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For centuries the Finns and other cultures have been building
their own saunas granted for most of this time simple dugouts
were the style of choice. Today’s modern home has much higher
standards no one wants to crawl in a dark hole in the earth to
have a sauna bath anymore. Well today it is easy to build your
own sauna either indoors or outdoors.
The first step will be to decide on the size and the location
of your sauna. Will it be inside or out? Will it be a one
person, two or more? What type of heat source do you want to
use? An outdoor sauna will require more engineering as it will
need to be structurally sound weather proof and well insulated.
The typical construction of an outdoor sauna is with Cedar.
Cedar is widely used because it is extremely resistant to rot
and can tolerated the high moisture levels associated with a
sauna. Cedar is usually the first choice it is not the only
choice when it comes to a sauna actually any material that can
with stand the high temperature and high moister level can be
used material such as fiberglass and acrylic panels can be used
also. You may want to line your sauna with Cedar and have the
outside match the siding on your house.
Before you begin constructing your outdoor sauna consult with
your local township building department you may or may not need
a building permit. Typically the construction of the outdoor
sauna will be either on an existing cement slab or on a deck.
The floor should be insulated if building on a slab build a
raised floor to make room for insulation. The walls will be
typical 16 inch on center standard stud construction. You can
use a standard pre hung door or build a custom cedar door it is
a matter of personal preference. Generally the roof is done
with a rafter technique with a metal or shingled roof.
Once the shell is completed you can install the outside siding
the siding can be stained or natural Cedar or you can match the
siding of your house. After the siding has been installed you
can insulate the walls and ceiling the insulation will reduce
operating costs and allow for a quicker warm up of the sauna.
The final step is to finish off the interior most prefer
Cedar for this it is a good choice as it naturally is resistant
to mold and mildew that can be associated with a sauna, it also
smells and looks great. After the interior has been completed
you will need to install the heater you have four basic options
when it comes to heaters electric, infrared, natural gas and
propane and wood burning, each have advantages and
disadvantages you will need to decide which heater is right for
your application.
About The Author: Jake plumer writes for
http://www.hot-sauna.com.
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http://www.isnare.com/html.php?aid=148182
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