- Determine whether you wish to build your sauna from scratch or if you would rather build it from a kit or from a prefabricated unit. A sauna kit contains the materials for the inside of the sauna minus the floor; a prefabricated unit provides the interior and exterior materials, excluding the floor. Finalize the dimensions of your sauna based on how many people you plan to accommodate, and arrive at the cost of the materials, as well as the cost of labor if you intend to hire someone to do the job. Pick the type of wood you intend to use, taking into consideration the suitability of soft wood due to its porous quality, which enables it to absorb humidity while staying cool to the touch. Choose the location for your sauna.
- Plan for two tiers of benches. Provide about 2 feet of space along the bench for each adult, and allow approximately 6 feet of space for adults who wish to recline on the benches. Envision how other areas might complement the sauna room, and consider a shower and dressing area in addition to a cool-down zone, particularly if you build the sauna close to a patio or deck.
- Acquire a heater and rocks if your kit or prefabricated unit does not include them. Decide whether to replace the heater's conventional controls with digital controls that manage the lights and presets the temperatures inside the sauna. Check the heater for a device that continually oversees temperature and humidity; buy a wall thermometer if the heater lacks such a monitor.
- Consider the overall health of the people you expect to use the sauna and establish safety restrictions before plans get underway. Pregnant women and people with cardiac problems should secure the advice of their physicians before using the sauna, and children should not use a sauna without adult supervision. Avoid using the sauna after drinking alcohol or after eating a large meal because this combination could cause you to fall asleep. The high temperatures could also adversely affect digestion.
