Thread: Sauna Building

Bladdy, you don't need plans for a suana, its basically a box.

I'd lose the pine, traditionally they are made of cedar in the interior. The pine will warp and may well poison someone.

Here are a few websites to help you out:

http://www.saunasite.com/index-en/q_and_a.htm

Kalle Hoffman's FAQ's:

http://www.kalle.com/sauna_faq.html


Lots of info there, and should get you started. There are several different species of wood you can use for inside the sauna, but Western Red Cedar in North America is most popular (not to be confused with the cedar marketed for closets). I used WRC for the interior on my sauna; make sure it is at least 1/2 inch T&G or it will buckle. Do not treat it.

Do not use an Infrared heater if you want a traditional sauna which requires a large rock magazine for throwing water on. Infrared heaters work like the sun, and shadows will be colder. Tylo makes great heaters.

Most important is that you have proper ventilation, with a vent under the heater and an adjustable one on the opposite wall about 12 inches from the ceiling. Heater should be on same wall as door. Floor can be any material, I chose to lay 16" tile.

You must also have a vapor barrier that can withstand the heat; aluminum foil is the popular choice. I used 6 mil polyeurothane plastic and put aluminum foil over it. Then, you must use firring strips before you put up the interior WRC T&G so that there is a 3/4" ventilation gap behind the walls (air circulation protects against mold). Must also have a 1/2" gap between wall and ceiling so the air can circulate and get out. The walls should also begin about 3 inches off the floor and there should be at least a 1/2" gap between baseboard and wall for air to get in. I used tile for the baseboard.

Good luck!

If I remember correctly there was an article on how to build one in the Australian Woodworker. It was in the early years of the magazine. They may be able to sell you a back copy.


Peter.

It's going to be 40 degrees in the shade here today - who needs a sauna?

You'll need to use silicon bronze boat nails on your cedar boards to prevent black stains. I built a sauna at a local resort. A sauna specialist came up from Sydney and he supplied the sauna unit and all the cedar. It was basically a box, framed in standard pine studs, tile floor and cedar board secret nailed with boat nails. Stud wall sat on a concrete nib wall to keep its feet dry, seating sat on stainless coach screws set into the end of the legs to keep them off the floor. There was a fire sprinkler set into the ceiling which would be something to consider.

Mick

Originally Posted by journeyman Mick

You'll need to use silicon bronze boat nails on your cedar boards to prevent black stains.

You'll also want to make sure that there are no nail heads that could come in contact with skin.

Proper ventilation, as someone else already said, is crucial. Here's an article with diagrams.

http://www.finn-tastic.com/buildinga...entilation.php