How to create your own Finnish-style outdoor sauna

Did you know there are two million home saunas in Finland? In a country of only 2.7 million households, that gives you an indication of just how ingrained saunas are in the Finnish lifestyle. The good news is enjoying a Finnish-style outdoor sauna is achievable for US families, too.

The availability of Finnish-style saunas in prebuilt kit form has slashed the overall cost of having a home sauna installed by a factor of four to five. That makes the concept affordable for far more US homeowners, even in these challenging economic times. Let’s find out what’s involved if you are contemplating a Finnish-style sauna as your next home improvement project.

What is a traditional Finnish sauna?

Finlandia is one of the leading sauna brands on the US market. As one might expect from a country where sauna bathing is part of everyday life, Finlandia outdoor saunas are made with quality and the utmost relaxation in mind. Finnish sauna kits are comprised of high-grade cedar walls, and a cedar shingle roof. They come in a range of sizes, from four feet square right up to eight by eight.

The kits are complete, freestanding and self-contained outdoor rooms that are crafted with speedy and effortless installation by the home DIY enthusiast in mind. They typically come with an appropriate Finlandia electric sauna heater as part of the package. This saves you the trouble of choosing a sauna heater that is right for your sauna’s design and size.

Choosing and preparing the right spot for your Finnish sauna

The choice of available sizes means you can fit a Finnish sauna into even the smallest garden or backyard. When selecting the ideal spot, consider a location that will provide privacy, perhaps shielded from the view of neighbors and passers-by by a fence or garden landscaping. Make sure the ground is level or can be levelled with relative ease. Finally, assuming you have opted for a Finnish sauna with an electric heater, reasonable proximity to a power source will make installation easier.

With the perfect spot chosen, it is time to prepare the groundwork. Allow an extra six inches length and width when preparing the base. Ideally, pour a concrete base for a solid foundation that will last a lifetime. For smaller saunas, it is sometimes acceptable to simply place concrete feet at the corners and either top with a wooden base or in-fill with pea shingle. Check the installation instructions for your chosen Finnish sauna and do not compromise or take short cuts, it is not worth it in the long run.

Choosing DIY or professional installation of a Finnish sauna

Prebuilt Finnish sauna kits are designed for home assembly. If you have basic DIY experience and all the usual equipment found in a home tool kit such as wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers and a mallet, you should have no difficulty assembling your sauna kit. However, keep the following two points in mind:

1. Even with a small 4x4 Finnish sauna, the wall panels and roof are quite heavy and awkward. For safe and easy assembly, be sure to enlist the help of an assistant.
2. If your sauna comes with an electric sauna heater, you will need to arrange for a licensed electrician to do the electrical installation. This is not just for safety, it is also a legal requirement in most US states.

If DIY projects are not your forte, assembling a Finnish sauna in your back yard is probably not the best first project. In this case, it is advisable to appoint a local builder or handyman who has the necessary skills and experience, both for laying the base and assembling your sauna. That way, all you have to do is watch the work progress and look forward to relaxing in comfort, Finland-style.