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 may unwind, calm down, and benefit from the therapeutic advantages of warmth remedy. At the least, that’s what I assumed after 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 fantastic little oasis of heat and wellness in my yard.
Spoiler alert: I used to be improper.
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, persistence, and an entire lot of studying alongside the best way. 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 buddies, and also you get to learn this overly-detailed weblog publish!
On this publish, 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 picking the proper 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 leap 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.
In the event you’re something like me, you’ve in all probability learn in regards to the quite a few well being advantages of sauna use. Every part from enhancing circulation and relieving muscle rigidity to boosting your immune system and detoxifying your physique. I’ve mentioned many instances that if the sauna had been a capsule, 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 per week, and for this to be even remotely sensible, a house sauna is absolutely useful. After all, there are sauna kits and pre-made saunas, and I hyperlink to all those I’ve tried and appreciated under. It’s really 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 Arduous)
The primary lesson I discovered was that planning is essential on the subject of constructing a sauna. Even with the very best intentions, issues don’t all the time go as easily as you hope. I assumed I had every part mapped out completely. I measured the house in my yard, researched supplies, and even watched a number of YouTube movies on do it your self sauna constructing. A DIY sauna undertaking could be a weekend undertaking—nothing too loopy, proper?
However right here’s the factor: it’s straightforward to miss all of the small particulars if you’re caught up within the pleasure. The complexity of the sauna building began to change into clear fairly rapidly. There are such a lot of elements to contemplate if you construct it your self, from the inspiration 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 received’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 totally different constructing supplies and determining tips on how to match every part collectively. The method wasn’t quick, and it undoubtedly wasn’t straightforward, 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 ft 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 an alternative 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 pink mild and close to infrared: https://www.creatrixaffiliates.com/208.html (sure, this technically breaks the principles 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 present 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 Fashion of Sauna Constructing
One of the vital 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 customary for sauna fans worldwide. To actually respect the artwork of sauna constructing, I knew I needed to perceive the rules behind it.
In a Finnish-style sauna, there are two most important parts that make it actually distinctive: warmth and air flow.
Warmth: The Secret to Sauna Remedy
The warmth in a sauna is what provides you that satisfying, enjoyable 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 tips on how to generate the proper of warmth. This wasn’t nearly selecting a heater (we’ll get to that later) however about creating an surroundings the place the warmth could be evenly distributed all through the room.
Conventional Finnish saunas usually use wood-burning stoves to generate warmth. Nonetheless, there are different choices, like electrical heaters, that may work simply as properly. 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 number of hiccups early on.
In the case of the well being research on sauna advantages, the principle mechanism studied and recognized is the warmth itself. It’s up for debate if infrared sauna supplies a “deeper warmth” or helps with detox. But the info is evident that with the correct quantity of warmth and time, sauna might be very helpful.
Because of this, I knew I had to ensure the sauna may get to 170 levels at a minimal. I then added the infrared/pink lights as a bonus.
Correct Air flow: The Lacking Piece in Many Saunas
Now, right here’s one thing I didn’t totally respect earlier than I began constructing my sauna: it’s not simply the warmth that makes a sauna efficient, it’s the air flow. The truth is, I rapidly discovered that warmth alone shouldn’t be sufficient to stop fatigue or discomfort throughout sauna use. It’s really 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 most important 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. It is a extra fashionable answer and might be efficient in making certain the air stays contemporary and breathable.
- Guide downdraft is the normal method, the place you depend on strategically positioned vents to permit contemporary air to stream into the sauna naturally. Many pre-made saunas both don’t have air flow or depend on this sort.
I selected the mechanical downdraft technique for my sauna as a result of I knew we’d need to have longer sauna periods and be capable to host larger teams. By putting in a vent above the heater and a fan underneath the bench, I used to be in a position to permit for the proper stream of air and preserve the CO2 ranges in verify. This setup not solely made the sauna extra comfy to make use of but in addition 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 selections 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 regulation 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 manner, the warmth circulates evenly all through the room. The regulation 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 usually 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 will need to have sufficient top to permit the warmth to rise naturally and envelop the person. I ensured that the higher bench could be positioned on the excellent top by choosing 8-foot partitions. This allowed my ft 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 rules 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 motive I selected a taller sauna was to provide the warmth room to rise and unfold evenly. With the higher bench positioned larger than the heater and the person’s ft 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 sizzling 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 under.
- 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 alternate of air. That is particularly necessary in conventional saunas the place handbook downdraft air flow performs a vital position in making certain contemporary, breathable air.
- Snug and Enjoyable: When your ft 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 implies 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 may actually calm down and really feel the total advantages of the warmth.
Lesson 4: Selecting the Proper Heater
One of the vital essential choices I made throughout the constructing course of was choosing the proper heater. In spite of everything, that is the guts of the sauna expertise. The suitable heater could make all of the distinction on the subject of warmth high quality, vitality 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:
- Power Effectivity: The HUUM Hive is designed to be extremely energy-efficient. This implies I can get pleasure from lengthy sauna periods with out worrying about excessive vitality payments. It additionally heats up rapidly and evenly, offering a cushty and constant temperature.
- Design: The smooth, fashionable design of the HUUM Hive suits completely with the aesthetic I needed for my sauna. It’s minimalist but trendy and provides to the general ambiance of the house.
- Efficiency: The HUUM Hive makes use of high-quality stones to generate warmth. This helps keep a constant temperature and create that smooth, enveloping heat I really like.
- Measurement: The HUUM Hive is available in varied sizes, which was excellent for my sauna. I used to be in a position to decide on the proper dimension primarily based on the house I had accessible and the extent of warmth I needed to attain.
The heater dimension may be very particular to the dimensions 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 after I needed to exchange the heater in my barrel sauna.
Right here’s tips on how to calculate the dimensions of a sauna heater:
- Measure the amount of your sauna room in cubic ft.
- As a common rule of thumb, allocate 1 kilowatt (kW) of heating energy for each 50 cubic ft 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.
- It’s also possible to use a instrument like this one to calculate your heater dimension.
Lesson 4: Be taught Some Endurance
I believe one of many largest classes I discovered all through this course of is the significance of downtime and persistence. When issues don’t go in accordance with plan, it’s straightforward to get pissed off. Nonetheless, taking a step again and permitting issues to come back collectively slowly could make all of the distinction. There have been loads of days after 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 be taught alongside the best way. Now, I’m in a position to respect the tip end result much more as a result of I understand how a lot effort went into making it excellent.
The Last Outcome
After months of labor (and a few occasional setbacks), my yard sauna is lastly full. Nicely, apart from the ultimate roof, however that’s a narrative for one more 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.
In the event you’re contemplating constructing your personal sauna, I hope this publish has given you some useful insights and sensible ideas. Constructing a sauna isn’t straightforward, however the finish result’s completely price it.
Don’t Need 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 over time. These have included varied sizes of transportable, pre-made, indoor saunas, and build-from-kit saunas. A few of these embrace wooden burning saunas, whereas others are transportable, private saunas (like a blanket).
These are those I’ve tried and would advocate:
Do you utilize a sauna? Is that this one thing you’d prefer to strive or incorporate extra into your well being routine? Depart a remark and let me know!