Hammam in an apartment

Nowadays, everyone can experience all the benefits of the Turkish bath without leaving his or her own apartment. Because the hammam is compact in size, it can be easily constructed even in a small bathroom. To do this, you need to create a design project, make a construction plan and buy high-quality building materials.

Hammam is a Turkish bath, which is an improved analogue of the Roman thermae. By its effect it really resembles a Thermae - being in it, the human body is heated not only by the steam, but also by heating the floor, beds, walls. The main feature of this bath is that its air temperature does not rise above +60°С. Due to its mild effect oriental sauna is recommended for people with health problems (kidney, heart, and stomach diseases). Moist steam improves metabolism and calms the nervous system.

To enjoy rest in the Turkish sauna is not necessary to go to a distant eastern countries, you can do it at home by installing hammam in the apartment. When planning the project of such a sauna, it is important to take into account that its decoration is performed only with natural stone (this is the main difference from the Russian sauna, where the surfaces are lined with wood). For the construction of the hammam, marble is usually used and onyx is used for finishing. The interior of such hammams must have sinks (kurnas) with cold and hot water for washing.

Hammam is an engineering construction of compact size, so it can be erected not only in a country house, but also in an apartment. To make a Turkish sauna in the bathroom, it is enough to have free 1.5 or 2 m². In addition, you will need to find additional space in the bathroom for the installation of filters, steam generator. Hammam can be arranged in the premises with a ceiling height of up to three meters, which are equipped with hot and cold water, sewage and good hood. And also it is important to consider that Before installing a mini-sauna in the apartment, you will have to coordinate its project in the appropriate authorities.

Before setting up an oriental steam room in an apartment, you need to carefully study the bathroom layout. Regardless of size and design, the hammam must consist of four zones of different purposes: a place to relax, shower, steam room and a place to install equipment. For a family of three to five people, you can choose projects of steam rooms of 2.5 square meters. In the part of the room where the steam room (harar) is planned, the ceiling, walls and floor must be carefully prepared for tiling. In the hammam should also provide a source of running water, which is used for pouring, it should pour into the bowl.

Today, many apartment owners decide to build a hammam in the bathroom. This process is not easy, but if you have patience, properly make a project and buy quality building materials, then you will succeed. Installing the hammam in the home consists of a whole complex of activities, namely:

• in the shower you need to measure everything and choose a more suitable layout, according to which the project will be created;
• After drawing up an estimate, the purchase of equipment and materials is carried out, the shower room is checked for ventilation, the efficiency of communication systems;
• then preparatory work is carried out and the frame of the steam room is assembled;
• Construction is completed with finishing works and commissioning.

Any hammam, regardless of its size and whether it will be placed in a freestanding building or equipped in an apartment bathroom, has a rather complex structure. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the creation of a project before the start of construction work. Apart from that, you should make a drawing of the future steam room, taking into account the layout of the apartment.

After priming all surfaces in the room where it is planned to arrange the hammam, insulation material is installed. For this, a frame made of metal profiles is gathered and insulation is inserted and everything is fixed with plasterboard. You must begin the process of laying thermal insulator from the floor and ends with the ceiling.

Cover the surface of the bathroom should be plasterboard sheets that are resistant to moisture (they have a special marking GKLV). To increase the protection of the material from moisture, it is recommended to treat the sheets with an additional hydrophobic antiseptic. Joints between the drywall closed reinforcing tape, you can also use for this adhesive waterproofing.

Both electric and hot-water heating is possible in the hammam. The latter is considered more economical. The latter is considered more economical, because it is provided by an electric boiler placed in a separate room or by hot water supply. In addition, for heating the hammam, you can use electric mats, which are installed on the floor and filled with screed from above.

To emphasize the design of the oriental sauna and the beauty of the decorative finishes, you need to choose the right lighting. Since the hammam is constantly experiencing a sharp change in temperature and high humidity, the electrical appliances installed in it must have protection against moisture. In addition, the walls are laid with special wiring that has a moisture-proof shell. A transformer should also be installed to avoid short-circuits when the voltage is lowered.

Decorative decoration of benches, walls, ceiling and floor should be made with marble or tiles, which are laid according to the usual scheme. Looks chic in the hammam finishing with mosaics, to give the design originality, you can lay out on the walls of the mosaic compositions with oriental motifs.

Recently, many apartment owners have been equipping hammam in the bathroom, since it allows them to feel all the charms of the oriental bath at any time without leaving their home walls. Those who are planning to install such a sauna for the first time, you should consider the following recommendations of experienced craftsmen:

• the ceiling in the hammam must be at least 2.5 m high; it must be in the form of a dome, which will allow the condensate that settles on the ceiling to slowly flow down the walls without dripping on your head;
• to maintain the desired temperature in the steam room, you can use a general heating system or specially installed electric; steam generator and boiler must be mounted in a technical room;
• To get the original interior, decorative furnishings should be supplemented with separate inserts in the form of patterns and oriental ornaments.

To date, the hammam has gained enormous popularity among those who care about their health and love to steam at home. In an apartment, such an oriental bath can be placed in the bathroom, using several design ideas.

• For small rooms. For the arrangement of the hammam you will need to allocate up to 2.5 square meters. The walls should be decorated with natural marble in light shades, the beds - solid stone tiles, and the horizontal surfaces of seats and beds - a glass mosaic with Eastern patterns. You can choose any color scheme, preferably it should be bright and contrasting.

• For large bathrooms. If the area of the room allows, you can make a hammam in such a design, which will create a sense of an oriental fairy tale. The ceiling should be made in the form of a curvilinear or multilevel vault and decorate it, using the technology of "starry sky". Stone water bowls will complement the design, they need to be decorated with lighting. Silver buckets will help to add luxury to the interior.

The following video shows how to make a hammam in the apartment with your own hands.