When the work with the walls is completed, you can move on to arranging the roof. First, you will need to lay special logs or rafters on the top frame of the bath walls. This structure will serve as the base of the future roof. After this, the sheathing is placed on the installed base. And only then the roof itself is attached to it using self-tapping screws. These can be slate sheets or metal tiles, as well as corrugated sheets. You definitely need to worry about a special hole for the chimney.

In order for a brick bathhouse to be complete and have all the necessary functionality, it should be properly insulated from moisture and also insulated. There are two main and most popular methods of waterproofing. The first is painting, the second is pasting. In the first case, the internal surfaces of the bath structure should be carefully treated with coating insulating compounds. For example, bitumen mastic or rubber mixture, or epoxy resin. If insulation is carried out using the pasting method, then the surfaces should be covered with panel or roll materials. Roofing felt sheets and foil polyethylene foam are suitable for this. Adhesives or narrow wooden slats secured with self-tapping screws are often used as a retainer.

Advice

The insulation of the bath is done on the walls, floor and ceiling. In order to insulate the walls, you need to fill the surface with lathing, the spans of which are then filled with special insulation, and then the entire structure is covered with a layer of fiberglass and foil.

To insulate the floor, a layer of insulation is laid on its surface, which is fixed on top using a metal mesh. Next, everything is filled with a thin layer of cement mortar. You will also need to install a sheathing on the ceiling, which is then filled with insulation, and then covered with plywood or covered with foil. For insulation materials for a brick bath, you can use thermoplastics and polystyrene foam, mineral wool and fiberglass, or penoplex. After both manipulations are successfully completed, you can move on to the interior arrangement and decorative finishing of the steam room.

Conclusion:

Brick can be considered a good option for arranging a bathhouse for those who do not want to deal with wood. Of course, such material is not very easy to work with, so during construction you will have to work quite hard. However, if you follow all the instructions very clearly, you will be guaranteed a successful result - a functional, modern and comfortable steam room. And it will serve you for quite a long time.

Which sauna is better - wooden or stone?

There is an opinion that the best material for a bathhouse is wood. Wood has been used in construction for decades. However, modern realities do not imply a sole monopoly of wood. The market offers many equally worthy options to choose from.

Peculiarities

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

Advantages of brick:

Excellent fire resistance. The fire safety indicators of brick are the best in comparison with other materials.
Long service life. A brick bathhouse 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.
Large selection of architectural solutions. From brick you can build not only simple boxes, but also bathhouses of more complex shapes.

Disadvantages of brick:

Increased heat capacity. Heating a brick sauna will require more fuel than a wooden sauna.
High moisture absorption. Brick is a hygroscopic material and therefore requires careful insulation.
Significant price. Brick is not a cheap material, so the bath structure will be expensive. For the construction of a bathhouse, it is allowed to use only red brick, which is distinguished by its long service life and increased resistance to heat.
One more nuance: a brick bathhouse will require the construction of a stronger foundation.

During construction, it is possible to use several wall design options. For example, well masonry is considered an acceptable option, which allows you to install 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 structure is the continuous type. Such a bath will require the construction of very thick walls, which will lead to waste of material. In addition, the operation of such a bath will be possible only in the summer.

Projects

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

Bathhouse 6x4 m

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

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

The layout of the bathhouse can be easily changed by swapping the doorways. Keep in mind that entering directly into the rest room is not the best option, especially in winter. After all, when you open the doors, the cold will flow inside. To eliminate the shortcoming, a vestibule attached to the outside will serve. To prevent cold air from entering the room from outside, it is important to properly insulate the vestibule. Another similar method is building a terrace.

A partition installed in the rest room will provide protection from the cold. Using the structure, you can separate a small area of the room. As a result of the redevelopment, you will get a long rest room.

The resulting room will serve as a corridor where it will be more convenient to hang clothes or bath accessories on hangers.

One-story bathhouse 6x5 m

Bathhouse 3 by 4 meters

Despite such small dimensions, a 3x4 m bathhouse is quite suitable for family use. In addition, the construction involves several options for placing rooms inside. Some layouts also involve entering the recreation room directly from the street. It makes no sense to fence off a small room, and therefore an attached vestibule will serve as protection for the rest room from cold air.

Another option for change is the exclusion of a separate washing room. The Russian bathhouse suggests that you can wash and steam at the same time. The construction of a separate washing room is a modern interpretation of a traditional bathhouse. Here it is important to ensure the correct location of the heater stove. For example, a corner stove will not interfere with people during water procedures. You can slightly increase the usable area of the bathhouse by building an underground space. A cellar is needed, for example, for storing household goods, or as a warehouse for household supplies.

In a large sauna, it is important to correctly consider the location of the stove. It needs to heat all the rooms. At the same time, it is important to choose a stove option, because it will also work as a heating system. When building brick baths, it is important to already master bricklaying techniques. You can learn how to lay bricks by being present at construction. For example, if your neighbors are building a shed. Try to look at the process and ask them if you have any questions. Pay special attention to the construction of the corners of the building. The geometry and strength of the structure depends on this stage.

Design

When designing a bathhouse yourself inside, do not forget about the rules. The main rule is compliance with fire safety standards. For example, wooden and other flammable objects should be kept at a meter distance from the stove. The interior decoration of the bathhouse should preferably be natural and environmentally friendly. Therefore, you should not use a budget plastic alternative, which can be painted to look like wood. Despite the monetary benefits, plastic is not practical, since it does not allow vapor to pass through. In addition, under the influence of steam and temperatures it will release harmful substances.

If you want to save money on the inside of a brick bathhouse, you don’t have to decorate it with anything at all. Modern bathhouse design sometimes involves the use of finishing bricks to decorate the walls. The best option for inexpensive finishing of a bathhouse is wood. It requires minimal skills in working with tools; such finishing will not be difficult. If we consider in more detail, it is better to read the design of the bathhouse from the dressing room. When choosing options, it is worth considering that people relax in the room after water procedures, so it is important to provide the most comfortable functionality inside.

For example, a full wardrobe, as well as places to relax. Standard set of necessary items: table, benches, wardrobe. The wall finishing material and furniture color can be chosen to suit your taste.

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

Designer items such as birch tubs, ladles, etc. are allowed to be placed inside the steam room.

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

Materials

A special problem with brick baths is thermal conductivity and heat capacity. Insulation of brick baths should be carried out correctly 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 outside will not freeze.

When choosing insulation materials, it is worth considering that brick can withstand different numbers of defrosting and freezing cycles. Moreover, this parameter is different for red, silicate (white) or hollow bricks. Baths made of sand-lime brick require additional external finishing, which plays the role of insulation, for example, facing bricks.

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

Optimal material options: polypropylene foam, polyethylene foam. The materials do not absorb moisture and are not affected by fungus. The insulation of a brick bath will vary. For example, in damp rooms, good ventilation of insulation materials is necessary. Ventilation will ensure quick warming up and no condensation.

The best option for a brick bathhouse is this combined wall:

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

vapor and moisture insulation “Izospan”;
vertical control lathing;
external cladding, for example, clapboard or ordinary wood board.

The masonry will be quite thick with this option. Take this into account when planning. After all, the internal volume of the premises will be reduced due to the use of a mixture of insulation and waterproofing.

How to build?

Step-by-step do-it-yourself construction instructions will help you correctly build your own bathhouse on the site.

Any construction begins with choosing a site for the structure. At the selected point, markings are prepared, and then the construction of the foundation begins. For a brick bath, the best option would be a strip base. Such a foundation requires the preparation of a trench that needs to be dug, then it is secured with boards. The walls of the trench need to be covered with formwork, and the bottom is covered with sand. The sand cushion will evenly distribute the load. After this, reinforcement is performed.

The mesh is placed at a certain depth depending on the climatic characteristics of the area.

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

If you build a bathhouse with your own hands, then it is easier to use one-and-a-half red bricks. Laying walls for a bathhouse 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.

The wall courses begin with the outer bricks. The material must be wetted when laying, especially if it is hot enough outside. Lay bricks along 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 more attention to the quality of the seams.

Appropriate openings must be prepared for roof beams. The ends of the beams that will lie on the bricks must be wrapped with roofing felt. The simplest version of the bathhouse ceiling is the lean-to type. A flooring of boards is made on top of the laid beams. Fabric asbestos is suitable as a waterproofing material. A sawdust-clay mixture is placed on top of it. The dried base is sprinkled with sand.

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

Also, the place inside the room where the stove will be located is insulated with metal.

The construction of brick baths is due to a number of undeniable advantages, one of which is rightfully considered the cost of recycled material. We also must not forget about the incredible durability and strength of such buildings. However, the level of thermal conductivity of stone is slightly higher than that of natural wood. Other indicators include a high level of fire resistance, which is an important factor for a structure such as a bathhouse. If a brick bathhouse is not heated for some time, the premises will eventually become very cold and damp. Brick, like concrete, belongs to the category of more reliable and fire-resistant materials that will not allow the bathhouse to burn. During a fire, if one occurs, the building will not lose its shape, but the brick itself will become more fragile.

Potentially, all stone (brick) buildings have great architectural potential, as they allow many different ideas and plans to be realized. Brick also allows you to use almost all known materials as finishing materials. Possible cladding with brick, tile, natural or artificial stone. Also, do not forget about plaster, which can have different textures and colors. Stucco molding is also relevant to this day and can add uniqueness to any interior. It is worth noting some disadvantages associated with the difficulty of heating large rooms, since brick does not store heat well. Stone walls should be made thicker than wooden ones, which will ensure the required level of thermal insulation.

Design and its features

In order to build a bathhouse that meets all existing norms and rules, special attention should be paid to its initial design. It is in the project that the appearance of the future building (facade), the layout of each floor and the detailed design of the main premises are prescribed. This will allow you to take into account all the design features and include the main elements in the project, including the type of roof being installed. The plan contains drawings of each room, including cross-section. Any project must consist of elements that will help make correct calculations of the stability and strength of the future building.

Such documentation contains both technical and engineering parts, which also describe the sewer system, wiring, heating, ventilation and drainage and water supply. If necessary, basic calculations regarding the gas supply used are prescribed. At the end of this stage, an initial estimate is drawn up, where each type of work is calculated separately, including calculations regarding the materials required for construction and finishing work. When drawing up such projects, you should also take into account some important points:

All main points regarding the construction and organization of primary systems must be discussed with specialists. The same applies to architectural and design work.
In the steam room, it is recommended to have windows facing west. This will allow you to significantly save on natural lighting in the future.
Based on current fire safety standards, it is not recommended to build a bathhouse in close proximity to other buildings and structures. The minimum distance is six meters.
All doors and windows must open exclusively outward.
The stove, especially a stone one, should be located towards the dressing room with the firebox.
It is not surprising, but the height of the benches in the washing room should be at least one and a half meters from the surface of the floor covering.

Choosing a site for a brick bathhouse

The main rule that should be followed is that the site chosen for construction must be dry. If there is a pond or a river flowing on the territory, then the distance from them to the bathhouse should be at least thirty meters. Otherwise, in the spring the humidity level will increase significantly or the building may be completely flooded (floods). It is not recommended to ignore fire safety requirements. So, if you plan to heat the bathhouse with wood, then the distance to the nearest building should be at least twelve meters. If you plan to use electric or gas heating equipment, then a distance of five meters will be sufficient. It is also worth paying attention to the fact that brick baths can be attached to existing buildings. This will not only save on materials, but also on the sewerage system and power supply.

Foundation

Subject to the construction of a brick bathhouse, the distance to the nearest building should be at least twelve meters and one and a half meters from the fences. In this case, the selected area should be well ventilated. If all these requirements have been met, then the bathhouse can be built without the risk of any consequences. First you need to take care of the foundation for the bathhouse. First of all, a foundation pit is made; if there is a need for significant savings, this work can be carried out independently, without the involvement of special equipment. Its depth will be about two meters.

A mound of sand is made at the bottom, after which the surface is sprinkled with crushed stone. Iron reinforcement is being laid. For the formwork you will need wood, which is then poured using a concrete-based solution. At this stage, you should take care of the hole for the drain and a separate formwork for the oven. The poured foundation is left alone for at least several months. If there is a need to speed up the construction process, you should use additional equipment (special mats that will speed up the hardening of the solution).

We build walls and roof

Several methods can be used to lay brick walls. If we are talking about building walls yourself, then you should pay attention to the two simplest methods that will allow you to carry out all the work correctly even for beginners. Single-row masonry refers to one of them. In this case, one element is placed across, after which the second along. Popularly it is called chain. This will require a certain level of experience and dexterity, but everything can be done independently, without involving a construction team, which you would subsequently have to pay. The masonry will be solid.

The second includes multi-row masonry. To do this, one element is placed across and five pieces along. This system will save on building materials and on the time allocated for laying and erecting walls. Based on the level of strength, it is significantly inferior to the single-row laying method. In any case, you should take care of high-quality cement mortar, which will be used in any case. In addition to the main component, it also contains water and lime. It wouldn't hurt to add sand. The solution should be at the same time plastic, but not liquid. It should not spread over the surface of the material. To fix the brick with the highest quality, you should use a layer of mortar of 0.7-1 cm.

Benefits of use

The main advantages include the incredible strength of the building. The load-bearing capacity indicator is also at the proper level, taking into account the availability of all necessary building materials. Brick is classified as a stronger building material compared to logs. In addition, it is more resistant to mechanical damage. Brick allows you to build bathhouses on several floors, while using logs this task becomes significantly more complicated. This material allows you to turn almost any customer’s fantasy into reality, which cannot be said about wooden buildings.

The material will allow you to turn an ordinary bathhouse into a memorable architectural work that will fit perfectly into the existing landscape design. Brick allows you to equip a glass veranda of any shape and size in the bathhouse. On hot days, it will allow you to spend time with company over a cup of tea or cool down after visiting the steam room. Window and door openings can be made round or any other shape. No additional finishing work will be needed, since the brick will always look more than aesthetically pleasing. If necessary, the walls can be easily insulated using any convenient material used for insulation. It is also possible to use siding and plaster.

Disadvantages of a brick bath

Regardless of the number of advantages that the construction of a brick bath promises, there are also some disadvantages that are not recommended to be ignored:

Compared to the use of any other material, brick implies a significant increase in the cost of construction work. You will need a number of completely expensive materials, and to carry out some work you will have to hire a construction team. Compared to their wooden counterparts, brick baths are several times more expensive.
To use brickwork, you will need to pour a more substantial foundation (more weight of the structure). We should not forget about the additional load, which must be reasonably compensated by a high-quality foundation, taking into account the arrangement of the drainage system.
Additional arrangement of the ventilation system and vapor barrier will be required. Only in this case, over time, the masonry will not begin to become damp and crumble.
A number of interior finishing works will be required. For this, it is recommended to use tiles or natural wood. Wood species such as alder, linden and aspen are often used when it comes to lining. Everything will depend on the personal preferences of the owner and his vision of the design of the bathhouse premises. Natural wood will exude an incomparable aroma, but you will have to pay for it. It is also possible to use a combined finish, however, its cost can be exorbitant.
In order to fully heat a bathhouse, it will take much more time, since brick practically does not retain heat. An internal insulating layer will help solve this problem, but the additional purchase of such material will significantly affect the initial estimate.

A well-designed project will help solve most of these problems, but this will require additional capital investment.

A homemade brick bathhouse in the country or in the courtyard of your own home will be an excellent addition and attribute to a healthy lifestyle. It is not difficult to build such a structure yourself, the main thing is accurate drawings, strict adherence to the instructions and the correct masonry technology. Waterproofing the building is considered an important stage, because under the constant influence of steam, even high-quality brick will begin to deteriorate.

Pros and cons of brick baths

Even a small brick bathhouse built near a country house or private house is the dream of any person leading a healthy, proper lifestyle. But before building such a structure, it is recommended to carefully study all the advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of red brick baths include:

Fire safety. A building made of brick blocks is much safer than a bathhouse made of timber.
Attractive appearance. If the masonry is laid out from facing bricks, it is not necessary to additionally carry out external decorative finishing.
Durability and reliability. Do-it-yourself brick baths will last much longer than timber ones, and repairs to them will have to be done much less frequently.

But it is important to pay attention to the disadvantages, among which the most common are:

Cost of work. Construction of a bathhouse from brick blocks is more expensive than a steam room from a log house.
Insufficient thermal insulation. Brick is a material with a high heat capacity, so to make the steam room comfortable, it is important to properly insulate the walls and additionally build a brick oven inside.
Poor steam conductivity of the structure. Baths made of facing silicate bricks allow steam to pass through worse than timber baths. Therefore, before putting it into operation, it is better to treat the brick walls with a waterproofing solution, and also take care of quality ventilation.

Tools and necessary materials

You need to buy crushed stone and sand for construction.

If, after carefully studying all the pros and cons, the final decision is made to make a steam room out of brick, first it is agreed upon and a drawing is drawn up. After this, the following materials are purchased:

cement;
crushed stone and sand;
wooden boards or chipboard for formwork;
fittings;
bricks;
drain pipe;
waterproofing materials.

Laying is carried out using the following tools:

shovel - bayonet and shovel;
galvanized buckets;
container for mixing the solution;
level, plumb line, protractor, tape measure;
spatula, trowel;
hand portable power tools - grinder, drill, screwdriver;
welding and electrodes.

Step-by-step instruction

Preparation and drawings

First you need to decide on a design drawing.

At the first stage, the building is laid out, its dimensions and wall thickness are agreed upon. You also need to choose a place to build the structure. All these parameters must be indicated in the drawings. If difficulties arise when drawing up a plan or there is little experience in construction work, it is recommended to seek help from an experienced craftsman who knows everything about building baths.

Laying the foundation

The construction of a brick bathhouse begins with the formation of a strong and reliable foundation that will take on the maximum load. For a small family, a 4x4 m bathhouse option is suitable. Step-by-step instructions for building a foundation look like this:

A ditch 50-70 cm deep is dug along the perimeter of the future structure, which is covered with a 15-20 cm layer of sand. Everything is compacted well.
Next, the pit is filled with a layer of sand-cement mortar with the addition of crushed stone.
To form smooth foundation walls, formwork is installed. It is recommended to use wooden boards or chipboard sheets as fencing.
For reliability and stability, additional reinforcement is carried out before pouring the foundation; even at this stage, a sewer pipe is laid under the foundation.

After pouring the foundation, you need to lay the plinth.

The base and plinth are made of brick. In order for the structure to serve for a long time, the base is insulated from steam. Another option for protecting walls from moisture and premature destruction is a columnar foundation located on load-bearing supports, which are located strictly at certain points where the load on the structure is maximum. If there is a brick partition or other heavy structural elements inside the structure, additional protective supports are also installed under them. In order for such a structure without a foundation to be reliable, it is recommended to fold it into half a brick, and not load the floors with additional heavy elements.

We build walls

For the construction of walls and a brick sauna stove, it is recommended to use ceramic blocks that do not absorb moisture and have high performance characteristics.

with air gaps no more than 60 mm wide;
ring-shaped masonry, when the gap between the outer and inner rows is filled with insulation;
without the formation of voids inside, but the outer walls in this case must be finished with a dense thermal insulator.

The solution must be mixed thoroughly.

For the construction of walls, a cement-sand mortar is prepared. The sand fraction should be no more than 2.6 mm. The solution must be mixed well, then proceed to laying. The base is formed only from solid bricks; hollow blocks can be used for the walls. It is important to control the width of the joints, which should not exceed 1-2 cm. At the stage of wall construction, windows are formed in the brick bathhouse and a door portal. To strengthen the portal and window opening when laying out the walls, jumpers are installed, and the side surfaces are insulated with roofing felt.

It is recommended to install wooden windows for a bathhouse. This way the structure will “breathe” and excess moisture will not accumulate inside. To increase the usable area, it is recommended to connect the veranda to the bathhouse. When the brick box is completely formed, it is covered with a ceiling and the roof is covered.

A sauna is an indispensable means of relaxation after a hard day, and a great place to meet friends. It is convenient to use the services of a construction company, but you will have to shell out a large sum.

Many summer residents prefer to build bathhouses with their own hands.

Advantages and disadvantages

Traditionally, Russian baths were built of wood. Nowadays, fire-resistant bricks are increasingly used for such purposes, which are safer and no less environmentally friendly. This building material is easy to use and allows you to implement a bathhouse project of any complexity. Before starting the construction of a brick bath, you need to familiarize yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of the material itself and the structure made from it.

Fire-resistant brick is more expensive than wood, but it also has many advantages, namely:

high level of fire safety - brick is significantly superior to wood in terms of fire resistance. Fire-resistant brick perfectly resists fire, which cannot be said about wood;
durability - a bathhouse built of brick can last more than 50 years;
environmental friendliness - natural raw materials are used in the manufacture of bricks, the material does not pose a danger to human health;
ease of operation - no special care is required for the brick facade of the bathhouse;
the use of brick will allow you to build baths of various shapes and sizes, implement even the most complex architectural projects, and use various types of interior and exterior decoration. The strength of the building allows you to experiment with the internal layout and shape of the roof.

The disadvantages of brick baths are as follows:

high heat capacity - it will take much longer to heat a brick steam room than a similar wooden structure;
increased hygroscopicity - to avoid the formation of dampness in the room, it is imperative to carry out a complex of hydro-, steam- and heat-insulating work;
the cost of the building material - fire-resistant brick is quite an expensive material, therefore, the construction of a bathhouse will not be cheap;
the need to construct a strip, deep foundation and carry out finishing work;
To ensure heat conservation, greater wall thickness will be required.

Types of structures

When building a brick bathhouse, you can choose a variety of shapes and designs. The quality of a bathhouse largely depends on the correct internal layout. Ready-made projects will help you avoid mistakes. You can build a building exactly according to the presented drawings or use the project as an idea and modify it taking into account personal preferences.

It is worth considering several of the most popular options, and brief instructions on how to create them.

One-story bathhouse 6x4 m with a terrace

This project involves the presence of the following three premises:

restroom;
washing room;
steam room

The layout of the bathhouse can be changed by swapping the doorways. It should be noted that entering directly into the rest room is not a very good option. The fact is that when the doors are opened, the cold will flow inside. A terrace or an attached vestibule will help eliminate this deficiency.

Bathhouse projects with terraces are very popular. The terrace can be equipped at your discretion, install comfortable furniture for meeting with friends, or place a billiard room.

Corner baths

The main feature of corner-type baths is their non-standard shape, which looks beautiful and stylish. This construction option is characterized by the location of the steam room perpendicular to the rest of the building.

The main advantages of corner baths are the following:

the location of the steam room stove in the central part of the building ensures heating of all rooms at once and helps reduce heat loss;
corner baths save space on the plot of land. They are usually placed in the corner of the site. They are ideal for construction in problem areas, where with the help of this type of structure it is possible to “bypass” communications or, for example, a large tree;
If desired, you can make a corner bathhouse with a pool or plunge pool. To implement such a project, significant material costs and the availability of a large building area will be required;
The shape of the building allows you to attach a corner steam room to a house or summer kitchen. A variety of options allows you to choose a project based on your needs and capabilities, and the shape of the land plot.

Which material to choose?

On the modern market you can find several types of bricks:

Red ceramic hollow and solid. Ceramic bricks can be either facing or masonry. Solid brick is a strong, durable and frost-resistant material. It is used for laying load-bearing walls, plinths, ventilation ducts and chimneys. The disadvantage is the high thermal conductivity, which is why the outer walls are laid out in two rows. Solid brick is a heavy material, so the foundation must be quite strong to support the weight of the walls. The cost of the material is high, since a lot of raw materials are required for production.

Hollow brick has low weight and good thermal insulation qualities. It is not suitable for laying plinths and chimneys.

Ceramic porous. It is made using a clay mixture with the addition of sawdust. During firing, sawdust burns, forming air pores in the material that prevent air penetration. This achieves thermal conductivity close to that of wood. This building material is lightweight, durable, and has good heat and sound insulation properties.

White silicate. This durable material has good thermal insulation properties, but does not tolerate temperature changes and is destroyed by moisture.

Fireproof fireclay. The material with a granular structure is made by sintering fireclay powder with crushed refractory clay. It is not used for laying walls. It is used for the construction of structures that need to withstand high temperatures - stoves and fireplaces. Refractory bricks accumulate heat, maintain the temperature of the furnace for a long time, and release heat as they cool.

DIY installation

Blueprints

Before you start building a bathhouse, you need to correctly draw up a drawing (project) of the future building. All features of the structure should be taken into account: appearance, number and size of rooms, communication wiring diagram, weight distribution of structures, calculation of the amount of necessary materials. The simplest designs of small-sized baths consist of one room, which combines a steam room, a washing room and a changing room.

True, this option is not very convenient, so in most drawings the buildings consist of rooms such as:

steam room. It is important to ensure that the door opens outward, as required by fire safety regulations. It is recommended that the height from floor to ceiling in the steam room does not exceed 2.5 m. This will allow you to spend less material resources, time and effort on building a bathhouse and heating the premises to the desired temperature;
rest room. Usually a table and comfortable furniture are installed in it so that you can sit down, have a snack and chat;
dressing room. It can also be used as a dressing room by installing wardrobes and clothes hangers;
washing. It is a shower room or a swimming pool.

To develop a construction drawing, you can contact the design organization. Design specialists will competently create a project taking into account the client’s wishes, legal requirements in the field of construction and fire safety rules.

In order to save money, you can use the ready-made projects of brick baths provided in this article.

Foundation

If you have a ready-made project for the future bathhouse, you can begin building the foundation. Considering that brick buildings are quite heavy, the foundation must be strong to support the weight of the structure. The best choice is a strip foundation.

The construction of the foundation consists of the following stages:

preparing and clearing the area of various debris, stones, unwanted vegetation and other things;
marking the future building according to the project. Pegs are installed along the walls and in the corners, between which a strong thread is stretched;

excavation of a trench (depth 0.3–0.8 m, width 25–40 cm). It is important to take into account that the foundation must begin at least a meter above the groundwater flow;
a layer of sand (10–20 cm) is poured onto the bottom of the trench, moistened with water and compacted thoroughly;
a layer of crushed stone is laid on top of the sand layer, moistened, and compacted tightly;

1-2 layers of waterproofing material are placed on the resulting pillow. Most often, roofing felt or geotextiles are used;
installation of formwork from boards. It should rise 30–60 cm above the ground;
a reinforced base of metal rods with a diameter of 1.2–1.6 cm is mounted inside. The rows are connected to each other with strong wire;

Be sure to wet the internal parts of the formwork in advance;
Cement-concrete mortar is poured inside the resulting structure. You can make it yourself using sifted river or quarry sand, fine crushed stone, cement and water;
formwork is usually removed after 5–14 days, depending on the air temperature. To prevent deformation in the first few days, the base should be watered 3-4 times a day. In order to protect the foundation from precipitation, a blind area 1 m wide is poured from clay and crushed stone. The cement hardens to the required strength in 28 days.

It is imperative to make holes for ventilation in the foundation with a diameter of 8–12 cm and build a separate foundation for the stove if you plan to use a heater.

Considering that concrete is capable of absorbing moisture well, before starting to lay the walls, it is recommended to carefully treat the above-ground part with special waterproofing mixtures. At the stage of foundation construction, it is necessary to provide for the wiring of water supply and drainage systems. Electricity and gas can be installed later.

Walls

After completing the foundation waterproofing work, you can begin building the walls. The single-row ligation system is most often used, since it is easy to use and can be erected without problems alone. This system consists of alternating spoon and butt rows of bricks. A spoon row is a row of bricks that are laid with their sides along the wall, and a butt row is laid with their ends facing the outside of the wall.

There are three types of brick walls:

solid - the brick is laid in two rows without a gap between the rows. It is more durable;
with a ventilation gap of 40–60 mm;
lightweight. This type consists of two walls, between which insulation (expanded clay or fine slag) is poured.

Lightweight masonry is most often used, since it reduces the pressure on the foundation and saves on building materials. Regardless of the type of masonry, walls should be built from the corners. Initially, you need to lay out six rows of bricks on the mortar in the corners. You need to run a cord along each row.. They are wrapped around nails, which are inserted into the seams between the bricks at a distance of 3–4 mm from the vertical of the row. This determines the evenness of the masonry. For the same purpose, a building level and plumb line are used.

It is recommended to lay out the base of the bathhouse from solid bricks, and make the walls themselves from hollow bricks. During laying, you need to do everything quickly so that the cement mortar does not set prematurely. When carrying out construction work in the summer, the brick must first be moistened with water. The thickness of the cement mortar layer should be 2–3 cm.

There are several variations of solid masonry, including:

"single-row"– constant change of splice and spoon rows;
"multi-row"– bonded rows go through 5-6 spoon rows.

When laying bonded rows, it is necessary to apply the mortar with an indentation of 10 mm when filling joints and by 30–35 mm when laying waste areas. If there are bricks with various chips and defects, then they can be used for laying tray rows, with the exception of corners and support areas.

It is imperative to build a screen for the furnace from refractory bricks. It serves as a kind of case for the stove and promotes smooth heating.

Roof and floor

The roof structure can be made in one, two or more slopes. It should be taken into account that the more complex the roof structure, the more expensive the installation will be. The step-by-step sequence of work also depends on the choice of design. Holes for mounting pins are drilled in the upper rows of walls. The Mauerlat and ceiling joists are mounted on top of them.

If the ends of the beams come into contact with the walls, they are wrapped with roofing felt. Then the flooring is constructed from unedged boards. At the same stage, the hole for the chimney is determined.

To increase the service life of ceiling joists, they must be covered with a waterproofing layer. You can use fabric absinthe, which is convenient to fasten with construction staples. A layer consisting of a mixture of clay and sawdust is poured on top. After drying, it is sprinkled with sand.

Where the chimney comes into contact with the ceiling, it is lined with sheets of metal.

After this, the rafter system is assembled. The rafter legs are attached to the Mauerlat using metal corners and self-tapping screws.

If the roof has two or more slopes, then additional supports are installed between the slopes. A sheathing of small slats is installed on top of the beams, covered with waterproofing and corrugated sheets, metal tiles or other modern analogues. If necessary, make a counter-lattice.

To install the floor, beams with a section of 15x10, 25x10 mm are used, which are mounted to the bottom of the walls using metal corners. Bars are nailed to the joist on both sides - the basis for the subfloor. A board is attached on top of them, then a layer of waterproofing, insulation and a second layer of waterproofing. After which the finishing floor is installed.

Insulation and waterproofing

Waterproofing and insulation are necessary to improve the functional qualities of a brick bathhouse.

Waterproofing can be done in two ways:

painting method– from the inside, all surfaces of the bathhouse are covered with waterproofing agents: bitumen mastic or epoxy resins;
pasting method– internal surfaces can be lined with sheet or rolled roofing felt. Foiled polyethylene foam is also used for these purposes. It is convenient to fix it using wooden slats, and the joints must be sealed with aluminum tape. It should be installed from the inside of the bath with the mirror side facing up.

It is necessary to leave a gap between the polyethylene foam and the wall.

Thermal insulation is the most important aspect in creating a bathhouse. The functionality of the room depends on it. If the bathhouse does not warm up well, all the work will go down the drain.

In rooms with high humidity, it is important to achieve excellent ventilation of insulation materials. Thus, the bath will warm up faster and the amount of condensation will decrease, since it will evaporate faster.