Bath of foam blocks: reviews of the owners, advantages and disadvantages

Today, many owners of suburban areas prefer to build baths not from an expensive log or log, but from a cheaper foam block. This material has simply remarkable performance characteristics and besides it is rather easy in installation.

Feasibility of using foam blocks

Baths from this material actually come out usually very inexpensive. In addition, foam blocks have practically all the same advantages as wood: they perfectly pass air (breathe), they are very easy to cut, they do not differ too much in weight. The advantage of them, in comparison with the beam and log, is that they do not burn at all and do not rot. The disadvantages of the walls of this material include the fact that it is able to absorb moisture, while gradually breaking down. Therefore, the projects of baths from foam blocks should be developed with the obligatory consideration of the features of this material, in particular its hygroscopicity.

According to the norms of SNiP, it is forbidden to build baths from foamed cement. However, these rules were invented quite a long time ago. Since then, a huge number of new, modern materials with truly unique properties have appeared on the market. Refers to them and foam concrete. In addition, SNiP standards were developed mainly in relation to public baths. Of course, in this case the rules should be very strict. A small country bathhouse made of foam blocks can become a very convenient and rather durable building. But of course, only subject to compliance with all rules and technologies of erection.

Advantages baths from foam blocks

In addition to the cheapness and pretty nice microclimate, the advantages of such facilities include environmental safety. When heated, the foam blocks do not emit absolutely no harmful substances. In addition, they keep the heat very well, that is, it will not be necessary to heat the bathhouse on a washing day no more than once. Since the foam block is not flammable, no special regulations are required when installing the heater.

And of course, the unconditional advantage of this material is the ease of laying. Assemblage of a bath from a log or a bar - employment (occupation) enough labor-consuming and thus technologically difficult. The experience of erecting such a structure in our time is not available to everyone. Probably, any owner of the suburban area will be able to lay out the block walls.

Projects baths from foam blocks can be any, that is, the site owners have the opportunity to choose the layout of this building at its discretion. The material is easily cut even by an ordinary metal hacksaw.

Disadvantages of the bath of foam blocks

The disadvantages of a bath of foam blocks are first of all the dampening and destruction of walls, in particular the drinking of blocks with water is dangerous in winter. In a heated bath, the vapors easily penetrate into the porous material. After cooling the steam water freezes and, expanding, simply tears the concrete. Therefore, when building a bath of foam blocks, special measures should be taken to waterproof the walls. In addition, the construction will also have to be insulated. In this case, the walls will cool down for a longer time, and consequently, even if the water gets into the material, it may be able to dry before freezing. In addition, the insulated walls are much less condensate.

Recommend that experienced owners of suburban areas also arrange in such baths ventilation. This prevents stagnation of the raw air, therefore, will prolong the life of the walls.

Of course, all these tricks: waterproofing, warming, ventilation - will cost the owner of the bath a pretty penny. Therefore, the construction of this appointment from foam blocks is usually built only in the steppe regions, that is, where it is difficult to get wood, or it is very expensive. In the forest areas of the country, it may be more appropriate to build a wooden bath. Most likely, it will not cost much more expensive paving stone.

Bath of foam blocks: price

The cost of such a structure will depend, of course, primarily on the layout and size. A wall foam block 60x30x20 costs about 2500 rubles per cubic meter. A small bathhouse measuring 3x4 meters with one partition and a ceiling height of 2 m will take just over 6 m ³ . That is, the erection of the walls proper will cost about 16-20 thousand rubles. This will require about 5 m ^{3 of} mineral wool. It will cost about another 8 thousand rubles. About 2000 rubles will go to the glue-solution. Thus, the walls of a small bath of foam blocks with rough calculation will cost about 30 thousand rubles. Of course, this amount will need to add the cost of the foundation, lumber for the floor, ceiling and roof, waterproofing and lining.

A large bath 6x4 from a foam block will, of course, cost more. At such facilities recently it became very fashionable to build attics. This is certainly very convenient and allows you to save space on the site, but of course, will further increase the cost of construction. On walls and partitions of a standard bath 6х4 m will leave about 11 m ^{3 of} blocks.

Foundation and walls erection

Construction of a bath of foam blocks is a simple procedure. This structure is built about the same as brick. The difference lies in the fact that the seams in the masonry of the foam blocks are very thin, and as a mortar for fixing the blocks a special glue is used. When erecting even a small bath from this material, the walls should be reinforced. To do this, in each fourth row, metal rods are laid in gutters carved by a Bulgarian. On top of the masonry, the armopause must also be placed.

The foundation for a bath of foam blocks is recommended to make a tape and powerful enough. All foam materials are fragile. And therefore, even with small motions of the soil, the walls built of them can give cracks. For the same reason, the blocks should be laid as flat as possible, using moorings, plumbs and level.

Flooring in the foam bath bath

In order to prevent the walls from being poured by water from below from the ground, special constructions should be arranged in such a structure. They need to be made concrete and slightly inclined towards the center. In the middle of the bath in this case set the receiving tray and plastic sink. Pipes should be laid below ground level below freezing and reach the septic tank.

In order to extend the service life of concrete floors, they should be pasted with tiled rough tiles. The very basis before its laying is treated with penetrating waterproofing. Over the tiles in the future, usually install a special wooden lattice. After the adoption of water procedures they can be taken out to the street and dried.

Waterproofing of the foundation

This operation must be carried out necessarily. In this case, you will get a durable bath of foam blocks. Reviews of owners about such buildings are not bad, but only if they are waterproofed by all rules. For the foundation of the bath is usually used as a vertical and horizontal waterproofing. When installing the tape on the bottom of the excavation should be poured a thick enough layer of sand. After the concrete foundation has gained sufficient strength, its top is glued with two layers of ruberoid.

The walls of the base of the bath must be protected from moisture both from the outside and from the inside. In this case, you can also use a ruberoid. A very good solution for waterproofing the foundation of the bath is considered and penetrating means. Sometimes the base walls are smeared with bituminous mastic in two layers.

Waterproofing of walls

To protect the enclosing structures of the bath from moisture, it is best to use foamed vapor barriers. You can take a special isospan or penofol. Today, there are foil materials on the market, designed specifically for baths. Mount the waterproofing to the wall with beams. Joints should be additionally traversed by nails and glued on top with metallized tape. On the uneven bars in the future fastened lining.

The ceiling of a bath is usually made of boards. Protect it from moisture can be, using impregnated waterproofing, designed specifically for wood. Bath with a mansard of foam block is very convenient. However, when choosing such a project, one should keep in mind that it is more likely that the roof will have to be waterproofed from the inside in this case. In the mansards of the baths, the microclimate is usually quite wet.

Warming of the bath

Next, let's see how to insulate the bath of foam blocks. Isolate the construction of this material from the cold can be using both polystyrene foam and mineral wool. The latter material is considered preferable. The point is that the styrofoam does not pass air very well. When it is used, the bath walls will not "breathe". It is necessary to conduct insulation only from the outside. The fact is that when plating from the inside, the so-called dew point moves inside the walls, and they begin to die.

How is the bath from the foam blocks warmed? The owners' comments on such facilities are good only if this operation is performed correctly. The technology of insulation of foamwall walls usually includes the following steps:

1. The walls are stuffed with lath from the bar.
2. Between its elements is installed a heater. Vatu can be mounted just a little. Styrofoam should be additionally fixed with dowels-fungi.
3. The frame with a heater is covered with waterproofing material.
4. The outer skin is installed. This can be a lining, block house, etc. Very beautiful look baths from the foam block, lined with a facade vinyl siding, imitating a stone.

You can also paste the walls of the bath with a very dense mineral wool with additional fittings - "fungi", and then decorate it using decorative plaster.

How to arrange a ventilation in the bath

Thus, how to build a bath of foam blocks, and also to insulate and waterproof it, you now know. Next, let's figure out how to make ventilation in this structure. Ventilated foam bath should be mandatory. Ventilation in the bath is as follows:

1. In the immediate vicinity of the oven at an altitude of no more than 30 cm from the floor, an inflow hole is made in the wall. Sometimes it is done in the foundation of the bath. In the latter case, the hole (with the latch) should be made in the floor.
2. In the opposite wall at the top is hollowed out the exhaust hole. The valve is mounted on it. If the opposite wall does not go out into the street, the exhaust hole should be made in the same wall as the inflow, but from above and in the opposite corner. In the latter case, an exhaust fan should be used to ensure a good air current.

Bath from foam blocks: owner feedback

Opinion about the structures of this type in the owners of suburban areas has developed very well. The owners of baths from foam blocks note first of all that they keep the heat very well. In addition, such buildings do not require any special care: treatment with antifouling compounds, caulking, etc.

Of course, good reviews baths from the foam block deserved and its low cost. To build on their own plot such a construction is within the power of practically everyone. If you sew a foam bath from the inside with a lime bale, it will smell like a real wooden one. The same goes for the benefits of water procedures. In addition, in a bath of foam blocks, judging by the responses of the owners, there is never a smell of dampness. Outside, such a bath can be sewn with block house, and then it will look quite traditional.

As you can see, with exact observance of all put technologies, a very good bath of foam blocks can be built. Reviews of owners about such facilities are mostly good. But only in the event that the bath is ventilated, and its walls are well insulated and waterproofed.