5 Hot Tips for Home Saunas
Bask in your very own heated haven, indoors or out. This overview will get you off to a glowing start
Houzz Contributor. Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately discovered a new passion. An Atlanta native, I spent several years as an editor for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine before making the leap to national publications and websites such as Houzz, Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Accents. I live in Birmingham, Alabama, with my husband and son, who’ve gotten used to coming home and finding the furniture rearranged. When I'm not dragging case goods across the floor, I enjoy good food and wine, college football, music of all kinds, and traveling.
Houzz Contributor. Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating... More »
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The very word "sauna" sounds toasty and tantalizing in the dead of winter. As snowflakes whirl and the mercury stays stubbornly low, the idea of having a wooden heat chamber right in your house might seem too tempting to resist.
Of course, warmth isn't the only benefit that saunas offer. Proponents say they cleanse toxins from our systems, ease muscular aches and pains, promote skin health and a host of other perks. Just ask a native of Scandinavia, where the 2,000-year-old sauna tradition is still going strong.
Installing a home sauna can be a big undertaking, and you'll have a lot of decisions to make. Here's an overview of what you'll need to do to prepare.
Of course, warmth isn't the only benefit that saunas offer. Proponents say they cleanse toxins from our systems, ease muscular aches and pains, promote skin health and a host of other perks. Just ask a native of Scandinavia, where the 2,000-year-old sauna tradition is still going strong.
Installing a home sauna can be a big undertaking, and you'll have a lot of decisions to make. Here's an overview of what you'll need to do to prepare.
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1. Decide whether you'll buy a premade model or build your own. Some saunas come assembled and ready to install, others arrive in kit form and still others are custom built onsite. Or choose a portable sauna, which doesn't have to be built into a fixed spot. Pricing varies widely, depending on size, materials and many other factors, but you can find small, premade saunas for about $1,000 (uninstalled), while custom-built models can extend well into the five-figure range.
If your wiring won't support the voltage that an electric sauna requires (around 220 volts), you'll need the help of a licensed electrician to correct it. In addition, you may need to add an exhaust vent nearby to siphon off moisture generated by the steam.
If your wiring won't support the voltage that an electric sauna requires (around 220 volts), you'll need the help of a licensed electrician to correct it. In addition, you may need to add an exhaust vent nearby to siphon off moisture generated by the steam.
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by Gast Architects
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| 2. Determine if you want your sauna indoors or outdoors. Indoor saunas are more common, but external saunas are a good option if you don't have the room indoors or if you want your sauna near a pool or overlooking a view. The downside: Exposure to the elements means it may need extra insulation to stay hot. 3. Know your options for materials. Cedar is the classic choice — it gives off a pleasant fragrance, resists rot, doesn't splinter easily and doesn't absorb excess heat (translation: You won't burn your bum sitting down). However, you can use other soft woods, such as hemlock and spruce. Many people choose concrete, tile or another durable substance for the sauna floor, because moisture tends to collect on a wooden floor and harbor bacteria growth. |
by Birdseye Design
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4. Choose your heat source. Essentially, saunas heat the body in two ways. A traditional wet-dry sauna uses an electric or wood-burning heat source with stones to raise the air temperature to a point between 160 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit, on average. You also can produce steam by adding water to the stones in the heating element (hence the "wet" part).
The newer infrared saunas use a radiant heat element that conveys heat directly to the body rather than the air, so you work up a sweat from within. Purists don't consider infrared models true saunas, but these types have gained popularity in recent years. Infrared saunas are cooler (80 to 120 degrees) and can be gentler on the skin.
5. Determine the size you need. Think about how you plan to use it. Will it be party central or a solo retreat? Choose a style that has space for the number of people you need to accommodate so that you're not spending the money and energy to heat unused space. You'll also want to avoid making the ceiling so high that heat rises above the level at which occupants sit — 7 feet is usually regarded as the maximum.
Most home saunas for family use measure between 4 by 6 feet and 8 by 10 feet.
A few sauna models are shown below; you can find more premade saunas in the Products section.
The newer infrared saunas use a radiant heat element that conveys heat directly to the body rather than the air, so you work up a sweat from within. Purists don't consider infrared models true saunas, but these types have gained popularity in recent years. Infrared saunas are cooler (80 to 120 degrees) and can be gentler on the skin.
5. Determine the size you need. Think about how you plan to use it. Will it be party central or a solo retreat? Choose a style that has space for the number of people you need to accommodate so that you're not spending the money and energy to heat unused space. You'll also want to avoid making the ceiling so high that heat rises above the level at which occupants sit — 7 feet is usually regarded as the maximum.
Most home saunas for family use measure between 4 by 6 feet and 8 by 10 feet.
A few sauna models are shown below; you can find more premade saunas in the Products section.
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This ultracool cylindrical shape would work perfectly in a contemporary home.
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Short on space? This slim sauna offers just enough room for one.
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A three-person corner model slips neatly into an odd space.
by Bathroom Trends
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Can't decide between a sauna and a steam room? Have both. This combo model by Bathroom Trends combines two amenities in a single, compact package.
Ideabook published on Feb. 24, 2013.
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Thanks for your comments
Mike
My husband owns a sawmill, so we can make our own lumber from local or homegrown timber, which I know is somewhat unique... but I could never justify a sauna made in China. I can see my grandfather wincing at the thought of it! :)
As for buckets - we always had galvanized washtubs as our dipper bucket. There was one filled from the garden hose that was cold, that was for dipping & tossing on the rocks. And then there was a tub of warm water that had heated on the wood stove while the sauna got up to temp.. that was what we rinsed off with after our sauna & a quick lather. Tradition was always one cold dipper to finish off though. I can still remember the dread, yet thrill!
The picture of a girl reading in a sauna (picture 5/7) reminds me of an example of this ignorance purists laugh about. My mom was visiting NYC when I wasn't born yet, and visited the hotel's gym and sauna. The steam room had carpeting (?!) in it, and when she threw water on the Finnish-made stove, the other women, who were doing their makeup, reading magazines and other insane tasks in there, ran out. These days, they would probably be texting. A female security officer came by a few moments later, informing my mom that she could have electrocuted someone, and wasn't welcome in the gym anymore. If a sauna is properly installed, it won't be any more dangerous than spilling water onto your cooking range.
A properly used sauna is one of the most relaxing experiences there is. Go whole hog with the 185F heat, woodstove with stones, hot steam, and vihta, or just don't do it or Finns will laugh at you. (Just kidding. Mostly.)