Balconies in modern apartments have long ceased to be a place for a smoke break and a refrigerator in winter time of the year. Today people are trying to increase usable space of their home, they try to create various functional rooms on balconies and loggias.
IN Lately The sauna on the balcony is gaining great popularity, which you can do entirely with your own hands, without the help of specialists.
Of course, you won’t get a full-fledged sauna, but you can still organize a mini-bath without spending a lot of money.
We should immediately highlight two ways in which you can arrange a sauna on your balcony. First of all, contact a specialized company and order a prefabricated mini-sauna according to the size of the balcony. Here you need to take into account the fact that the length and width of the structure must be more than 80 cm with a height of more than 210 cm. Many companies that specialize in similar designs, offer consumers mini-steam rooms that fit perfectly into a balcony or loggia. The second way is to independently arrange part of your balcony for a sauna with your own hands.
At the same time, supplying water to the balcony and organizing its immediate removal is a very problematic event, the implementation of which is very difficult. That is why in the mini-bath on the balcony you can mainly take steam treatments, but you may have to give up water ones.
Insulating the sauna on the balcony
First of all, the balcony must be carefully prepared.
Requires high-quality insulation and glazing non-residential premises, and also, if possible, provide moisture protection and sound insulation.
This is required so that during the operation of the mini-bath there are no problems with neighbors who are unlikely to like extraneous noise and flowing water.
To install a bath you will need wooden boards or beams that are easy to install and dismantle, an electric oven, a box of stones. It is very important that wooden elements the saunas were made of pine, larch, spruce, fir, and the decoration was made of linden, aspen, and abasha. In addition, when purchasing wood, you should ensure that the boards are well dried and have a moisture content of no more than 10%. You also need to pay attention to the quality of sanding of the boards and the presence of treatment with antiseptic compounds.
The first, main stage of work is the installation of thermal insulation materials on the floor. Here you can use any traditional insulation and ordinary floorboards. By and large, it is this floor that will act as flooring in the steam room. Then, close to the walls, you need to make a box of timber - 50 x 50. It would be a good idea to additionally cover the outside of the resulting box with sheets of waterproof plywood so that it holds better thermal insulation material.
The simplest insulation you can use is mineral wool slabs.
Insulation scheme for a sauna on a balcony.
The use of polyethylene foam, polystyrene foam, and expanded polystyrene when constructing steam rooms is prohibited, since they are unstable to temperature influences, melt and emit a pungent odor. The speed of heating of the sauna will directly depend on the thickness of the thermal insulation layer on the frame.
To ensure that the insulation does not disappear during operation, it is recommended to cover the box with aluminum foil, which must be turned inward (you must make sure that there are no free zones). After this, as carefully as possible, so as not to tear the foil, we slowly line the walls with wooden clapboard.
General view of the insulation and finishing process.
It is important that the wood of the boards or clapboards is free of resin, because resin can release when exposed to high temperatures. You also need to make sure that there are no protruding nails, screws or other metal elements of the frame, as they will burn strongly when using the sauna.
Shelf arrangement - shelves
Of course, a sauna on the balcony should have its own shelf.
The shelves should not be decorative, but functional, so the structure must be fastened to separate racks, and not to the walls.
After installing the racks, you need to put boards on them. In most cases, the shelf frame is made of durable bars, because they must withstand heavy loads. It is recommended to leave small gaps of 8-12 mm between the sheathing slats during their installation to improve circulation.
You can even do this if the space allows.
As a rule, a regular steam room has shelves made of linden, aspen or poplar, but most best option– abashi wood. If you have the opportunity to purchase such material, then this is very good, because this tree will not release resin when heated significantly, and will not deform over many years of use. In addition, abashi wood has high strength and moisture-resistant characteristics. It is this tree that is used today in the construction of expensive Finnish saunas Worldwide.
Sauna arrangement
A bathhouse on a balcony must have a stove or any other similar unit, which must be insulated from the surface of the walls and ceiling using heat-insulating materials.
The instructions for stoves always indicate what distance from walls and other surfaces must be maintained, so there are no particular difficulties with installing the unit.
The variety of stoves is simply huge.
If we talk about lighting, a sauna on a balcony has the following requirements for lamps:
- It is mandatory to install special lighting fixtures designed to work in rooms with high humidity and temperature changes;
- The temperature resistance of the lamp must be more than 120 degrees;
- Recommended moisture protection class – IP55;
- It is better to place lighting fixtures in a bathhouse on a balcony so that they are located behind the backs of people sitting on the shelf;
- For improvement decorative effect on lamps, if possible, it is recommended to wear wooden lampshades(this will also protect against accidental touching of the lighting elements).
Special attention You also need to pay attention to the ventilation system.
Typical ventilation scheme.
Taking into account the fact that the bathhouse on the balcony is relatively small, you can get by with preventive measures by installing a ventilation grille near the stove, and a damper on the wall or ceiling in order to control the inflow independently and if necessary fresh air inside the steam room.
Elementary valves - simple and practical.
Final work
Finally, it is necessary to install the doors, which, as noted, must open from the bathhouse to the outside. In addition, it is strictly not recommended to equip them with any locking elements in order to avoid accidents (if exposed to high temperatures, locks can jam, especially if made of low-quality metal or plastic).
Something like this sauna can be depicted on your balcony. Video below.
At the same time, it is very good if the bathhouse is equipped with a thermometer designed to display a wide range of temperatures, as well as a clock. If you wish, you can equip the sauna with modern gadgets (a monitor showing all indicators or special sensors that regulate the temperature inside).
The folding version seriously saves space and has the right to life. Video below.
Personal preference is decisive.
A do-it-yourself sauna on the balcony is an original, but completely feasible idea. When constructing such a structure, it is necessary to make sure that the balcony will withstand the load placed on it, and all work should be carried out strictly taking into account the rules fire safety.
Before you implement your project, you need to agree on the redevelopment. You can do this yourself or contact law firm, whose specialists themselves will assemble necessary papers and submit them to the relevant authorities.
Preparing the balcony
Before you make a sauna on the balcony, you should strengthen it - the weight of the suspended structure will increase significantly, and you may need metal supports for the concrete slab.
The room must be insulated. Since the balcony area is often quite modest, it is recommended to carry out insulation from the outside - this way the thermal insulation material will not affect the size of the room. Best suited for this purpose mineral wool– non-flammable and non-fusible material, unlike penoplex and polystyrene foam.
Additionally, you will need insulation, which will perform several tasks at once:
Protect mineral wool from moisture;
protect the floor and ceiling of neighbors above and below from heating while using the sauna;
improve soundproofing properties designs.
Ceiling insulation
The bars are nailed to the surface at a distance of about 30 cm from each other. Mineral wool slabs are placed in the finished cells, after which they are covered with foil insulation or other insulation. The joints are taped with metallized tape. The structure is covered with wooden planks.
Since hot air always rises, it is worth laying a double layer of insulation on the ceiling.
Wall insulation
Before starting work, you must stretch from electric meter a separate cable that will be used exclusively for heating the sauna.
Using a beam with a cross section of 50*50 mm, perform vertical sheathing on the walls. The elements are fixed using self-tapping screws, the distance between the bars is a maximum of 50 cm. The made frame is filled with mineral wool, sheathed with foil insulation, fastening the joints with metallized tape. So that inside the structure it is preserved air gap, slats are nailed onto the sheathing elements over the insulation, and lining or other finishing material is fixed onto them.
Floor insulation
Stuffed on the floor wooden joists, leaving a distance of 30 cm between the elements. The cells are filled with mineral wool, waterproofing material is laid on top, and then boards are laid.
Selection of cladding material
Most suitable material For a sauna on the balcony, wooden lining is considered hardwood(alder, linden, aspen). When heated, they emit a pleasant smell, the structure of the material is smooth. 
Wood materials coniferous species– cedar, larch, pine or spruce – it is not recommended to use: when heated, they release resin, which not only gives strong smell, but also has an effect on the skin.
To avoid burns or injuries, all self-tapping screws, screws and other metal elements the structures should either be recessed in wood or hide the caps with wooden plugs.
Organization of ventilation
In a sauna on a loggia, proper forced ventilation must be organized. The ventilation duct should exit to the street.
To do this, a small hole (up to 50*50 cm) is punched in the wall, which, when used as a sauna, will be closed with a special plug.
For the cork they take wooden board, cut out a part from it of such a size that it covers the ventilation hole on all sides by 5-7 cm. A piece of foam plastic is attached to it with such parameters that it fits exactly into ventilation duct, tightly adjacent to the walls. It is not recommended to use mineral wool - it will quickly become unusable.
Additionally, the foam is wrapped in polyethylene.
Organization of electrical wiring
The cable must have good heat-resistant properties. Sauna stoves are different high power and consume a lot of electricity, so you need to connect them via a separate cable.
Work order:
1. Install on the distribution board separate machine, taking into account power heating device.
2. The power supply network is equipped with a residual current device.
3. A separate outlet is installed on the balcony.
4. The cable is laid, protecting it with a corrugated pipe.
5. The wire to the lamp is laid in a metal hose.
As lighting fixture For saunas, it is recommended to use special sealed thermal spotlights. They work properly at temperatures up to 120 °C.
Switches, sockets and distribution boxes cannot be installed in a steam room. They must be taken outside of this compartment.
Door installation
It is better to choose a small door for the sauna so that heat loss is minimal. It is advisable to purchase a wooden one, made from solid wood. Glass is also suitable for infrared. 
Shelf installation
To ensure that the structure is reliable and can accommodate 2 people at the same time, you should not attach the shelves to the wall - it is wiser to place it on racks.
Work order:
Bars with a cross section of 80 mm are fixed to the floor;
Well-polished boards with rounded edges (about 5 cm thick) are attached to them, placing each one at a distance of 1-1.5 cm from each other to ensure air circulation;
assembled structure treated with wood oil.
If the size of the room allows it, it is possible to install an upper shelf with a ladder.
Most suitable tree for the regiment - poplar, linden, abashi. The installation fasteners are either hidden with wooden caps or pressed into bars, since when heated, they come into contact with the skin and can cause a burn.
Choosing a sauna stove
Unlike a bathhouse, a sauna can be used electric ovens, so there is no need to organize a chimney.
It is recommended to use special designs designed for mini-saunas. They are affordable, safe and designed with features in mind. small rooms. Homemade heating installations will not cost much less, but no one can guarantee their uninterrupted operation and compliance with safety standards. 
Terminal boxes for sauna stoves are located on the rear wall, this provides protection against accidental water entering the elements.
Ready-made devices may vary in size and the presence or absence of additional functions.
When choosing a device, you should pay attention to the area of the available room. This will help reduce heating costs.
When installing the selected stove indoors, you should strictly follow the recommendations given in the instructions for the device. Otherwise, not only premature failure of the device is possible, but also a fire.
Additional items
Hangers for towels, clothes and hats are installed after completion finishing works. At the same stage, a thermometer is attached to the wall - it will be needed to monitor the thermal conditions while using the sauna.
To decorate the room, you can only use wood products or materials that are resistant to high temperatures.
Infrared sauna
The design of an infrared sauna differs from a conventional one in the location of the heating devices: they are installed around the entire perimeter of the room. Infrared rays do not increase the air temperature in the room, but act directly on a person.
An infrared sauna is a safer structure, which also consumes less electricity.
After studying the recommendations and looking at the photos ready-made options, you can begin to complete your own sauna project on the balcony.
A sauna on a balcony can seem quite daring and original solution. However, in our small apartments difficult to find appropriate place. Some use the bathroom for them. You have to sacrifice and replace the bathtub with a shower, which many people don’t like.
A good way out of this situation is to allocate an area free of furniture and objects, namely a balcony, for a sauna. Similarly, you can arrange a sauna on the loggia. It is necessary to take into account the specifics and certain restrictions on such alterations. Heavy brick or concrete structures, for reasons of heavy load, cannot be used. It’s also not always easy to supply water. Therefore, thermal procedures are assigned to the balcony establishment, and then you can wash yourself in your bathroom.
The difference between a sauna and a steam room
First, let's try to understand a little about the differences between the two types of baths: Russian and Finnish. If you just look at internal organization, then you won’t notice much of a difference right away. At least she exists. Finnish baths just like our home-grown ones, they were originally heated with wood. You can also safely steam yourself in them with a broom.
Electric furnaces appeared very recently and have gained great popularity among Finnish lovers. After their spread, differences appeared in the two types of baths. They are used in Finnish version and give dry steam. If in private houses you can use any heating method, then apartments have restrictions and mainly use electricity.
Sauna installation
Dry steam rooms arose out of the need to save time. Electrically heated stones release energy very quickly and increase the temperature in the room. There is no need to allocate space for coal, firewood or resulting ash. The only thing that is necessarily provided is ventilation. The walls are insulated against heat loss and covered with wood on top.
For lighting, closed spotlights are used. There should be no sockets, switches or distributors inside the sauna.
Preparation
At the beginning of the work, you should start preparing the balcony itself for further alteration. In addition to glazing and high-quality insulation, you need to take care of sound and waterproofing. This will help get rid of further problems with the building manager and neighbors. No one likes extra noise or water dripping onto their balcony from above.
For installation it is good to use panels made of wooden slats, which are easy to disassemble and assemble. We will also need an electric heater and a box of stones. Special requirements are put forward for the selection of wood. It is advisable to use the following species: pine, spruce, linden or aspen. The boards are sanded and treated with anti-fungus and mildew agents. The wood must be dried to 10% humidity. Completely dry is also not suitable, it will dry out.
Flooring
At the first stage, the floor is laid over insulation. Here you can use any type of insulation, regular board for floor or tile covering. The covering will be used as steam room flooring.
Frame installation
A box made of wooden beam section 50x50 mm. The walls are rarely straight, so the top of the box is additionally covered with 4 mm plywood. It will protect the insulation from falling out. We insulate the resulting structure from above with mineral wool or other suitable inexpensive non-combustible material. Foams or other polymer-based materials cannot be used here due to their flammability and the release of toxic substances when heated. A thicker layer of material will allow the sauna to warm up faster.
The top of the insulation is covered with sheets of aluminum foil. This work must be done carefully so that there are no uncovered areas left. The foil is well secured with aluminum tape. If the coating is done poorly, the sauna on the balcony will release heat to the outside and electricity will be wasted. In our case, the foil acts as a heat insulator and does not reflect infrared rays. In order for it to begin to play the role of a reflector, it must be placed with a gap of 4-5 cm. This is quite difficult to do in a small space on the balcony, so you can limit yourself to 2 cm. In this case, it will return 98% of the infrared rays.
Finishing
After insulation, you need to cover the walls with clapboard. This is done carefully so as not to damage the foil. For sheathing, coniferous boards without resin or deciduous trees. There should be no resin for safety reasons as it is flammable.
To fasten boards to walls and especially seats, you need to use screws with countersunk head and it is good to recess them into the body of the tree. Heated metal on open places will lead to body burns. The top attachment points can be additionally covered with protective decoration.
shelves
All that remains is to build shelves for the sauna. The design is designed for simultaneous occupancy of two people. Therefore, it should not be attached to the wall. It is better to lay separate racks and lay boards on them. For the shelf, boards 8-12 cm wide and 40-60 mm thick are used. The edges must be rounded. For free passage of air, gaps of 5-10 mm are left in the shelf. For convenience in a sitting position, a backrest is additionally installed. It also protects the walls from contamination.
For the shelf, boards made of dry pine, poplar or linden are used. Steam connoisseurs claim that best tree– Abashi. The cost of such a board is quite high, but positive traits cover such unnecessary waste of money. This wood is very light and at the same time durable, does not crack when bent, does not deform and does not release resin. In addition, it is naturally moisture resistant and has no knots. Just a real ideal. The Finns know about this tree and use it for their baths.
Sauna equipment
For safety from a possible fire, the heating stove is insulated from the walls and floor with asbestos sheets. Helps against accidental burns additional protection. The instructions for the heater contain all the necessary parameters for installation; they should be strictly adhered to, especially the gaps. Particular attention is paid electrical wiring. It's better if from distribution panel A separate cable with its own safety circuit breaker will be laid. The socket is mounted on the balcony, but outside the sauna room.
For lighting, special devices of IP54 protection class against moisture are used. The lamp's passport must indicate a maximum operating temperature of at least 120 degrees. For the convenience of a sitting person, it is better to mount them on the back wall. In this case, the light will not hit your eyes. For better dispersion, you can purchase decorative wooden lampshades separately.
Don't forget about ventilation. A grate is installed near the stove supply ventilation, the counter part is mounted strictly opposite on the wall or ceiling. It must be equipped with an adjustment mechanism to change the air supply.
Doors
The doors from the sauna must be installed so that they open outwards. Constipation is not used. All these measures increase the safety of use for steamers. If a person becomes ill, he can easily get into a living room.
The last thing to hang up is a thermometer and a clock and you can try it.
Advantages of a sauna on the balcony
These include:
- Small sizes;
- Cheap manufacturing;
- Low operating costs;
- There is no need to store firewood or coal;
- Fast heating means you don't have to wait;
- A personal sauna will eliminate fungal infections and other possible diseases, characteristic of public institutions;
- Home furnishings;
- Convenience. You don’t need to go anywhere to take a steam bath;
- The bathroom is not cluttered.
The only drawback is the possibility of fire from an electric stove.
Instead of a conclusion
We must not forget that health largely depends on cleanliness. After each session, the sauna should be dried. When using electrical appliances, safety precautions must be observed.
By spending time and a little money you can achieve your dream and get own sauna in the apartment. Now there is no need to envy the owners of their own houses. A sauna on the balcony allows you to get all the delights of a steam room right on the spot. After a hard week of work, it’s nice to relax and cleanse your body. Be healthy.
Having your own sauna seems like an impossible dream for many people. Fans of dry steam can use the empty space of the balcony to arrange the complex. To get a personal steam room, you need to purchase a ready-made mini-sauna or build it yourself. If you strictly follow the instructions and take into account all the nuances, you will get a full-fledged steam room with dry steam.
Disadvantages and advantages
A sauna on a loggia can replace visiting health centers. It puts less stress on the heart than in a classic bath; It can be used even by elderly people and children. It's comfortable to be there, and the warmth has a relaxing and calming effect. The advantage of installing a sauna on the balcony is that the living space expands due to previously unused areas. Another advantage will be the absence of the need to install a chimney and a powerful stove.
The disadvantages include its small size (accommodates no more than 1–3 people). In addition, its installation is not permitted in all buildings, but only in those that have category 1, i.e. brick or monolithic apartment buildings with reinforced concrete floors.
Preparing the balcony before construction
When starting to make a sauna on the balcony with your own hands, all work on its arrangement must be carefully planned. The area for the future building should be well prepared. It is important not to separate the sauna and the balcony. They will both need special attention.
There should be a balcony
- glazed;
- insulated;
- waterproofed.
This will prevent moisture from wetting the ceiling of the residents below and the floor of the neighbors above. When arranging it, you must remember that the sauna must be adjacent to main wall home to reduce heat transfer. To ensure fire safety and the required level of comfort, the dimensions of the sauna must comply certain sizes: 0.8 m wide and 2.1 m high: it’s impossible to turn around in a narrow steam room, and it will be very hot in a low one.
For finishing walls and ceilings, wood is traditionally used, which must be well dried and treated with antiseptic protective compounds and have a humidity of no more than 10% (otherwise the boards will begin to dry out).
This natural material easily withstands high temperatures. It is recommended to use boards made of poplar, aspen or linden. Coniferous wood (such as cedar, pine, spruce) when heated to 100–120 degrees emits a persistent odor of rosin, which affects the mucous membranes and respiratory tract. Contact with hot resin on the skin can cause severe burns. In addition, at high temperatures it can ignite spontaneously.
Stages of sauna construction
Due to the possibility of overloading the coatings, it is prohibited to use brick and concrete on the balcony when building a mini-sauna complex.
The installation of a steam room begins with setting up the frame
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Your actions |
Important Features |
| The frame is made of timber with a section of 60x60 and a pitch of 40–50 cm. | A vapor barrier is placed between the beams. |
| The next item is laying mineral wool insulation. | The use of polystyrene foam and polyethylene in the construction of a mini-steam room is strictly prohibited, since at high temperatures they will begin to melt and release toxic fumes. |
| Afterwards, aluminum foil is attached with a construction stapler. | The foil is attached with a reflective surface inside the room. The thicker the insulation layer, the faster the sauna will warm up. |
| Due to the fact that hot air always tends upward, the insulation on the ceiling is laid in a double layer to prevent heat leakage. | The joints are hermetically sealed with metallized tape. |
| The entire structure is covered with clapboard. | Do this carefully so as not to damage the foil. |
Construction of a sauna on the balcony
The walls on the balconies of houses are usually crooked, and therefore the outside frame is sheathed with 4 mm plywood. The door in the sauna is installed so that it opens outward: then it will be possible to leave the room without problems in case of feeling unwell. To avoid injuries and burns on the body, screws and self-tapping screws must be buried in the wood or their heads must be hidden with wooden plugs.
The floor in the sauna is made 10–20 cm higher than the level of the balcony concrete base. To prevent moisture from stagnating and flowing freely over the surface, it is installed at an angle towards the entrance. The flooring process occurs in several stages. First, lay out a moisture-proof layer. At a height of 6–8 cm, logs are installed from timber with a cross section of 25–40 mm and in increments of 40–50 cm. Insulation is laid between them, which is covered with another layer of waterproofing. Next, the floorboards are installed. Since metal fasteners get very hot and can burn your feet, they are attached closer to the walls.
Now you need to equip the sauna with a shelf. It is placed on separate supports so that it can support several people. Work on its construction consists of the following stages.
- Fixing beams with a cross section of 80 mm to the floor.
- Fastening boards with rounded edges, 4-6 cm thick, onto them (installed with a gap of 0.5–1 cm to ensure free air circulation).
- Treating the shelf with wood oil.
If the room allows, you can install an upper shelf with a ladder. In this case, the lower boards are placed at a distance of 60–80 cm from the floor, the upper ones at 150 cm.
What communications need to be made
The choice of electrical wiring in a sauna should be approached very responsibly, as it is a source of increased danger. It is advisable to equip it protective system shutdowns. Experts recommend purchasing electrical wiring for the sauna with a permissible insulation temperature of 170 degrees.
To calculate required power heating devices, you should take into account: to warm up the sauna in 1–2 hours, you will need approximately 1000 W per square meter. Thus, with a steam room size of 3 square meters you need about 3000 watts of electricity. Consequently, in order to provide such power, it will be necessary to run a separate branch of heat-resistant and moisture-resistant cable from the meter that can withstand such a temperature regime.
Only waterproof lamps are allowed to be installed inside the sauna itself. The seal between the base and the lampshade is made of heat-resistant silicone, and not rubber (it is exposed to high temperature may crumble). The luminaire's degree of protection is IP54. Sockets and a switch are placed outside the sauna.
It is very important to pay attention to ventilation. It is difficult to be in a sauna without it due to large quantity carbon dioxide and stagnant, humid air. In the absence of ventilation, favorable conditions for the occurrence of mold and mildew.
It is advisable to make the air intake at the bottom of the box so that the fresh flow, passing through the stove, heats up and exits into the ventilation hole at the top of the sauna. An opening measuring 30x30 cm in the wall should be equipped with a dense plug: it is better to use a board that is 5–7 mm larger. A piece of foam plastic is attached to it, cut so that it fits tightly into the ventilation hole. Polystyrene foam can be wrapped in felt, which will increase its service life. WITH inside design, it is necessary to install a handle to make it convenient to use the plug.
What type of oven is needed?
After all finishing work is completed, the stove is placed. Experts recommend installing electric heaters that are designed specifically for mini-saunas. They are affordable, safe and made with small spaces in mind. Buy it at a specialty store. Homemade heating items will cost a little less, but guarantee their uninterrupted and safe work no one can.
Where the electric furnace is installed, the walls and floor must be lined with heat-resistant material, for example, asbestos cardboard. Usually the heater is placed near the door to make it convenient to arrange the shelves. It is necessary to remember: you cannot use an electric oven without placing stones in it. This may cause a fire. The stones are laid so that convection occurs, that is, the heat exchange between the stove and the air in the sauna is accelerated (achieved using gaps between the stones and good traction).
The innovation is infrared heaters. The main difference between such a sauna and a classic steam room is the heating method. In an ordinary steam room, heat is transferred in the following sequence: fire (or heating element) – stones – air – object (person). IN infrared sauna heat is transferred by radiation from the heater exactly as Sun rays increase the temperature of objects in their path. Therefore, an infrared oven is also called an “artificial” sun.
After all work is completed, a clock and thermometer are installed in the steam room.
Is registration required for the sauna?
Some residents consider the balcony to be part of privatized apartment, and someone - a component of the facade and, therefore, the property of the house. So who owns the balcony or loggia? Let's figure this out by drawing an analogy with apartment ownership.
The load-bearing wall of the owner of the living space is also the wall of his neighbor’s apartment, and your ceiling simultaneously becomes the floor of the room located on the floor above. Then what does the person who has the document “Certificate of Ownership of an Apartment” own? And he has a space that is located between load-bearing walls and floor slabs, simultaneously with the finishing of his living space: wallpaper, linoleum, suspended ceiling and etc.
Now, using the same chain, we will find the owner of the loggia. The balcony slab is legally common to all owners apartment building. But that doesn't mean that inner space there will also be a balcony with finishing elements common property. The concept of “balcony” is just a place that is located on the slab. Consequently, the installed sauna, as well as the glazing of the balcony, will not be the common property of all apartment owners in the building. These transformations belong only to the owner of the area, who will be held responsible in case of damage to anyone.
By building a sauna on your balcony or loggia according to your design, you will receive great opportunity relax and unwind after a working day. The main thing is that you need to adhere to a certain plan when setting up a sauna, while observing safety measures, and it will become a place of pleasant and useful time.
For residents of high-rise buildings, having their own bathhouse seems like something very far away, but it is still possible to build a steam room. A balcony or loggia is suitable as a place for a sauna. Everyone will need to carry out such repairs half as hard as they can standard set tools, knowledge of construction basics and several free days. Before carrying out work, you should familiarize yourself with the main features of building a sauna on a balcony.
To build a full-fledged sauna on the balcony, it is worth calculating its dimensions, choosing insulation, and installing electrical wiring. The balcony must also be properly ventilated and waterproofed. In addition, you should carefully consider the equipment of the floor, walls and ceiling.
What is important to know
A mini-sauna, which is located on the balcony, is a very useful and practical thing, but for proper repair you will need to learn a few simple rules, especially if all procedures are performed independently.
Only wood should be used for the steam room. In order not to increase the load on balcony slab, bricks should be abandoned. Particular attention is paid to the process of installing insulation. The ability of the room to retain heat will depend on the quality of the insulating layer.
Preparation stage
In order for a sauna to last long enough, its arrangement must be carefully planned. First of all, the balcony is cleared of all things and the previous finishing is removed. At the same time, choose a place to install the steam room. During the work process, several subtleties should be observed.
To reduce heat transfer, a location adjacent to the main wall of the house is chosen for the steam room. It is better to carry out the construction of the balcony at the same time when general repairs balcony Optimal sizes steam rooms are:
- width - 0.8 m;
- height - 2.1 m.
Such indicators can ensure maximum comfort of sauna operation. Also, these dimensions make it possible to increase the safety of using the steam room.
Beginning of work
The first thing to do before arranging a sauna is to prepare a balcony. For this purpose, continuous glazing is performed. In this case, the wooden elements will be protected from the effects of precipitation, and the level of thermal insulation of the room will increase significantly. Some of the insulation elements are made to open.
This is followed by waterproofing the balcony. First of all, you need to cover the floor. Before laying the waterproofing sheets, the base of the balcony is leveled and treated with penetrating waterproofing. Then the power supply is introduced. On the residential side, the input is equipped with a packet switch.
Floor
The best option for insulating a balcony is the use of polystyrene foam boards. This insulation practically does not conduct heat and has good waterproofing properties. Floor insulation is carried out in the following order:
- The logs are secured to the base using dowels. They are made from 30-40 mm timber. The height of the logs must be no less than the thickness of the insulation.
- In places of fastening, waterproofing is restored using liquid sealant.
- Thermal insulation boards are laid between the joists. They can be glued to a layer of waterproofing. However, they are often left loose.
- The seams between the insulation and the joists are sealed with sealant.
- A second layer of waterproofing is laid on top of the polystyrene foam.
- Mounted finishing- lining.
During work, you should adhere to safety rules. After such procedures, you can begin finishing the walls. Waterproofing a balcony with your own hands is quite simple - it is important to select the necessary materials.
Walls
To insulate the walls, the same material is used as for the floor - polystyrene foam. Penofol or foam glass are also often used. To secure the insulation to the walls, a special frame is made of beams. There should be a distance of 40-50 cm between the slats. Insulation is placed in each cell. Often pieces of material are not secured at all. When insulating with mats large area they are fastened with special nails. The insulation layer consists of the following elements:
- insulation material
- diffusion film;
- clapboard finishing.
The top of the insulation is covered with a vapor barrier. This allows you to protect the material from moisture and condensation, as well as significantly increase the service life of thermal insulation and increase the safety of the balcony walls.
Often walls are insulated with polyethylene. Roll material has less thickness than mineral wool. In addition, it has a foil surface on one side. Aluminum protection reflects heat.
Penofol is laid with foil inside. The material is secured using wooden slats, which are nailed outside. After the insulation is laid, the walls are covered with clapboard. A photo of such a sauna on the balcony can be seen below.
Ceiling
Ceiling insulation is carried out in the same way as walls are insulated. However, in the case of insulated, the thickness of the insulation is less. Other aspects of the technology remain the same:
- first you need to fill the frame;
- then lay the insulation;
- fix the vapor barrier, perform finishing.
Such procedures will help to reliably protect the room from heat leakage. The work is done quickly and easily. The main thing is to follow the plan.
Ventilation
An important step is the implementation of ventilation done in external wall. It will ensure the outflow of steam and eliminate foreign odors from the steam room. Ventilation is installed simultaneously with the construction of the ceiling. The outlet is equipped with a plug. It is made quite dense, which ensures heat retention in the room. For the plug, a piece of foam plastic cut to fit the dimensions of the hole is usually used.
Wiring
The electrical wiring stage is one of the most critical. Electricity is a source of increased danger, and moisture can cause a short circuit.
The lighting of the steam room should be closed type. It is also necessary to reliably protect it from moisture. Thermal spotlights are often used to illuminate the sauna. They have enough high level protection from moisture.
To protect the wiring from short circuits, the system is equipped with a special disconnect device (RCD). If you do the wiring yourself, you should follow the following sequence of actions:
- install a panel equipped with a 25 A circuit breaker;
- Use it to route wires to electrical points.
It is worth considering that only installation of lamps can be done inside the bathhouse. Switches and sockets must be installed outside. To protect the cable, corrugated pipe should be used. Its ends are carefully sealed.
Final stage
On last stage Balcony renovation includes installation of a stove and final finishing. There are several things to consider here important features. Perform a sauna on the balcony with your own hands for several days.
Bake
After completing the finishing work on your balcony, you can begin installing the stove. The steam room on the balcony is small in size, so it can be easily heated with a standard electric heater. The walls and floor in the place where it will be installed are covered with heat-resistant material - asbestos cardboard. The device is connected to an outlet equipped with an RCD. Stones are placed in the basket of the slab.
Final finishing
An important stage of work is the installation of shelves. There should be two of them. The lower one must be placed at a height of 70 cm from the floor, the upper one - 150 cm. There must be gaps between the boards that will ensure air circulation.
Results
You can build a sauna on the balcony with your own hands in a few days. The main thing is to follow safety rules and adhere to the planned work plan. After finishing the sauna is completed, the room should be equipped with auxiliary items. For example, it is worth placing hangers for hats and clothes in it.