“Plan to enjoy it”
Planning to build your own sauna?? The benefits of a sauna are far greater than its downside. And building a sauna is quite easy.
Here are certain tips to build your own sauna:
Planning room size
The sauna room should be small. The main components of a sauna are it’s upper and lower benches. The depth of the bench should be at least 19″. Space should also be planned for the heater. The benefits of smaller room will be that it will require smaller heater and the room will be heated efficiently. The main bench wall should be six feet or longer as sauna users like to stretch out. The ceiling height can be from 6.5 to 7 feet so that the air remains warm and the heater functions properly.
Planning door location
The door should swing out of the room, not inside the room.
Planning heater layout
The heater should be placed near the door wall. The air would move from the door to the heater and after heating it will rise towards the ceiling.
Planning bench layout
The depth of the sauna bench should be 19″. Height of the upper sauna bench should be 38″ and for the lower bench should be 19″.
Material to be used
- Western red cedar tree wood should be used for building saunas
- It doesn’t result in skin burns.
- It does not get discolored.
- Cedar is quite stable and it does not swell and shrink like other wood material.
Things to be kept in mind while planning a sauna:
Ceiling height
The inside ceiling height should be between 6′-7′. The room would not properly get heated above this height.
Insulation
Fiberglass bats should be used as insulation material. Foam boards should not be used as they will emit gases under high temperatures.
Lighting
Special lights should be used which can function under high temperature and moisture contents. Conventional lights should not be used for saunas.
Door opening
Sauna doors are smaller in size than residential doors so that heat can be preserved inside the sauna. The doors usually measure 24″ * 76″.
Ventilation
Proper ventilation is necessary for flow of air so that the heater can function efficiently. A vent can be installed under the heater for supply of air or space of 1″ can be left between the threshold and the door. Exhaust vent can be placed on the wall opposite the source of fresh air so that it can circulate properly.
