Outdoor Home Sauna
Discussion
Anybody know anything or better still have experience of a home outdoor sauna ?
Either a barrel type of upright ?
Doesn’t need to be huge - ideally 2-4 people.
Interested to know about running costs and heating up time - does it stay on for example (wouldn’t have thought so).
I like the idea but am worried it would be a 5 minute wonder.
Anyone have one ?
Cheers
Either a barrel type of upright ?
Doesn’t need to be huge - ideally 2-4 people.
Interested to know about running costs and heating up time - does it stay on for example (wouldn’t have thought so).
I like the idea but am worried it would be a 5 minute wonder.
Anyone have one ?
Cheers
Metric Max said:
Should this not be in the "A bit council" thread?
?OP - are you thinking of an electric or traditional wood fired?
A friend has a wood fired one that opens out onto the riverbank at the bottom of his garden. Lovely for a refreshing dip after working up a sweat.
It uses surprisingly little wood and heats up in about 45 minutes. Gets properly hot top unlike some of the weedier electric versions I've experienced.
Edited by Snow and Rocks on Sunday 16th November 18:33
Well, "council" or not I've a fair bit of experience with outdoor saunas.
I had a typical 4 person electric powered barrel sauna at my last house for about 10 years. When we moved house 3 years ago that one stayed with the house but one of the first things we did was have a new one, this time a wood-fired one, installed in the garden at the new house. The "4 person" bit is slightly misleading in that it's really 2 folk lying down that's most common rather than 4 sitting up side by side.
On a practical level, the electric one took about 30 mins to get up to temperature and pretty much stayed constant until you switched it off. The temp then dropped off fairly quickly so maybe 20 mins after switching it off it would be warm but not hot. So really a 30 min sauna used an hour of electricity.
I much prefer the wood fired one. It takes about 20 mins to get up to temperature and with a bit of experience you quickly suss out how much wood you will need to put in and how long it will last. A couple of logs will easily get you a 30 min sauna. Put 3 logs in and you'll get an hour. Stick another one in at any time and you'll add another hour.
You can chuck water on the coals in both the electric and wood fired ones. I think the cost to buy are comparable at about 7k ish. I suppose electricity is expensive but kiln dried wood isn't cheap so that's probably comparable as well. I just find the wood one a more pleasant experience and less clinical.
Sounds obvious but you do need to have the right place to put it to get the best use out of it. Our last one was at the front of the house but we had no neighbours for miles so privacy wasn't an issue. At the new house we have it tucked up in a corner in the back garden but again have no neighbour issues. I imagine having to self consciously skulk around the garden to get in and out might spoil the enjoyment. Initially I was concerned that it would be a bit of a white elephant or 5 minute wonder type thing but I probably use it 3 or 4 times a week, usually in the evening and it has to be the best place ever in the snow
I had a typical 4 person electric powered barrel sauna at my last house for about 10 years. When we moved house 3 years ago that one stayed with the house but one of the first things we did was have a new one, this time a wood-fired one, installed in the garden at the new house. The "4 person" bit is slightly misleading in that it's really 2 folk lying down that's most common rather than 4 sitting up side by side.
On a practical level, the electric one took about 30 mins to get up to temperature and pretty much stayed constant until you switched it off. The temp then dropped off fairly quickly so maybe 20 mins after switching it off it would be warm but not hot. So really a 30 min sauna used an hour of electricity.
I much prefer the wood fired one. It takes about 20 mins to get up to temperature and with a bit of experience you quickly suss out how much wood you will need to put in and how long it will last. A couple of logs will easily get you a 30 min sauna. Put 3 logs in and you'll get an hour. Stick another one in at any time and you'll add another hour.
You can chuck water on the coals in both the electric and wood fired ones. I think the cost to buy are comparable at about 7k ish. I suppose electricity is expensive but kiln dried wood isn't cheap so that's probably comparable as well. I just find the wood one a more pleasant experience and less clinical.
Sounds obvious but you do need to have the right place to put it to get the best use out of it. Our last one was at the front of the house but we had no neighbours for miles so privacy wasn't an issue. At the new house we have it tucked up in a corner in the back garden but again have no neighbour issues. I imagine having to self consciously skulk around the garden to get in and out might spoil the enjoyment. Initially I was concerned that it would be a bit of a white elephant or 5 minute wonder type thing but I probably use it 3 or 4 times a week, usually in the evening and it has to be the best place ever in the snow
I think the official answer is that it doesn't need ongoing treatment. The one I left at 10 years old was as good and solid as it was on the day it went in. It actually didn't have a shingle roof either where as the current one does which I suppose keeps the rain off but also insulates it a bit more. In saying all that, I do give it a wipe down with the same wood stain / anti fungal thing that the BBQ hut folk recommend. Takes 15 mins once a year. I can live with that.
There will be someone local to you. Often the places that do hot tubs (equally council no doubt) do outdoor saunas and plunge pools.
I'm in Scotland and am just fortunate that one of the main suppliers is reasonably local (https://scottishsaunas.co.uk/) I suspect most companies import the same units from Scandinavia or wherever and most use the same M3 woodburners anyhow.
My guilty pleasure in the sauna is taking 30-40 mins to read car magazines or more usually Private Eye. Tend to get 4 saunas out of one Private Eye.
I'm in Scotland and am just fortunate that one of the main suppliers is reasonably local (https://scottishsaunas.co.uk/) I suspect most companies import the same units from Scandinavia or wherever and most use the same M3 woodburners anyhow.
My guilty pleasure in the sauna is taking 30-40 mins to read car magazines or more usually Private Eye. Tend to get 4 saunas out of one Private Eye.
We have a "Zoki" electric one outside, my wifes idea, I dont really use it but she loves it, if she comes in from work a bit amped up from dealing with people, she calms down quite a bit after half and hour in there.
She went to see some and used this company who were very helpful and sent two cheerful and skilled chaps to fit it, we just had to prepare the area and provide a water feed for the (cold) shower and an armoured cable and a switch box thing which an electrician did.
We have had it getting on for two years, she treated it the first year and didnt get round to it this year and can see where it needs redoing, just need to keep on top of it. I make a point of cleaning leaves from around it so they dont sit there wet.
The council thing makes me laugh, how many people spend their lives not doing stuff because it might be seen as "council" ?
Always a talking point if you have anyone round, the window cleaners, anyone quoting for stuff or just friends and family, people find it fascinating.
She went to see some and used this company who were very helpful and sent two cheerful and skilled chaps to fit it, we just had to prepare the area and provide a water feed for the (cold) shower and an armoured cable and a switch box thing which an electrician did.
We have had it getting on for two years, she treated it the first year and didnt get round to it this year and can see where it needs redoing, just need to keep on top of it. I make a point of cleaning leaves from around it so they dont sit there wet.
The council thing makes me laugh, how many people spend their lives not doing stuff because it might be seen as "council" ?
Always a talking point if you have anyone round, the window cleaners, anyone quoting for stuff or just friends and family, people find it fascinating.
Leptons said:
Metric Max said:
Should this not be in the "A bit council" thread?
Another one trying to be hilarious and falling flat on his face.Been a convert to saunas since the start of the year, go to a Finnish wood burning one once a week (outdoor cold plunge) and daily at my local leisure centre (just cold shower).
We don't have the room at the moment, but our next place will have room for something along these lines, not too much of an outlay, and something that would get a decent amount of use:
https://www.leisurequip.com/shop/product/harvia-ka...
As for the ridiculous 'council' comment, a quick search brings up this:
"Regular sauna bathing offers several proven health benefits supported by scientific research. It can improve cardiovascular health by reducing blood pressure, enhancing circulation, and lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke, with studies indicating that more frequent use (4–7 times per week) is associated with up to a 65% reduction in the risk of Alzheimer's and dementia.
Sauna use also aids in pain relief and muscle recovery by increasing blood flow and reducing inflammation, which can help individuals with conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, and post-exercise soreness.
Additionally, sauna sessions may improve sleep quality, boost immune function, and support detoxification through increased sweating, while also contributing to mental well-being by reducing stress and enhancing relaxation.
These benefits are linked to physiological responses similar to moderate exercise, including elevated heart rate and improved endothelial function.".
Then factor in the 'feel good' factor.
If you have the room and the budget, getting one for your home/garden is a no brainer.
vixen1700 said:
renmure said:
That looks fantastic, and can imagine coming out of it into the snow to cool off, must be incredible. 
Do you have any plunge pool or cold shower nearby to cool down, in those times you don't have the luxury of snow?
I ve buried a run of garden hose from an outside cold tap up to the rear of the sauna and incorporated it into an effective cold shower head and my routine usually includes a cold spray half way through. Fair takes the breath away tho!!
Other times I just cuddle Olaf, one of my council mates from the scheme
Edited by renmure on Monday 17th November 14:25
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