How to Make a Sauna at Home

A sauna sounds really complicated to build, though it's simpler than you actually think. These instructions will guide you into building a safe, long-lasting sauna.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• hammer
• level
• square
• countersink set
• saw
• drill
• screw gun
• caulking gun

1. Find a location for your sauna. If the sauna is inside, any area around fifty square feet will be a great spot for it. If you would like to build a sauna outside, you should first check your local building laws to make sure it is legal to build, or to find out about any rules to make sure you follow during the building of your sauna.

2. Construct the walls, floor board, and ceiling for your sauna out of 2x4 beams of wood. You should leave about 6 inches underneath the floor and below the ceiling of your sauna for any wiring that will be put in place later. Also, it would be advised to construct a hatch on the floor of the sauna that will be able to access the floor below.

3. The exterior of your sauna should be covered in cedar, mainly because it can withstand the high temperatures, and acts as an insulator to your sauna, therefore reducing heating costs.

4. While creating the walls of your sauna, you should create at least two vents for air to escape. One should be placed above the heater to reduce hazardous fumes. Any temperature resistant lighting that you would like to add into your sauna should be installed now. An opening for a door should also be left available.

5. The interior of the sauna should be covered with a three-inch layer of fiberglass to further insulate it.

6. Over the plexiglass, an unfinished cedar should be applied to the interior.

7. Install the door of the sauna, and any other opening for perhaps window should be installed.

8. A stove can be purchased especially for a sauna. They come in different models for different sized saunas. A stove with one kilowatt will be able to heat a sauna that is fifty square feet, two kilowatts can heat a sauna that is one hundred square feet, and so on. The heater can be very difficult to install, and the help of an electrician will be in your best interest in order to keep your sauna safe.

9. Enjoy your sauna!

Tips & Warnings

• Covering up every nail head will make any sauna that much safer. They get extremely hot in the heat of the sauna.
• If your sauna is outside, the foundation should be below the frost line, otherwise occurring in damages to the structure.
• It could be a fire hazard if the back of any lighting structures are too close to a wall. Depending on your lighting structure, an electrician can advise you on how to install it.