Prefab vs. Material Kit
PREFAB SAUNAS
(Also known as Pre Built Saunas)
- These saunas are pre-frabricated, hence the name.
- They can be assembled in 4-6 hours.
- With Pre-Fab saunas there is no additional framing or insulation. The walls are self-supporting.
- Everything is designed for quick assembly without specialized tools.
SAUNA KITS
(Also commonly referred to as Sauna Material Packages, Sauna Liner Kits, Do-It-Yourself Sauna Kits)
- A Sauna Kit refers to the inside "skin" of the sauna.
- You or your contractor build the frame walls, insulate and finish the exterior.
- The kits we provide come with cedar lining, a door, molding, benches, a heater, and the vapour barrier.
- You will trim the boards and nail them to the walls & ceiling.
- You will assemble and install the benches, hang the door, etc.
- Kits are installed permanently into a home (or club) during renovation or new construction.
- The installed kit can blended in to home decor and can be customized in to any shape or size.
- Sauna kits are more popular than pre-fab saunas
WHICH IS BEST FOR YOU?
Prefab
If you can't build a sauna yourself and can't get someone to build one, then a prefab is a viable option.
Perhaps you already have a finished basement and you do not want to deal with the mess of a full construction project.
Sometimes renovators do not want to "do" a sauna for whatever reason. In such cases we often see a pre-fab sauna and then the renovator drywalls around it so it appears built in.
Material Kit
If you are doing renovations, a material kit allows the sauna to be incorporated as part of the house finishes. It is not a stand-alone structure set off from the rest of the home.
There are some limitations with a pre-fab structure in terms of size and shape. With a built in sauna kit, you can build virtually any size or shape sauna.
A framed sauna with the stud cavity filled with insulation will have more insulation value. (The flip side is that a sauna is generally only on for an hour or so. The amount of heat loss in an hour is minimal. For the hour you are there, the sauna will feel hot.
