Build your own sauna - What do you need to consider?

Building Your Own Sauna

Everyday stress and other external influences that put pressure on body and mind are not only exhausting in the long run.

In the long term, stress can also make you sick.
Often, we lack the time or motivation to exercise or go to a sauna after a strenuous day. Yet, it is enormously important to simply relax and recharge.

You feel comfortable and can breathe deeply within your own four walls. And if there's a method to reduce stress, relax, and at the same time do something for your health, it's definitely saunas.

The Finnish and Russian tradition is gaining more and more followers in Germany. Not only in public saunas but also more and more people who are adding a private sauna/wellness oasis to their own home.

 

  

So you've decided to build a sauna yourself.

First, the question arises: where should the sauna cabin go?

Whether in the basement, in a spare room, bathroom, attic, or in the garden. You can build a sauna almost anywhere.

Building the sauna cabin yourself has many advantages. On the one hand, it is usually cheaper than a prefabricated element sauna, and on the other hand, you can determine the insulation thickness yourself, as this is usually not as strong in ready-made cabins.

Then you can integrate the cabin into an existing room, even with sloped ceilings, individually according to size and shape.

And last but not least, you can let your creativity run free and at the end, relax with pride in your self-built sauna cabin.

However, there are also a few things to consider before starting construction.

 

1. Space

No matter how small or large the sauna cabin becomes. A sauna needs space. Be sure to leave a minimum distance of 5 cm from the house walls.

The insulation on the sauna walls should be at least 5 cm thick. For the ceiling, preferably 8 cm. If you have the option, insulate the walls more thickly. Because the stronger the insulation, the less energy and heat are lost. This keeps the heat in the sauna room longer, and the heater operates efficiently and energy-saving.

The cabin width and depth can vary, but the usable room height should not be less than 190 cm.

It is optimal if the shower is not far away to cool down and clean yourself after the sauna.

 

2. Power connection

For sauna construction, you also need a high-voltage power connection in the immediate vicinity. Sauna heaters from 4.5 kW already operate with 380 V and require a 5 x 2.5² mains cable.

 

3. Air supply and exhaust as well as ventilation

The air supply and exhaust openings are among the most important aspects to consider when building a sauna cabin. The air supply opening is located under the heater (the opening dimensions may vary depending on the manufacturer).

The exhaust air opening should be placed diagonally to the heater, about 40 cm from the floor. These openings are open during the heating process and the entire sauna session.

Make sure to adhere to the specified dimensions. These are crucial for heat distribution and the proper functioning of the sauna heater.

If it is not possible to run an opening through the wall for the air supply, consider whether core drilling into the nearest room or outside is possible, or whether you can guide the exhaust air into the existing or adjacent room using a pipe.

To properly ventilate the room in which the cabin is located, a window is suitable. Otherwise, you should ensure mechanical ventilation to remove moisture from the room.

 

4. Sauna with glass front or classic, only made of wood

Whether classic in wood or modern with a glass front, both types of cabins are popular and look chic. Just keep in mind that a larger glass front also means greater energy loss. Here, it is important to calculate the room volume plus the glass front to determine the correct heater output.

 

5. The Floor

Tiles are best for the floor. If this is not possible, the floor should in any case be water-resistant.

Outdoors, the floor should always be insulated.

 

General preparations:

(Recommendation - information without guarantee)

• Build framework (construction, already consider where the sauna benches will be placed)
• To prevent mold growth, build rear ventilation between the house wall and the sauna wall. For indoor cabins approx. 5 cm and outdoor cabins approx. 10 cm)
• Where the sauna door will go
• Where the heater should be placed
• Prepare air supply and exhaust openings with construction timber (size depends on sauna heater output)
• The air supply opening for electric sauna heaters is located behind the sauna heater, approx. 10 cm from the floor
• The exhaust air opening should be diagonally to the heater, approx. 40 cm from the floor
• Lay cables (sauna heater, sensor, sauna lights)
• Insulate (rock wool)
• Aluminum foil as a vapor barrier (seal transitions etc. with aluminum tape, seal at the floor with silicone)
• 1.5 cm construction timber as intermediate rear ventilation
• Profiled wood
• Wood for the sauna benches
• The distance between the upper bench and the ceiling should be 110-120 cm