Waterproofing a bathroom - protecting walls and floors in a wooden house


A country house has long ceased to be associated with an ancient hut. Gone are the days when amenities were located on the street, and you had to wash in a bathhouse once a week, having first prepared some water. Today, almost all cottages have a modern, comfortable bathroom. Such a room for water procedures is in no way inferior to a city one. The interior of a bathroom in a wooden house can be completely different. A large number of materials and style solutions are combined with wood. Let's look at what you need to pay attention to when organizing a bathroom in a country house.

How to properly waterproof?

Before you begin finishing, you need to make waterproofing - an effective waterproof barrier for all parts of the room.

Main types of waterproofing materials

When choosing a material for waterproofing, you should focus on the type of finish that will be used in the bathroom.

To protect the wall structure from the harmful effects of moisture, the following materials are used:

  • Coatings . They are capable of creating a durable waterproof coating. These are mastics and emulsions that are applied to the surface with a roller or brush in three layers at intervals of several days;
  • Glue-on , sold in rolls or sheets that are glued overlapping. The seams are also treated with sealant or waterproof putty;
  • Impregnating . They are used for treating non-residential rooms due to the presence of various chemical additives in their composition.

Water-repellent properties are ensured by the presence of special additives in the materials that are safe for humans. So, for gluing sheet bitumen or polymer materials, a special adhesive composition is taken from hot or cold mastic.

Waterproofing materials
Treatment with materials with water-repellent properties will protect the wood from swelling and rotting due to exposure to moisture

The procedure for waterproofing a bathroom

Waterproofing material is applied only to a cleaned surface treated with deeply penetrating primers.

In most cases, the floor is insulated with bitumen mastics, then covered with a waterproofing film, and a cement-sand screed reinforced with reinforcing mesh and plasticizer is made on top. This technology is reliable and relatively inexpensive.

Cement screed on the floor
Cement screed smoothes and levels the surface of the floor, preparing it for finishing

To waterproof walls, you can use one of the following options:

  • Treat the surface with a layer of latex or acrylic waterproofing under drywall;
  • Coat the walls with mastic before laying the tiles;
  • Leave the wood surface as a finish, impregnating it with compounds containing oil and varnish bases.

The surface of the ceiling also needs to be well coated with bitumen mastic in 2-3 layers, and then treated with an antiseptic protective mixture.

Wet areas in the bathroom
When waterproofing coatings, special attention should be paid to the so-called “wet” areas near sinks and the bathtub itself

You can get acquainted with the rules for waterproofing a standard bathroom before tiling the article, which we recommend reading.

Country

This style brings you to the American “village”. The walls and ceiling remain wooden; tiles or wooden boards with a protective coating are used on the floor. Country loves small details and homemade decorations. You can hang several paintings of flowers in a wooden frame or a straw hat. Place an unused bicycle under the sink. Towels with bright embroidery will also look beautiful in such an interior. Mirrors are often chosen to be simple, rectangular in shape, with a forged frame. The lighting can also be framed with a metal frame. Hooks and hangers should imitate antiquity; it is better to choose alloys made of copper or bronze. For furniture in the room, you can place wrought iron chairs or restored wooden armchairs. We choose simple plumbing fixtures, without unnecessary decorations. The bathtub is suitable for an oval shape with curved or straight legs. We leave the space under the bathtub open (there is no need to sew it up with a special finish). If the room is large, it is appropriate to install a wooden vintage wardrobe or chest of drawers.

Wooden bathroom in country style
A country interior in a country house looks magical; to decorate “wet areas” you can use tiles with a rustic pattern; they go well with the texture of wood Source eto-vannaya.club

Finishing walls, floors and ceilings

After the reliable waterproofing is ready and completely dry, it’s time for finishing work. When choosing materials, you should take into account the characteristics of the room located in a wooden house.

What kind of floor should I make in the bathroom?

The basis for finishing the floor will be a concrete screed poured over the waterproofing layer. It should have a slight slope, thanks to which an emergency drain is installed in the floor.

Wooden bathroom
All materials purchased for finishing a bathroom must meet the main requirement for any finishing material for a wooden house - moisture resistance. This is the first thing you need to pay attention to when purchasing

For floor finishing the following are most often used:

  • laminate;
  • porcelain stoneware/ceramic tiles;
  • linoleum;
  • moisture-resistant wood.

An elementary and far from worst cladding option is ceramic tiles. A wooden floor looks beautiful and organic in a bathroom. If you want to save money, you can get by with linoleum.

Laying hard types of floor coverings in wooden houses is carried out using a floating scheme. That is, they are not fixed rigidly to the base and between the walls of the building and the screed along with, for example, tiles laid on it, a gap of 1.5 - 2 cm is left.

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Laying floor tiles in the bathroom

Rules for laying out piece coverings

Cutting tile fragments

Gap around the perimeter of the room

A “floating floor” is necessary to compensate for the linear movements of wooden structures. The gap is closed from above with a plinth, which is fixed exclusively to the wall.

Features of wall decoration

When decorating walls, you need to take into account the characteristic features of natural wood. Under the influence of moisture and temperature changes, it shrinks and dries out.

To avoid deformation, the surfaces are prepared for subsequent finishing by installing lathing and securing a false wall on top. This structure is erected from moisture-resistant plasterboard or a sliding frame made of a metal profile, maintaining a ventilation gap.

This preparation will allow you to perform almost any type of finishing. But if you plan to use wood for cladding, then there is no need to build false structures.

Finishing with different types of materials
Bathroom tiles can be combined with wood or special paint, creating beautiful combinations

The following finishing materials for bathroom walls are now in demand:

  • Wooden lining . It is sanded and additionally treated with paints and varnishes. It is better that it is made of moisture-resistant teak or larch;
  • Tile . Available in a huge range: smooth and embossed, plain, with ornaments, large or mosaic. It is attached with waterproof glue, and the seams are treated with polyurethane elastic sealant;
  • Wall panels . These can be plastic plates or aqua panels. A sheathing for the ventilation gap must be installed under them.

A variety of materials for finishing allows you to realize any design fantasy. You can combine several types of materials, create color compositions, and play with textures.

Bathroom tiling
Tiling is an ideal solution for bathrooms. It is durable, not afraid of water and easy to care for.

Features of laying tiles in the bathrooms of wooden houses are presented in the following gallery:

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Lining the internal partition

Laying tiles taking into account the topography of the log

Ventilation shaft lining

Ceiling clearance for linear expansion

Those who want to tile walls made of logs or timber with ceramic tiles will have much more work to do. To do this, a frame is first built along the walls, allowing the finishing to move separately. A plasterboard base is laid over the frame, and tiles are laid on it.

Subtleties of ceiling arrangement

The ceilings of bathrooms located in private wooden houses are usually finished with suspended or tensioned structures made of glossy PVC panels and moisture-resistant plasterboard.

Suspended ceilings are valued for their numerous benefits. They are a powerful shield against moist air; under them it is easy to disguise elements of electrical and ventilation systems.

If the choice fell on plasterboard, then the profile under it should be treated with zinc and coated with additional corrosion protection. To ensure that a plasterboard ceiling retains its original attractiveness longer, it is covered with glass wallpaper.

Bathroom ceiling
Tension, suspended and slatted ceiling structures will allow you to realize any lighting ideas

Provence

By decorating the interior of a bathroom in Provence style, you can easily move to a country estate in the French province. The filling of such a room is always romantic and functional. When choosing a color scheme, it is better to give preference to calm, light shades: white, beige, turquoise, blue. Natural materials are used to decorate the walls and floors: lining, wooden beams or siding. The ceiling looks great with wooden beams. Small decor takes almost the most important place in the design of the room: an aged mirror frame, lace on the curtains, stained glass windows, decoupage-style clothes hangers, hand-made accessories (a cup for toothpaste and brushes, a wicker laundry basket), antique furniture (chest of drawers, wall cabinet, sink cabinet). An excellent addition would be rounded faucets with large valves, gold or silver. We choose oval or round sanitary ware.

Bathroom of a country house in Provence style
A bathroom in a wooden house filled with Provence style interior looks elegant and harmonious Source vannayasovety.ru

Selection and installation of plumbing fixtures

When all the most difficult work is over, the time comes to select and purchase plumbing fixtures. This issue takes into account the size of the room, its location, and the number of family members.

The style of the room also matters. For each style - country, art deco, Provence or classic - you can choose suitable plumbing equipment.

There are different models of bathtubs on the market:

  • wooden;
  • cast iron;
  • steel;
  • acrylic.

It is better to discard the option of purchasing a cast iron bathtub immediately. It is unacceptable for a wooden house due to its impressive mass. More practical are steel products that are suitable for small spaces.

For rooms decorated in eco style, it makes sense to purchase an unusual wooden bathtub. Acrylic models have the greatest variety of configurations. Among them there will definitely be something that fits perfectly into a certain interior style.

You can install the bath in the center
If the size of the room allows, you can install the bath in the center. For a wooden house, this arrangement is very convenient and practical. In this case, the walls do not come into contact with water, which significantly extends the life of their finish.

In combined bathrooms, it is advisable to separate the bathtub and toilet with partitions made of plasterboard, wood, colored, frosted or mirror glass. Also in the room there should be designated areas for swimming, relaxation, and a sanitary area.

Plumbing must be installed so that there is free space around it:

  • bath – 100 cm;
  • toilet – 60-70 cm;
  • bedside table with opening doors – 50 cm;
  • shower cabin – 90 cm;
  • sink – 70 cm.

The distance between each type of equipment should be at least 20 cm. This will allow you to easily use each device without clinging to each other.

Wooden shower cubicle
In order to save space, it is recommended to purchase corner furniture and replace the standard bath with a shower cabin

You should choose plumbing fixtures for small rooms very carefully. In order not to further narrow the space visually, you should not install a toilet, sink or bathtub in dark colors. A profitable solution would be to introduce pastel shades, transparent shelves, and built-in furniture into the interior.

Minimalism

The interior of a bathroom in the style of minimalism is modern, practical plumbing fixtures and multifunctional interior items. An ottoman that doubles as a laundry basket or a mirror behind which hides a cabinet for a toothbrush and other accessories would be appropriate in the bathroom. Minimalism is characterized by design in light colors with a slight accent of gray or black. In terms of finishing materials for walls and floors, ceramic tiles or marble are more often used. The tile is chosen without a pattern. It is better to make the ceiling suspended or made of plasterboard, with spotlights. To increase the space in a room, it is advisable to use one or even several mirrors. Plumbing fixtures include wall-mounted bathtubs, shower cabins, compact wall-hung toilets and sinks.

Japanese style

Japan is a calm and very modern country. Its culture contains the wisdom of the times and innovative technology of the 21st century.

The traditional Japanese bathtub is actually made of wood, its name is ofuro. It will be the highlight of your interior design if you choose this as a plumbing fixture.

A Japanese-style bathroom is designed for comfortable rest and relaxation. The room does not like flashy shades and sharp lines. When choosing a finishing color, it is better to choose soft, natural tones: sand, beige, brown, olive, gray. Often in this style, bamboo, marble, and ceramics are used to decorate walls and ceilings. The ceiling can be made of slatted, suspended or plasterboard sheets. We approach the selection of plumbing fixtures with special attention. A Japanese-style bathtub can be lowered to the floor. It is better to make the toilet and sink suspended. Space zoning is suitable for such an interior. For decoration, the following are used: screens (shoji), candles, stones, paintings with hieroglyphs or sakura, lamps in the form of lanterns.

Japanese style wooden bathroom
A bathroom built into the floor looks very original; such a composition will definitely highlight the room and fill it with Japanese notes of peace Source inhomes.ru

Ventilation arrangement in the bathroom

To make a supply and exhaust ventilation system in the bathroom with your own hands, you need to follow these steps:

  • We fix two air ducts under the ceiling. One of them will be used to pump air into the room, and the second will be used to remove it. Then we remove outlets from each pipe in different corners of the room;
  • At the ends of the outlets we make special funnels, into one of which a fan will subsequently be installed. The second will then be closed with a metal decorative grille;
  • After the final finishing of the ceiling is completed, we install a fan and a ventilation grille in the prepared funnels. This procedure should not be carried out until finishing work is completed, as this can create a number of difficulties.


Exhaust fan for the bathroom, waterproof, duct type


Ventilation


Electrical equipment for forced ventilation in the attic

Rustic

When decorating the floor and walls of a bathtub in the Russian style, we give preference to the natural type of wood: untreated, rough logs or wooden boards covered with stain and wax. The ceiling may have large wooden beams. A Russian bath resembles a bathhouse, so the ventilation system here must be especially thought out. Rustic combines rustic style and modernity. You can choose a bathtub made entirely of wood (bathtub) or place a corner shower in the room, with a built-in ventilation system. The following compositions are suitable for decor: a fireplace, a mirror in a wooden frame, a clay jug on a shelf, a fur carpet on the floor, a birch broom in the corner of the room, painted towels with Russian motifs. An excellent addition would be a sink built into a wooden cabinet. We choose gold or silver plumbing fixtures, less often white. If the bathroom is large, you can experiment with space, an imitation of a Russian stove will add color to the room.

Wooden bathroom in Russian style
The rough texture of wood coated with wax or stain looks great in the Russian interior of a country house Source izba.spb.ru

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