Guide to a Good Modern Sauna at Home

Modern modular saunas have made it possible for each and everyone to enjoy and indulge in the pleasure of sauna bath at home.  To get the best effect out of it, it requires good planning to build one.  The following points meant for individual homes will guide in building a modern sauna to get the desired results:

Once decided to build a sauna, it should be placed in such a way that it does not disturb other activities of the house and also the ones in the sauna.   A separate building or a separate wing along with the rest of house is recommended.  It is not advised to build or assemble a sauna in the upper floor or in the underground as the bathers may find it difficult to access the entrance.  It is advised to have a special entrance meant only for the sauna room, as it is customary for the Finns to have a swim or roll in the snow while sauna bathing.  The sauna or the heated steam room should be at least over 350 cubic feet.  The bathroom and the dressing room should be bigger than the sauna.

The benches in the sauna should be in such a way that at least two people can sit or lie down and makes it easy to converse.  Opposite benches and u shaped benches are meant for bigger saunas.  The kind of wood depends on the budget, normally spruce and aspen are used for pocket friendly budget, people, who live in luxury prefer abachi.

Minimum of two showers are recommended as it enables the conversation to continue which started in the sauna.  It can also be used when children accompany too.
Enough room for dressing needs to be provide, in order to make the dressing and undressing comfortable for the guests.  It should also provide a cooling room.  A small room for snacking after sauna will also be preferred.  A small window in the sauna will be pleasant.

There are a huge variety of heaters available for the saunas nearly 150 varieties of electrical and 50 varieties of wood heaters commercially.  It is good to have two heaters one an electrical for day-to-day use and the next being a wooden heater for weekends and for ritual saunas.

The type of stones used in the sauna is very important as the steam of a healthy “loyly” is produced only from it. The amount of stones depends on the size of the sauna, whatever the heating source may be to get a good “loyly” 70 to 80 degrees Celsius is enough.

Modern saunas are low built, ventilation is an important aspect for incoming and exiting air, the ventilation ducts are closed during bathing.  To avoid unwanted smell proper ventilation while and between uses should be done.  The air inside the sauna should be rich in oxygen, which results in pleasant feeling to the bather.  Water used also makes a good “loyly”.  Natural spring water is ideal for the sauna.  Neither rain water nor salt water should be used.  Lighting should be subdued to give a soothing effect, hence direct lighting is not recommended in a sauna.  Woods and their construction needs to be easy to clean and dry fast.

Although a sauna offers cleanliness and peaceful atmosphere to the bathers for centuries, nowadays it is used a relaxation tool and stress reliever.  If the sauna is treated properly, they in turn give you a pleasant and memorable experience.