Bath trouble

Infinite love Russians for a couple of hot healing has long been a byword. A Russian bath acquired the status of an integral part of our culture. From time immemorial, to develop the land begins with the construction of the bath. Here and washed, and treated for ailments, and gave birth, and while the house was built, it became a temporary haven for the whole family. Nowadays, the tradition of classical Russian baths do not live only in remote villages, but in most modern cottage communities. Moreover, they are actively supplemented by foreign borrowing all sorts. A lot of the owners of country houses Acquires own Finnish sauna, Turkish hammam, Japanese ofuro and with the most incredible designers construct their hybrids and combinations. Modern materials and technologies also bring fresh ideas to the ancient procedure, not diminishing their therapeutic effect. In this connection it is interesting to see what trends in the construction and arrangement of saunas are now the largest response in the hearts of the inhabitants of cottages and summer homes. Classical and Modern When we hear the phrase "Russian bath", before the eyes immediately appears an archetypal image: on the picturesque banks of the river or lake is a stocky frame, pyatistenok with small windows and a gable roof. It is these buildings were built hundreds of years in the Russian villages. Ironically, in this age of glass, steel and concrete, many Russians would like to see on your site do not build a brick or foam blocks, and the old-fashioned, out of logs. In a wooden bath many advantages inherent combination of natural materials and tested by centuries of structural solutions. For example, a traditional decoration log cabins, as residues resulting from the combination of logs on the method of "a cup", not only have aesthetic value. They also significantly reduce heat loss angles of the structure. In addition, the log of softwood (fir or pine) works as a natural air conditioner, maintaining optimum humidity in the room. It is estimated that in the wooden house with closed windows and doors for the day changed to 30% of the volume of air. But for everyday use is important and that such a bath is easy to heat thoroughly, even in winter. With the current hot issue of abundance of heating equipment for sauna, new-fangled gas and electric stoves (for example, manufacturers such as Harvia or Helo) home amateur couple still runs "to the roots." "Based on our experience, at least 50% of customers prefer to equip their traditional wood-heated sauna stoves, - says Vadim Kozlov, deputy director of the company" Vivadom "specializing in the construction of individual houses in the suburbs. - Despite all the difficulties associated with the need to hold the chimney and fire-fighting measures, they are much better suited to the Russian baths than electric furnaces, which are more suitable for saunas with "dry" heat, where temperatures can reach +120 º C ». "At present the Russian bath might be just a wood stove!" - Says the architect Sergey Denisov, who heads the company "Wooden house Denisova" (design and construction of houses and baths made of wood). One of the best stones to fill the furnace, heaters, expert says gabrodiabaz - the rock of volcanic origin. It has high hardness and good performance of bath stone. Withstands high temperatures, will not crack under repeated heating and pouring water. Specialists companies that sell this type of stone, argue that it can withstand up to 300 cycles of heating and cooling. Pocket bath in our time, lack of free space on the land and the understandable desire to save spawned a new trend - the integrated (or embedded) bath. This is the most economical option for lovers of steam "at home", as all the necessary facilities are located on the same foundation and under the same roof. Usually, they pick a place on the first or ground floor, away from the living room. "Of course, free standing bath opens the scope for implementing a variety of design ideas, but under present conditions it is not a cheap option - said Vadim Kozlov (" Vivadom "). - So built baths or saunas, cabins just enjoy great demand. " This "bath" can be easily connected to the utilities at home: electricity, air, water and sanitation. In addition, access to the bath is much easier at any time of day and year that you can use it, such as laundry. More than a bath, "On the baths have at least 40% of orders. Almost every client who with our help, has already built a house, then ordered separate or built-in bath - says Elena Nesanelis, development director of a Moscow company «WOODENHOUSE - Wooden House." - The most striking trend that is seen in recent years, it was the combination baths with guest house. Now this is not a modest building in the backyard, but in a separate object with a set of premises. We have projects such structures made of beams ranging from 60 to 250 square meters. m. A large space can accommodate not only steam, wash, rest rooms, and utility rooms, bathrooms, exercise rooms, guest bedrooms. Popular and open verandas or terraces, where in the summer nice rest after water treatment. " "Canonical" arrangement includes bath division into three zones: the dressing room, washing facilities and steam room area with a ratio of about 2 to 1.5 to 1. But now the size and zonal divisions are determined not so much the family needs as monetary costs and perceptions of good rest. "No matter how great the house, there is no sense in too large a steam room. A large amount of it will be harder heated. Usually rely on a bath at the same time finding it in three people (about 7.5 square meters. M), - says Elena Nesanelis. - For example, a recent project our - Cottage in Nikolina Gora total area of ​​1400 square meters. m with a pool of 25 meters for a large family with six children, relatives and servants. With this scope of the customer found that the steam for three people it would be enough. " Few of the owners of summer cottages and even a respectable expensive houses can boast that right at the doorstep baths can dive into the cool river or lake. So more and more with sauna and swimming pool bought a size limited only by the ability to swim and physical facilities of the customer. The fact that experts say virtually all companies engaged in private construction. Quite often, the owners of private homes bought to install the font. Occupies an intermediate position between the bath and swimming pool (normal volume of no more than 1-2 cu. M), the font makes it possible to fully bathe in hot or cold water. This is the assurance of the doctors, can achieve much greater health impact and get experience, unattainable by simply pouring cold water from the shower or buckets. As a budget solution uses the font of plastic (polypropylene). Much more expensive popular option - it is the wooden font-barrel, a stylized Japanese bath ofuro. They can accommodate just two or three people. Finally, there are exclusive font handmade from a laminated board, which can cost up to several tens of thousands of euros. A little light in the doubles in the realm of Windows bath always made small, because the bright light in it to anything. Practice shows that the age-old tradition quite successfully combined with modern technology. Instead of old wooden windows with single panes that do not hold heat and windswept, now use energy-efficient window systems based on PVC-profile. "Windows in no way inferior in terms of ecological wood, and on the performance characteristics often exceed them. For example, do not deform under high humidity and temperature, - says Elena Nesanelis. - With regard to the size and location of windows, here no rigid rules can not be. It all depends on the particular project and the specific desires of the client. But usually, large windows overlooking the lot of light, are not appropriate in a steam bath or wash area, and in the dressing room or rest room. " In order not to disturb the general style wooden bath, it is reasonable to use the window has no standard white color and covered with decorative foil to simulate the texture of wood. And it is important that a modern plastic frame is protected from exposure to sunlight. This is exactly true for windows dark colors "under the tree." In the sun when it's +25 º C, these surfaces are heated to an average of +50 º C. Result - deformity frame. To protect the window from overheating during production, for example, the profile PROPLEX on its surface may be marked with a film «Cool-Colors». This coating reflects up to 80% of the thermal effects on the outside of the translucent design and increases its service life. Even more "authentic" form of windows allow you to make so-called "false transom." These subtle decorative profiles bonded to the glass on the inside and outside. Thus simulates the old window frames. And of course, the choice of windows for a bath depends on the characteristics of the premises. "Hermetically sealed double glazed windows, two contour seal between the frame and doors - all of which help retain heat and is guaranteed to deliver on the draft - says Rafik Alekperov, head of customer service PROPLEKS TD (the sole supplier of the Russian PVC window profile, produced by Austrian technologies .) - And as in the bath high humidity, it is better to use a window fittings with corrosion-resistant coating, for example, Roto and Kale ». During installation of plastic windows in the bathhouses should be considered a caveat. Due to the shrinkage of wood such buildings in the early years pretty seriously settle (sometimes up to 10% of height). Therefore, to avoid deformation of PVC windows installed in okosyachku (obsadu) - skeleton of beams, which is designed to compensate for shrinkage of the walls. View from the inside air temperature in the steam traditional Russian bath reaches +70-90 ° C at a relative humidity of 30%. Such extreme conditions present strict requirements for materials used to furnish steam. The most commonly used lining of different wood. Moreover, according to many experts, the walls of the timber or logs do not need an interior design - they are good of their naturalness. Floors, especially in the steam room, and try to make wood. However, fire safety, land adjacent to the furnace, it is necessary to cover the stone or ceramic tile. Changing room suitable for finishing any type of wood. But when the steam plating is best to choose deciduous trees: lime, alder, aspen. Softwood can in the heat, "let a tear resin", which is easy to get burned. Now often used finish of exotic wood, different low emissivity: abachi (African oak), meranti, sedrella (Spanish cedar), ofram etc. At the touch of a wood seems cool. And the man in contact with it will not get burned even at high temperatures, which, for example, on the top shelf can reach +90 ° C (as in the Finnish sauna and above +120 ° C). More in fashion and a relatively new decorative material - Thermowood. This timber, which was subjected to further drying at high temperature (240 ° C). Through this treatment the material has a moisture content of about 3-4%, which is why losing many of the negative qualities of wood. Thermowood practically does not absorb moisture, does not warp when wet, is resistant to rot and has high durability. In addition, it has a distinct texture of wood pattern and rich color (from light beige to dark and golden-brown). In addition to the interior walls of this material make good flooring, decking and sun loungers in the steam baths and other areas. However, some experts believe that an odor thermowood "smoky" and reduced moisture transfer make it not the best material for use in wet areas baths. Admittedly, its own bath now - quite an expensive pleasure. A simple free standing or built-in steam sauna cabin will cost from 50 to 150 thousand rubles. A more spacious building with rest rooms, a veranda, a font or a swimming pool will cost a small house - up to several million rubles. However, the true lovers of hot steam that does not stop. Health, vigor and good spirits, they say, priceless.