Which wood for sauna construction?
There are many different and beautiful types of wood that one can barely get enough of. However, not all wood types are actually suitable for sauna construction.
Due to the high temperatures, temperature gradients, and humidity in a sauna cabin, the corresponding woods must have special properties.
The most popular wood types for sauna construction:
Here, Nordic spruce, Canadian Hemlock, Alder, as well as Aspen, Thermo-Aspen and Canadian Red Cedar are suitable for wall cladding. These are available as solid logs and as profiled boards with tongue and groove.
For sauna benches, African Abachi wood is suitable due to its low thermal conductivity and the resulting high insulation capacity.
The woods are available in A-grade sorting as well as B-grade sorting.
Properties of Hemlock tongue and groove paneling:
The almost knot-free and robust wood of the Canadian Hemlock fir is ideally suited for saunas. It is rightly one of the most popular types of wood for the interior construction of sauna cabins.
It is easy to work with and impresses with its light yellowish-brown color with brown or light grey stripes.
The grain is predominantly straight, occasionally wavy. Even under extreme conditions, it does not warp and radiates heat evenly.
But what exactly do A and B grading mean?
The Hemlock A-grade is almost knot-free.
The Hemlock B-grade also includes woods with knots, loose knots, and defective boards (cracks). These are normal and must be taken into account and accepted.
Therefore, it is recommended to factor in 15% more wood to obtain the right amount of usable and beautiful boards.
Properties of Spruce wood:
Spruce wood is easy to work with, has a low weight, and is simultaneously very stable. This all-rounder wood is used for all kinds of purposes such as firewood, pressed wood, lumber, wood for interior finishing of saunas, garden houses, and much more.
The wood has more and smaller – tightly grown – knot inclusions – resin pockets – distinctive grain.
The Nordic spruce comes from Scandinavia and Poland.
Properties of Aspen and Thermo Aspen:
Aspen is a widespread deciduous tree. It is mainly found in the Baltic states and Central Scandinavia.
As it is a very stable wood type that is low in knots, resin, and splinters, and also tolerates moisture and high temperature fluctuations exceptionally well, it is very popular in sauna construction.
Aspen wood has a whitish to yellowish-white homogeneous color and the wood has no unique odor.
Through thermal treatment, resins and extracts are evaporated from the wood, making it permanently less water-absorbent and additionally particularly resistant to the influence of fungi and bacteria.
Properties of Red Cedar wood:
The Western Red Cedar wood from North America has a particularly aromatic scent. The unique scent comes from the essential oils contained in the wood. This is one reason for the resistance of this special wood type to bacteria and mold.
Its temperature and moisture resistance make it a very suitable wood for sauna construction.
Another feature is its exceptional color variations and grain. The color has a yellow to dark reddish-brown tone that runs along the length of the boards.
Properties of Alder wood:
Alder wood is pale yellowish to reddish-brown and has a homogeneous color. The fine grain gives the wood a very elegant look.
This type of wood is relatively soft and light, which ensures easy processing. It is very robust, resistant, dries well, and does not warp. These properties make it a very popular wood in sauna construction.
It is used as profiled wood for interior finishing, for benches, headrests, and other accessories.
Properties of Sauna woodAbachi:
The color of the light hardwood is pale yellow and the structure is slightly porous. Abachi wood can be worked very easily and cleanly with sharp tools. Despite its low density and light weight, Abachi has excellent insulating properties.
Therefore, it is preferably used where good thermal insulation properties are important.
However, it is less suitable as structural timber as it is not a load-bearing wood.
The A-grade is planed and rounded on 4 sides, without knots or cracks.
In the B-grade, there are color differences in the wood grain, black grain as well as knots, pressure marks, cracks and surfaces not cleanly planed on one side.
90% planed and rounded cleanly on 4 sides
10% planed and rounded cleanly on 3 sides
Here you will find an overview of the wood types offered for sauna construction with prices.
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