To get your sauna area ready, in your backyard:

1. Stake off the area. Mark off your 8′x12′ rectangle area with carpenter string.
2. Prep the area. Pull off the sod and try to level off the area as best as possible.  If your sauna is going to go on uneven ground, don’t worry about it, you can level the area with block.
3. Prep the perimeter. Dig around the perimeter, extended out a few inches from your perimeter.  Back fill the area with some gravel to assist drainage and to give your frame a nice resting area.
4. Use a level. With a long board, check your bedding to get it as level as possible.  Here is where you can use block to level out the ground where you’ll be building your sauna.

I suggest building your backyard Finnish sauna right on this grade.  If you move or want to drag your sauna to a sauna party, who knows, you may just want to back up a trailer and take it with you.  Chances are, you’ll fall in love with your own authentic Finnish sauna.