Guardian Plumbing

A home sauna would make a great addition to any home. You basically have three choices to create your own homemade sauna. You can…

* build a sauna

* purchase a pre-cut sauna kit

* purchase a modular prefabricated sauna kit

Let’s take a look at each of your options…

Building Your Own Sauna

The most difficult homemade sauna option is to build one from scratch. It’s a challenging project.

If you have good framing skills, you should be able to get the job done without a problem. Thousands of people have built a sauna from scratch.

First of all you’ll need to plan the layout of your sauna. You’ll have to know what size you want it to be, what kind of heater you want, and how the sauna will be shaped. The shape will be based on size, space and your personal preference.

Use the following link to learn more about how to build a sauna.

Precut Sauna Kit

Assembling a sauna with precut wood is much easier compared to building one from scratch.

That doesn’t mean it won’t be challenging.

When you buy your kit it will include all the components you need to build a functioning sauna.

If you want to be creative, you can work with your dealer to custom design your sauna.

Once the blueprint is made, the wood will be cut based on the layout. Instructions, materials, and everything else you need will be included in your kit.

Comprehensive instructions for assembling all the parts will be provided, but you still need to have some framing skills to get the job done right.

Not very good with your hands? No worries - you can always hire a contractor to do the work.

Prefabricated Sauna Kits

Buying a prefabricated modular sauna is the easiest way to install a homemade sauna. Just like precut kits, prefabricated sauna kits will contain everything you need.

The difference is that prefabricated kits are much easier to assemble because they consist of just 4 or 5 panels that you’ll simply need to attach.

You’ll have wall and ceiling panels that have been insulated, benches, sauna heater, and everything else that you need. You can have your sauna set up in as little as 30 minutes.

A drawback is that you may not have as much flexibility with the layout as you do when building a sauna from scratch or designing a precut sauna kit, but a prefabricated kit is the easiest way to set up a sauna.

Terrence Banks has written about homemade sauna installation at his website.

It takes careful planning to build a sauna from scratch.

Here’s an overview of the steps:

• buy or design your plans

• find/buy the wood

• accurately measure and cut the wood or have a professional do it for you

• assemble all the pieces, including a heater, bench and door

Choose A Location

Location is an important consideration when building a sauna. It’s the main thing that will influence your sauna design. For example,

• Will you convert an existing room?

• Will it be freestanding?

• Do you want it inside or outside your house?

• Will it be in the city or country?

When the location is chosen, you have to decide what kind of sauna heater you’re going to use.

Depending on your chosen location, you may not have much of a choice.

Choosing A Sauna Heater

Electric sauna heaters are the most popular choice. You’ll need to have access to electricity if you want to use one.

If you plan to build a sauna in the country, a wood sauna heater may be your only option.

You can also buy a gas sauna heater, but they are more expensive.

Professional installation will be required and the sauna will need to be ventilated. Gas heaters also require more clearance than an electric heater.

Before making any final decisions, find out what the local building codes are. For example, there may be an ordinance for your community that restricts the use of a wood burning sauna heater.

Sauna Construction

If you want to convert an existing room into a home made sauna, you’ll have to take protective measures against the moisture that’ll come from the sauna. The room will need to be properly insulated and include a vapor barrier to guard against possible damage.

You’ll have to find-and-buy or special order the wood you’re going to use, then you’ll have to carefully measure and cut it (or have a pro handle that part).

If you don’t purchase tongue-and-groove lumber, you’ll have to make tongue-and-groove joints in the sides of the wood for strength and tight seals, and it takes a special tool for that.

Of course you’ll also need a sauna door. Manufacturers sell them in different shapes and sizes.

You can also buy a bench for your sauna or you can build your own.

Although it is doable, if you’re not skilled with your hands building your own sauna will be no small task.

Learn more about saunas and buying a home sauna