Recently, almost every person treats the bathhouse with respect, as people again remembered and believed in its healing power. You may have noticed that almost every garden plot has a steam room.
Today's article is dedicated to windows for baths and saunas. We will find out what principles and rules are acceptable for a steam room. We will discuss the required sizes of window units for different rooms, talk about modern materials and installation methods.
Very often I hear complaints from steam room owners regarding windows. That is, at the design stage people (for some reason) do not attach importance to such an important element. And during operation, the windows in the bathhouse cannot cope with the load placed on them. Therefore, dear readers, I offer all the necessary information that will help you avoid making mistakes.
Are there technical standards?
This is what Finns do in a public sauna, by the way.
We studied SNiP II-L.13-62 “Baths. Design Standards (with Changes)” in search of an answer to this question. However, it does not say anything about the size of the window in the bathhouse, only that yes, windows are needed, and they must be made with glazing suitable for winter frosts. If you are suddenly interested, then double glazing up to -40 degrees according to SNiP , and if in winter the temperature drops below -40, then triple glazing.
A couple more tips from the same document:
- It is recommended to install transoms and vents in windows for ventilation (which is why we have a sneaking suspicion that the windows themselves are meant to be blind, that is, without the ability to open).
- It is better not to make wooden window sills in wet rooms at all. Make them out of something else and cover them with glazed tiles.
However, this SNiP talks about the construction of public baths, so its applicability in a private bath is rather conditional.
WINDOW HANDLE
Conventional window handles are made of plastic or metal. It has already been said about plastic above - it is not suitable. But metal handles are also not suitable - they will get so hot that you can easily get burned. The only handle option for a sauna window is a wooden handle (usually ash). It will look aesthetically pleasing in the interior and is safe for use.
Construction of a wooden bath handle:
Heat loss and good sides
Since there are no technical standards, we have to rely on common sense: that’s why, traditionally, small windows are installed in the bathhouse ? Correct answer: to reduce heat loss. But the question is, is the situation with glass still the same as one of the main sources of heat loss? After all, double-glazed windows that cope quite well with retaining heat indoors.
In addition, if desired, you can also make a coating on the glass, which reflects heat into the room . Although this will increase the cost of installing such windows.
CONCLUSION! Nobody cancels the relationship between the area of material without thermal insulation and heat loss. But double-glazed windows have less loss than conventional windows.
By the way, we found a completely scientific description of the heat loss inherent in double-glazed windows. It says they occur either by infiltration or transmission. In the first case, we are talking about the penetration of air into the chambers of the glass unit under the influence of wind and heat pressure. In the second, we are talking about the thermal conductivity of the window materials themselves.
Calculations carried out by engineers say the following (the wooden window taken for comparison means an old-style window):
Below you can see a graph that shows the relationship between the window area and the associated heat loss:
In other words, the more you take care of the protective properties of the window structures you choose, the less reason there is to follow tradition and make small windows in the bathhouse .
However, small windows will cost
less and will not require investment in infrared reflective film.
Well, here everyone will choose for himself what he likes and can afford. We are only clarifying that in our time the old restrictions are no longer relevant.
As for the good sides, everything is simple and obvious:
- firstly, with windows, the bathhouse is ventilated and dried faster, although for drying, the stove will still be even more important.
- secondly, sunlight enters through the windows, which is always better than artificial light.
- thirdly, windows in the bathhouse guarantee that visitors will not experience discomfort from the enclosed space. And if the view outside the window is beautiful, then they will also admire it during the procedures.
Features when choosing windows for a bath
You can install window systems yourself. First you need to choose products, they can be plastic or made of wood. Aluminum profiles and combined systems are also available for sale. There are large temperature differences in the steam room, so PVC windows cannot be installed in it. They are suitable for a rest room.
When choosing windows, you need to pay attention to the quality of the fittings and the resistance of the material to corrosion. They must open. If the room becomes stuffy, people in the bathhouse will open them. Many companies offer to make custom-made windows according to individual sizes. The products are of high quality, but their cost is higher than standard models.
Options
Well, in fact, there are not so many options for windows for a bathhouse, but with sizes there is complete freedom. You can choose from finished products to suit almost any taste or for any design project.
So, you can install either plastic or wooden structures. If you want to get acquainted with the nuances of the construction of both, read our articles on plastic and wood in the bathhouse.
Here we will touch only on the most basic points related to the material from which the frame is made.
Plastic
The wave of popularity of plastic has made it conditionally suitable for installation in bathhouses.
IMPORTANT! The main advantage of plastic in a bathhouse is its indifference to water. The main disadvantage is that it does not respond well to both simply high temperatures and temperature changes.
One conclusion follows from the above:
ON A NOTE! If you want, place plastic where the temperatures are low - in the washing room, in the dressing room, in the rest room. Some people don’t complain about anything, putting it in the steam room of a Russian bath, where I don’t raise the temperature above 65. But don’t put it in a sauna - this is a completely different temperature regime.
small plastic shower window
there are also those who put quite large windows in the steam room
The sizes of plastic windows can vary widely: from a tiny window of 20x30 or 30x30 cm, which is only enough to stick your head out of, to the standard size of a plastic window in an ordinary residential building. Of course, a window of any required size will be made for you, but usually the largest is standard for residential premises. And by the way, it is usually placed in the rest room or dressing room.
Wooden
There are old (Soviet) wooden window structures and new ones. The latter are distinguished by the fact that they have the same double-glazed windows as in plastic, but the frame is made entirely of wood. The old ones suffered from the following disadvantages: they were not airtight and released up to 70% of the heat from the room.
A modern wooden frame with double-glazed windows can be used as a window for a bathhouse; The dimensions are also determined primarily by the project approved by the customer. Because such a frame (like a plastic one) is manufactured based on the results of measurements of the client’s window opening.
In principle, the profile of a wooden window frame can be viewed when choosing from most major manufacturers. It looks like plastic, but it doesn't have internal voids like that one.
If we talk about the advantages and disadvantages, then wood, of course, is preferable due to the fact that it does not emit volatile organic and inorganic compounds like plastic, but this is only if it has not been treated with various impregnations or varnishes that protect it from high humidity and temperature . And if the wood is not treated, then it should not last in the bath - it will rot, develop mold, etc.
ADVICE! Builders advise calculating the size of windows in bathhouses so that they do not exceed the area of the area that occupies 5% of the floor area of the given room. In a 2x3 meter steam room, 5% is 0.3 square meters.
Types of bath windows
Practical and durable materials are used to make windows:
- Wood – larch, pine, aspen, linden and oak. The wooden profile is resistant to overheating and waterlogging, wear resistance and aesthetics.
- Plastic and aluminum. The plastic profile is inert to rotting and deformation, easy to manufacture and install.
- Combined materials. The combined profile is distinguished by its high cost, high performance characteristics and durability.
Wooden windows
The most popular and affordable option for windows in the steam room, washing area and shower room. The popularity of wooden structures is explained by the following advantages:
- Resistance to temperature changes, high moisture and steam.
- Safety and environmental friendliness of the material.
- The ability to quickly restore damaged wood.
- Aesthetics and attractiveness.
The disadvantages of wood windows include:
- The complexity of the technical preparation of raw materials.
- The need for antiseptic treatment to protect against rotting and mold formation.
- High cost of finished products.
Plastic windows
Plastic windows with a reinforced profile are a practical, albeit not very popular type of structure for a bathhouse. Due to their high performance characteristics, such products can be installed in the dressing room, corridor and recreation room.
Window glass package has a number of undeniable advantages:
- High strength and reliability.
- Durability and wear resistance.
- Good sound and heat insulation characteristics.
- Resistance to the negative effects of increased moisture and hot steam.
- Easy to use.
Among the disadvantages of the plastic design are:
- The ability to release hazardous components under the negative influence of high temperatures.
- Susceptibility to deformation due to overheating.
- Reduced optimal air circulation and susceptibility to condensation.
Combined windows
Combined windows involve the combination of different types of materials to improve the thermal insulation characteristics of products.
The most popular combinations are:
- Plastic - wood.
- Wood - aluminum.
- Plastic - aluminum
- Wood – plastic – aluminum.
The combination of materials in window structures is performed as follows:
- The frame and partitions are made of plastic, and the interior is made of wooden slats. The wooden structural elements have a multi-layer varnish coating.
- The inner part of the frame is made of laminated veneer lumber, the outer planks are aluminum and plastic.
- The inner part of the frame is made of wood, the outer part is plastic or aluminum. The frames are connected to each other with brackets, and ordinary glass is used for glazing.
The only drawback of windows is the difficulty in manufacturing structures, fitting parts and fittings.
In the steam room
Regarding the size of the window in the steam room, there are no agreements between bathhouse lovers, there have not been, and it is unlikely that they will ever be reached.
The trends are as follows: some say that windows are needed for rapid ventilation , so the size needs to be appropriate (not too small).
Others believe that a window is needed to stick your head out through it when your body is steaming with might and main.
Still others care about emergency exits , therefore they believe that the dimensions of the window should be such that in the event of a fire it is possible to leave the bathhouse through it. (Their opponents believe that such a window is also convenient for getting inside.)
For the fourth, a blind window is generally enough, as long as sunlight penetrates through it.
In general, there are no better or worse options here. The minimum size, as mentioned above, is 20x30 or 30x30 cm.
Windows are often placed in the steam room in the following size range: height from 40 to 60 cm, width from 60 to 80 cm. As you can see, there is freedom to vary the degree of elongation of the rectangle.
A window with a length of a meter or more on one side is a rarity in a steam room.
Installing a window in a bathhouse
No matter how small the window is, it must be installed correctly in a wooden bathhouse. And that’s right - it’s with a casing. This is a special board that takes on all the loads that arise during the shrinkage of the log house.
In general, it is advisable not to install windows and doors until the main shrinkage of the wood has passed. To do this, the log house must stand for at least a year. After this period, you can cut holes in the wall and begin installing the window.
When marking a window or doorway, you need to use a plumb line or a laser level. Construction level accuracy should not be trusted in such an important matter.
The hole in the log house is cut with a hand-held circular saw or chain saw. The lower edge of the window opening should be approximately in the middle of the log if the log house is made of cylinders. The window sill will be installed here later.
Schematically the casing on the window looks like this
The next step is to form a spike on the side surfaces. It should be about 50 mm wide and 50 mm high. We make the appropriate markings. Then, using an electric saw, we make a cut along the marking with a depth of about 50 mm. Now from the sides, stepping back 50 mm from the edge, we make another cut - right and left. Its depth is almost to the surface of the spike. Don't try to make the extra pieces fall off right away. If you don't have enough skill, it's easy to saw off the very spike we're making now. It’s better to cut it a little short, and then quickly finish everything with an ax and level it with chisels.
Next, according to the technology, the window opening must be treated with antiseptics. It is very desirable to use them, but you need to take impregnations for baths and saunas, which do not emit harmful substances when heated. After the impregnation has dried, fill a strip of jute tape around the perimeter of the window opening. They attach it, as usual, to staples from a construction stapler. When nailing thermal insulation onto the sidewalls with a tenon, try to ensure that the tape is tightly adjacent to the tenon: you will then need to place the casing block on this tenon.
The next stage is making the casing. For a large window, take a beam of 100*100 mm or 100*200 mm. The height of the side slats should be slightly less than the height of the window opening. A little less, this is 2-3 cm for a settled log house and 5-7 cm for a fresh one.
A longitudinal marking is made on one side of the block: a groove 50 mm wide is marked. The cuts are made to a depth of 40-42 mm. But in this case, the middle between the two cuts is removed. Thus, in the middle of the block there will be a recess - a groove. We smooth the edges using a chisel and chisel (or a hammer). This part is also treated with antibacterial impregnations.
The manufactured sidewalls of the casing are mounted on a tenon that was cut out earlier in the window opening. It should fit tightly, you will have to knock. It is not attached to anything else; it is held in place by the elasticity of the wood fibers.
The upper edge of the window in the steam room is flush with the door lintel
As a result, it turns out that the casing bars are shorter than the opening, and there is a gap to the top. It will protect the window frame from damage if the frame settles. A thick board is attached to the top of the sidewalls - it will serve as a support for attaching the top of the frame. The gap remaining between the board and the crown is filled with insulation after installing the frame. A board is also attached to the bottom, which will serve as the basis for the window sill.
Now the window opening is ready to install the frame. Further, the technology is no different from installing any other window in a brick or block building.
What did we do, and why is casing needed at all? It turned out that our window is attached not to the frame, but to the casing. And it is not rigidly connected to the log house, but has the ability to move. There is also a fairly decent gap at the top, which will compensate for the shrinkage of the bath. All this together will prevent the frame from breaking when moving. Using this technology, you can install windows (and doors) even in a fresh log house. Perhaps it will become clearer to you if you watch the video. Here, plastic windows are installed in the log house, but the manufacture of the casing does not change.
Another option for installing a window - with molding a groove instead of a tenon - is demonstrated in the video.
Another video from a practitioner
In the rest room
But in the bathhouse, in the relaxation room, the size of the windows is more than a meter on the side - quite a normal phenomenon. This room is perceived as a living room, like an ordinary room in an ordinary house, so there is often a full-size window there (but not for everyone, of course), and sometimes upholstered furniture is placed there.
WARNING! Not the topic of the article, but still: high humidity in a bathhouse generally spoils upholstered furniture.
Bathhouse with a large relaxation room
Some people opt for two windows at once in the rest room. Moreover, they can be located either on one wall or on adjacent or opposite ones.
Of course, if there are two windows, then their sizes may be smaller. As for the location, it is especially not recommended to place their friend opposite each other on opposite walls. You will not only get a strong draft, but, under certain circumstances, smoke from the stove may also fly inside.
MATERIAL
The fact that plastic windows are not suitable is understood without comment. But not all wooden windows are suitable:
- oak - does not tolerate sudden changes in humidity and cracks
- pine and larch - can leak resin from high temperatures.
The best option for a steam room is alder - it is used to make lining for walls and ceilings, canopies, bath interior items, and this material will be optimal for windows.
In the dressing room
Let's start with the fact that not every bathhouse has a separate dressing room. This is something like a hallway in an apartment. A dressing room is needed mainly to cut off frosty air from the street and not let it into the interior of the bathhouse.
At the same time, they try (if possible) to make doors not opposite each other, but on adjacent walls.
If the dressing room is larger than the tiny vestibule between two doors, then there may be enough space in it for a window . In this room, this window is least needed for ventilation, but is quite suitable for improving illumination.
In general, the window in the dressing room can be the size of an ordinary window (if space allows), or even just a window.
SEALING
The seal is also an important part of the window unit - it protects the room from blowing. An ordinary rubber seal is not suitable - it will quickly deteriorate due to temperature changes, and will also be a source of an unpleasant odor.
The Q-Lon seal, which works great in regular windows, is also not suitable - it is not designed for high temperatures. But the Deventer seal is great - it is made of a special material - and is not afraid of heat.
