How to Build a Home Sauna - Three Important Questions to Answer Before Building
Considering that home saunas are believed to produce numerous health benefits and provide a relaxing spa experience, it's no wonder than more and more people want to know how to build a home sauna. The answer to this question depends on several factors, including your budget, the space available, and how handy you are. There are three important questions to answer before you begin building your home sauna.
What Will You Use For Heat?
The first factor to evaluate when planning how to build a sauna is your heat source. Will you use electricity, gas, wood or some other type of energy? Many people consider the wood-burning sauna to be the top choice, especially if you have easy access to wood and no hesitations about burning it.
Wood provides a pleasant aroma and a traditional atmosphere, but obtaining the wood can be quite labor intensive unless you buy it already cut. Before choosing this heating method, it is also important to know if local building regulations will allow a wood stove, and if your home owner's insurance will cover it.
Electric stoves are most popular with people who don't have a wood supply available or who don't want to spend time and money cutting and hauling wood or dealing with ash disposal. Nearly all homes have electricity available already, so it is a convenient heat source for both indoor and outdoor saunas. In addition, electricity is the standard power source for infrared saunas, which produce radiant heat with special electric heaters. If you are interested in infrared saunas, electricity will likely be your heating source.
Gas is usually cheaper than electric and provides a practical choice for those concerned about budgets. It is a clean fuel source and relatively easy to obtain no matter where you live. When using gas as a heating source, it is important to test for carbon monoxide.
Often times, your heat source will determine whether you build an indoor sauna or an outdoor structure. If you use wood for heat, it may be inconvenient and messy to haul wood into the house. And insurance policy may only allow wood heat in a separate, outdoor building. Also, an electric heater requires wiring that may not be available for a large model or outdoor sauna without an expensive bill to an electrician.
Where Will You Put Your Sauna?
Once you have decided how you will generate heat in your home sauna, the next step is to decide where you will put the sauna. As has been mentioned, your heat source may impact where you decide to locate your sauna.
For example, if you intend to heat with electricity, you may not be able to put your sauna down on the edge of the lake without special wiring brought in. If you plan to cut your own wood, you may want to place your sauna close to the woodpile.
In addition, for steam saunas, a water supply is an important consideration when deciding on a location. Indoor saunas may need to have plumbing and drains installed. Outdoor saunas will also need plumbing unless you intend to collect water or haul if from a faucet or nearby pond.
But many of these choices are purely for convenience or budgetary reasons. In reality, your choices for a sauna location are limited only by your imagination, and people have come up with some very creative sauna locations and designs.
In addition to more traditional home saunas built in bathrooms, basements or in separate sauna buildings, people have put saunas on floating platforms in a pond or lake; they have built them on trailer beds, and even in a van or the back of a pickup. Of course these unique plans may require a bit more adaptation or special materials, but the Internet is filled with design plans for all types of saunas from standard to sensational.
What Design Features Do You Want?
Choosing your design is the next step in building a sauna. Do you want something simple that is prefabricated and ready to put together? Or do you want to cut the wood and collect the stones yourself? Are you handy with tools or at least willing to learn? Or would you prefer to hire someone who knows how to build a sauna?
Another design aspect is the size of the sauna. How many people do you plan to accommodate? How big do you want your stove or heater to be and how much are you willing to spend for heat and materials? Do you want a shower area included? How about a room for changing or cooling off? All of these questions will help you determine the size of your sauna, which in turn will impact your overall design.
Infrared saunas and some smaller, standard saunas come as precut kits with the wood, heaters, rocks, or other materials all included. These kits can often be assembled in just a few hours. Many manufacturers will take your dimensions and cut the materials to fit, often including benches and pre-hung doors.
Maybe you want to use an existing design or create one of your own. Brochures from sauna manufacturers and retailers provide good ideas, and staff usually are willing to answer questions. In addition, there are numerous Internet sites that are devoted purely to saunas and related information. Many include design plans and instructions as well as discussion forums to ask questions and learn from others' experiences. A simple search will bring up both personal Web sites and those from manufacturers.
When deciding how to build a sauna, the wide variety of choices in designs, locations, materials and heat sources make the planning fun, yet essential, to the overall success of the project. The nearly limitless options available in saunas make it easy to find a home sauna to fit any budget, location, and lifestyle.
About the Author:
C.J. Gustafson is a successful writer for Saunas-N-Sauna-Kits.com, providing consumer information on sauna kits. She is a self-proclaimed sampler of Finnish saunas, and is always on the lookout for unique designs in home saunas.
 Google News Updated : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:49:35 GMT McCain, Obama question each other's character in latest campaign ads - Baltimore Sun
Baltimore Sun - By Paul West | paul.west@baltsun.com Washington - The presidential contest turned increasingly nasty yesterday as Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain launched new personal attacks ahead of the second presidential debate. Video: AP Campaign Minute The Note: McCain Brings Attack to Second Debate Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:47:50 GMT OTC Cold Medicines to Be Relabeled for Young Children - Wall Street Journal
Wall Street Journal - By JENNIFER CORBETT DOOREN WASHINGTON -- Companies making over-the-counter cold and cough medicines have agreed to stop marketing the products to children younger than 4 as part of an effort to reduce accidental overdoses, an industry trade group said ... Video: Cold Meds Under Fire, Again ALERT: Drug Companies Warning to Parents Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:15:50 GMT Senator Warned a Friend That Jail Was a Risk - New York Times
New York Times - By NEIL A. LEWIS WASHINGTON - The day after the FBI confronted Bill Allen, an Alaska oil services millionaire, with evidence that he had tried to bribe state lawmakers, he reached out to Senator Ted Stevens by telephone to discuss how their ... Stevens unplugged: a defiant, salty health nut “I Love You, You Know,” and More Revelations from the Stevens Trial Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:35:08 GMT IMF Urges Coordinated Action, Sees US Losses at $1.4 Trillion - Wall Street Journal
Wall Street Journal - By TOM BARKLEY WASHINGTON -- With losses on bad US assets alone expected to top $1.4 trillion, the International Monetary Fund urged global policy makers Tuesday to coordinate a response to an unprecedented financial crisis that continues to spread. IMF warns of deeper slowdown amid crisis IMF in 'severe downturn' warning Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:21:55 GMT Study: Using fan on sleeping baby reduces risk of SIDS - San Jose Mercury News
San Jose Mercury News - By Linda Goldston Ayde Gonzales's mother was surprised when she insisted that her newborn son must sleep on his back, not on his side. Fans May Reduce Babies' Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Fan in Room Seems to Cut Infants’ Risk of Crib Death Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:46:19 GMT Kenya Detains US Author Critical of Obama - New York Times
New York Times - By JEFFREY GETTLEMAN NAIROBI, Kenya - The American author of a best-selling book highly critical of Senator Barack Obama was detained by Kenyan immigration agents on Tuesday as he prepared to give a press conference in Nairobi. Kenya Detains Author of Anti-Obama Book US anti-Obama book author faces Kenya deportation: officials Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:00:27 GMT Police say Kentucky woman kills self, daughters - Forbes
Forbes - AP 10.07.08, 9:30 AM ET Police were still trying to determine Tuesday why a Louisville woman apparently stabbed her two school-age daughters to death and then shot herself. Police say Kentucky woman kills self, daughters Police say Louisville woman kills self, daughters Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:38:46 GMT Increase Web Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... My favourite episode of Bugs Bunny is the one where... Read More The cost of furnishing a conservatory can catch many people... Read More They're affordable and come in a wide variety of styles... Read More Window coverings serve an important role in your home, giving... Read More BE PREPARED -- Building a house is lots of fun,... Read More After September 11, many of us decided to stay closer... Read More The tradition of hardwood floors dates back hundreds of years,... Read More It doesn't matter if you live in a hot climate... Read More It is important to prepare a budget for your kitchen... Read More Directions for HAND Stripping.Work with plenty of ventilation, safety goggles... Read More Small cabin plans - how do you find that special... Read More "I keep the subject of my inquiry constantly before me,... Read More A larger air conditioner will not always provide more cooling.... Read More Not all bathrooms can be lavish spaces with whirlpool tubs... Read More Before talking to any contractors the first thing to do... Read More Unfinished furniture has started to become extremely popular in the... Read More The purpose of a home ventilation system is to maintain... Read More My husband and I just completed our first remodel. It... Read More Most of us enjoy daydreaming about our perfect home. Do... Read More If you are dedicated to improving the indoor air quality... Read More Mailboxes crafted from copper give you traditional elegance and extraordinary... Read More Locking mailboxes made from durable, weatherproof materials are highly desirable... Read More Almost everyone knows about FHA mortgages. They are tailor-made for... Read More You are visiting a friend that has just had a... Read More In years past a patio was sort of a throw... Read More
Adsense
websites
The Techno-Witch and Magickal Appliances
Comparing Types Of Conservatory Blinds
The Benefits Of Wooden Flooring
Do You Know How To Use Window Coverings?
How to Deal With Contractors (So You Wont Go Mad!)
Outdoor Kitchens ? Simple and Sophisticated
Laminate Flooring is Built for the Twenty First Century
Ceiling Fans Look Great and Save You Money
Kitchen Remodeling Costs
Hand Stripping Furniture
Small Cabin Plans - Finding a Great Log Cabin Plan Online
Creating Your Joyful Home: Dawning of Your Emotions
Beat the Summer Heat - What Size A/C Do I Need?
How to Remodel A Small Bathroom
Homeowners ? Here is a Step by Step Guide to Help You Hire a Quality Home Improvement Contractor
Unfinished Furniture - Finish It Yourself!
The Benifits of Home Ventilation
Top Ten Remodeling Tips
Daydreaming About Your Home Makeover Projects
Clearing the Air on What to Look for in an Air Purifier
Buyers Guide For Copper MailBoxes
Styles And Varieties Of Locking Mailboxes For Sale
Use the FHA Mortgage Specifically Created for Home Improvement
Lighting up Your Life
Patios: The New Trend in Home Remodels
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
What Are Circuit Breakers?
Circuit Breakers are devices that stop the electrical current of... Read More
Beginning Interior Design
Beginning interior design is a challenging, exciting adventure that one... Read More
Pre-Fabricated Steel Buildings
More and more construction is being done with steel in... Read More
Helpful Kitchen Remodeling Ideas
Functionality and aesthetics are the two main objectives of any... Read More
Worktops and Countertops for Kitchens - Buyers Guide to Materials
Worktops and Countertops for Kitchens - Buyers Guide to MaterialsThe... Read More
To Picket Fences
Of the 359 homeowners in my area, 112 are running... Read More
Making Space for Sacred Space
When you read a great inspirational book, prayer, or article,... Read More
Kitchen Cabinets are The Soul of Your Kitchen
Kitchen cabinets reflect the heart and soul of the homeowner.... Read More
Trading in Corporate Office for Home Office
Six years ago, I had not yet turned on a... Read More
Installing a Brick or Paver Walkway
The use of Bricks or Pavers to create a walkway... Read More
Fire Hazard Alert - Is Your Dryer Ready to Ignite
In recent years there has been many stories about dryers... Read More
Contractor Referral
"As a contractor with 16 years of experience and speaking... Read More
Complete Home Rehab In 10 Days
This report is about taking a house and restoring it... Read More
Conservatory Planning Permission in the UK
It is quite unusual in the UK for a new... Read More
Ten Things You May Not Know About Selecting Hardwood Flooring
1) Red Oak is not the only choiceIf you want... Read More
The Truth About Honda Pressure Washers
"What they don't tell you about Honda Pressure Washers"I recently... Read More
Home Automation Enhances Your Lifestyle and Saves Money - Exciting Home Automation Applications
Wouldn't it be nice to have your home take care... Read More
Bathroom Designs Idea - Can I Design My Own Bathroom?
A bathroom designs idea -- can I really design my... Read More
How to Deal With Contractors (So You Wont Go Mad!)
BE PREPARED -- Building a house is lots of fun,... Read More
Planning Permission Tips UK - Pre-application Enquiries to the Council - Is the Delay Worthwhile?
The holiday season is now in full swing & for... Read More
Paving The Way For Californias Asphalt Consumers
The California asphalt paving industry is ever-changing and in order... Read More
Ceiling Fan Blades
A ceiling fan consists of three basic parts, namely the... Read More
What does it take to be an Interior Designer?
When trying to decide if Interior Design is right for... Read More
Poster, Print or Painting - Where Are You Going To Put It?
If you are redesigning or decorating a room, or house,... Read More
Breaking Away from White Wall Paint
Paint is one of the most affordable and easiest ways... Read More
Home Improvement |