Building sauna benches

There are a few different ways to build sauna benches, and here’s a play by play on my favorite.

Keep in mind:

1. Hide the knots
2. Hide your screws
3. Make your benches 1/4″ less than your actual wall to wall dimensions.

Supplies:

1. 2×4 cedar
2. 1×3 cedar
3. 2 1/2″ wood screws

Tools:

1. table saw
2. miter saw
3. drill

Build your frames:  Cut your lengths and ends and screw them together to make a rectangle.  I like 18″ wide benches: two 2×4′s  + five 1×3′s + spacing = 18″.

Cut and screw in a 1×3 inside the two frame ends so that when you set in your decking it will lay flush with your frame.

Rip your cross members:   You’ll want to rip some 2×4′s down the middle, creating 1 1/2″ x 2 1/4″ stock.  This is optimal wood depth for your 2 1/2″ screws.  You will be screwing your decking from underneath.

Set your cross members:  Space out the cross members evenly.  Screw them into your frame recessed 3/4″ below your frame so, again, your decking will lay flush with your frame.

Lay out your decking:  I like to get a total picture of all my lumber stock so I can choose the best sides and best wood match.

Cut your decking:  Measure from inside your frame to the other end.  Cut your 1×3 deck lengths.

Screw your decking from below:  A little wood glue may help.

To set your upper benches,  screw into your wall a 2×4 header at 28 1/2″ from the floor all the way around your sauna where your upper benches go (note the location of your studs, screw through your t&g cedar and into the studs behind.. use 3″ or 3 1/2″ screws for this).  Set your upper bench on top of your header with a couple screws (you’ll be happy you made your benches 1/4″ less than your wall width).

For your lower benches, make a couple sets of legs 12 1/2″ tall.  Under the bottom of your bench feet, screw in rubber thingy’s so the wooden feet are not right on your sauna floor.  This prevents ”wicking” of moisture.  If you are from Jamaica, you can be resourceful and use beer caps for this (very irie how Jamaicans recycle used Red Stripe caps as washers for their corrugated iron fences).

Your lower benches will sit at 16″ (12 1/2″ + 3 1/2″) and your upper benches at 32″.