| The traditional sauna is called a Finnish sauna and it | | | | Prefab sauna kits are delivered in a |
| has its origins in Finland where taking a sauna is a | | | | semi-completed state. Once assembled, they are |
| social activity that has become embedded in | | | | usually self supporting and will include a roof and |
| everyday life. In fact, taking a sauna in Finland is | | | | window(s) if they are for an outdoor site. |
| so popular that the number of saunas in the | | | | These kits only require the connecting of a small |
| country is roughly equal to the total population. | | | | number of prefabricated units, typically the walls, |
| Who can have a home Sauna? | | | | floor and roof, to complete the assembly. |
| Although once considered a luxury purchase, the | | | | Most prefab saunas are purchased for a |
| home sauna is now very affordable and it can | | | | stand-alone position in a garden or backyard and |
| come in a variety of shapes and sizes and with a | | | | they are robust and well constructed. |
| number of different stove or heater options. A | | | | Sauna stoves and heaters |
| sauna kit can be fitted into a former bedroom, | | | | Traditional sauna stoves work by heating rocks |
| attic, office or shed. | | | | on the top of the stove. These "Finnish" style |
| Prices also start in the "very affordable" range for | | | | saunas can be called hot-rock saunas and they |
| the cheaper kits, and they also allow a high level | | | | create a warm and humid atmosphere. These |
| of personalisation and customization into the room | | | | saunas traditionally burnt wood, but you can now |
| in which they fit. | | | | buy electric stoves that provide a similar, but |
| These saunas are supplied as either "material" | | | | easier to maintain, heating effect. |
| sauna kits or "prefabricated" sauna kits and they | | | | This type of sauna stove also allows the splashing |
| can be assembled in anything from 3 or 4 days | | | | of water onto the hot rocks. This is called a |
| right down to 2 or 3 hours. | | | | "steam shock" and it is highly invigorating and |
| Types of Sauna Kit | | | | very popular with most sauna users. |
| A home sauna kit can take the form of either, a | | | | Infra-red sauna heaters |
| sauna room lining with benches and a heater, i.e. a | | | | A new innovation in the world of home saunas |
| material kit, or a complete structural sauna with | | | | has seen the arrival of the infrared sauna heater. |
| walls and even a roof and an outside patio area, | | | | These heaters are an alternative to the |
| i.e. a prefab sauna kit. | | | | conventional stove heaters and they use infrared |
| Prefab saunas are purchased in a near fully | | | | rays to radiate heat directly to the body. They |
| assembled state and require only an hour or two | | | | produce an almost artificial sauna experience by |
| to position and complete. They can fit into a room | | | | making the skin feel hot, even though the |
| within a house, or they can take the form of a | | | | ambient air temperature is unaffected. |
| log cabin in a garden or a back yard. | | | | Infra-red sauna heaters do not require any |
| Material sauna kits comprise nothing more than | | | | heat-up time or cooling-off period and they do not |
| the raw materials required to make a sauna and | | | | create a humid environment. They also offer |
| they require a good level of DIY (Do It Yourself) | | | | very economic running costs. |
| skill for assembly and fitting. | | | | Sauna kit Assembly |
| Material Sauna Kits in more detail | | | | Material sauna kits are assembled indoors in their |
| Material sauna kits are, as their name suggests, a | | | | finished location and they generally take two to |
| kit of materials that allow a room to be | | | | three days to complete. They have no special |
| transformed into a sauna. | | | | ventilation requirements providing that there is an |
| Material sauna kits include all the materials required | | | | opening window in the room for natural air flow. |
| to line a room and provide bench seating, racks | | | | Material sauna kits are cheaper than prefab kits, |
| for towels and a stove for the sauna (with rocks | | | | but they do require a reasonable degree of DIY |
| if necessary). The materials are primarily timber | | | | skill to assemble and locate. |
| and several woods are suitable. The stove or | | | | Prefab sauna kits are supplied in an "almost |
| heater can be fired by gas, a wood burner, or | | | | complete" state and they only require basic DIY |
| usually (in home saunas) electric power. | | | | skills to finish the assembly. They only take 2 or 3 |
| Prefab Sauna Kits in more detail | | | | hours to fully assemble. |