Considering whether to build a wood burning sauna or an electric sauna?  You may want to read below.. I’ll post all comments.

on scratch paper in a dimly lit changing room, with a couple beers, taking a sauna with an architect and contractor friend, while at my island lake cabin:

1. Compact: 8′x12′ overall dimensions.  Most building codes don’t require a building permit for structures less than 100 sq. ft.
2. Efficient: a 6′x8′ hot room is a nice size.  Big enough to accommodate as a one person sauna to a six person sauna, yet small enough to heat quickly and efficiently.
3. Divine proportion: the golden ratio of architecture, harmony within nature, plus all your building materials come in dimensions that offer minimal cutting and waste (to burn in your sauna stove).
4. Two rooms: Critical in cold climates.  Just as grocery stores have double doors as an energy saver, your sauna should have a changing room.  It’s impossible to have an efficient sauna if the door from the hot room opens to the outside.  Close the door!
5. Dual benches: Consider pushing your internal wall a few inches, 6′4″ bench length is a magic dimension.  One person can stretch out, laying on the sauna bench or three people can sit comfortably.  Duel benches allow for good flow.  One can alter the two bench plan, and there is a good argument that having an “L” bench instead, modesty, privacy wise.
6. Versatile: A great sauna party by night can also be a nice home office escape or kids play area by day.  Storage above your hot room, and allow yourself to make a cabin style patio, that flows out from your changing room.  Turn your 8×12 sauna into a backyard escape.
7. Odds & Ends: A few tips to consider:

• Put a dimmer light in your hot room.
• 7′ internal ceiling in hot room, never higher.  Less unneeded cube mass to heat.
• Before cedar paneling your sauna/changing room, wire for sound and Ovi/Nokia mobile device technology.  Plus, I’m a fan of music in the sauna.

“In tiny Teuva Municipality in the West Coast of Finland, mobile saunas get together at beginning of August. There are only two rules for the saunas. First they have to be mobilised and secondly they have to be so big, that one person can bath in the sauna. Every year there shall be some new sauna participators. There are no tickets, so you are welcome to join us. However for car park there shall charge of 2 euros.

In year 2008 there were 37 saunas and about 2000 persons. In year 2009 there were even more: 47 saunas and about 6000 persons. This event for all sauna friends was first time in the center of Teuva in year 2006 with 18 saunas and second time in Parra in year 2007 with 37 saunas.

Please bring your own towel and swimsuit and entire family along with you! One should be old enough to enjoy a sauna on their own to avoid any mishaps. However it becomes ones own responsibility in case of any mishap. ”

Glenn’s note: In the Finnish translation, they call it ”mishap” i call it “escort guests to the property line.”

• 8×12 structure
• 6×8 sauna room*
• 6×8 changing room
• dual benches on either side.
• stove centered along the back wall.
• 2×4 framed construction
• 5/12 roof pitch
• put a window in your sauna if you have a nice view.

I have been in over 100 saunas, and have sat in every one and have considered what’s good, bad and ugly with the design and construction of each sauna.

Some saunas are two man saunas, and don’t allow for a good sauna party.  Some saunas are bigger than a four man sauna and take too long to heat up, use too much wood, or the loyly (steam rising from tossing water on the rocks) never reaches you.  With divine proportion, according to the Greeks and confirmed by Da Vinci (thanks Matt), this is my ultimate sauna plan.

This design uses North American standard measurements, minimizing waste in construction and allowing for full cuts of material.  This design gives you a changing room, a critical space for privacy, having a beer between rounds, and a buffer for temperature extremes in cold climates.

TIP:  Frame the interior wall with 2×2’s vs. 2×4’s.  It is non load bearing, and the extra 2″ sure is valuable!

EXTRA TIP:  * The interior wall can be nudged slightly to allow for a slightly bigger sauna room (say 6′2″x7′4″ interior dimensions).  Four people can fit nicely along a 6′2″ bench, and it’s nice to lay along your sauna bench.  Remember, though, you’ll be having dual benches, a comfy sauna and ample changing room is the goal.   Having a bunch of people over for a sauna party?  don’t sweat it!  click here for the sauna party equation.

I accept the fact that an increased body temperature burns fat. I take issue with Infrared and the mechanisms by which infrared technology raises one’s body temperature. A wood sauna is a sauna. An infrared is a microwave.  Wood heat is a much more natural way to heat a sauna room.  Loyly (steam vapor from water tossed on hot sauna rocks) is a key component to any authentic Finnish sauna experience.  With infrared, you can’t toss water on light bulbs.

Go to Scandinavia, where folks have been taking saunas dating back a couple thousand years. Ask any Finlander (or this guy singing in the video) what he thinks of infrared ’saunas’ and he will confirm: infrared is NOT a sauna. Infrared is merely an easy way to market and exploit a great health and wellness tradition:

• Infrared light bulbs are cheap.
• Infrared ‘heaters’ plug into 110v, requiring no chimney’s or special wiring.
• Infrared companies can ship product to any sucker anywhere via flashy websites and trade shows.

Please read my page on free sauna information and become better informed.

Before you buy an infrared, take an authentic Finnish sauna.

1. 8×12 = 96 square feet, and under any building code restrictions i’ve ever heard of.  (Some municipalities require permits for structures larger than 100 or 120 square feet).
2. 8×12 allows for an ample size sauna room, say 6′x8′, as well as a 6′x8′ nice sized changing room.
3. An outbuilding can be customized to match your house: same siding, pitch, roof, even a cool out-patio for chilling out.
4. The 6′x8′ changing room can double as a home office, party space, or doghouse (figuratively) away from your primary residence.

There are three types of sauna stoves out there.  I happen to be a nut for the wood stoves, you can pick whichever ones are best for you but here’s my list.

1. Wood – wood stoves are more “green” especially the efficient ones.
2. Electric – A relatively new development, great for indoor: small areas or in basements.
3. Infared – Reminds me of when Joe Strummer of the Clash first went into the recording studio.  The band members began setting up their instruments as usual, and the sound engineer comes barging in, insisting the band members set up instead in separate rooms.  Joe asks why, and the sound engineer responds something about needing separation.  Joe responds: “I don’t know what separation is, but I don’t like it.”  This is my opinion exactly: I know nothing about infared saunas and don’t like them.