Building a sauna in your yard feels like a dream, doesn’t it? An ideal, cozy escape from the hustle and bustle of each day life. Somewhere you possibly can unwind, loosen up, and benefit from the therapeutic advantages of warmth remedy. At least, that’s what I believed 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 flawed.
Turns out 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 an entire 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 bought some nice instances with pals, and also you get to learn this overly-detailed weblog publish!
In this publish, I stroll you thru my sauna-building journey, sharing the teachings I realized the exhausting approach. From understanding the distinctive Finnish model of sauna constructing to selecting 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 realized within the course of.
Why Sauna?
Before we bounce into the step-by-step of constructing a sauna, let me inform you why I made a decision to tackle this undertaking within the first place.
If you’re something like me, you’ve most likely learn in regards to the quite a few well being advantages of sauna use. Everything from enhancing circulation and relieving muscle rigidity to boosting your immune system and detoxifying your physique. I’ve stated many instances that if the sauna had been a capsule, we’d all take it. But 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. Of course, there are sauna kits and pre-made saunas, and I hyperlink to all those I’ve tried and appreciated beneath. It’s really an embarrassingly great amount. But I like doing issues the powerful approach, so DIY it was.
Lesson 1: Planning Is Key (And Even Then, It’s Still Hard)
The first lesson I realized was that planning is essential relating to constructing a sauna. Even with one of the best intentions, issues don’t at all times go as easily as you hope. I believed I had every little thing mapped out completely. I measured the house in my yard, researched supplies, and even watched just a few YouTube movies on do it your self sauna constructing. A DIY sauna undertaking can be a weekend undertaking—nothing too loopy, proper?
But 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 turn into clear fairly shortly. There are so many elements to think about if you construct it your self, from the inspiration to the insulation to the sauna door. One of the most important challenges I encountered was getting the sauna to be correctly insulated. Saunas are all about retaining warmth. Without the fitting insulation, all the trouble you set into constructing the construction received’t consequence within the cozy heat you’re after.
I additionally realized that constructing a sauna is a bit like fixing a puzzle—it requires numerous trial and error. Especially if you’re working with totally different constructing supplies and determining how one can match every little thing collectively. The course of 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 realized that I’m not one of the best at spacial drawing and mapping out dimensions. Thankfully, 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 purple gentle 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 similar supplies can be utilized to refinish/repurpose an current outbuilding. Just ensure all handled wooden and something that may offgas is sealed throughout the vapor barrier. Or, as I did, these supplies can be utilized to construct a sauna from scratch.
Lesson 2: The Finnish Style of Sauna Building
One of crucial issues I found throughout this undertaking was the Finns model of sauna constructing. Finland is the birthplace of the sauna, and their conventional saunas are the gold normal for sauna lovers worldwide. To actually recognize 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.
Heat: The Secret to Sauna Therapy
The warmth in a sauna is what offers you that satisfying, stress-free expertise. It’s additionally what makes the sauna such a strong device for selling well being and well-being. When constructing my sauna, I had to consider how one can 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.
Traditional Finnish saunas typically use wood-burning stoves to generate warmth. However, there are different choices, like electrical heaters, that may work simply as nicely. The secret is to make sure the warmth is ready to flow into successfully, making a constant temperature. This is the place the right design and insulation come into play and the place I bumped into just a few hiccups early on.
When it involves 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 gives a “deeper heat” or helps with detox. Yet the info is evident that with the correct amount of warmth and time, sauna will be very useful.
For this motive, I knew I had to ensure the sauna might get to 170 levels at a minimal. I then added the infrared/purple lights as a bonus.
Proper Ventilation: The Missing 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 reality, I shortly realized that warmth alone just isn’t 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. Check out 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. This is the place the downdraft system is available in. There are two most important sorts 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 is a extra fashionable resolution and will be efficient in making certain the air stays contemporary and breathable.
- Manual downdraft is the standard strategy, 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 kind.
I selected the mechanical downdraft technique for my sauna as a result of I knew we’d need to have longer sauna classes and be capable of host larger teams. By putting in a vent above the heater and a fan beneath the bench, I used to be capable of permit for the right stream of air and hold 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 Law of Löyly – Why I Chose Taller Walls and an Elevated Bench
One of the important thing design selections I made when constructing my sauna was to go for a taller construction with 8-foot partitions. This choice was pushed by a deep respect for the standard Finnish sauna expertise and a want to honor the regulation of löyly—the tenet of sauna warmth distribution.
In Finland, the sauna is rather more than only a room with a heater; it’s a ritual and a science. The Finnish idea of löyly refers back to the mushy, enveloping warmth and the sense of heat that fills the house when the sauna is correctly designed. It’s all about making a harmonious stability between the temperature and the airflow. This approach, 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 individual sitting there enjoys one of the 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 person. I ensured that the higher bench can be positioned on the excellent 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 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 Benefits of Taller Walls and Elevated Benches
- Even Heat Distribution: The most important motive I selected a taller sauna was to offer the warmth room to rise and unfold evenly. With the higher bench positioned larger than the heater and the person’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 delicate 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 More Authentic Finnish Experience: In Finland, saunas are an artwork kind, and the expertise is all about stability. Taller partitions and correct bench positioning make sure you’re sitting in the fitting 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. When 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 Ventilation 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 change of air. This is very vital in conventional saunas the place handbook downdraft air flow performs an important function in making certain contemporary, breathable air.
- Comfortable and Relaxing: 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. Here you possibly can actually loosen up and really feel the total advantages of the warmth.
Lesson 4: Choosing the Right Heater
One of essentially the most essential choices I made throughout the constructing course of was selecting the best heater. After all, that is the guts of the sauna expertise. The proper heater could make all of the distinction relating to warmth high quality, vitality effectivity, and total expertise.
I did numerous analysis earlier than deciding on a heater, and in the end, I went with the HUUM Hive heater. Here’s why:
- Energy Efficiency: The HUUM Hive is designed to be extremely energy-efficient. This means I can take pleasure in lengthy sauna classes with out worrying about excessive vitality payments. It additionally heats up shortly and evenly, offering a cushty and constant temperature.
- Design: The modern, fashionable design of the HUUM Hive matches completely with the aesthetic I wished for my sauna. It’s minimalist but trendy and provides to the general ambiance of the house.
- Performance: The HUUM Hive makes use of high-quality stones to generate warmth. This helps keep a constant temperature and create that mushy, enveloping heat I really like.
- Size: The HUUM Hive is available in varied sizes, which was excellent for my sauna. I used to be ready to decide on the fitting measurement primarily based on the house I had obtainable and the extent of warmth I wished to realize.
The heater measurement 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 after I needed to substitute the heater in my barrel sauna.
Here’s how one can calculate the scale of a sauna heater:
- Measure the quantity of your sauna room in cubic toes.
- As a basic rule of thumb, allocate 1 kilowatt (kW) of heating energy for each 50 cubic toes of house. Essentially, divide the cubic footage by 50 to get the required heater measurement in kW. Always spherical as much as the closest obtainable heater measurement if vital.
- You may use a device like this one to calculate your heater measurement.
Lesson 4: Learn Some Patience
I believe one of many largest classes I realized all through this course of is the significance of downtime and endurance. When issues don’t go in accordance with plan, it’s simple to get annoyed. However, taking a step again and permitting issues to return collectively slowly could make all of the distinction. There had been loads of days after I was tempted to hurry by way of the undertaking, however ultimately, I’m so glad I didn’t.
The technique of constructing my sauna took longer than I anticipated, nevertheless it gave me the chance to make changes, enhance my design, and be taught alongside the way in which. Now, I’m capable of recognize the tip consequence much more as a result of I understand how a lot effort went into making it excellent.
The Final Result
After months of labor (and a few occasional setbacks), my yard sauna is lastly full. Well, aside from the ultimate roof, however that’s a narrative for one more day. It’s a comfortable, heat, and welcoming house the place I can escape from the world and deal with my well-being. Every time I step inside, I’m reminded of the teachings I realized, the errors I made, and the enjoyment of constructing one thing with my very own fingers.
If you’re contemplating constructing your personal sauna, I hope this publish has given you some useful insights and sensible ideas. Building a sauna isn’t simple, however the finish result’s completely price it.
Don’t Want to Build?
If my expertise deterred you from wanting to construct one (wouldn’t blame you for that), I’ve additionally tried numerous different sorts of saunas through the years. These have included varied sizes of moveable, pre-made, indoor saunas, and build-from-kit saunas. Some of those embody wooden burning saunas, whereas others are moveable, private saunas (like a blanket).
These are those I’ve tried and would suggest:
Do you employ a sauna? Is this one thing you’d prefer to strive or incorporate extra into your well being routine? Leave a remark and let me know!