Tips To Build A Sauna
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?
After your location is chosen, you'll 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. Obviously, you'll have 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 buy purchase a gas sauna heater, but they are more expensive.
Professional installation will be a requirement 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).
Unless you 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
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Tagged with: build a sauna • Building A Sauna • Building Sauna • Electric Heater • Electric Sauna • Final Decisions • Gas Heaters • Heater Bench • Location Location • Professional Installation • Protective Measures • sauna • Sauna Construction • Sauna Heater • Sauna Heaters • Sauna Room • Tig • Tongue And Groove • Tongue And Groove Joints • Tongue And Groove Lumber • Vapor Barrier
Filed under: plumbing
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