The Sauna Experience

After a long day at the office, running errands or on the golf course, it is essential to be able to rejuvenate yourself. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to do so in the comfort of your own home. Usually, you'd have to go to a gym, a health club or a masseuse to get the release you need. Not anymore! While simply taking a dip in your refreshing pool, or a soothing soak in the hot tub are great options, there exists something more decadent. Consider the ultimate relaxing experience in your own personal sauna.

Saunas have been around for thousands of years, and the health benefits are widely known. A home Sauna provides an escape from pressure and stress, and soothes aching joints. The dry heat rejuvenates the skin, relaxes sore muscles, aids in respiratory function and gives a peace of mind that can only come from the solitude a sauna provides.

What is a Sauna?

A Sauna is a special insulated room built of softwood that can be heated to 180 degrees F. In this room, rocks store the heat and create steam when water is poured over them. It is important not to get this confused with a steam room, however. Steam rooms contain 100% humidity, while a sauna is relatively dry at 25% humidity.

Where can a Sauna be installed?

Here is the good news- anywhere. All you need to enjoy the myriad health benefits of a home sauna - inside or outside - is a space the size of a large closet. Basements, attics, decks, patios, garages, master bathrooms and large closets all make ideal places to either build a sauna room or place a pre-assembled unit.

In the past, saunas were utilized solely for cleaning up. But saunas have evolved into tools that create a relaxed, stress-free atmosphere. The earliest forms of saunas were the Roman and Turkish baths. In the U.S., the first modern saunas were fixtures found only at heath clubs and spas. Now the compact sauna is available to the average homeowner. For this reason, the health benefits can be enjoyed by all.

What are the healing effects of saunas?

When you think of the healing effects, soothing aching joints and muscles immediately comes to mind. While saunas do provide relief for those sore muscles, there are many other medicinal benefits saunas provide. The body protects itself from viruses, bacteria, and other harmful substances through the use of numerous defense systems. One of these systems is fever. Fever raises the body's temperature above normal in an attempt to destroy invading organisms and sweat impurities out of the system. Fever is a highly effective and natural process of curing disease and restoring health, and has been recognized as such for thousands of years.

Hyperthermia deliberately creates fever in the patient in order to utilize this natural healing process. By stimulating the immune system through an increase in production of certain antibodies and interferon Ð a protein substance produced by virus invading cells that prevents reproduction of that virus Ð a state of hyperthermia puts the body in position to ward off many ailments. These ailments include, but are not limited to, rhinivirus (responsible for one half of all respiratory infections), HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), and the microorganisms and bacteria that cause the common cold. In addition, the inhalation of steam is very effective in treating ailments such as bronchitis, pneumonia and sinusitis, as well as many other conditions of the lungs and body cavities. Using a sauna on a regular basis helps the body to take advantage of all of these healing benefits.

In today's market, the consumer has three choices for their home sauna:
1) Custom-to build a sauna from scratch. Involves buying all the required components and designing the room, or retro-fitting an existing room.
2) Kit-a consumer can buy a kit which includes the inside materials for the sauna room. The room itself must be built, or you can order a kit to fit an existing room, bathroom or space.
3) Pre-fab-a consumer can order a unit that is "stand alone". All that's needed is the simple assembly of several pieces, and the entire sauna is complete. Saunas are no longer simply small wooden rooms. In fact, many saunas today are quite the opposite. Today, consumers are afforded options like glass doors and window sections, which open the sauna up to natural light. The days of saunas simply being dark, enclosed, wooden rooms are over!

What is the difference between a Pre-Fab Sauna and a Sauna Material Kit?

Pre-Fab saunas are (as the name suggests) pre-fabricated. They can be assembled in 2-3 hours. Pre-Fab saunas are constructed from solid 2" x 4" cedar. There are four corner metal "extrusions". The cedar slides down the extrusions to form walls. The benches are pre assembled. The door slides into place. With Pre-Fab saunas, there is no additional framing or insulation. The walls are self-supporting and provide sufficient insulation value to retain the heat of the sauna. The solid cedar walls mean the exterior is pre finished. There is no need for drywall or other exterior finishes.

Sauna Kits (also commonly referred to as Sauna Material Kits, Sauna Liner Kits, and Do-It-Yourself Sauna Interior Material Kits) refer to the inside "skin" of the sauna. The consumer or their contractor builds the frame walls, insulates, and finishes the exterior. The kit includes the inside materials; including the vapor barrier, cedar lining, benches, door, molding and heater. The boards are trimmed and nailed to the walls and ceiling. The benches are then assembled and installed, and the door is hung. It's as simple as that. Sauna Kits generally take about 2 days to build.

"Build to Suit" - having a sauna room built in your house from scratch - may be appealing to many discerning homeowners. They may feel there is no limitation to a sauna's appearance or size. For this reason, homeowners may feel this is their best option. In fact, sauna manufacturers give so many options in their sauna kits, custom sauna kits and prefab saunas, that buying from the manufacturer is the best way to go.

Dealing with vapor barriers, engineered materials, the strictest tolerances between doors and windows, and specific heating units for exact room dimensions are all reasons to leave this to the sauna professionals. A Sauna Material Kit provides all the special components necessary to build your sauna properly and easily. While the sauna kit provides specific cedar lengths, builder supply warehouses (such as Home Depot and Lowes) and lumber yards generally carry only 8' or random lengths. This can create a lot of waste. The sauna kit also includes things like cedar molding and door casing which are not readily available. In these kits, there is no cutting- the entire kit is designed according to your specifications. It is easy to customize a sauna material kit. The average home sauna unit ranges in price from $1800- $3500. Luxury models range in the $4000-$6000 range.

Whether you're working with a tight budget, or the sky is the limit, there is a sauna out there to fit your needs. The important thing is to view a sauna as an investment. No matter what you spend, the physical, mental and emotional benefits saunas provide create a tenfold return on your investment. Here's to a happier, healthier lifestyle!

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