A simple do-it-yourself infrared sauna on the balcony. We equip the sauna on the balcony

September 14, 2016
Specialization: a professional in the field of construction and repair (a full cycle of finishing work, both internal and external, from sewerage to electrics and finishing work), installation of window structures. Hobbies: see column "SPECIALIZATION AND SKILLS"

A mini sauna on the balcony is by no means a fantasy and not the creation of a “gloomy genius” of an unfortunate inventor. Of course, it is far from possible to equip a steam room everywhere, but if you have a spacious balcony at your disposal, or even better - a loggia, then with a relatively modest investment of time, effort and money, you can allocate part of the room for a steam room.

Of course, in many ways this event is akin to an adventure, but if you do everything right (that is, as I will tell below), then the envy of friends and acquaintances is guaranteed to you.

Sauna balcony

So, let's say we have an empty balcony or loggia, and the idea to arrange a steam room in this room does not cause internal rejection. Well, you have to work hard, and for starters - we put the room itself in order.

The minimum program includes the following operations:

1. Dismantling of all the old finishes - anyway, we will need to completely redo the heat-insulating layer.
2. Inspection of the balcony base, if necessary, repair of all cracks and restoration of broken parts.
3. Dismantling the window connecting the balcony with the living space, and erecting in its place a capital partition made of brick / cinder block / foam concrete.
4. The construction of a capital external partition where it is planned to equip a nook for a sauna.

The balcony railing may not withstand, therefore, with a high probability, reinforcing reinforcement will be needed.

1. Balcony glazing using energy-efficient double-glazed windows (2 chambers, at least one low-e glass, filled with argon). It is better to take wooden or wood-aluminum frames for glazing, but high-quality PVC with a metal frame at least 2 mm thick is also suitable.

We choose glass with a mirror effect or put blinds - this is how we ensure the proper level of privacy.

1. Sealing the gaps between the base and the balcony railing, as well as sealing all the gaps between the walls, floor and ceiling.

In general, our ultimate goal is a solid balcony or loggia, without gaps and other defects, with solid walls in the part that will then be occupied by a mini-sauna.

Room preparation

Item 1. Floor insulation

When the loggia itself is put in order, you can start finishing. There are two priorities here:

• effective thermal insulation, which allows not only to minimize the heat loss of the steam room itself, but also to eliminate the discomfort associated with overheating of neighboring rooms;
• protection of the finish from high temperatures - primarily through the use of heat-resistant materials.

Let's start with the arrangement of the floor. My choice is wooden flooring throughout the balcony, but you can also combine options: make the floor of wood in the steam room, and ceramic tiles on the rest of the loggia (if only it is not too slippery).

We work according to the following algorithm:

1. First, we waterproof the base by covering the floor with a membrane or applying a mastic based on bitumen / rubber. As with the repair of the bathroom, be sure to make an overlap on walls up to 15 cm high.

1. We lay logs from a bar with a section of at least 40x40 mm. To raise the floor to the desired level, we rest the logs on the cranial bars and fasten the extreme parts to the walls with steel brackets. Carefully align the lag system.

1. In the space between the lags we lay heat-insulating material. Since we need to minimize heat loss, we should not be greedy - 100-150 mm of mineral wool will be just right. Moreover, the area of ​​​​the room to be finished is small, so the price of materials will not affect the overall budget too much.
2. On top of the insulation and the log, we lay another layer of waterproofing material. This time you can get by with thick plastic wrap, but I would advise taking foil material, which will provide additional waterproofing.

1. Finally, we lay the floor from the boards. We nail the boards on that section of the floor that is reserved for the steam room with nails only near the walls - so we will not burn ourselves on the hats.

To save money, you can combine the floorboard: for the steam room itself we take more expensive hardwood, we sheathe the rest of the floor with ordinary pine.

Point 2. Insulation of walls and ceiling

1. First, we paste over the wall with a foil film, orienting the reflective surface outward.
2. Then we fill the frame from a bar with a section of at least 50x50 mm. We make the distance between the frame parts equal to approximately 55 - 58 cm.

1. Standard mineral wool slabs 50 mm thick and 60 cm wide are laid in the cells of the crate. Due to its elasticity, the material will hold strong enough, while the minimum compaction will not greatly affect its thermal insulation properties.
2. On top we lay another layer of foil material, which plays the role of a vapor barrier.
3. We fill the slats with a thickness of about 30 mm over the frame, and attach the sheathing from them to them. Since this part of the room will not get very hot, then, like on the floor, here you can take a board from solid pine.

Both the floor and the walls with the ceiling are treated with a penetrating antiseptic. After that, we apply a special impregnation for baths / saunas to the wood: it will give the skin an attractive appearance, and at the same time it will last much longer than a standard varnish or stain.

Item 3. Wiring and ventilation

Communication in the sauna is a separate thing. Of course, when arranging a steam room on the balcony, we will not conduct water there, but we definitely cannot do without high-quality electrification and ventilation:

1. Any, even the most compact heater will consume a lot of energy. Therefore, without fail, we form a separate branch of the wiring, connecting it to the switchboard through the RCD for 25 amperes.
2. On the balcony outside the steam room, we install an outlet for connecting the stove. We bring the wire to the outlet either along the strobe (it must be done before sheathing), or under a lining layer. In the second case, we use a corrugated pipe made of non-combustible plastic.
3. We put a separate branch of the wire into a metal hose and lead it into the sauna itself - we will install a lamp on it. To illuminate the steam room, it is best to use special sealed lamps that can withstand heat up to 1200C. The moisture resistance of such devices usually corresponds to the IP54 level. .

There are no switches, sockets or regulators in the sauna itself: a humid environment with an elevated temperature will sooner or later lead to a short circuit.

1. In the outer wall, almost under the ceiling, we make a hole for ventilation. It can be equipped with an exhaust fan connected to the wiring inside the sauna.
2. To block the ventilation duct, we cut out a plug from dense polystyrene (several panels can be glued together) and attach a wooden cover to it, which will be used to finish the sauna. During use, close the ventilation duct with a plug so as not to lose precious heat.

Steam room arrangements

Item 4. Frame and sheathing of the structure

1. We insulate the walls and ceiling in the same way as the supporting structures of the balcony itself. But at the same time, we increase the thickness of the heat-insulating layer to at least 10 mm, and be sure to use a foil vapor barrier - otherwise the mineral wool under the skin will get wet and lose its insulating properties.
2. For wall cladding, we use high-quality wall paneling only from hardwood. Pine, spruce, etc. you can’t take it in any case - when heated, the resin, which is abundant in wood, will flow and will come out.
3. At a distance of about 1.5 - 2 m from the wall, we install a partition. First, we make a frame from vertical bars 50x50 mm, and then we reinforce it with horizontal crossbars, forming a doorway.
4. Outside, we sheathe the partition with plywood with a thickness of 12 mm or more. We glue the plywood sheet with foil thermal insulation.

1. From the inside, we lay a heater in the cells of the frame, which is also covered with foil waterproofing material. We glue all joints with metallic tape.
2. We make lining from lining, which we fix from the outside and inside.
3. We hang a door made of solid wood. For safety reasons, we make the door to the sauna only with an external opening (it is also more convenient). In addition, for the same purpose, we put the latch that fixes the door in the closed position only from the outside.

There must be a gap between the lower edge of the door and the threshold for fresh air to enter.

Item 5. Sauna stove

Actually, that's how it's done do-it-yourself sauna on the loggia. But in addition to the structure itself, we need to think about the equipment:

1. The “heart” of any sauna is a stove-heater, and we will not make an exception for the option on the loggia. We purchase a compact model with a capacity of 3 - 4.5 kW - this will be quite enough to warm up a small nook allocated for a steam room.
2. We put the stones themselves into the grate of the furnace, which will accumulate and give off heat. The optimal mass of stones for a sauna on a balcony is 12-15 kg.
3. We install the heater at the entrance close to the partition. We bring the cord for connection outside the steam room and plug it into a socket specially equipped for this.
4. To minimize the risk of fire, it is worth protecting the walls and floor near the heater with fire-resistant materials. Experts advise using asbestos cardboard, but if you have doubts about the safety of its use (after all, asbestos is a carcinogen), then the wall can be finished with metal, and the floor can be lined with fire-resistant ceramic tiles.

1. The installed heater must be protected with wooden railings. Their strength must be sufficient to support the weight of a person in the event of a fall and protect him from burns.

Item 6. Shelves and other equipment

We just have to equip our sauna for the most comfortable procedures:

1. From a bar with a section of 40x40 mm we make a frame for a shelf for sitting. We fix the frame elements on the floor and on the walls, reinforcing them from the inside with struts.

1. We sheathe the frame with boards, fixing them from the inside so that the nail heads are not on the surface.
2. We carefully grind the shelf boards, after which we treat them with impregnation for baths and saunas.
3. After installing the shelf, we fix a heat-resistant sealed lamp on the wall or under the ceiling.
4. We install a thermometer next to the lamp. It is advisable to choose a model with a clock - so we can control the time spent in the steam room and not "sit out".

What we need: a list of materials

To build a sauna on the balcony, we need a variety of building materials. I will give an approximate list here - you can use the table to find out indicative prices and predict costs:

Material	unit of measurement	Average cost, rubles
Insulation ISOVER 1200x600x100 mm	pack of 4	1400 -1700
Insulation ROCKWOOL 800x600x50 mm	pack of 4	650 — 800
Vapor barrier film	70 m2	670 — 750
Foam polyethylene foil	Roll 15 m	1100 — 1300
Foil vapor barrier	Roll 25 m	700 — 900
Fire bioprotective composition	10 l	550 — 600
Impregnation for wood Pinotex	10 l	4800 -5200
Universal antiseptic for wood	5 l	450 — 600
Wooden beam (pine), 50x50x6000 mm	PCS.	90 – 180
Clapboard for wall cladding (pine)	1 m.	100 -150
Clapboard for wall cladding (alder)	1 m.	180 — 250
Boards for the manufacture of a shelf (alder)	1 m.	350 — 450
Electric sauna stove Ural-Mikma-Term	PCS.	7000 — 8200
Electric sauna stove Teplodar SteamSib	PCS.	12000 — 13500
Bath thermometer	PCS.	350 — 600
Lamp for a bath hermetic, thermally protected	PCS.	450 — 900

Conclusion

Of course, a do-it-yourself sauna on a balcony is not done quickly, and not too easy: you have to prepare the room itself, insulate it thoroughly, provide ventilation, protect the finish from high temperatures, etc. But in any case, you can take a steam bath without leaving the apartment.

To do this, you will have to study the recommendations given, watch the video in this article, work with your head and hands, and, if necessary, seek advice in the comments. The task is difficult, so I will help in any way I can!

September 14, 2016

If you want to express gratitude, add a clarification or objection, ask the author something - add a comment or say thanks!

You can enjoy bathing procedures on your balcony. If you take into account all the nuances of laying electrical wiring, ensuring ventilation and arranging reliable steam, hydro, thermal protection, then you can build an excellent steam room with your own hands.

Content:

To arrange a personal steam room on a balcony or loggia, you can purchase a ready-made mini-sauna from the manufacturer and install it according to the instructions. This option is the most convenient, but it will not be cheap at all. Therefore, it is advisable to equip the sauna on the balcony with your own hands. This process will take a lot of time and effort, since ventilation must be provided in the steam room and many other factors must be taken into account. However, as a result, you will get a full-fledged steam room with dry air.

Preparatory work on the balcony in front of the sauna

First you need to prepare a balcony. Extend it if necessary. Choose a place for arranging a sauna that is adjacent mainly to the walls of the house - for less heat loss.

In addition, you should take care of reliable glazing. The walls in the steam room should be completely blank, and it is better to install high-quality double-glazed windows on the rest of the balcony. At this stage, you need to consider a place for a ventilation hole.

When all the preparatory work is completed, it is necessary to stock up on building materials. To make a sauna on the balcony, we need mineral wool, polystyrene foam, a waterproofing membrane, 5 cm thick wooden beams, floorboards, wooden lining, foil vapor barrier, corrugated pipe, metal hose, asbestos cardboard.

Please note that it is forbidden to use brick or stone to equip the steam room on the balcony. These are very heavy materials that will become an additional load and may lead to negative consequences.

The specifics of balcony equipment for a mini-sauna

Before erecting the frame, it is necessary to think about the complete insulation of not only the steam room compartment, but the entire balcony. The most suitable material for this is mineral wool. Construction work begins with finishing the floor.

The technology of arranging the floor on the balcony for the sauna

We carry out floor finishing around the entire perimeter of the balcony. However, in the steam room it should be 10-20 cm higher than in the rest of the room. This is necessary to ensure that the water-repellent film drains and the steam room is dry.

We carry out the work in the following sequence:

1. We lay a waterproofing layer.
2. We fill wooden logs with a height of about 5-8 cm and a step of 40-50 cm.
3. We put insulation in the holes between the bars.
4. We spread the second layer of waterproofing.
5. We fix the floorboards with nails, nailing them against the walls. This is necessary so as not to get burned on metal caps.

The floor in the sauna should be made with a slope to the door, providing an unhindered outflow of excess moisture. For finishing in the steam room, use hardwood boards with a shrinkage of up to 10%. Coniferous wood can be used to equip the floor on the rest of the balcony.

Rules for decorating walls on a balcony for a sauna

To save space on the balcony, you can insulate the walls from the outside with foam. Please note that the heating rate of the booth depends on the thickness of the insulation layer.

We carry out finishing work according to the following instructions:

• We fill the walls with bars with a section of 5 cm 2 in increments of 0.5 m. At the location of the mini-sauna booth on the balcony, before that, you need to beat the walls with plywood so that the insulation fits as tightly as possible to the surface.
• We attach a foil vapor barrier to the holes between the bars, with a reflective surface outward.
• We cut sheets of mineral wool 4-5 cm wider for a tighter fit to the wall.
• We lay the insulation in the recesses between the bars.
• We fix aluminum foil over the heat insulator with the reflective surface inward. To do this, use a stapler or nail the material with carnations to wooden planks.
• We glue the joints with metallic tape.
• Gently we upholster the surfaces with clapboard.

Please note that for the steam room it is imperative to choose hardwood. The rest of the balcony can be finished with any other material. However, it is desirable that it be made in the same style as the steam room.

Finishing the ceiling on the balcony for the sauna

When equipping the ceiling, special attention must be paid to the vapor barrier, since in the sauna on the balcony the steam rises and can lead to dampness among the neighbors.

We equip the ceiling in this order:

1. We fill the bars with a thickness of 5 cm in increments of about 40 cm.
2. We fix a waterproofing layer between the bars.
3. We lay the insulation, press the layer with a wooden plank and nail it.
4. We attach two layers of vapor barrier membrane.
5. We mount the wagon.

To perform work on the insulation and finishing of the ceiling, it is better to take an assistant. It will be inconvenient for you to hold the insulation and fix it on your own.

Features of the arrangement of the sauna on the balcony of the apartment

When the balcony is completely ready for the equipment of the steam room in it, you need to think over the wiring, ventilation and heating. Each of these processes must be approached as seriously as possible, since fire safety and the performance of the sauna on the balcony depend on it.

Laying electrical wiring on the sauna balcony

It is best to use a cable with good heat-resistant insulation.

We conduct electricity in this order:

• We mount a separate machine on the switchboard. For a heater with a power of 4500W, a 25A automatic machine is optimal.
• We equip the RCD power supply network.
• We install a separate outlet on the balcony from the switchboard.
• For connection we use a corrugated pipe.
• We lay the wire to the lamp in the metal hose. It is more convenient to place it above the future regiment. For a sauna, it is better to use sealed point thermal lights. They are able to withstand more than 120 degrees and have a moisture resistance level of IP54.

Please note that it is forbidden to mount switches, socket mechanisms and distribution boxes in the steam room itself.

Sauna Balcony Ventilation Equipment

The vent hole must be exposed to the outside to prevent foreign odors from entering.

To make a dense and reliable plug, we adhere to the following algorithm:

1. We cut out the part from the foam according to the size of the ventilation duct. The part must be completely adjacent to the walls, without forming cracks.
2. We glue a wooden panel and a handle to this part on one side. It is desirable that they match in color with the finish of the bath. You can even use a piece of lining.

By opening the plug, you can ventilate the room as needed.

The construction of the sauna frame on the balcony

Please note that the width of the steam room should be from 0.8 meters, and the height - from 2.1 meters. Only if you follow these rules will you get a comfortable and safe steam room.

We equip the partition in this order:

• We attach bars with a section of 5 cm 2 vertically to the floor and ceiling in increments of about 40 cm.
• We fix the same bars with the same step in a horizontal position.
• From the outside, we fill sheets of plywood and attach a waterproofing film to them.
• We lay hydro and thermal insulation on the inside. Mineral wool insulation must be cut a few centimeters wider for a snug fit.
• We cover with a vapor barrier membrane.
• We glue the joints with metallic tape.
• We mount the lining on both sides.
• We install the door.

Please note that the door from the steam room must necessarily open outwards. This will save space. Also, for security reasons, they do not need to install internal locks.

Features of installing a stove in a sauna on a balcony

The electric heater must match the power of the electrical wiring in your home and be connected to a separate outlet, which we have previously wired through the RCD. It is better to choose models specially adapted for the sauna. The terminal boxes in them are located at the back, and therefore protected from moisture. They are also equipped with a steel fireproof grate and a water collection tray. For fire safety purposes, it is advisable to cover all surfaces around the heater with fire-resistant and heat-resistant asbestos cardboard. The mass of stones in the oven for quick heating should be no more than 15 kg.

Rules for mounting a sauna shelf on a balcony

In order for the structure to be reliable and able to withstand two people, it is undesirable to mount it to the wall. It is better to equip the shelves on special racks.

We equip the steam room with a shelf in this order:

1. We attach bars with a cross section of about 8 cm 2 to the floor.
2. We mount carefully sanded boards on top of them, 5 cm thick, with rounded edges. Between them we leave gaps of 1-1.5 cm for free air circulation.
3. We process the structure with special oil.
4. If dimensions allow, you can also equip the upper shelves and mount a ladder to it.

Linden, poplar and African abachi tree are considered the best option for shelf equipment. Please note that all fasteners must be made of wood or galvanized metal. In the latter case, the nail heads must be deepened into the base of the tree, since at high temperatures they can be burned.

After the complete arrangement of the steam room, we install a thermometer and a clock inside in a sealed and heat-resistant case. So you can control the temperature in the room and the time of your stay.

Video about the sauna on the balcony, see below:

Step-by-step instructions and photos for arranging a sauna on a balcony will help you master the entire process on your own. Be sure to follow the instructions so that the steam room turns out to be of high quality and safe. Such a construction will cost you almost two times cheaper than buying an industrial mini-sauna.

Do-it-yourself sauna on the balcony is an original, but quite 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 must be carried out strictly taking into account fire safety rules.

Before implementing your project, you need to agree on the redevelopment. You can do this yourself or contact a law firm, whose specialists will collect the necessary papers and submit them to the appropriate authorities.

Balcony preparation

Before you make a sauna on the balcony, you should strengthen it - the weight of the hinged structure will increase significantly, and you may need metal supports under the concrete slab.

The room needs to be insulated. Since the balcony area is most often quite modest, it is recommended to carry out insulation from the outside - so the heat-insulating material will not affect the size of the room. Better than others, mineral wool is suitable for this purpose - it is not combustible and non-fusible material, unlike foam plastic and polystyrene.

Additionally, isolation is required, which will perform several tasks at once:

Protect mineral wool from moisture;
protect the floor and ceiling of neighbors from above and below from heating during use of the sauna;
improve the soundproofing properties of the structure.

Ceiling insulation

Bars are nailed to the surface at a distance of about 30 cm from each other. Mineral wool slabs are laid in the finished cells, after which they are covered with foil insulation or other insulation. The joints are glued with metallic tape. The structure is covered with wooden planks.

Since hot air always rises, it is worth laying the insulation on the ceiling in a double layer.

Wall insulation

Before starting work, it is necessary to stretch a separate cable from the electric meter, which will be used exclusively for heating the sauna.
Using a beam with a section of 50 * 50 mm, a vertical crate is performed on the walls. The elements are fixed with self-tapping screws, the distance between the bars is a maximum of 50 cm. The frame is filled with mineral wool, sheathed with foil insulation, fastening the joints with metallized adhesive tape. In order to maintain an air gap inside the structure, slats are nailed to the elements of the crate over the insulation, and lining or other finishing material is already fixed on them.

Floor insulation

Wooden logs are stuffed on the floor, 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.

The choice of material for sheathing

The most suitable material for a sauna on a balcony is a lining made of hardwood (alder, linden, aspen). When heated, they emit a pleasant smell, the structure of the material is smooth.

Coniferous wood materials - cedar, larch, pine or spruce - are not recommended: when heated, they release resin, which gives not only a strong smell, but also affects the skin.

In order not to get burned or injured, all self-tapping screws, screws and other metal structural elements should either be drowned in a tree or the hats should be hidden with wooden plugs.

Organization of ventilation

In the sauna on the loggia, proper forced ventilation must be organized. The exit of the ventilation duct should be made to the street.

To do this, a small hole (up to 50 * 50 cm) is punched in the wall, which, when used in a sauna, will be closed with a special plug.

For a cork, they take a wooden board, cut out a part of such a size that it closes the ventilation hole by 5-7 cm from all sides. A piece of foam plastic of such parameters is attached to it so that it enters exactly into the ventilation duct, snugly against the walls. It is not recommended to use mineral wool - it will quickly become unusable.

Additionally, the foam is wrapped with polyethylene.

Organization of electrical wiring

The cable must have good heat-resistant properties. Sauna stoves are very powerful and consume a lot of electricity, so you need to connect them via a separate cable.

Work order:

1. A separate machine is installed on the switchboard, taking into account the power of the heater.
2. The power supply is equipped with a residual current device.
3. A separate outlet is mounted 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.

It is recommended to use special hermetic point thermal lamps as a lighting device for a sauna. They work well at temperatures up to 120 °C.

Switches, sockets and junction boxes cannot be installed in the steam room. They need to be taken out of this compartment.

Door installation

It is better to choose a small door for a sauna so that heat loss is minimal. It is advisable to purchase a wooden one, from a solid array. For infrared, glass is also suitable.

Shelf installation

In order for the design to be reliable and 2 people can be accommodated on it at the same time, you should not attach the shelves to the wall - it is more reasonable 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 at a distance of 1-1.5 cm from each other to ensure air circulation;
the assembled structure is treated with wood oil.
If the dimensions of the room allow it, it is allowed to install an upper shelf with a ladder.

The most suitable tree for a regiment is poplar, linden, abachi. The fasteners of the installation are either hidden with wooden caps or pressed into the bars, since when heated, they, in contact with the skin, can cause a burn.

Sauna stove selection

Unlike a bath, a sauna can use electric stoves, so a chimney is not required.

It is recommended to use special designs designed for mini-saunas. They are affordable, safe and designed with small spaces in mind. Home-made heating installations will cost a little less, but no one can guarantee their uninterrupted operation and compliance with safety standards.

The terminal boxes for sauna stoves are located on the back wall, which provides protection against accidental water intrusion on 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 ​​\u200b\u200bthe existing room. This will help reduce heating costs.

When installing the selected stove in the room, you should strictly follow the recommendations given in the instructions for the device. Otherwise, not only premature failure of the device, but also a fire is possible.

Additional elements

Hangers for towels, clothes and hats are installed after finishing work. At the same stage, a thermometer is attached to the wall - it will be required to monitor the thermal regime 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 the usual location of heating devices: they are installed around the entire perimeter of the room. Infrared rays do not increase the temperature of the air in the room, but directly affect the person.

An infrared sauna is a safer facility, which, moreover, consumes less electricity.

After studying the recommendations and viewing the photos of the finished options, you can begin to implement your own sauna project on the balcony.

For residents of high-rise buildings, their own bath seems to be 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. To carry out such repairs to the floor is for everyone - you will need a standard set of tools, knowledge of the basics of construction and a few free days. Before performing 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 a heater, and equipping the electrical wiring. The balcony must also be properly ventilated and waterproofed. In addition, you should carefully approach 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, however, in order to carry out proper repairs, you will need to learn a few simple rules, especially if all procedures are performed independently.

For the steam room it is necessary to use only wood. In order not to increase the load on the balcony slab, bricks should be discarded. Particular attention is paid to the process of installation of insulation. The ability of the room to retain heat will depend on the quality of the insulation layer.

Preparation stage

In order for the sauna to last long enough, its arrangement must be carefully planned. First of all, the balcony is freed from all things, the previous finish is removed. At the same time, choose a place to install a steam room. In the process of work, several subtleties should be observed.

To reduce heat transfer, a place is chosen for the steam room adjacent to the main wall of the house. It is better to carry out the installation of the balcony at the same time when the general repair of the balcony is carried out. The optimal dimensions of the steam room are:

• width - 0.8 m;
• height - 2.1 m.

Such indicators are able to provide maximum comfort of using the sauna. Also, these dimensions allow you 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, 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. Part of the insulation element is made opening.

This is followed by waterproofing the balcony. First of all, you need to close the floor. Before laying the sheets of waterproofing, the base of the balcony is leveled and treated with penetrating waterproofing. Then the power supply is introduced. From the residential premises, the input is equipped with a package switch.

Floor

The best option for insulating a balcony is the use of expanded polystyrene plates. Such insulation practically does not conduct heat, has good waterproofing properties. Floor insulation is carried out in the following order:

• Logs are fixed to the base with dowels. They are made of timber 30-40 mm. The height of the lag should not be less than the thickness of the insulation.
• At the attachment points, the waterproofing is restored using a liquid sealant.
• Thermal insulation boards are laid between the joists. They can be glued to the waterproofing layer. However, they are often left loose.
• The seams between the insulation and the lags are closed with a sealant.
• A second layer of waterproofing is laid on top of the expanded polystyrene.
• Mounted finishing - lining.

During work, you should follow the safety rules. After these procedures, you can start decorating the walls. Making waterproofing a balcony with your own hands is quite simple - it is important to choose the necessary materials.

Walls

To insulate the walls, the same material is used as for the floor - polystyrene foam. Penofol or foam glass is also often used. To fix the insulation on the walls, a special frame is made of bars. There should be a distance of 40-50 cm between the planks. A heater is placed in each cell. Often pieces of material are not fixed at all. When insulating with mats of a large area, they are fastened with special nails. The insulation layer consists of the following elements:

• insulation material
• diffusion film;
• lining finishing.

From above, the insulation is covered with a vapor barrier. This allows you to protect the material from moisture and condensate, as well as significantly increase the service life of thermal insulation, increase the safety of the balcony walls.

Often the walls are insulated with polyethylene. The rolled material has a thinner thickness than mineral wool. In addition, it has a foil surface on one side. Aluminum shield reflects heat.

Penofol is laid with foil inside. The material is fixed with wooden slats, which are nailed from the 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

The ceiling is insulated 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, finish the finish.

Such procedures will help to reliably protect the room from heat leakage. Work is done quickly and easily. The main thing is to follow the planned plan.

Ventilation

An important stage is the implementation of ventilation made in the outer wall. It will ensure the outflow of steam and the elimination of odors from the steam room. Ventilation is laid simultaneously with the execution of the ceiling. The outlet is equipped with a plug. It is made quite dense, which ensures the retention of heat in the room. For a plug, a piece of foam is usually used, cut to the dimensions of the hole.

Wiring

The stage of the electrical wiring device is one of the most critical. Electricity is a source of increased danger, and moisture can contribute to a short circuit.

The lighting of the steam room should be closed. It is also necessary to reliably protect it from moisture. Spotlights are often used to illuminate the sauna. They have a fairly high level of protection against moisture.

To protect the wiring from short circuits, the system is equipped with a special disconnect device (RCD). If the wiring is done by hand, you should follow the following sequence of actions:

• install a shield equipped with a 25 A automatic machine;
• from it to carry out the wiring of the wire to the electrical points.

It is worth considering that inside the bath you can only install fixtures. Switches and sockets must be installed outside. Corrugated pipe should be used to protect the cable. Its endings are carefully sealed.

Final stage

At the last stage of the repair of the balcony, the furnace is installed and the final finishing is performed. Here it is necessary to take into account several important features. A do-it-yourself sauna is performed on the balcony 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 by a standard electric heater. The walls and floor in the place where it will be installed are upholstered 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.

Finishing

An important stage of work is the installation of shelves. There should be two. The lower one must be placed at a height of 70 cm from the floor, the upper one - at 150 cm. Gaps must be made 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 the 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 putting in it hangers for hats and clothes.

It is possible to enjoy taking bath procedures at home. If you wish, you can make an excellent sauna on the loggia with your own hands. It is important to take into account all the technical subtleties of it and then a wonderful place for resting the soul and body will appear in your home.

Necessary preliminary work on the loggia before installing the sauna

In order for the bath on the balcony to function reliably, it is necessary to carefully prepare for its installation. The chosen place for installation should adjoin the bearing wall of the house as much as possible to maximize the preservation of heat in the future bath.

You should think that the balcony should be securely glazed. Double-glazed windows are selected of high quality, they should not let cold air into the room. At the preparatory stage, it is also important to decide where the ventilation hole will be located.

• mineral wool;
• Styrofoam;
• membrane providing;
• wooden bars 5 cm thick;
• lining made of wood;
• foil vapor barrier;
• corrugated pipe;
• metal sleeve;
• asbestos cardboard.

The sauna on the loggia cannot be built with brick or stone. The use of these materials violates the construction technology and may adversely affect the operation of the steam room.