Constructing a sauna in your yard appears like a dream, doesn’t it? An ideal, cozy escape from the hustle and bustle of day by day life. Someplace you’ll be able to unwind, calm down, and benefit from the therapeutic advantages of warmth remedy. At the least, that’s what I believed once I determined to tackle the undertaking of constructing my very own sauna.
I envisioned a fast weekend undertaking, a day of hammering away, and earlier than I knew it, I’d have a gorgeous little oasis of heat and wellness in my yard.
Spoiler alert: I used to be mistaken.
Seems that constructing a sauna isn’t so simple as throwing some wooden collectively and plugging in a heater. It’s a course of that requires planning, endurance, and a complete lot of studying alongside the way in which. I’m so glad I caught with it, regardless of the challenges and setbacks. The ultimate result’s greater than price it, plus I obtained some nice instances with pals, and also you get to learn this overly-detailed weblog submit!
On this submit, I stroll you thru my sauna-building journey, sharing the teachings I discovered the exhausting approach. From understanding the distinctive Finnish fashion of sauna constructing to selecting the right warmth supply (and sure, a LOT about air flow). So, seize a cup of tea, get comfy, and let’s dive into how I constructed my very own outside sauna—and what I discovered within the course of.
Why Sauna?
Earlier than we soar into the step-by-step of constructing a sauna, let me let you know why I made a decision to tackle this undertaking within the first place.
When you’re something like me, you’ve most likely learn concerning the quite a few well being advantages of sauna use. The whole lot from bettering circulation and relieving muscle stress to boosting your immune system and detoxifying your physique. I’ve stated many instances that if the sauna had been a tablet, we’d all take it. However because it isn’t, I made a decision to construct one!
A 2015 Finnish examine checked out the advantages of sauna 4-7 instances every week, and for this to be even remotely sensible, a house sauna is basically useful. After all, there are sauna kits and pre-made saunas, and I hyperlink to all those I’ve tried and favored beneath. It’s truly an embarrassingly great amount. However I like doing issues the robust approach, so DIY it was.
Lesson 1: Planning Is Key (And Even Then, It’s Nonetheless Exhausting)
The primary lesson I discovered was that planning is essential relating to constructing a sauna. Even with the very best intentions, issues don’t all the time go as easily as you hope. I believed I had every thing mapped out completely. I measured the house in my yard, researched supplies, and even watched a couple of YouTube movies on do it your self sauna constructing. A DIY sauna undertaking can be a weekend undertaking—nothing too loopy, proper?
However right here’s the factor: it’s simple to miss all of the small particulars if you’re caught up within the pleasure. The complexity of the sauna building began to grow to be clear fairly rapidly. There are such a lot of elements to think about if you construct it your self, from the muse to the insulation to the sauna door. One of many largest challenges I encountered was getting the sauna to be correctly insulated. Saunas are all about retaining warmth. With out the proper insulation, all the trouble you place into constructing the construction gained’t end result within the cozy heat you’re after.
I additionally discovered that constructing a sauna is a bit like fixing a puzzle—it requires a number of trial and error. Particularly if you’re working with completely different constructing supplies and determining easy methods to match every thing collectively. The method wasn’t quick, and it positively wasn’t simple, however the satisfaction of finishing one thing by handcrafted all of it price it ultimately. (Unrelated: I additionally discovered that I’m not the very best at spacial drawing and mapping out dimensions. Fortunately, that ended up all being fixable, although the sauna grew a few toes within the course of… whoops!).
The constructing supplies I used after a lot analysis:
- Untreated pine lumber because the body
- Smartside siding on the skin for sturdiness
- Mineral wool as a non-toxic insulation contained in the partitions (as a substitute of fiberglass)
- Aluminum vapor barrier on the within as soon as insulation was put in
- Exhaust fan for mechanical downdraft
- Alder wooden and a few cedar for the inside and sauna benches
- Two 4-light infrared panes from Creatrix for crimson mild and close to infrared: https://www.creatrixaffiliates.com/208.html (sure, this technically breaks the foundations of a pure conventional Finnish sauna, however my pores and skin loves it, so it’s staying)
- Huum heater (extra on that later)
These identical supplies can be utilized to refinish/repurpose an current outbuilding. Simply make sure all handled wooden and something that may offgas is sealed inside the vapor barrier. Or, as I did, these supplies can be utilized to construct a sauna from scratch.
Lesson 2: The Finnish Model of Sauna Constructing
Probably the most necessary issues I found throughout this undertaking was the Finns fashion of sauna constructing. Finland is the birthplace of the sauna, and their conventional saunas are the gold commonplace for sauna lovers worldwide. To really recognize the artwork of sauna constructing, I knew I needed to perceive the ideas behind it.
In a Finnish-style sauna, there are two essential components that make it really distinctive: warmth and air flow.
Warmth: The Secret to Sauna Remedy
The warmth in a sauna is what provides you that satisfying, stress-free expertise. It’s additionally what makes the sauna such a robust instrument for selling well being and well-being. When constructing my sauna, I had to consider easy methods to generate the proper of warmth. This wasn’t nearly selecting a heater (we’ll get to that later) however about creating an atmosphere the place the warmth can be evenly distributed all through the room.
Conventional Finnish saunas typically use wood-burning stoves to generate warmth. Nevertheless, there are different choices, like electrical heaters, that may work simply as nicely. The bottom line is to make sure the warmth is ready to flow into successfully, making a constant temperature. That is the place the correct design and insulation come into play and the place I bumped into a couple of hiccups early on.
On the subject of the well being research on sauna advantages, the primary mechanism studied and recognized is the warmth itself. It’s up for debate if infrared sauna offers a “deeper warmth” or helps with detox. But the info is obvious that with the correct quantity of warmth and time, sauna could be very helpful.
For that reason, I knew I had to ensure the sauna might get to 170 levels at a minimal. I then added the infrared/crimson lights as a bonus.
Correct Air flow: The Lacking Piece in Many Saunas
Now, right here’s one thing I didn’t totally recognize earlier than I began constructing my sauna: it’s not simply the warmth that makes a sauna efficient, it’s the air flow. In truth, I rapidly discovered that warmth alone shouldn’t be sufficient to stop fatigue or discomfort throughout sauna use. It’s truly the CO2 buildup within the room that may trigger us to really feel drained or lightheaded. Take a look at my podcast with Mike Feldstein the place we delve extra into CO2 right here.
To keep away from this, it’s important to have correct air flow. That is the place the downdraft system is available in. There are two essential varieties of downdraft: mechanical downdraft and handbook downdraft.
- Mechanical downdraft makes use of a fan or vent system to flow into the air and take away extra CO2 from the sauna. This can be a extra trendy resolution and could be efficient in making certain the air stays contemporary and breathable.
- Handbook downdraft is the normal method, the place you depend on strategically positioned vents to permit contemporary air to circulate into the sauna naturally. Many pre-made saunas both don’t have air flow or depend on this kind.
I selected the mechanical downdraft technique for my sauna as a result of I knew we’d wish to have longer sauna classes and be capable of host greater teams. By putting in a vent above the heater and a fan beneath the bench, I used to be capable of permit for the proper circulate of air and maintain the CO2 ranges in test. This setup not solely made the sauna extra comfy to make use of but additionally ensured that the warmth remained environment friendly.
Lesson 3: The Legislation of Löyly – Why I Selected Taller Partitions and an Elevated Bench
One of many key design decisions I made when constructing my sauna was to go for a taller construction with 8-foot partitions. This resolution was pushed by a deep respect for the normal Finnish sauna expertise and a need to honor the legislation of löyly—the tenet of sauna warmth distribution.
In Finland, the sauna is far more than only a room with a heater; it’s a ritual and a science. The Finnish idea of löyly refers back to the smooth, enveloping warmth and the sense of heat that fills the house when the sauna is correctly designed. It’s all about making a harmonious steadiness between the temperature and the airflow. This fashion, the warmth circulates evenly all through the room. The legislation of löyly emphasizes the significance of warmth rising to the higher benches, making certain that the particular person sitting there enjoys the very best of the sauna’s warmth.
In conventional Finnish saunas, the higher bench—the place folks sometimes sit to benefit from the sauna—is positioned above the heater, permitting the physique to be uncovered to the most popular air. To make this occur, the sauna should have sufficient top to permit the warmth to rise naturally and envelop the consumer. I ensured that the higher bench can be positioned on the good top by choosing 8-foot partitions. This allowed my toes to sit down at or above the extent of the sauna rocks, the supply of the warmth.
It wasn’t nearly creating extra room; it was about aligning the sauna with the ideas of löyly. This positioning permits the warmth to rise and flow into across the physique, creating an immersive expertise of heat with out overheating or discomfort.
The Advantages of Taller Partitions and Elevated Benches
- Even Warmth Distribution: The primary purpose I selected a taller sauna was to present the warmth room to rise and unfold evenly. With the higher bench positioned greater than the heater and the consumer’s toes positioned at or above the extent of the sauna rocks, the nice and cozy air naturally fills the higher a part of the sauna. The air then creates a extra constant and mild warmth. This setup encourages higher warmth circulation. Your physique additionally stays heat from head to toe whereas avoiding the discomfort of scorching spots or cool zones.
- A Extra Genuine Finnish Expertise: In Finland, saunas are an artwork kind, and the expertise is all about steadiness. Taller partitions and correct bench positioning make sure you’re sitting in the proper place to really feel the true essence of löyly. The rising warmth ought to fill the room naturally, creating that signature soothing heat important to the Finnish sauna expertise. After I sat on the higher bench of my sauna for the primary time, I instantly felt the distinction. There was a easy, enveloping heat that felt prefer it got here from throughout, not simply from the heater beneath.
- Improved Air flow and Airflow: By permitting the warmth to rise and flow into freely all through the sauna, the design additionally helps with air flow. Taller partitions create an area the place the hotter air rises naturally and the cooler air flows downward, selling the best trade of air. That is particularly necessary in conventional saunas the place handbook downdraft air flow performs an important position in making certain contemporary, breathable air.
- Comfy and Stress-free: When your toes are positioned at or above the extent of the sauna rocks, it additionally permits for a extra relaxed sitting posture. You’re not sitting too low to the bottom, which suggests you’re uncovered to extra of the nice and cozy, rising air. This setup helps create a extra comfy and therapeutic sauna session. Right here you’ll be able to really calm down and really feel the complete advantages of the warmth.
Lesson 4: Selecting the Proper Heater
Probably the most essential selections I made in the course of the constructing course of was choosing the proper heater. In spite of everything, that is the guts of the sauna expertise. The precise heater could make all of the distinction relating to warmth high quality, power effectivity, and general expertise.
I did a number of analysis earlier than deciding on a heater, and in the end, I went with the HUUM Hive heater. Right here’s why:
- Vitality Effectivity: The HUUM Hive is designed to be extremely energy-efficient. This implies I can get pleasure from lengthy sauna classes with out worrying about excessive power payments. It additionally heats up rapidly and evenly, offering a snug and constant temperature.
- Design: The smooth, trendy design of the HUUM Hive matches completely with the aesthetic I needed for my sauna. It’s minimalist but fashionable and provides to the general ambiance of the house.
- Efficiency: The HUUM Hive makes use of high-quality stones to generate warmth. This helps preserve a constant temperature and create that smooth, enveloping heat I really like.
- Dimension: The HUUM Hive is available in numerous sizes, which was good for my sauna. I used to be ready to decide on the proper dimension based mostly on the house I had accessible and the extent of warmth I needed to realize.
The heater dimension may be very particular to the scale of the sauna and the specified temperature. This heater wouldn’t be acceptable for smaller saunas and there are extra budget-friendly choices for heating smaller saunas. I used this heater from Vevor once I needed to change the heater in my barrel sauna.
Right here’s easy methods to calculate the scale of a sauna heater:
- Measure the amount of your sauna room in cubic toes.
- As a normal rule of thumb, allocate 1 kilowatt (kW) of heating energy for each 50 cubic toes of house. Basically, divide the cubic footage by 50 to get the required heater dimension in kW. All the time spherical as much as the closest accessible heater dimension if obligatory.
- You can too use a instrument like this one to calculate your heater dimension.
Lesson 4: Be taught Some Persistence
I feel one of many largest classes I discovered all through this course of is the significance of downtime and endurance. When issues don’t go in response to plan, it’s simple to get annoyed. Nevertheless, taking a step again and permitting issues to come back collectively slowly could make all of the distinction. There have been loads of days once I was tempted to hurry by means of the undertaking, however ultimately, I’m so glad I didn’t.
The method of constructing my sauna took longer than I anticipated, however it gave me the chance to make changes, enhance my design, and study alongside the way in which. Now, I’m capable of recognize the tip end result much more as a result of I understand how a lot effort went into making it good.
The Ultimate End result
After months of labor (and a few occasional setbacks), my yard sauna is lastly full. Properly, apart from the ultimate roof, however that’s a narrative for an additional day. It’s a comfy, heat, and welcoming house the place I can escape from the world and give attention to my well-being. Each time I step inside, I’m reminded of the teachings I discovered, the errors I made, and the enjoyment of constructing one thing with my very own arms.
When you’re contemplating constructing your individual sauna, I hope this submit has given you some useful insights and sensible ideas. Constructing a sauna isn’t simple, however the finish result’s completely price it.
Don’t Wish to Construct?
If my expertise deterred you from wanting to construct one (wouldn’t blame you for that), I’ve additionally tried a number of different varieties of saunas through the years. These have included numerous sizes of transportable, pre-made, indoor saunas, and build-from-kit saunas. A few of these embody wooden burning saunas, whereas others are transportable, private saunas (like a blanket).
These are those I’ve tried and would suggest:
Do you employ a sauna? Is that this one thing you’d prefer to attempt or incorporate extra into your well being routine? Go away a remark and let me know!
