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The sauna building itself is a simple, small-framed building with a metal roof and board and batten siding. The eaves can be open or closed. The foundation can range from a gravel floor to a poured slab or a raised deck on footers or piers. The sauna on the left is built on concrete piers. The one below is raised on wood piers and is designed to be moveable so it can be transported to a new home if necessary.
The site of the sauna is an important consideration and should take into account the privacy afforded by year-round foliage. Ideally, there isa pond, lake, or creek nearby for an icy plunge. It should be far enough from the house so that you can get away from the bustle of the day but close enough so that fetching water and firewood is not a major chore.
moveable sauna building


The most basic sauna should have at least a dressing room in addition to the sauna room. A more elaborate sauna might even have a bathroom, shower and a place to sleep.

The dressing room adds character to the sauna and is very functional. It provides a clean place to change and relax while the stove heats up. It can also be a retreat from the main house or even a small guest cottage. Sitting in the dressing room and tending the fire is as much a part of the sauna ritual as the actual sweat.

The room is efficiently designed to hold 2-3 people while they change. As shown on the right, there are rustic twig hooks for clothes and towels, benches, shelves, a place for firewood, and a candle window to illuminate the sauna room.
dressing room with candle window
stove with hot water heater
The stove has a basket for rocks—for pouring water over to make steam. This stove has the optional water tank that is heated from the stove. The water helps hold the heat and keeps the humidity at a comfortable level. The hot water can then used for bathing when you are done sweating. The stove can also be built with a stainless steel heat shield (dull finish) that blocks the radiant heat of the stove and prevents accidental burns from touching the stove. The stove can get literally red-hot- and is designed to take it. The stove below is inserted into a stone-faced wall (over masonry board).
A wood-burning unit is preferable by most people but an electric unit (6-10 kw) can also be installed. The cost to install is about the same—provided you have good electric service available.
stove set into stone masonry

exterior view from dressing room area
This sauna on the left was worked into an attached mud room/garage area of a house. A sauna can be worked into many different spaces. It is separated from the main house by a firewall which is stucco below and Sheet-Rock above.

The basic size for a 4-6 person sauna room is 7-8x6-7 ft. This heats up easily in 45 minutes with an armload of wood. Two people can fully stretch out on the benches. Smaller or bigger is possible, depending on your needs. Big group saunas are possible. The minimum size would be 6x4 ft. with an electric heater. The stove installation is designed to meet fire code clearances. The overall size of the basic building is 8x12 ft.

I never build a sauna using pre-made kits, so any custom design idea you have for your dream sauna, such as the arched doorway on the right, is possible!


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