Build Your Own Sauna Kit

Would you like to have a sauna in your home? Are you put off by the high cost of hiring a contractor? You can save more than half by installing a kit or pre-built sauna yourself.

Installing a sauna kit or a pre-built sauna in your home is easier than you may think. If you have basic tool skills you should be able to handle this job without difficulty. Pre-built saunas are much easier than kits -- they fit together in a few minutes using just a simple Allen key.

Sauna Kit or Pre-Built?

A sauna kit is a package containing all the pre-cut pieces necessary to build a sauna. Assembling a kit is usually straightforward and can be accomplished with a few simple tools. A pre-built sauna is even easier: it has already been assembled into 2 or 3 large sections that simply need to be connected.

Since a pre-built sauna has already had most of the assembly work done, it is usually more expensive than a sauna kit of comparable size. The additional cost may be worth it, if time is a problem. Pre-built saunas can be up and operating in half an hour.

Sauna Kit

Sauna kits require more of your handyman skills than pre-built saunas, but they offer a big savings in labor compared to building your own sauna from scratch. All the wood and other materials have been pre-cut, so it's simply a matter of reading the instructions and fitting the pieces together.

An advantage of a sauna kit over a pre-built sauna is that a sauna kit can be installed in a pre-existing space, like a closet or small room. Pre-built saunas are usually too big to maneuver in small spaces -- they are more commonly used as freestanding saunas.

Any Size Or Shape

Sauna kits are available in almost any size and shape imaginable. You can even get a custom-made sauna kit if you have an unusual space that you want to use for a sauna installation.

Most sauna kits require you to provide the framework and wiring necessary for the sauna. If you are converting a small room into a sauna, for example, you could begin by stripping the existing wallboards off the frames. Once that is done, you should insulate the framework and install a plastic vapor barrier over the insulation.

You may also need to hire an electrician to provide wiring for the sauna heater. Once this preparation work has been done, the sauna kit is simply attached to the existing framework, and the heater is hooked up to the power supply. Depending on the size of the sauna and your inclination, this could be a day's work.

Pre-Built Sauna

Pre-built (or modular) saunas are very easy to set up -- just attach the 2 or 3 sections together. They are freestanding units and can be placed anywhere. The wiring and lighting are already installed, and some companies even include the heater and all the accessories.

When buying a pre-built sauna, make sure that the individual pieces will fit through your doorways. Most companies selling pre-built saunas specify the minimum doorway size required.

Take It With You

One of the big advantages of pre-built saunas is their portability. You probably won't want to take it on a weekend outing, but if you ever sell your house, you can take your sauna to your new home.

On the other hand, a permanently installed sauna can add to the resale value of your home, and the extra money may allow you to install a new sauna in your new house.