How to Build a Finnish Sauna

According to the Finnish, nothing comes before good health, which is usually attributed to the saunas, that can be found in almost every home, gym and workplace. A sauna can be built anywhere, be it indoors or outdoors. If you are keen on the outdoor Finnish sauna plans, then you can build it as a freestanding structure, or convert an outdoor shed into a sauna. The authentic Finnish sauna is the one which is built near a body of water, say a lake or a river. There are different types of saunas, which use materials like wood, stones and even electricity to produce heat. The traditional Finnish sauna plan implements the use of wood to generate heat. However it is not always possible to go hunting for a water body and build a Finnish sauna. So saunas can be built in your backyard, or you may even convert a room in your house.

Instructions for Building a Finnish Sauna

It is not exactly a Herculean task to build your own sauna. With a few basic carpentry skills, you can chalk out an outdoor or home Finnish sauna plan, and build it according to your comfort and requirement. The sauna can be built using materials like wood or tiles. If you are not so keen in building a Finnish sauna from scratch, then you can avail sauna kits. These do-it-yourself sauna kits can be purchased from hardware stores and even online and are quite affordable.

• Before building the sauna, choose an appropriate place for the sweat house. You can find instructions on constructing a sauna on the Internet. The sauna kit may also contain an instructions manual, regarding the method of assembling the parts.
• Create the frame of the sauna on all the sides of the ceiling. The wooden frame should be measured as 2 x 4 on all sides and should be shaped as a square. The walls should be covered with the siding, and the base should also be covered with 2 x 4 wooden planks. Treating the wood before installation will help protect it from getting damaged due to moisture.
• The walls should be insulated using fiberglass. Make sure that all the corners are covered, so that the vapor does not escape. You can also install a vapor barrier in the wall, which prevents the accumulation of moisture inside the walls, which may lead to the spoiling of wood.
• The floor can be made of linoleum or tiles, which should be waterproof. Before laying the floor, take appropriate measurements so that you don't cut out extra linoleum. Secure the ends of the linoleum to the floor, so that it does not roll over.
• After creating a frame for the sauna, the next step is insulation. The insulation must be heat and fire resistant to avoid accidents. You can install a sauna gas heater or a stove where wood or coal can be burnt to emanate heat. In case, you are planning to insulate the sauna with a stove, build a chimney as an outlet for smoke. For the gas heater, get in touch with a licensed contractor, who will guide on the heater installation. Electric heaters can also be installed, to insulate the sauna. However, take proper precautions while working with electricity.

Take care while assembling the ready-made sauna kit in terms of lighting and adding the heat elements, so that you have no problems. If you require any special permits for the building, specially for the outdoor sauna, obtain it from the local authorities. Once you are done you can enjoy this luxurious (or a necessity, according to the Finnish) addition.