Make your own outdoor swimming pool with a wood stove: details, design, estimate

What is a font, how it works, variety of types

A font is a container in the form of a large barrel, which is made of wood, plastic or metal. A wooden bathhouse is an environmentally friendly and familiar option. But recently they began to use other materials for its manufacture.

Plunging into a round wooden font after a bath, a person feels unity with nature

The water in the bowl is cold. A person, heated in a bathhouse, receives a powerful charge of vivacity after diving into the font.

The shape of the font is:

• oval;
• round;
• square;
• rectangular;
• angular (triangular with a rounded side).

Wooden structures fit better into the interior of a Russian bathhouse. In addition, they are safe in a hot room, unlike metal ones, and retain the original temperature of the poured water longer.

Based on the type of material, structures are divided into:

• wooden;
• concrete;
• plastic;
• metal.

A wooden font is best suited for a bath, harmoniously combining with wooden walls and floors.

Natural material in these designs is preferable to artificial one, since it not only attracts in appearance, but also has many healing properties. Three main tree species are used to make classic hot tubs. Their rating is as follows:

1. Cedar - its wood releases a large amount of essential oils that have healing properties. The water in this design is saturated with phytoncides and gently cleanses the skin.
2. Larch - this material, even for high temperatures in a sauna, is considered the most suitable and durable, practically not rotting. Releases aromatic components into the air that help lower blood pressure.
3. Oak - its dense wood, in contact with water, releases tannins that have an anti-inflammatory effect.
4. Beech, pine and birch are used in rare cases.

Single oval design made of oak slats, suitable for cold rinsing

Based on preferences for use, the font is built in different sizes: the container is designed for simultaneous immersion of one or several people. If desired, the design can be equipped with additional elements:

• bench;
• stairs;
• filter for water purification;
• heating mechanism;
• hydromassage

The Ofuro bath is sometimes partially covered with a lid so that the heat from the heated water does not escape outside

The font is also used not only for cold ablutions, but also as a hot bath. To do this, space is separated in the barrel for the heating device or installed outside. The heater maintains the desired water temperature. Such structures are placed outdoors and used in summer and winter.

A conventional boiler or an electric one can heat the water in the font.

The font is also made of bricks, stones or filled with concrete. And sometimes they use ready-made plastic bowls and line the outside with various materials. Some structures are lowered below floor level, turning them into a mini-pool.

A plastic font can later be lined with decorative materials and made the main decoration of the bathhouse

Bowl design

The construction of the remaining walls is carried out by analogy with the previous method. The role of the rear wall is performed by the soil, the inner surface is determined by the panel formwork. If there is a desire to make the bowl semicircular, the OSB is replaced with 5–6 mm PVC sheets.

The bottom of the bowl is poured first, releasing reinforcement rods along the edges for reliable fastening to the walls. Only after 4–5 days, when the concrete becomes strong enough, will the formwork of the walls be erected and poured. It is recommended to fill all the walls at the same time, assembling all the formwork at once according to the shape of the future bowl. Spacers made of 40x40 mm timber are installed inside the formwork, one spacer for every 0.8–1 m2 of surface.

The bowl, like the foundation being built up, is reinforced with reinforcement with a periodic profile 14–16 mm thick. The reinforcement is laid in horizontal and vertical directions. The number of embedded elements in the walls of the bowl is 1–1.4% of the total cross-section of the reinforced concrete mass.

Photo gallery: different types of fonts

The font, lined with bricks below the floor level, can be well decorated with oriental-style mosaics

The font, which does not take up space in the room, is decorated with tiles and lighting

The wooden model harmonizes perfectly with the interior lining of the bathhouse

The electric hot tub is made with heating and a hydromassage system

An external heater is connected to the plastic hot tub: it is safer and does not take up space

In the bathhouse you can place a wooden font with internal heating, but only separate it with a partition

Installation nuances

A heated font can be built for use indoors or outdoors by allocating an appropriate place on the site.

On the street

It is necessary to prepare a flat and solid base for mounting the bowl. This takes into account the weight of the structure when filled with water, along with the weight of the intended users. In order to comfortably take water procedures, the outdoor version of the font is surrounded by decorative plantings overlooking a beautiful garden landscape. It is necessary to build a canopy; if necessary, you can supplement the outdoor bathing complex with a hedge.

In room

Often, bathtubs are placed in a bathhouse; if desired, the bowl can be mounted on a veranda, in a garage, or an indoor pool. Indoors, the structure should not be installed close to heating appliances. If you have a heated floor system, it is recommended to equip the podium with insulating materials, for example, plywood with a layer of polystyrene foam and a rubber backing.

What material to choose for assembling the font

You can build a structure yourself from concrete, wood or polypropylene sheets. Factory hot tubs are also made of plastic, steel or cast iron. To choose the right material, you should know the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.

Concrete structure

A similar bathing container is displayed both inside the bathhouse building and in the open area. The depth, width and length of the bowl are chosen depending on personal preferences.

It is advisable to decorate the walls with waterproof material: mosaics, ceramic tiles or cover them with film. For ease of descent, an iron ladder is fixed or monolithic steps are brought to the edge.

By following the rules for pouring concrete, it is easy to build a durable and comfortable structure with a unique design. It will be complemented by a mini-waterfall or hydromassage mechanism, and will be decorated with LED lighting.

A concrete font can be placed indoors, sunk into the floor

When building a concrete font, it is important to install a high-quality water supply and drain it. All connections are checked for leaks. Ceramic tiles or mosaics are laid in accordance with the process technology so that during use of the structure the decorative finish does not fall to the bottom.

Disadvantages of a concrete font:

• a large amount of preparatory work - excavation of soil for a foundation pit, installation of formwork, reinforcement, pouring and compacting concrete mortar, laying waterproofing material, installing water drainage;
• production time - concrete completely sets and hardens in about 30 days;
• unsafe operation - the lining is slippery, which requires care and compliance with safety measures at the time of immersion and exit.

A concrete font will last a long time if it is built according to all the rules and high-quality materials are used.

Video: construction and operation of a sauna font made of brick and concrete

Hot tub made of fiberglass and polypropylene

A plastic container is suitable for those who do not want to spend time decorating the walls. Most often they are made in blue or green, the bottom is decorated with a pattern. Such factory fonts are cast in various shapes and sizes. The optimal depth is from 1.2 to 1.4 m. The volume depends on the dimensions - 0.95–2.65 m3. Walls 5–12 mm thick.

The service life of a polypropylene product is about 50 years. Plastic does not fade in the sun and does not lose its seal due to sudden changes in temperature.

In such a font you will need to install a faucet and a connecting pipe to the water supply and sewerage pipes. To prevent the bowl from being crushed under the weight of water, it is equipped with stiffening ribs on the outside. It is possible to install lighting, shelves, stairs and other parts. Water heating is carried out using an external heating device: a wood-burning or electric stove.

A plastic font is quickly installed and does not require additional sealing of the walls

Installation of a plastic font is carried out in a short time. Before deepening the container into the pit, you will need to concrete the bottom and walls. Insulation is mandatory. Around the structure you need to build a wooden podium on a metal frame. There is no need to wait for the concrete to completely harden: after removing the formwork, you can already install the plastic bowl. The surface of the plastic, if desired, is covered with a special anti-slip layer.

In the case of ground-based installation, such a font is decorated with wood.

A plastic hot tub, lined with slats on the outside, takes on the appearance of a wooden container and fits perfectly into the interior of the bathhouse.

Such a plastic liner extends the service life of the wood. The advantage is that such a structure does not need to be additionally treated with sealants, and the water can not be drained for several days.

To clean plastic, use any non-abrasive detergent, but without chlorine, otherwise the coating will be damaged.

Metal font

Metal structures are rarely installed in bathhouses due to the complexity of their installation. More often there are vats made of cast iron or steel, suspended on a chain to a tripod made of logs, taken outside the room. The water is heated slowly using a fire built under the bottom, and then drained through a pipe at the bottom of the product. River pebbles or shield flooring are placed at the bottom of the bowl to prevent burns.

A steel font is suspended on a stable structure with the possibility of heating water from below

In some cases, a “floor” recessed installation of a metal vat is carried out. Then the fire will have to be built on the side of the bowl. For the recessed version, a concrete base is also poured.

But such bathtubs are heavy and expensive: a design measuring 2x0.73 cm costs at least 200 thousand rubles, and the weight of the product is more than 1200 kg.

Wooden font

The main advantages of a wooden font:

• environmental friendliness;
• aesthetic appearance;
• procedures with benefit;
• aroma of the material.

If we compare the cost of structures, wooden ones cost 2-3 times more than plastic ones. For example, a bowl made of larch measuring 1.2 x 0.7 x 1.1 m will cost 45 thousand rubles, and a round container made of oak measuring 1.5 x 1.3 m will cost 110 thousand rubles. The average cost of a cedar barrel is 70 thousand rubles, and a plastic one is within 20 thousand rubles.

If you want to save money, make the design yourself. However, in this case, carpentry equipment, fasteners, a special adhesive mixture and skills in working with wood will be necessary.

To preserve the appearance and service life of the structure, it is important to follow these recommendations:

• do not keep an empty font under the sun - the wood will burn out and dry out;
• do not place it near heating sources - installing the structure on a heated floor system leads to drying out of the wood. Make an insulating platform from a plywood sheet with a layer of polystyrene foam and rubber gaskets;
• After bathing, drain the water to prevent green mold from forming;
• in cold weather, leave unused outdoor structures dry so that water does not freeze and destroy the wood;
• to clean walls, use liquid cleaning mixtures and a soft cloth;
• Once every 30 days, check the tension level of the hoops and tighten the nuts if necessary;
• Do not leave the container unused for a long time - the wood begins to deform and dry out. If the barrel has not been used for too long, soak it first in cold water.

The outside of the font also needs to be looked after using wood care products.

Fonts made from wooden boards are divided into 2 types according to the manufacturing method: those connected without glue and those connected using glue and a layer of varnish for protection. The optimum moisture content of the material is 8–10%. The slats are connected to each other using a tongue-and-groove type.

Adjacent slats should be connected using the tongue-and-groove method - such fastening is considered reliable

The joints are treated with a moisture-resistant adhesive mixture. The bottom is installed in the transverse recess of the lamella, and their connection is covered with a moisture-resistant sealant.

If we talk about the benefits of wood, then the healing effect is achieved only in a font made without glue. However, glue barrels have a longer service life and can be used intermittently without causing damage to the product.

Video: making a homemade outdoor swimming pool from a PVC membrane

A deep concrete font takes a long time, is not cheap, but will last a lifetime!

Undoubtedly, a wooden tub has enormous advantages. However, do not underestimate the positive aspects of concrete:

• You can make a bowl of any configuration, depth and volume.
• In a pool-type font you can implement lighting, hydromassage and even a mini-waterfall. In the case of wooden ones, such “bells and whistles” may not be economically justified.
• Installing a filtration system and water environment regulators will allow you to save.
• Depending on the size of the bowl, you can install a ladder for the font, or build a smooth descent along the steps. The service life of such a structure with proper care is practically unlimited.
• The construction of a concrete font in terms of time and material costs cannot be compared with the assembly of a wooden one. Material costs are also not commensurate.
• Work begins with determining the configuration, digging a hole and creating formwork for the pool.
• After all communications have been completed, the formwork is filled with concrete, and only then the reinforced bottom.
• If desired, you can add special additives to the solution that will improve the waterproofing and mechanical strength of the bowl.

To avoid problems in the future, the walls need to be poured in one go. This way you will get a durable monolith.

There are technologies that can be used to fill both the floor and the walls at the same time, but they require the use of advanced technology and are justified when building large pools.

If for some reason it is not possible to build monolithic surfaces, you can resort to the following scheme:

1. We concrete the bottom.
2. We begin to build the sides.
3. We lay a self-expanding cord at the joints of the hardened mortar, after which you can continue pouring.
4. The cord will provide the necessary tightness, since when the font is filled with water, it increases in size and closes all possible gaps. It is important to ensure the cleanliness of the joints: before laying the cord, you need to wash off dust and sand from the surface. After the concrete has hardened, the formwork is removed and the flaws are sealed using waterproof elastic plasters.

The next stage is waterproofing and bringing the surface to ideal geometric dimensions. Even in a small pool, the formation of cracks is possible, so applying an elastic waterproof coating is task No. 1. Waterproofing can be done by impregnating the surface with special compounds, which are applied to the floor and walls, previously primed with solutions of mineral acids.

Impregnations can be in the form of polymers, water-repellent compounds, emulsions of polymer resins, etc. However, when choosing a material, it is better to proceed from the type of finishing you plan to decorate the font with. For example, ceramics and mosaics require careful preparation, but a PVC film coating (liner) will allow you to save a little. In the end, the surfaces can simply be painted with rubber paint.

After waterproofing work, it is advisable to test the font. To do this, fill it with water and observe the condition of the bowl for two to three days. If everything is in order, the pool is drained and finishing begins.

Tips for choosing material

When purchasing wooden blanks for self-assembly of a hot tub, it is important that the material has the following qualities:

• excellent appearance;
• high strength;
• rot resistance.

Oak and pine are more susceptible to rotting. And Siberian larch has high biostability and gains strength every year. A larch font is cheaper than an oak structure. This is due to minimizing waste when processing lumber.

The most preferred option for constructing a font is Siberian larch wood

But oak is also a high-quality material and has significant advantages: beautiful appearance, high strength, and a structure made from such a material does not deform.

Disadvantages of an oak font:

• blackness periodically appears on the walls;
• the outside of the wall must be lubricated with linseed oil - this will emphasize the texture of the wood and increase the service life;
• it cannot be installed on concrete - you need to use rubber pads several cm thick;
• it must be moved carefully, placing thin rolling logs so as not to damage the bottom or lower parts of the planks.

Pine wood is cheaper than others. Procedures in such a font are pleasant and useful - pine contains many phytoncides. To prevent cracking of the material, when making a pine barrel, the lamellas are not glued together. And to extend its service life, it is enough to burn the wood once every 3 years or coat it with an antiseptic.

To strengthen the outer layer of wood, the pine font should be fired from time to time.

Spruce structures are inferior to pine ones both in terms of the benefits of the procedure and in the quality of the material. It is also not recommended to use alder, aspen, ash and linden wood. Cedar is inferior in strength to larch, but its cost is higher.

So, the preferred option is pine or larch. Select the color of the product taking into account the color scheme of the bathhouse lining. Before first use, the walls of the font should be coated with a layer of primer and painted.

The hoops that hold the font together are made of stainless steel. Pay attention to their fit to the wood. The adjustment bolts should fit tightly in the holes and not wobble.

The hoops pull the barrel together in several places, giving the structure strength and stability.

An important stage in the construction of the font is the execution of facing work. Correctly selected material and accessories will create a complete image. There are 2 options for materials for cladding any structure: wood and mosaic (or ceramic tiles).

If you plan to cover the font with wooden elements, then choose parts treated with wax. Combine the appearance of the font harmoniously with the interior of the bathhouse itself.

Description

A wooden bath font is a product that looks like a barrel. This structure has a very simple design - it is a container covered with hoops, 1 meter high, often with an attached ladder to make it comfortable to climb inside. The font itself has small shelves for sitting. It can also contain a kind of stove that will heat the water.

If a bathhouse is installed in a bathhouse that is not made with one’s own hands, but purchased in a store, the user has the right to count on additional interesting functions. For example, lighting of different shades, which creates stunning effects in semi-darkness, as well as shimmering water. Another function is hydromassage, which allows you to relax and improve the condition of your skin. Automatic water heating is also popular, thanks to which it is possible to maintain the temperature of the liquid in the font at the desired level.

As for the shapes of wooden fonts, they can be different. The most popular options are oval and circle, they are found most often. A solution such as a triangle is also available - such bathtubs are suitable for small rooms, since they will fit clearly in the corner and will not take up much space. But square models are practically not made from wood, since the sharp corners will take longer to dry than the walls, which is contraindicated in the case of wood.

Calculation of material for a wooden font

The optimal thickness of the slats is 35–50 mm.

For a glue-free method of fixing parts, prepare:

• boards, slats;
• large metal clamps;
• polypropylene pipes;
• siphon for draining water;
• beam;
• nails;
• sealant;
• bolts;
• durable cord;
• float mechanism;
• hose.

You will also need tools:

• hacksaw;
• building level;
• electric drill;
• roulette.

Before starting work, draw up a schematic representation of the structure with exact dimensions and number of parts.

A diagram of the font indicating the dimensions of the parts will allow you to determine how much material you need to buy for its manufacture

Draw out the diagram in different projections - this will allow you to calculate the dimensions of all parts: walls, stairs, bottom and other parts. The staircase is decorated with flat steps or rungs made of wood. If you are planning a portable ladder, then calculate the height of its attachment to the edge of the font.

You will need:

1. Slats - for cladding.
2. Wood with a section of 120x20 mm - for the main parts. The extreme parts of the planks will be processed. Their length is equal to the height of the font (usually 1 m in height and 1.2 m in diameter). Calculate the number of boards.
3. Beam 100x100 mm or 150x150 mm - for stands. The length of the parts depends on the size of the oval font.
4. Metal strips and bolts for fastening boards. Take iron that is strong and pliable.
5. Self-tapping screws - for external fixation of elements in the lower part of the font (no iron parts are placed inside the structure!).

Preparing tools

The technology for manufacturing a wooden tank requires a certain set of tools. To work, you need a tape measure, a building level, a simple pencil, a hacksaw, a can of sealant and a glue gun. You will also need a drill and a round wood bit, a router that allows you to make grooves in the panels and process the edges. To process boards, you need a sanding machine and special sandpaper. This is due to the fact that all surfaces of the font must be smooth and even.

The router allows you to create grooves in panels

Decorating Tips

Use sandpaper to sand the wooden container inside and out, paying special attention to the edges of the walls: smooth out small flaws, prime. After the primer has dried on the outside, sand it, oil it and coat it with varnish or paint.

To finish other types of fonts, mosaics, ceramic tiles, and PVC film coating are used. The last option allows you to save money. Sometimes a deep font is made in bathhouses, if the structure of the room allows. The deepened bowl is more attractive and looks like a swimming pool.

The recessed font has an attractive appearance and does not take up space

It is easy to get in and out of, and only a small amount of materials is required for finishing. However, it will not be possible to move a deep font from one place to another.

Additional functions

As a rule, various additional units are installed on large bowls more often than on small ones. They can be decorated with small waterfalls. These models are most often produced with a shower and hydromassage. The most popular option for such bowls is LED lighting in different colors, shades and brightness levels. At the request of the customer, seats for both adults and children can be installed inside the font. Quite often, handles, leather armrests, headrests and all kinds of stands for accessories and even food are installed inside and outside the bowl.

Sometimes the water heating devices are located right inside the font. They are separated from the rest of the bowl by a special fence. Often, this fence can also serve as a bench. Such a font will resemble a Japanese ofuro bath. The water in it is heated using an iron stove located directly in the bowl. Another device used with the hot tub is a water purification filter. It is purchased quite rarely. For those who did not have the opportunity to drain to the font, special pumps are often available for sale. After completing the bathing, they use them to pump the water out or into another container. However, this process is not quick or easy.

Manufacturing process

Anyone can make a wood-fired sauna vat with their own hands, the only thing is that this process is complicated, and to carry it out you will need to stock up not only with the necessary tools and materials, but also with patience. Before welding a bathing container from sheet material, you need to build a model of its body from fiberboard or sheets of cardboard, using previously prepared diagrams and drawings. The model is reduced in size several times.

First, the bottom of the vat is cut out in the form of a polyhedron, then the square side walls. Next, the required angle of inclination is selected separately for each wall and the model is assembled - if the layout is done correctly, you will get a single structure without gaps and you can proceed to the next steps.

Cutting and assembly

All dimensions and diagrams from the drawings are transferred to sheets of metal, but it is important not to forget to leave a small allowance on the cut line. Cutting is best done using a grinder; small curved elements can be quickly cut with a jigsaw

This is a very responsible job that requires accuracy and does not allow any deviations from the markings. To avoid problems when assembling the structure in the future, it is recommended that after cutting, carefully check the dimensions at all points and be sure to compare them with the distances on the cardboard model.

Before welding work, you should assemble a special stand made of rolled steel. The hexagon or octagon is welded first; its internal perimeter must necessarily coincide in size and shape with the contour edges. After the polygon has been welded, it is placed on a flat, hard surface and the side wall blanks are installed on it in pairs. Each pair of opposite walls is welded to the prepared bottom. The result is a bathing container turned upside down, after which it is unwrapped. The work is completed by welding the seams and installing the support frame.

The sauna vat is tested as follows: metal ballast and a wooden grate are placed on its bottom, the weight of which should not exceed 180 kg. Then the container is filled completely with water and left to stand in this state for several hours. If during this time the vat has not developed any leaks or cracks, then you can make a fire. Sometimes such vats are installed with a small furnace, which simplifies their maintenance.

Everything ends with the installation of seats inside the vat and sealing of the upper edges. It also wouldn’t hurt to place protective railings next to the structure. They can be made from wood, preferring linden or oak. The seats are polished, and the material from which they are made is necessarily impregnated with moisture-resistant varnish.