Guide To Building an Outdoor Sauna – Base Preparation

If you have decided to go for an outdoor sauna, a firm foundation is an essential thing to consider. Think of a suitable area in your garden, this will help you to decide on the size of the outside sauna. Please note that the base should be a little bigger than the sauna itself. Therefore, much thought should always go into properly preparing the foundation for your outdoor sauna. If your foundation is not suitable, there’s always the chance for cracks and gaps to appear. It must be even and sturdy. Here we will discuss a possible base structure for our saunas with specific examples.

We offer 4 types of wooden saunas, but here we will discuss only two, that are the most common choices among our customers, barrel sauna, and sauna pod. Please note that slight differences are possible as every sauna is handmade and prepared individually for each customer. Only at the end of the production, we are able to say exact measurements. Variations appear because of differences in sauna configuration and wood because it is a natural material and every batch may somehow be different. These sketches are 90% accurate, but it always depends on the situation, therefore please contact us for more information after your order is given to the production. Knowing exact measurements of your sauna saves money, time and efforts as you are able to design the proper size base. There is a quite wide range of surface options, like concrete or wooden deck, paving tiles or stones, deck with pier, screw or plinth foundation. Most importantly it must be flat and solid.

Igloo Sauna
Outdoor Barrel Sauna

If you decide to prepare a solid rectangular base, or you already have a deck from let’s say concrete or wood, then the base structure is not so relevant, however, if you are wondering to place something like concrete tiles under the sauna, you need to know the main points that have to stand stable on a firm foundation. The support structure on barrel sauna is made from curved pieces placed under the sauna, the number of them depends on the sauna length, 2m, 3m, 4m, 5m respectively 3, 3, 4, 5 pieces.  Please see the precise sketches below. You will notice the difference in measurements between the green and black sketches. The way the sauna is going to be built in the factory is known only after it is sent to the production. However, we have an exception here as well. If the sauna is going to be unassembled, then, only the base from the green sketches is applied and you can be sure about the measurements before ordering the sauna.

Barrel sauna base from 2 to 5 meters:

Barrel Sauna 2 Meters
Fig.1. Barrel sauna 2 meters
Barrel Sauna 3 Meters
Fig.2. Barrel sauna 3 meters
Barrel Sauna 4 Meters
Fig.3. Barrel sauna 4 meters
Barrel Sauna 5 Meters
Fig.4. Barrel sauna 5 meters

Igloo sauna base from 2 to 5 meters:

Igloo Sauna 2 Meters
Fig.5. Igloo sauna 2 meters
Igloo Sauna 3 Meters
Fig.6. Igloo sauna 3 meters
Igloo Sauna 4 Meters
Fig.7. Igloo sauna 4 meters
Igloo Sauna 5 Meters
Fig.8. Igloo sauna 5 meters

If you purchase a sauna unassembled (flat packed), your barrel sauna base structure will always be like this:

Barrel Sauna 2 Meters
Fig. 9 Barrel sauna 2 meters
Barrel Sauna 3 Meters
Fig. 10 Barrel sauna 3 meters
Barrel Sauna 4 Meters
Fig. 11 Barrel sauna 4 meters
Barrel Sauna 5 Meters
Fig. 12 Barrel sauna 5 meters

If you purchase a sauna unassembled (flat packed), your igloo sauna base structure will always be like this:

Igloo Sauna 2 Meters
Fig.13. Igloo sauna 2 meters
Igloo Sauna 3 Meters
Fig.14.Igloo sauna 3 meters
Igloo Sauna 4 Meters
Fig.15. Igloo sauna 3 meters
Igloo Sauna 5 Meters
Fig. 16 Igloo sauna 5 meters

can you build an outdoor sauna

One can order our outdoor saunas for self-assembly. That means outdoor saunas can be built on-site.

how to build outdoor sauna

The building of the outdoor saunas includes: base preparation; the assembly of pre-made wooden staves; installing the roof bituminous shingles ; building the required and pre-made inside sauna benches, walls, doors etc..; installing the wood-burning or electric heater.

how to drain an outdoor sauna

There should be a special opening on the floor of an outdoor sauna. Also, the floor of the sauna needs to be well levelled for the excess of water to be drained.


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