Tips for Drawing Up Your Sauna Plans

If you like to do home projects, sauna plans can pose a few challenges. If you are a homeowner with some general carpentry skills you will have more options to choose from when sketching out a building plan, while those who are less handy with a hammer and saw should go with a pre-fab or portable unit.

Planning Your Sauna - First Steps

Start by selecting your wood...

The choice of wood will be an important element in your sauna plans.  There are a number of different options out there for you, and experts have different opinions as to which one is ideal.  You want something soft, durable and moisture-resistant, a wood that won't get too hot to the touch with high temperatures, as some hard woods might.

Cedar is one of the most popular woods used in saunas, particular Western Red Cedar, as it naturally resists moisture and doesn't expand/contract as much as other woods do in response to temperate fluctuations.

Basswood is another popular option, particularly for those with allergies of any kind as it is hypoallergenic.  It doesn't give off any toxins or fragrances.  It has a lighter color if that is something you prefer.

You have eucalyptus, which is great for an outdoor sauna as it is a premium wood.  It's a sustainable wood, which is why it is a great "green" choice if that's important to you while creating your home sauna plans.

Those three are going to be your premium options, but if the budget is tight you can also look at hemlock, pine, spruce and fir, as those are less expensive woods.  These would be OK indoors, but exposing them to the elements as an outdoor sauna wood choice wouldn't be ideal as they are much more likely to react to temperature fluctuations.

Then consider your heat source...

After you've chosen the ideal wood for your home sauna, the next major consideration is how you will heat it up.

The sauna stove can be electric, gas or propane, or infrared. If you are planning an outdoor sauna, a wood-fired stove is also an option.

The sauna heater must be the appropriate size for the room, so make sure you ask a professional if the stove you’ve selected is right for your sauna building plan.  You want to ensure that the unit is powerful enough to properly heat up the entire sauna.

Conversely, a smaller sauna will not need the most powerful heater, and you can save yourself some money by choosing a more appropriate unit when creating your sauna plans.

Sauna Plans - Helpful Tips For You

Your sauna plans should start with the location of the heater in the room. Some people are rather fussy about where the heater is placed.

If you don’t particularly like small, cramped saunas where you might feel a bit claustrophobic, and don’t like sitting on a bench directly in front and above of the heated stones, plan on building a roomy sauna where you can stretch out a bit.

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A well-designed sauna should aim to heat the room evenly. And that’s not the only point builders should take into consideration.

Here are some important tips to keep in mind while putting together your sauna plans....

• Consult with an electrician or knowledgeable sauna dealer when planning the size of an electric sauna heater. If the heater is too large it will actually produce too much heat for the room.
• When you install the wiring, make sure it is rated for 194°F and it should be located in the wall’s cooler side.
• Plan on installing a foil vapor barrier to keep moisture from collecting inside the sauna’s walls.
• For the building’s wall insulation, you can use conventional fiberglass batts with an R-13 rating. The ceiling will require insulation with a higher rating between R-22 and R-26.
• Plan on locating the sauna’s fresh air intake vent close to the floor below the heater.
• The exhaust vent should be located on the other side to stimulate air movement and keep oxygen at an acceptable level.
• Sauna building plans require that the door opens outward. Pre-fab modular units will come with a pre-hung door if you request it.
• Benches are located at different heights and are designed that way for a reason. You get different temperatures and moisture levels with the height and distance from the heated rocks. The top bench will experience more heat.
• If you are planning on installing an infrared sauna, be advised that there are units on the market that come with rod-shaped heaters which cannot produce enough infrared waves to be effective. Get the flat ceramic heat emitters.

In addition, if you a planning a permanent sauna addition to your house and think you’ll also be selling and moving in a few years, you might consider building your sauna handicapped accessible. It should have a level floor entry and a 36-inch doorway instead of the standard 24-inch door.

Finally, when drawing up your sauna building plan, make sure you think about how you’d like to relax in the room. The bench and backrest need to be comfy if you will be sitting most of the time. If you prefer to lie down or if you’re a large person, then keep that in mind before making your final sauna plans.

Sauna Plans - Some Final Thoughts

The ultimate goal of any sauna plan is to create a comfortable, enjoyable, therapeutic space that you look forward to using as often as you can.

You may be able to go it alone, but it always helps to have some assistance to ensure that you do everything right...after all, it's a labor intensive process.  Even if it's just you doing the project, it helps to do a little research, watch some videos, consult with experts...just get as much insight as you can to make sure you have everything covered.

Again, give strong consideration to your woods and heater choices.  That's the meat and potatoes of any sauna plan.  Be aware of your measurements and make sure you consider the wiring, ventilation, space and position of all of the elements to ensure the ideal outcome.

Related Article:

Sauna Construction Plans for Indoor Units