How to Build an Easy Sauna

Small saunas can be built from kit materials and additional lumber.

Saunas, sometimes called steam rooms, offer the user a hot and humid environment. The heat and steam prompts sweating. The sauna experience originated in Finland, although it is practiced around the world and is often followed by a dip in cold water. Saunas can be built indoors or outdoors, though ndoor saunas are easier to construct. Sauna kits are the easiest way to install one of these rooms in your home, although you will still need to construct a frame and provide the electrical service and insulation.

Things You'll Need

• Sauna kit
• 2-by-4-inch lumber
• Cedar boards
• Foil-faced insulation
• Electrical wire
• Sauna stove

Instructions

1. Construct the frame and floor of the sauna following the kit manufacturer's instructions. The framing is generally 2-by-4-inch lumber covered with a cedar exterior. The design and size of the frame and floor vary, depending on the model and manufacturer of the sauna kit. For convenience, locate the sauna near a water source to fill the water bucket used to create steam. Also, people often shower after leaving the sauna, so placement near a bathroom is convenient.

2. Insulate the interior of the sauna room. Again, the thickness and type of insulation varies with the kit, but 3-inch-thick fiberglass or rigid foam insulation is commonly indicated by some kits. The insulation is placed between the 2-by-4 stud frame work. The website Sauna Talk calls for using foil-faced insulation. If that isn't available, place a foil vapor barrier over the insulation on the interior side of the insulated frame.

3. Add an electrical wire and service box to the interior of the sauna to provide power. While this falls within the capabilities of many do-it-yourselfers, connecting the wire to the home circuit and energizing the line should be done by a qualified electrician.

4. Install the sauna interior walls supplied with the sauna kit. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the installation. Install benches and any other interior fixtures.

5. Install the heater within the sauna. Sauna heaters utilize a heating element to warm rocks. Water is poured over these rocks to create steam. The sauna heater will mount to the wall or floor, depending on the model, and is connected to the power source.

Tips & Warnings

• A pre-built sauna averages about $2,000 more than one built from a kit. However, building from a kit is the simplest and easiest way to go.

• Use softwoods, such as cedar or pine when constructing the sauna frame and exterior. Softwoods hold heat better than hardwoods.

References

• Sauna Talk: Sauna Installation
• Repair Home: How to Build a Sauna