Make it easier to build your sauna by keeping the design simple.
An outdoor wood sauna can be a great place to relax and unwind, but their construction also requires a lot of skill and preparation. This is not a task for a beginner: you should only embark on this project if you have extensive experience in home improvement or construction projects.
Instructions
1. Check with your local city or county government, as well as any homeowner's association, to see if they have any restrictions regarding outdoor saunas. You may be required to purchase a construction permit or other license to move ahead with the project.
2. Select a location to build your sauna. A flat, hard surface is ideal, such as a slab of concrete or a brick patio. The foundation should be at least as large as the size of the sauna.
3. Choose a design for your sauna. You can either design the layout yourself, buy a pre-made design from a recreation store or online, or use a pre-made design as inspiration for your own. Keep in mind that the simpler your design, the easier it will be to sauna. Generally speaking, the sauna needs to have a floor, four walls, a door and a roof. While many saunas also contain benches, you can simply bring in a chair or pre-made bench to use instead. This will cut down on the construction demands of this project.
4. Pick a material for your wood sauna. You can use any type of wood for the sauna's exterior, but cedar is the traditional choice for the sauna's interior. This is because cedar tolerates dry heat well, and also emits a pleasant aroma.
5. Purchase the correct amount of wood for your project. This will depend on the size of your design. Pre-fabricated sauna kits come in a variety of sizes, but the smallest is 4x4 feet; if you plan on designing your own sauna, it should be no smaller than this.
6. Build the base of your sauna. If you're using a pre-fabricated design from a kit, you simply need to locate the floor piece. If you're constructing your own design from scratch, start by laying 2x4 inch pieces of lumber lengthwise 16 inches apart (the pieces should rest so the 2-inch segment is on the ground). Hammer plywood--or whatever type of wood you've chosen to use for the sauna's exterior--onto the 2x4s.
7. Construct the four walls for your sauna the same way you built the floor. If you construct a square sauna (like the 4x4 foot model mentioned above), all four walls will be the same size; a rectangular-shaped sauna will have two pairs of matching walls. The walls should measure at least eight feet in height, so users can stand up inside.
8. Set aside one wall to house the door. Buy the door you plan to use, and measure its dimensions. Using a circular saw, cut a space in the wall to accommodate the door. You will hang the door at a later time.
9. Set the walls into place on the sauna's floor. You will need at least two people for this task: one person to hold the wall straight, a second person to hammer it securely . Use a right angle to make sure the walls are square. The plywood portion of the frames should face the outside of the sauna, with the supporting 2x4s facing the sauna's interior.
10. Construct the roof of the sauna the same way you constructed the floor. The roof frame should be the same dimensions as the floor. Using a ladder, hoist the roof into place on top of the four walls and nail into place.
11. Add insulation between the 2x4s on the interior of the sauna.
12. Hammer cedar planking into place over the insulation, on the inside of the sauna. You will want to do this on the roof and walls in order to keep the heat generated by the sauna inside the structure.
13. Hang the door. This is another two-person job: one person will need to hold the door and make sure it's level, while the other person screws in the hinges that will hold it in place.
14. Install the sauna's heater. There are different heating options for a sauna, including hot coals or an electric heating element. This is a part you will have to pre-order, unless you purchase a pre-fabricated sauna kit that has the heater included.
15. Finish your sauna by adding extra design elements. You may choose to add shingles to the roof and walls to make it more aesthetically pleasing. You may also choose to paint or stain the wood, or use a water-sealant to help it last longer.
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