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As exciting as it sounds, well, building your very-own Sauna Room or Steam Shower from scratch at your home isn't easy and is definitely not for the faint–hearted. But, let not the warning stop you from trying and exploring things! The best part of this entire long-drawn process is that you get to enjoy your Sauna Room or Steam Shower in the luxury of your home and at the wishes and demands of your heart.
Saunas are beneficial to both physical and mental well-being, as well as adding a touch of Scandinavian style to your life. If you enjoy using the steam sauna at your local gym or health spa and want to bring this wonderful feature into your house, know that you may install a home sauna either indoors or outdoors.
And, for those who are up for this fun-filled ride, we present to you our take on "A step-by-step guide to build a DIY Sauna Room." So, hop on board!
Types of Saunas
The following saunas are some of your alternatives, depending on your tastes and the amount of space you have within or outside your home:
Wood-burning saunas (Finnish style): These produce smoke and are best suited for outside construction away from the main house.
Electric saunas: These are more suited for indoor use since they mimic the experience of a wood-burning sauna without the smoke.
Turkish Baths: Steam saunas, also known as Turkish baths, are tiled and produce a lot of steam. These should be placed by an expert since the moist air might induce mold.
Barrel saunas: These cylindrical constructions are normally manufactured for DIY installation and are meant to be used outside.
Shower-sauna combos: If you don't have enough space for a separate sauna room, they are a good option.
Infrared saunas: These aren't true saunas because they heat the body rather than the air, but they're a less expensive option that can be built indoors.
A step-by-step guide to build a DIY Sauna Room
A sauna room installation may be in a variety of methods, ranging from converting an interior area with a ready-made kit to creating a bespoke sauna from the ground up.
Set Up the Area
If you're converting an existing living space into a sauna, start by removing all of the walls and ceiling joists and framing out any new walls that will be needed. The sauna door should have a rough opening of 24 by 82 inches. The flooring could be either of cement, tiles, or vinyl – or, for the creative ones, a combination of all three of them!
Further, a plywood floor needs to be covered with tile or duckboard flooring in order to protect it.
Wire for Lighting
Install an internal light, a light switch, a sauna heating wire conduit, and outdoor controls in the sauna space. Install the gas pipe if you've chosen a gas heater. In case things go haywire or you're just unsure, call on a reliable plumber for gas line installation and an electrician for help with the wiring.
For technical support, contact an electrician for wiring assistance or a plumber for gas line installation.
Install Insulation
R-11 fiberglass insulation is used to insulate internal walls, while R-19 fiberglass insulation is used to insulate exterior walls. Make sure that you have the right size insulation for your stud spacing, either 16-inch or 24-inch.
Set up a Vapor Barrier
Inside the sauna, staple a foil vapor barrier to the walls and ceiling. Seams should be three inches apart at-least.
Put up the paneling.
Ensuring straight angles between the duo, nail the cedar paneling to the ceiling joists, beginning from one of the sides of the ceiling. Likewise, cover up the entire ceiling, leaving out holes wherever necessary for the lightboxes. Next, at the bottom ends of the walls, place the tongue and groove boards horizontally. Ensure that the groove boards face downwards, whereas the tongue boards should face upwards. For the paneling boards, install them in entire rows, checking the level once after every fourth row. Cut holes as and when needed for electrical fittings and cables.
Install the Sauna Heater
Install the Steamist sauna heater according to the manufacturer's instructions. Usually, they come with installation gear and require some clearance from the walls and the floor. Have your electrician connect the heater to the power supply, or follow the heater manufacturer's wiring and installation instructions.
Insert Sauna Heater Rocks
Saunas are generally equipped with Rocks and pebbles in order to balance out the heat and create steam currents. Wash the sauna pebbles once (to remove any unwanted dust or fine soil particles) before packing them loosely around the heater source. This ensures that the heat is evenly distributed and the heater and the Sauna room do not become uncontrollably hot. Next, fix the sauna heater grill to the heater's top.
Put the Sauna Benches in Place
Next up, assemble the sauna benches carefully. Ideally, a kit packs up a high and a low bench inside it. And these benches generally are 18 inches or deeper. Use a minimum of 2-by-2 timber for supports and 1-by-4 lumber for tops if you're custom-making your benches. If you like, this is also the time to install bench lighting.
Put the Sauna Door in Place
Install a sauna door that is already hung. Using shims to level up the door frame, fasten with screws through the door jamb into the rough aperture. Finally, before securing everything, ensure that the reveal is even, and any air pockets that might have been left should be filled. Fix the door handle to the frame lastly.
Trim it Down to Size
Trim the internal corners of the sauna. Handrails and backrests, as well as other accessories, can be installed at this stage.
Considerations for Safety
Building a sauna indoors is absolutely safe with the correct design and implementation. Choose an area that isn't too humid or prone to flooding. Hire a professional electrician for any necessary modifications to verify that all electrical wiring is up to code. When the sauna is finished, make sure you follow the manufacturer's recommended sauna services maintenance routine. Check the heating unit and controls for symptoms of burning, charring, or discoloration on a frequent basis. If you have any difficulties or inquiries, stop using it immediately and contact the manufacturer. Never leave towels or garments in the sauna that aren't being used.
When designing and setting up an outdoor sauna, there are a few safety precautions to keep in mind. Build in an area that is shielded from the elements. Use a flat, strong base. For steam saunas, proper drainage is essential.
If you've decided to embrace the sauna lifestyle and want to build your own, the last thing you need to know is how to utilize one. There is a routine and procedure that must be followed in order to get the full health advantages of a hot chamber. First and foremost, you want your sauna to be as clean as possible, which means that all bathers should shower before entering. While it is permissible to sit naked in a sauna, you should always maintain a towel between your skin and the wood bench. Use this as a chance to decorate your sauna with attractive apparel.
A sauna session should last 10 to 15 minutes, according to the recommended speed. Then, like a genuine Finn, go outdoors and cool yourself by jumping in the shower or right into a nearby icy lake. Finns typically smack themselves with a handful of birch twigs while in the sauna, which helps circulation and adds to the relaxing scent.
Another enjoyable pastime is to warm up the space by splattering water on the hot embers. This necessitates the use of yet another fantastic accessory: the bucket and ladle, which we like in complementing wood but may also be obtained in a contemporary aluminum finish. We recommend this super-in-depth blog or chatting with an expert contractor for further information about any sauna.
The Final Word
Well, a Sauna room may be a very profitable one-time investment for your house. It allows each family member to be refreshed and healthy on a daily basis without having to go out anywhere. Thus, while buying a Steam Bath Generator for your household might be an easy go-to option, constructing a Sauna Room or a Steam Shower is one great experience too (plus far more economical)! If nothing, one would surely feel empowered by their own DIY Sauna Room or a Steam Shower!
We really hope you liked our article titled "A step-by-step guide to build a DIY Sauna Room," and it did help you in building as well as exploring a Sauna Room / Steam Room for your Bathroom/household.
For any questions or curiosities, do reach out to us, and we'd be happy to help!
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