How to Make a Sauna

It can be extremely expensive to hire a specialist to build a sauna, but with its all-round therapeutic benefits, a sauna is truly a healthy choice for you and your family. Making one on your own may be challenging, but it can be done. Here’s how to make an outdoor sauna and enjoy an exhilarating spa-like experience, in a matter of days.

Things You'll Need

• Electric saw
• Electric drill
• Screw gun
• Countersink set
• Leveler
• T-square
• Hammer

Instructions

1. Your backyard may be a good site to make your sauna. Select a site that’s close to a water source (pond or pool) into which you can enter after a sauna bath to cool off and thereby avoid hypothermia.

2. Once you’ve selected the location, measure it to ensure that it offers a rectangular space of approximately 45 cubic feet. This should give you enough head room when seated or standing.

3. The foundation must be built below the frost line. This will avoid damage to your sauna, like when frozen winter ground thaws out by spring time.

4. Construct four walls and a ceiling, using 2x4 frames with an exterior made of cedar wood. Cedar is a soft wood and can withstand any weather conditions. Moreover, it is also most conducive to heat.

5. To insulate the interior walls, a three inch layer or fiberglass should be used. Fiberglass has excellent properties to prevent dissipation of heat.

6. When insulating the structure, allow space for installation of a door, window and at least three vents. One vent should be installed above the heating source to expel fumes, the other near the base, and the third at the top of the sauna.

7. Connect all wall frames, then use unfinished cedar to line and insulate the interior. This wood has a pleasant fragrance, is heat-resistant and fights bacteria. Check that all nail heads are covered to avoid burns while the sauna is in operation.

8. Once interior lining has been done, install the door, window and the three vents. Then, set up three cedar benches on three sides of the sauna, (u-shaped format), with the one in the middle facing the door.

9. For this, you may utilize a basic stove unit that is available at any reputed electrical goods store. These units are equipped with a hot metal wire, wrapped around a basket. Fill this basket with igneous rocks, as these don’t crack when water is poured over them to produce steam. Your home sauna will now be ready.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a stove size of one kilowatt output. This is ideal for an area of 45 cubic feet.

• Hire an electrician to install the heater and lights.

• Add rocks or plants around your sauna to fit its outdoor surroundings and give it more appeal.

• Check the County or Municipal By-Laws currently in force, before you build your sauna.

• Wear safety gear when using electric saw, drill or screw gun.