How to Build a Cedar Sauna: the Complete Guide to Building Your Own Cedar Sauna
Have you considered building a cedar sauna? Whether you’re a homeowner or a contractor, learning how to build a cedar sauna can boast numerous benefits. And, contrary to what you may have assumed, it’s easier than you think.
There are a few crucial factors to consider when building an effective and long-lasting cedar sauna. Investing in the #1 sauna cedar wood at G&B will help you make the most of this investment - as the durable materials will stand the test of time while offering an aesthetically pleasing look. However, the equipment required for a cedar sauna doesn’t end at just cedar wood - there’s more to the story.
In this article, we highlight the benefits of routine sauna use and teach you what equipment is needed to construct a cedar sauna. After that, we’ll teach you how to get started building a top-notch cedar sauna on your own! We’ve got a lot to cover, so let’s dive right in…
What are the Benefits of Building a Cedar Sauna?
So, what are the benefits of building a cedar sauna? This section will be broken down into two parts: the physical benefits and the mental benefits of regular sauna use.
Physical Benefits
Building a cedar sauna can offer plenty of physical benefits for you.
It has been shown through scientific studies that consistent use of a cedar sauna improves cardiovascular health. This is possible thanks to the high levels of heat that raise the heart rate and increase blood flow.
Other studies have shown that regular use of a sauna can reduce the risk of pulmonary diseases, stroke, chronic headaches, and neurocognitive diseases. This is thanks to heat therapy’s beneficial impact on the body, which improves circulatory and cardiovascular function.
Through a consistent routine, using the sauna can improve lung capacity and overall function as well. In addition, some research has suggested that sauna use can temporarily help with symptoms of asthma, chronic bronchitis, obstructive pulmonary disease, and COPD while reducing the risk of pneumonia.
Along with all this, there are some studies suggesting a sauna can aid in weight loss - but the jury is still out on all this. One thing we do know is that the sauna can help with detoxification - helping you remove impurities from your body through sweat. This can also help you recover from illness faster.
Mental Benefits
Though saunas are often touted for their incredible physical health benefits, there are plenty of magnificent mental benefits to take advantage of as well!
Routine use of a sauna has decreased the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. Levels of norepinephrine are raised, increasing alertness, memory recall, and focus.
Other studies highly suggest that consistent use of saunas can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and fatigue. New research hypothesizes that the stimulation of heat to the skin stimulates the production of serotonin. This neurotransmitter coincides with mood, sleep, motivation, and appetite. With its transmission, overall well-being is improved.
Should You Learn How to Build a Cedar Sauna - or Leave it to the Experts?
Is learning how to build a cedar sauna worth it? Find out below!
Pros of Learning How to Build Your Own Cedar Sauna
Learning how to build your cedar sauna can be more affordable than paying someone else. Think saving thousands of dollars! Of course, you should plan the installation process correctly to avoid any design flaws or other problems.
The process of building your cedar sauna can be a rewarding one. All the design plans, tweaks, and turns are up to you!
By building your own cedar sauna, you don’t have to deal with high-pressure sales tactics from dealers that will encourage upcharges and other unnecessary costs that can break the bank. Delivery costs for a modular unit are also non-existent, saving you that much more money by building your cedar sauna.
Cons of Learning How to Build Your Own Cedar Sauna
There are a few disadvantages to learning how to build your own cedar sauna. If you don’t have experience with carpentry, learning how to build a cedar sauna can be a lot.
Really, it comes down to this - the disadvantage of learning how to build a cedar sauna is your lost time - and the risk of mistakes along the way. So…the question now is - do the pros outweigh the cons or vice versa?
The Verdict
The verdict is that learning how to build your own cedar sauna hosts plenty of tremendous and rewarding benefits.
You save money by building your cedar sauna. No dealers or salespeople are trying to upsell and upcharge you for labor, delivery, or other design costs. It’s all in your hands!
What You’ll Need to Build a Cedar Sauna
You’ll need a few things to start building your DIY cedar sauna, and you don’t want to miss out on any crucial equipment you’ll need. So read below to ensure you have everything you need!
Cedar Lumber
When it comes to what kind of cedar for sauna construction, Western Red Cedar is the best of them all.
But why is cedar timber used in saunas? This is because cedar is more weather-resistant, durable, long-lasting, and aesthetically pleasing than other timbers. And of all your options, Western Red Cedar is the highest quality.
As the #1 cedar supplier in Canada, G&B is a family-owned and operated business that sells high-quality Western Red Cedar. Every product is individually sorted and graded to ensure the highest level of quality control standards.
With our Western Red Cedar, your cedar sauna is guaranteed to be durable, aesthetically stunning, and long-lasting for years to come so that you can sit back and soak in the outstanding benefits of your cedar sauna!
Sauna Heater & Thermostat
It’s not a sauna without a sauna heater, thermostat, or thermometer!
There are a variety of sauna heaters that can be used to heat your cedar sauna. They include:
Wood-fired sauna heater
Propane heater
Electric sauna heater
Gas stove (requires a licensed electrician and HVAC professional to hook it up)
Far infrared ray (FIR) sauna heater
Each has pros and cons - so do some research before pulling the trigger.
And, a thermometer or thermostat is necessary to pair with your choice sauna heater. A thermostat can only be paired with an electric sauna heater. A thermometer can be paired with any other type of sauna heater to determine the room’s temperature for a safe environment.
Other Supplies & Materials
You’ll need some cedar boards, posts, & timbers along with a heater/thermostat - but what else?
A requirement for saunas that some people may overlook is a hygrometer. This tool is used to regulate and assess the humidity inside the sauna. By keeping this tool in your cedar sauna, you are creating a safe environment. Prolonged exposure to high humidity can starve the brain of blood and oxygen, increasing the risk of falls.
Assessing the humidity inside a sauna is also required to achieve the benefits of a sauna. The recommended humidity in a sauna should read 5-40% on a hygrometer.
How to Build a Cedar Sauna: Step-by-Step Guide
Learning how to build a cedar sauna can be overwhelming if yo