ADVANTAGES TO A SAUNA MATERIAL KITThe Sauna Material Kit provides all the special components necessary to properly and easily build your sauna. The sauna kit provides specific cedar lengths. Builder supply warehouses and lumber yards generally carry only 8' or random lengths which creates a lot of waste. The sauna kit also includes such items as cedar molding and door casing which are not readily available.
At Saunafin, our sauna kits have no seams. We provide only full-length boards (up to 8')

COSTWhen using Clear Cedar for your sauna, there is no better value than one of our home sauna kits. Lumber supply and Big Box Building warehouses, carry either premium priced 8' or random length (6'-20') (if they carry clear cedar at all). Saunas are generally small rooms. Most use 4',5',6' and 7'. Major mills set aside these high quality "shorts" as less valuable. Well, not for saunas. Saunafin orders truckloads of shorts at preferential prices and we pass those savings on to our customers.
When purchasing a Saunafin material kit, the heater and door are included at wholesale price levels, making the kit that much more valuable.
Purchasing a kit vs. buying your sauna "a la carte" will generally save you $400-$800.

SAUNA KIT VERSATILITYIt is easy to customize a sauna material kit. If the sauna is part of a larger renovation; such as a finished basement, or addition, it is easy to incorporate the sauna kit into whatever space is available. The sauna can be installed to suit particular settings; for example, the exterior can be drywall and painted to match the outside decor of a bathroom.

NOTHING COULD BE EASIERWith the Saunafin Material Kit, building a sauna is one of the simpler do-it-yourself projects. Our rule of thumb is: If you can erect the stud framing, you will have no problem installing the sauna kit. It is designed specifically for the do-it-yourselfer and renovator. The bench framing, heater guard, and moldings are pre-cut. We even include the galvanized nails. If you have not built a sauna before, you will find the instruction booklet and drawings easy to follow.

DO I HAVE TO USE WESTERN RED CEDAR FOR MY SAUNA?While other materials are occasionally used, Western Red cedar is by far the most popular, most attractive and most durable. Cedar has a mild, pleasant fragrance that many people associate with saunas. Western Red cedar's particular properties allow it to expand and contract. This is important in a sauna where the wood is exposed to extremely high, dry temperatures, interspersed with blasts of humidity when water is splashed on the heater or the walls.

QUALITYOur Clear cedar material kits use only kiln-dried, clear, grade 'A' and better, tongue & groove Western Red cedar. The cedar is thick enough to ensure maximum strength & durability and finished on two sides to provide for the best overall finish. Our most popular material kits use 2 x 4 Clear cedar for benches and bench framing (unlike most others who use 1 x 4).
(Our LK Prime Knotty sauna kits use only STK (select tight knot) Westerrn red cedar for lining and clear cedar for the benches)

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO BUILD THE SAUNA?The installation time will vary somewhat with the size of the sauna and the package & options selected. On average, the sauna kits are installed in 14 - 20 hours. With the specified lengths, pre-sorted components and pre-hung door, you will save at least 4 - 8 hours on your installation time.

ADVANTAGES TO A SAUNA MATERIAL KITThe Sauna Material Kit provides all the special components necessary to properly and easily build your sauna. The sauna kit provides specific cedar lengths. Builder supply warehouses and lumber yards generally carry only 8' or random lengths which creates a lot of waste. The sauna kit also includes such items as cedar molding and door casing which are not readily available.
At Saunafin, our sauna kits have no seams. We provide only full-length boards (up to 8')

COSTWhen using Clear Cedar for your sauna, there is no better value than one of our home sauna kits. Lumber supply and Big Box Building warehouses, carry either premium priced 8' or random length (6'-20') (if they carry clear cedar at all). Saunas are generally small rooms. Most use 4',5',6' and 7'. Major mills set aside these high quality "shorts" as less valuable. Well, not for saunas. Saunafin orders truckloads of shorts at preferential prices and we pass those savings on to our customers.
When purchasing a Saunafin material kit, the heater and door are included at wholesale price levels, making the kit that much more valuable.
Purchasing a kit vs. buying your sauna "a la carte" will generally save you $400-$800.

SAUNA KIT VERSATILITYIt is easy to customize a sauna material kit. If the sauna is part of a larger renovation; such as a finished basement, or addition, it is easy to incorporate the sauna kit into whatever space is available. The sauna can be installed to suit particular settings; for example, the exterior can be drywall and painted to match the outside decor of a bathroom.

NOTHING COULD BE EASIERWith the Saunafin Material Kit, building a sauna is one of the simpler do-it-yourself projects. Our rule of thumb is: If you can erect the stud framing, you will have no problem installing the sauna kit. It is designed specifically for the do-it-yourselfer and renovator. The bench framing, heater guard, and moldings are pre-cut. We even include the galvanized nails. If you have not built a sauna before, you will find the instruction booklet and drawings easy to follow.

DO I HAVE TO USE WESTERN RED CEDAR FOR MY SAUNA?While other materials are occasionally used, Western Red cedar is by far the most popular, most attractive and most durable. Cedar has a mild, pleasant fragrance that many people associate with saunas. Western Red cedar's particular properties allow it to expand and contract. This is important in a sauna where the wood is exposed to extremely high, dry temperatures, interspersed with blasts of humidity when water is splashed on the heater or the walls.

QUALITYOur Clear cedar material kits use only kiln-dried, clear, grade 'A' and better, tongue & groove Western Red cedar. The cedar is thick enough to ensure maximum strength & durability and finished on two sides to provide for the best overall finish. Our most popular material kits use 2 x 4 Clear cedar for benches and bench framing (unlike most others who use 1 x 4).
(Our LK Prime Knotty sauna kits use only STK (select tight knot) Westerrn red cedar for lining and clear cedar for the benches)

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO BUILD THE SAUNA?The installation time will vary somewhat with the size of the sauna and the package & options selected. On average, the sauna kits are installed in 14 - 20 hours. With the specified lengths, pre-sorted components and pre-hung door, you will save at least 4 - 8 hours on your installation time.

Customers Pictures: https://www.saunafin.com/galleries/customers-pictures
Our Installations: https://www.saunafin.com/galleries/our-installations

Clear Cedar

Plus or Premium or Floating

LK Plus

LK Plus (“the original”) was the first style of sauna kit we began with over 50 years ago. Still the big seller, but the increasingly popular Premium and Floating bench kits are gaining traction.

2x4 cedar for bench tops and bench framing.

Standard heater is the Sauna Craft CWM series with TPT3 mechanical control. Upgraded Sauna Craft and Tylo are available as optional upgrades.

Optional & Upgraded doors, skirting, backrests, floor boards & accessories.

LK Premium As LK Plus with a bunch the most popular upgrades and upgrades included in the package. 2x4 bench tops & framing. Includes upgraded Sauna Craft CW-XR heater & EL-13 electronic control. Built in designer backrest behind top bench. Cedar skirt in top bench riser. Sauna bucket & ladle, thermometer and light shade.

LK Floating bench As LK Plus except for the benches. With the floating bench style, you provide your own bench sub-structure( 2x6 or 2x4 SPF (spruce, pine, fir). We provide 1x4 s4s cedar for bench tops. There are no legs or floor supports. The bottom bench extends fully under top bench. Floating bench is an increasingly popular style with those looking for more modern, open appearance. It is especially popular with those selecting a full frameless glass front wall

All tongue & groove (t&g) lining material is 11/16” thickness
Full lengths (up to 8’) for t&g cedar for walls & ceiling. (May be limited to one wall of 8’ full length per sauna.)

Knotty Cedar

1x4 vs 2x4 vs. Floating Benches

The Econo Kits are cost packages using the ever-popular Western Red Cedar.
The cost saving is achieved in a couple of different ways.

One way is the wall/ceiling lining itself.

Knotty cedar has all the great qualities of clear cedar, but is significantly less expensive. Some also prefer the “rustic” look of knotty cedar. It is especially popular for outdoor and cottage saunas.

Another cost savings is the benches. The bench tops are 1x4 s4s cedar (as opposed to the 2x4 used in the LK Plus & Premium packages). To compensate for the thinner bench tops, we provide additional floor supports (legs)-no more than 30” on center.
The 2x4 bench tops are an optional.

Clear Hemlock

Floating Style Benches

Hemlock is a popular alternative to cedar. The color is a uniform light brown.

Hemlock is a “soft” hardwood that holds up well in saunas.

Hemlock sauna kits are only offered with the "floating style" benches.

The “Floating” benches have full depth bottom bench. Open below with no visible legs or bench supports. The Hemlock material provided hides the bench sub-structure.

You provide the SPF (spruce pine, fir) to frame the benches. The 1x4 s4s Hemlock seating surface conceals the framing.

Standard heater is the Sauna Craft CWM series with TPT3 mechanical control. Upgraded Sauna Craft and Tylo are available as optional upgrades

Clear Cedar

Plus or Premium or Floating

LK Plus

LK Plus (“the original”) was the first style of sauna kit we began with over 50 years ago. Still the big seller, but the increasingly popular Premium and Floating bench kits are gaining traction.

2x4 cedar for bench tops and bench framing.

Standard heater is the Sauna Craft CWM series with TPT3 mechanical control. Upgraded Sauna Craft and Tylo are available as optional upgrades.

Optional & Upgraded doors, skirting, backrests, floor boards & accessories.

LK Premium As LK Plus with a bunch the most popular upgrades and upgrades included in the package. 2x4 bench tops & framing. Includes upgraded Sauna Craft CW-XR heater & EL-13 electronic control. Built in designer backrest behind top bench. Cedar skirt in top bench riser. Sauna bucket & ladle, thermometer and light shade.

LK Floating bench As LK Plus except for the benches. With the floating bench style, you provide your own bench sub-structure( 2x6 or 2x4 SPF (spruce, pine, fir). We provide 1x4 s4s cedar for bench tops. There are no legs or floor supports. The bottom bench extends fully under top bench. Floating bench is an increasingly popular style with those looking for more modern, open appearance. It is especially popular with those selecting a full frameless glass front wall

All tongue & groove (t&g) lining material is 11/16” thickness
Full lengths (up to 8’) for t&g cedar for walls & ceiling. (May be limited to one wall of 8’ full length per sauna.)

Knotty Cedar

1x4 vs 2x4 vs. Floating Benches

The Econo Kits are cost packages using the ever-popular Western Red Cedar.
The cost saving is achieved in a couple of different ways.

One way is the wall/ceiling lining itself.

Knotty cedar has all the great qualities of clear cedar, but is significantly less expensive. Some also prefer the “rustic” look of knotty cedar. It is especially popular for outdoor and cottage saunas.

Another cost savings is the benches. The bench tops are 1x4 s4s cedar (as opposed to the 2x4 used in the LK Plus & Premium packages). To compensate for the thinner bench tops, we provide additional floor supports (legs)-no more than 30” on center.
The 2x4 bench tops are an optional.

Clear Hemlock

Floating Style Benches

Hemlock is a popular alternative to cedar. The color is a uniform light brown.

Hemlock is a “soft” hardwood that holds up well in saunas.

Hemlock sauna kits are only offered with the "floating style" benches.

The “Floating” benches have full depth bottom bench. Open below with no visible legs or bench supports. The Hemlock material provided hides the bench sub-structure.

You provide the SPF (spruce pine, fir) to frame the benches. The 1x4 s4s Hemlock seating surface conceals the framing.

Standard heater is the Sauna Craft CWM series with TPT3 mechanical control. Upgraded Sauna Craft and Tylo are available as optional upgrades

popular home sauna layouts

See Enlarged View of Layouts

home sauna layouts

See Enlarged View of Alternate Layouts

Construction Details

Click to view installation manual for your selected sauna kit:

Residential Sauna Rough In Details
Cold Cellar Considerations

"Clear Cedar Kits"
LK Plus installation manual (most popular)
LK Premium installation manual

LK with Floating Benches

"Knotty Cedar Kits"

"Hemlock Kits"

LK Hemlock Floating Bench

"Architectural Specifications"

Sauna Architectural Specification & Shop Drawing

Note: Below are merely short form instructions for your consideration. The material kit will come with a full manual including detailed drawings.

YOU SUPPLY:
Framing
Use 2 x 4 construction grade spruce studs to frame the walls and ceiling. If the ceiling span is over 10', use 2 x 6 studs. Unless otherwise specified, for saunas up to 8' x 8', the walls are LINED HORIZONTALLY and FRAMED VERTICALLY. Frame the walls at 16" on center. Frame or strap the ceiling to an inside height of 83-1/2". Frame the ceiling so that the cedar will run the shortest direction. Provide extra blocking for bench supports and heater.

Standard kit height 83_^1/2". Most Saunas are 7' height or lower. Minimum height is generally 75" to 78" depending on heater model.
Maximum sauna height should never be higher than 8'. If you really want higher, we strongly urge being as close to 7' as you can, i.e. 7'-4" or 7'-6". (Extra cost for additional cedar.)

Strapping
For standard horizontal lining, strapping is not required.
If lining vertically, strap (1 x 2 spf) over the foil to change direction. Can be used to create air space, but it is not necessary.

Wiring
Electrical rough-in of heater, control and light should be done at this time. If using an outside control, the thermostat should be installed at this stage. (See heater specifications and control wiring diagrams for wire and breaker sizes.) Hook-up of the heater and light can be done after the sauna is completed.

Insulation
The space between the studs in the walls and ceiling is filled with 3-1/2", R-12 fiberglass insulation.

WE SUPPLY:
Vapour Barrier
Foil vapour barrier over the inside edge face of studs over the insulation.

Lining
Use the specified lengths of tongue and groove cedar (see "Material Packing List"). Depending on the actual inside finished size of your sauna, it may be necessary to trim these boards. Nail through the tongue only in order to conceal all nail heads (Blind nailing). Use the 1_^1/2" nails supplied. Install the tongue and groove to the ceiling first. Start lining the walls at the floor and work your way up. The first board should be left about 1/2" off the floor. Cut the last board to fit.

Fasteners
Fasteners supplied are galvanized nails and treated deck screws. All fastening is to be blind nailed.

Benches
Depending on kit selected, there are clear 1 x 4 or 2 x 4 boards for bench top construction. Depending on the actual inside finished size of your sauna, it may be necessary to trim these boards. Before doing any fastening, select the boards to make sure the better face of the board comes out on the sitting surface. When building the benches, the better side will be face down as you are fastening from the bottom. This is so there are no nails or screws on the finished surface. Use the treated nails and screws supplied. If the sauna is 5' or more deep, the top bench is 20" deep and the bottom bench is 16" deep. If the sauna is 4' deep, the benches will be 20" & 8". Spacing between the bench boards should be about 9/16". (You can make gap smaller, but it will affect overall bench depth. You will have to adjust framing accordingly).
It is important to have two tier benches. the warmest air is closer ot ceiling. Sitting at a lower level, you will not feel the heat.

Door (door pictures)
Door Rough Opening.
Standard: Frameless door Rough Opening: 27-1/2" x 76-1/2"
Optional: Cedar framed door style Rough Opening 26" x 76-1/2"
ROUGH OPENING: If unsure which door you want we recommend going with the wider. You can always reduce and trim later.
Frameless glass door has jamb on four sides. And comes with detachable spacer for bottom which has channel for back up ventilation
With spacer, rough opening will be 27-1/2" x 76-1/2"

Cedar framed door with 16" x 64" insulated glass or Solid cedar door with smaller 12"x24" insulated glass.
All doors are Pre-hung on jamb.
Frameless Glass Door = 24" x 72". With bottom spacer, Rough Opening=27_^1/2 x 76_^1/2".)
Cedar Door Style. Size = 24" x 74". Standard Rough opening=26" x 76_^1/2".
Larger and custom doors available (i.e Tall Door=24"x78", Commercial Door=28"x78", Handicap Access=36"x78")
SAUNA DOORS SHOULD OPENS OUT.

Heater
Sauna Craft CW- model heaters can be mounted in the corner or on a straight wall.
Tylo (& Saaku) Sauna Heaters are designed to mount on the straight wall.

Heater Guard
Use the 2 x 2 for the vertical posts and the 1 x 3 for the horizontal rails.

Floor (optional)
Use 1 x 4, square edge laid over 1x4 sleepers. Build as with benches with good face on walking surface. Top boards should be spaced approx. 5/8" apart. The sleepers should be placed at 1'-0" on center.

Other Considerations
Drainage
Commercial (public) saunas should have a drain in the center of the floor (sloped to the drain) to facilitate cleaning.
Most residential saunas have drains, but it is not essential. Water should only be used in moderation. (Our rule of thumb: If you are doing complete reno; i.e., breaking floors, new shower & bathroom, etc., we would suggest a sauna drain. If you are putting sauna in to an already finished area, it is likely not worth the cost to add a drain.

Tile
For residential, tile is attractive and functional; however, it is also acceptable to leave cement. If sauna is on upper level with wood sub-floor, there should be a rubber membrane, cement scratch coat and tile (like shower floor).
If floor is sloped to drain, mosaic tiles are best.
You may add a tile baseboard up the wall 2-3"

Construction Details

Click to view installation manual for your selected sauna kit:

Residential Sauna Rough In Details
Cold Cellar Considerations

"Clear Cedar Kits"
LK Plus installation manual (most popular)
LK Premium installation manual

LK with Floating Benches

"Knotty Cedar Kits"

"Hemlock Kits"

LK Hemlock Floating Bench

"Architectural Specifications"

Sauna Architectural Specification & Shop Drawing