Glass doors for a bath: pros and cons

The arrangement of the bath is an important component on which the correct functioning of the steam room, safety, as well as the level of comfort of visitors depend. Since wood is considered a traditional material for a bath, glass products (in particular, doors) are treated with some caution.

Glass doors made for saunas and baths have a lot of advantages, due to which they are absolutely justified in popularity.

Let's note the main advantages of glass doors for a bath:

• Resistance to temperature extremes, due to which there is no thermal expansion of the material. Therefore, the door retains its original shape and does not shrink or swell from moisture.
• Resistance of glass to corrosion and decay, which is a positive property in conditions of high humidity.
• Health safety and hygiene. Glass is an environmentally friendly product, which does not form fungus, mold, pathogens.

• Nice appearance. Glass doors are represented by a large variety of models and various decoration options, which allows you to choose a model based on your own taste preferences.
• Good indicators of heat resistance, due to which the products comply with fire safety standards. This makes it possible to use cloths in the immediate vicinity of heating devices.
• Easy to clean and maintain glass door panels. For their processing, there is no need to purchase special compositions for cleaning the surface, ordinary household products, clean rags or sponges are enough.

• Long service life. Glass products are not subject to damage and destruction even under the influence of the conditions of the steam room, so they can be used for more than a dozen years.
• A high indicator of light transmittance of glass, due to which they provide the maximum luminous flux into the steam room (unlike other products). This property allows you to reduce energy costs.

If there is a large list of positive features of glass doors for baths and saunas, it is worth highlighting several disadvantages of this product:

• High cost. The production technology of such products, as well as the good quality of raw materials, imply a high cost of the product.
• The large dimensions of the product affect the weight of the glass door. To install the canvas, you will need several people: you will not be able to do it alone.
• This material is fragile: glass is susceptible to mechanical stress. This disadvantage is eliminated by quenching, which increases the strength of the finished product. Typically, the door to the steam room has a thickness of about 10 mm, this size is sufficient for good durability and resistance to possible mechanical damage.

Despite the shortcomings, glass doors for a bath are in great demand.

Not all experts advise putting a glass door in the bath. This is explained by the fact that steam can escape. For these purposes, a high threshold (about 10 cm) is equipped with a door tightly fitting to the jamb.For a sauna, the situation is the opposite - in these rooms a small distance is deliberately left under the door to ensure air flow.

There is a way out of this situation: it is enough for the door to open outward. On the inside, it is necessary to make a threshold that will keep the heat and not release it.

You can classify products according to several criteria:

• Depending on the method of opening, the doors are sliding, swing and pendulum. The latter type of cloth is used only for saunas.
• Based on the specifics of the production of products, glass doors can be combined and one-piece. In the case of a combination, various decorative elements made of wood or plastic are used in the manufacture.
• The design of the canvases is varied: doors can be matte, transparent, with an ornament or a colored shade. The buyer has the opportunity to choose a model for the interior of the bath.

The door frame is made from two types of material: alloy of aluminum and wood. Each type assumes its own technology and sequence of installation. For example, a metal structure can only be installed at the beginning of the process. Wooden boxes in this matter are not so pretentious, their installation can be carried out before and after the decorative finishing of the steam room.

For a Finnish sauna that operates at high air temperatures with a minimum humidity indicator, it is recommended to install structures made of coniferous wood, as well as linden or alder. Aluminum alloy box is perfect for Turkish sauna or Russian bath. The glass door will perfectly fit into the interior of the room, the walls of which will be faced with bricks. Today, on the domestic market for such products, there is a large assortment of glass doors for baths and saunas.

In the production process, they use mirror, translucent, frosted and patterned glass. They offer various color options for the canvases. These can be doors in a shade of bronze, gray, beige, white or green in matte or glossy finish. Any of the presented types of glass door design is perfect for a steam room.

In the production process, materials of various quality are used., therefore, the final cost of the finished product may be different. Glass canvases have a variety of designs. This can be a product consisting of one piece glass or several glass elements. Combined doors are popular due to their unique design and the possibility of a successful combination with a different interior composition of the bath.

Typical dimensions of glass doors for baths, which are produced by domestic firms or foreign companies, are almost the same. When buying such products, you should take into account the height, width of the box, as well as the canvas itself. The width of the canvas varies between 52-72 cm, the box is 59-79 cm.The height of the canvas is usually presented in the following sizes: 184-202 cm, the box - 189-209 cm.Most companies offer services for the production of canvases according to individual measurements, most often this size is 700x1700 mm.

A competent choice of high-quality accessories for doors is one of the main preparatory stages before installation. It should be remembered that the thickness of the glass product can reach 10 mm, while the weight of 1 sq. m will be about 30 kg. To ensure a reliable fixation, as well as to exclude damage to the door, you will need powerful and strong hinges. Steel components will provide the required level of safety. In addition, they must be resistant to high temperatures and humidity.

Based on experience, most experts are sure that three hinges are needed to install doors. When choosing holders, remember that metal is susceptible to corrosion, so it is necessary to purchase hinges made of stainless steel or other alloys that are resistant to moisture.

One of the main components is the latch, which provides the door with a tight and secure fixation. Low-cost options for glass doors are distinguished by a ball latch. In most cases, such fittings are quickly deformed, which is fraught with jamming of the system. The perfect option for a steam room would be a magnetic latch. It is optimally convenient to use, safe and has a long service life. To open the door with a magnet, just push it lightly.

The handle is another component of the doors (usually products for steam rooms are completed with wooden products that do not deform when exposed to high temperatures). Espagnolettes and locks are usually installed on the outside of the door to ensure good fixation of the leaf in the closed position. The main requirements for fittings (in addition to an acceptable cost) are ease of use and quality. Almost all sauna doors have a silicone gasket between the wooden handle and the glass. This element provides reliable protection of the structure from damage.

Installation of glass doors for a bath is a simple process; this work does not require special knowledge. However, the help of another person is preferable, since the door must be fixed in the correct position (it is heavy). Before proceeding with the work on your own, you should study in detail the instructions for installing the product. The door frame can be of two types: wooden or metal. The last type of box is installed after finishing the walls in the room.

But you should not forget about the access of fresh air.

To install the product, you will need the following materials and tools:

• drill;
• scotch tape, screws, gloves;
• polyurethane foam and liquid nails;
• wedges for wood;
• roulette and level;
• canvas and box.

Fastening technology includes several stages of work:

• Initially, the box is installed. In the process of performing this procedure, you need to ensure that it is located strictly along a vertical line. Due to this, in the future, there will be no problems with deformation and distortions of glass products and the entire structure.
• With the help of self-tapping screws, the box is fixed, the accuracy of its installation is checked by the level. Installation assumes the presence of technical clearances for the wedges.
• Next, the door leaf is hung. It is better to do this work together. First, the canvas is hung on the awnings, after which the fasteners are tightened.

• Then they check the correctness of the installation: the door is closed and all the gaps are inspected, which must be of the same size. Adjust if necessary.
• The next step is to secure the latch and handles. The distance between the wall and the box is foamed. Small-diameter slots should be hidden with a casing.

The steam room door plays an important role: provides a practical function and affects the overall style of the bath room. Stylish and comfortable glass doors for the steam room are a guarantee of a comfortable stay and relaxation. Before buying, you should flip through the reviews about the model you like: this will allow you to buy a quality product.

Tips for installing a glass door in a bath in the next video.