photo from the site Kvartira.mirtesen.ru A compact homemade barrel sauna, which does not take up much space on the site of a summer house or country house, instantly attracts attention due to its non-standard shape. This is the best option for those who have long dreamed of having their own steam room, but for various reasons do not dare to begin the first stage of construction.
Due to its small size and fast heating, a design of this type allows for significant fuel savings, and this is far from its main advantage. You can build such a structure yourself by choosing the material and design of the room. Read about how to make a round barrel sauna with your own hands in our new article.
Why you should buy a barrel sauna
Baths have long been in the service of people - they improved health, treated ailments, looked after beauty, or simply relaxed. Medicine today still recommends visiting the bathhouse as often as possible for physical cleansing, while not forgetting about spiritual saturation.
To save time and money, today it is possible to buy and install a barrel sauna at the dacha and on the site of a country house.
Advantages of this design:
- There is no need for a foundation or construction itself - the bathhouse is installed very quickly;
- Reasonable price;
- The barrel sauna is manufactured in compliance with Finnish technology;
- Warming up occurs in just half an hour;
- The maximum acceptable dimensions for placement anywhere in a summer cottage;
- The sophistication of the structure will fit perfectly into the various landscapes of the garden yard;
- Special wood impregnation guarantees a high level of safety;
- The raw materials for the manufacture of sauna barrels are coniferous trees;
- The kit can be equipped with different types of stoves (wood-burning, electric, and stone).
When setting yourself the task of purchasing a sauna, you should not buy a “pig in a poke.” You definitely need to study all the market offers, as well as get as much information as possible about this product.
Liquidity
A distinctive feature of the barrel bath is its compactness and the absence of a foundation. Therefore, it is 100% mobile and easily transportable. If desired, it can be transferred to any place.
Capacity
The product with a diameter of two meters creates a comfortable stay for up to eight people. Tall height should also not confuse the visitor.
Installation
When buying a turnkey barrel sauna, you don’t have to worry - after all, the selling company takes care of all the worries. The entire installation will take no more than 6 hours.
Interior decoration
The inside of the room is carefully treated with persistent moisture-repellent preparations. This process allows you to operate the bathhouse for the longest possible time.
Equipment
In addition to the stove (at the consumer's choice), the set includes sun loungers, ladders of various configurations, benches and steps in front of the entrance to the bathhouse.
Construction Materials
Only coniferous trees are used to create a barrel sauna, which guarantees healthy steam, a wonderful aroma, and a high degree of improvement in well-being.
Safety
When developing a project, specialists scrupulously comply with all the rules and regulations of the structure and coating. We carefully select equipment that fully guarantees safety during the work process.
But the owners of a barrel bath should also follow certain rules for using the premises.
It is forbidden:
- Use explosive substances for kindling;
- Leave the firebox door open;
- Arrange drying of things in the immediate vicinity of the oven;
- Leaving children unattended;
- Disturb the condition of the structure;
- Independently correct problems that arise in the operation of the structure;
- Ignore the help of specialists.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of a barrel sauna include:
- Original appearance. The unusual design serves as a real decoration for a suburban area.
- Construction speed. A barrel sauna can be purchased ready-made and installed on a pre-prepared base. Self-assembly from an ordered kit requires no more than 1 day. There is no need to build a capital foundation for the bathhouse.
- Fast warm-up and economical. In summer, the structure warms up in 15–20 minutes, in winter – 1–1.5 hours. To achieve the optimal temperature you will need no more than 10 logs.
- Compactness. The small dimensions of the bathhouse allow it to be installed even in the smallest area.
- Low cost. The price of a barrel is several times less than that of a permanent building.
- Mobility. The structure can be moved around the site and even transported over considerable distances.
- Easy to use and maintain. The bathhouse only needs to be dried after washing procedures and the walls need to be impregnated with protective agents at certain intervals.
- Environmental friendliness. The baths are made of natural wood, so staying in them has a beneficial effect on human health.
The design has few disadvantages:
- If the outflow of water is not organized correctly, the wood begins to rot.
- There is a small space inside the bathhouse, so a large group of people will not be able to relax in it.
- Walls should not be treated with aggressive chemicals.
- The walls do not retain heat perfectly and in severe frosts it is problematic to operate the bathhouse. If you slam doors frequently when entering or leaving, the interior quickly cools down.
Price policy
The cost of a barrel bath is acceptable to the consumer. Prices depend on many factors, such as:
- Options.
- Thickness of boards.
- Type of wood used.
- Number of departments in the building.
- Stove type.
- Additional components, accessories, decorative parts.
Even with such a fairly extensive filling of the finished product, the price for such a barrel sauna will be much lower than the cost of building a regular sauna. Therefore, it is very beneficial to cooperate with professionals.
Despite all the advantages of such a deal, many summer residents strive to build a barrel sauna on their summer cottage with their own hands. And it’s not that difficult, absolutely inexpensive and quite fast.
It is important to follow the recommendations of professionals and adhere to the instructions. The first step is to decide on the choice of existing types of barrel baths.
User reviews
Maksim. Krasnoyarsk
In our climate, it is not possible to heat a barrel sauna all year round. In severe frost it is difficult to heat it, there is too much wood, and the desired temperature is not obtained. But from spring to late autumn, and even at the beginning of winter, as long as it is not below minus 15 degrees, we heat without problems. The barrel, of course, is a bit cramped, but 2–3 people fit in it quite comfortably.
Natalia. Moscow region.
We ordered a barrel 3 years ago. They made it in 2 weeks, delivered it disassembled and installed it in 5 hours. We are very happy, we heat it once a week. In winter too.
Andrey. Ryazan Oblast.
I ordered the smallest barrel, it only contains a steam room combined with a washing room. I already regret it. Undressing on the street is somehow not very pleasant. Although in other respects the bathhouse is quite satisfactory. I'm already thinking about changing it to a more comfortable model so that there is a rest room/dressing room. If funds allow, I advise you to take a more spacious barrel so that it looks more like a real bathhouse.
Maria. Chelyabinsk.
We read positive reviews and decided to buy a barrel sauna. My husband suggested it and said that building a real bathhouse would be expensive and take a long time. I gave in to persuasion and regretted it in the first year. This building is just for washing. For true connoisseurs, baths are not an option. For me the main drawback is the cold floor. Grandma had a real bathhouse, it was so hot there. And here my feet are cold all the time. I also don't like the low shelves. You can only steam while lying down.
Vladimir. Nizhny Novgorod.
I installed a barrel sauna 2 months ago. The manufacturer is not Nizhny Novgorod. So far very pleased. Compact 6X2.15 m, but roomy, 8 people can enter the relaxation room, 6 people can enter the steam room. It fries as it should, warms up quickly and with a minimum of firewood. Costs less than traditional stationary. I'm happy.
Japanese style barrel sauna
It is a large wooden bathtub. The stove built inside it allows you to constantly maintain a certain water temperature.
Electrical wiring
The presence of electricity in the bathhouse will allow you to use not only lighting fixtures, but also install an electric furnace as the main source of heating. Since the main building material is wood, which is a fire hazard, the installation of electrical wiring requires compliance with special fire safety measures, which can be avoided when using other building materials as the main ones, for example, if a bathhouse is built from aerated concrete.
Bathhouse made of larch - consider the advantages
If the wiring is initially supposed to be in the bathhouse, then special openings should be left for it in the walls during their construction.
Preparation of materials
You need to start (after choosing a design) by preparing the boards. Experts advise sticking to the following dimensions: the width of the board is no more than 95 cm, with a thickness of about 50 mm. The number of boards should be prepared based on the size of the building.
- Next comes the preparation of wood for the walls, with the front wall having a doorway.
- Prepare very strong wooden beams from which stands for the barrel are made according to the drawings made. The walls are strengthened by tightening them with metal strips, identical to the hoops on the barrel.
- Window frames and door panels are adjusted so that the structure is a one hundred percent sealed room. The wooden benches and floors in the room are hewn and scrupulously sanded. Install a special window for ventilation.
- Thermal insulation of the furnace uses a special building material containing no radioactive substances, and also does not form limescale.
- First decide what type of chimney will be used. Depending on the choice, the necessary funds are selected.
- The roof of the building also requires a careful approach. Will it be a fairly soft coating, laid simply on the ceiling of the barrel, or the installation of rigid supports in the case of creating a gable roof.
- Stock up on the required number of stainless steel fasteners (nails or screws).
If you are planning a veranda, then it is also worth preparing the necessary building materials, tools, and fasteners.
Step-by-step instructions for building a barrel sauna.
Having prepared all the material, it is necessary to treat the wood with antiseptic impregnations, which play a protective role. After processing, the boards are thoroughly dried. You can begin installation.
Stage 4 - interior work
Interior decoration of the bath
It's time to start decorating the interior of your bathhouse. There is no less work here, since we still need to make the floor, shelves, install a drain, prepare a place for the stove, etc. But now everything is in order.
- The first step is to knock down the shelves and install them inside. It is recommended to assemble them from aspen or linden.
- After that, start installing the floor, which will also be made of wood. The floor should be laid at a slight angle towards the drain, then the water will not linger. To ensure air circulation, the floor can be made in the form of a wooden grid, so that the distance between the boards is at least 1 cm. Then your feet will not freeze and will be dry, since all the water will drain freely.
- Take care of the water drainage system. Where to take it is up to you. If the site already has a sewerage system, you need to organize the flow of water through pipes into the sewer system and install a siphon so that during bathing procedures you do not inhale an unpleasant odor. Another option is to dig a drainage hole where the water will flow.
- If you want to equip the bathhouse with electrical wiring, this must be done at the assembly stage. In this case, ordinary wires will not work. You need to purchase a special wire in non-flammable insulation and lamps that are designed for saunas.
- When you plan to steam only in the summer, you don’t need to insulate it. But if you have a great desire to steam all year round, the bathhouse needs to be insulated with rolled material. Additionally, it is necessary to lay a vapor barrier layer and finish the room.
- Don't forget to install doors and windows in the right places.
- The most important element of the interior is the stove - the key element. You need to choose which stove to buy - an electric stone stove or a small wood-burning stove. Here you can choose from your own preferences. The stove must be installed in the last section where there will be a steam room. It is important to protect the place where it will stand. The walls, floor and ceiling near the stove should be lined with fire-resistant material such as tiles or a metal screen. If your stove is wood-burning, you need to make a place in the ceiling for a chimney.
Now your bathhouse is almost ready. In general, you can already exploit it. To protect against precipitation, all that remains is to make a roof.
Construction of the base of the building
To create a base for the building, on which the entire load of the building will fall, beams should be laid. Laying is done as follows:
- A certain number of beams are taken (depending on the length of the entire structure) with the corresponding parameters;
- Recesses are cut in accordance with the drawings;
- The boards of the bottom of the barrel are laid and secured in them;
- The beams are placed at equal distances from each other, with the first beam supporting the wall with the opening for the door;
- The laid beams are firmly attached, creating a single strong frame.
The base will allow you not to worry about the displacement of the beams when installing the barrel and its further operation.
Paving slabs or gravel area
The weight of an average barrel bath does not exceed 1500-2000 kg, which means the design does not require a special foundation. The only condition is that the platform on which you install the barrel bath must be level. You can place the bathhouse on a well-leveled compacted area, covered with paving slabs or filled with gravel for beauty.
The tiles are laid on a sand cushion or concrete screed. To lay paving slabs on sand:
- Remove the top layer of soil (10 cm for normal soil) and compact it well,
- If you do not want to subsequently pull out the grass growing between the tiles, lay geotextiles or other protective filter over the entire surface,
- Lay two slats parallel to each other along the edges of the pit with a height up to the top edge of the pit minus the height of the tiles. They will serve as a level,
- Cover the entire area with a 5-6 cm layer of sand and level the sand with a rake. If you want to add cement to the sand, then take a ratio of 1 bag of cement to 5 wheelbarrows of sand. Then, for a finer alignment, use a wooden or metal ruler, sliding along the two guide rails that were previously laid. At the same time, you yourself are on an area that has not yet been leveled, moving backwards,
- After leveling, carefully pull out the slats and fill the resulting void with sand. You cannot walk on the leveled surface!
- Lay the tiles as close together as possible, adjusting them using a rubber hammer or board. Move row by row forward on your knees, placing a board under you. Try to stay further from the outer rows of tiles so as not to displace them,
- As you progress, check the surface of the new row using a level, adjust the height by adding sand or level the tiles using a rubber hammer,
- Make borders. The site is ready!
To lay tiles on a concrete base:
- Pressure wash the concrete,
- Place a 1.5-2 cm layer of cement mortar on the wet concrete. The ratio for the mortar is: 50 kg of cement + 200 kg (volume 135 l) sand + 25 l of water,
- Lay the tiles in the same way as on a sand bed.
Assembling a barrel sauna
Punctual adherence to all steps will give a positive result and the expected pleasure from using the barrel.
- Firstly, the support beams are installed in the intended place (with a slight slope) with communications connected for drainage and drainage from the inside of the barrel bath.
- Secondly, the center is marked in all the cut out recesses of the base and the board is attached.
- Thirdly, the floor of the building is sheathed. This is done this way:
- The boards are fastened on both sides in a sequential order;
- Attention is focused on creating a single contour with notches.
- Fourthly, fastening is carried out without additional fastening supports of the outer walls.
- Fifthly, the sides are sheathed with boards.
Common Questions
After 2 months of use, the barrel sauna began to resin from the inside. What to do?
You will have to remove the resin manually. Heat the bath to a temperature of 130 degrees. The resin will begin to actively release. Scrape it off with any device. Repeat the procedure several times. Gradually all the resin will come out of the wood.
I have been using the sauna for 5 years. The functionality does not fail, but the appearance has suffered. Is it possible to somehow restore the light tone of wood?
You can lighten wood with a special chlorine-based bleach.
Is it possible to take away a sauna in your gazelle?
The minimum weight of the barrel is 500 kg. The gazelle will survive, but for loading and unloading you will need a crane.
Is it necessary to insulate a barrel sauna?
If the assembly technology is followed, the barrel does not need insulation. If this is done, increased humidity is created inside, which means conditions for the development of fungus in the wood. Such a bathhouse will gain heat faster and retain it, but its overall service life will be reduced.
A barrel sauna is an excellent solution for anyone who dreams of having their own sauna on site with minimal investment. With the right choice and compliance with the rules of operation, it will last for many years and bring lovers of this type of recreation a lot of pleasure.
Selection of heating devices
The following products are suitable for a barrel sauna:
- Electric heater. It is easy to install and does not require a chimney. The best option for a small barrel sauna.
- Furnace with heat exchanger. The presence of a hot water tank, economical and rational functionality are the advantages of the device.
- Stove with chimney. The main advantage is excellent protection of walls and ceilings from heated air.
- Roof. Structures can be made of flexible tiles, sheet metal, which is laid on a waterproofing substrate on top of the building.
- Interior design.
It is preferable to treat all wooden interior surfaces, elements and furniture with linseed oil. This procedure will improve resistance to moisture. A recess is created in the floor for connection with pipes through which water drains.
For comfortable movement, a removable boardwalk is laid. Shelves are installed on the sides along the walls. Apply a covering of thermal insulating material to the surface near the stove.
Connect a tank designed to heat water. They are installing water supply pipes. They install a shower (if it is designed), design a shower tray, and install plumbing equipment.
If there is space, place a table. Connect the installed wiring with waterproofing to the electrical network. A place with water is set up near the barrel bath where you can rinse off after the steam room.
It is advisable to create an attractive landscape around the barrel bath.
Light steam and excellent well-being.
Types and configurations
Manufacturers offer the following types of barrel baths:
Russian
The most popular model, consisting of a washing room and a steam room - sauna. But you can additionally organize a rest room. The stove in such a bath is located between the washing room and the steam room. Part of the heating equipment is equipped with a tank for heating water. A container with stones is installed in the steam compartment.
Finnish
Dry steam sauna. Such a bathhouse is installed near a pool, natural reservoir or font in order to have direct access to water. Many experts emphasize that it is easier to organize a round sauna than to arrange a steam room.
To do this, you will need to ensure tightness and make sure there are no cracks. On the roof of such a bath there is a small hole that is closed with a valve. No drainage required. Inside the room there are benches and a stove with a heater that will heat up.
Japanese
This variety is called “ofuro” and is also very popular because of its simplicity and main feature - the complete absence of a roof. Thanks to this, vacationers can enjoy the fire, fresh air in winter and even the starry sky.
This barrel has a slightly elongated shape, is made of wood and is installed on the flooring. Inside the room there are benches and a stove. The latter must be taken to a safe distance and equipped with a partition to prevent burns.
The only drawback of the Japanese barrel bath is the high fuel consumption, since you will need to maintain the water heating level.
Photo of a barrel sauna
Waterproofing
Everyone knows that wood changes its qualities under the influence of moisture - the color turns from golden to gray, the structure becomes loose. You can avoid the destruction of a wooden structure from the outside and the spread of rot and mold using special means, and not necessarily chemical ones. For example, natural linseed oil, which can be used as an impregnation, protects wood very well.
But it is not recommended to treat the walls with anything inside. As you know, a bathhouse must “breathe”; the aroma of wood and its beneficial properties must be preserved in it. When the air heats up, the wood will dry out each time, which will prevent rotting. Also, excess humid air will escape through ventilation holes, which are recommended to be placed below, under the benches.
Recommendations for operating the building
If used frequently, the chimney should be cleaned once every 3 months.
The design is quite unpretentious. In order for it to last for a long time, it is worth following certain rules.
- After each procedure, the bathhouse must be ventilated for 4–5 hours.
- For heating, only dry non-coniferous wood is used. The oven door must always be closed.
- The chimney is cleaned at least once every 3 months. Periodically it needs to be checked for burnout.
- The tree should be inspected and treated with an antiseptic.
- Immediately after construction, the tension of the hoops is adjusted. The hoop should move relatively freely to compensate for the expansion of the wood during sauna use.
- If a heating tank is used, it can only be turned on when it is at least 2/3 full of water.
- In winter, after finishing the procedures, the bathhouse continues to be heated for several more hours with the internal doors open to get rid of excess moisture. Then the room is ventilated.
- It is strictly forbidden to use flammable liquids, such as gasoline or kerosene, for kindling, or to scatter unextinguished coals and ash near the bathhouse. A wooden building is a fire hazard.
- It is not allowed to dry things in the steam room near the stove.
- It is better to equip the woodshed outside the building, not inside.
A barrel sauna is an economical and compact option. It is not difficult to build it yourself, the rules of care are simple. The only negative: there is not enough space here for a large company.
Design Features
The shape is a cylindrical structure. The height of the product reaches 3 meters, and the length is 6. There are various shapes and types of such baths. The smallest baths are only 2 meters long and consist of one single room - a steam room.
The barrel bath can be extended to any size by dividing the room with internal partitions. This way you can place both a rest room and a place for undressing in it.
In addition, the bathhouse can be equipped with an open terrace, making a canopy over it to protect it from the rain.
