What kind of wood sauna

Redwood shares many of the same outstanding qualities as Western Red Cedar but two factors make redwood a little less desirable than cedar. First: Redwood is a beautiful red color when installed but in time will turn a dirty grey color as body oil and perspiration react chemically with the acid found in Redwood. Second: Redwood typically costs more than Western Red Cedar. As you might imagine Alaskan Yellow Cedar is highly resistant to fungus and decay those Native Americans know their wood!

It is aromatic but usually not as pleasant or rich as that of Western Red Cedar. Western Hemlock also has favorable characteristics but is not as resistant to decay as our first three choices and can tend to expand a bit. It is a very strong wood but can emit a faint sour smell when it is fresh.

Choosing the right wood for your sauna is the most important aspect of your new sauna. Going to the local lumber yard and selecting wood with poor decay resistance, varying grain directions and knots may be less expensive in the short run. But a sauna built with this wood will be more expensive in the long run.

It is light colored, though usually slightly darker than basswood. Poplar is often used in medical facilities because it is odorless and hypoallergenic. As a hardwood, Poplar will be hotter to the touch than softwood alternatives. It is more expensive than cedar or hemlock. Eucalyptus is a reddish brown hardwood which grows in Australia. Eucalyptus grows quickly and is environmentally friendly as it can be replanted and regrown. Although Eucalyptus is a great option for a sauna, it is typically more expensive than other woods on this list.

If you like the fresh woody smell of softwoods like cedar and hemlock, then the good news is that these scents will persist over time, lasting for months or even years. For this reason, you should pay special attention to your personal preference, because no matter how much you try to air it out, the scent will likely be with you for some time. Phenols are aromatic chemicals that frequently occur in nature. They are both inhaled and absorbed through the pores in the skin. Phenols are technically toxic, however, most of the phenols that people encounter are relatively harmless.

Phenols are found in food. And phenols are even used in soaps and mouth wash because of their antibacterial properties. Some woods, like pine, and especially cedar, are known to contain phenols. It is phenols which give wood its fragrance. To most people, naturally occurring wood phenols are harmless, but people with particular sensitivities or people who are prone to allergies should avoid saunas made from cedar and other fragrant woods.

Composite woods are made of a mixture of wood fibers, plastics, glues and other binding agents. Composite woods often contain formaldehyde, which is both an irritant and a known carcinogen. In the United States, composite wood must meet certain formaldehyde emission standards, before it can be commercially sold in furniture. Oils, stains, laminates, glues, putties, and other adhesives should not be used in a sauna construction because they can give off toxins.

Also the heat and humidity of a sauna is likely to cause them to degrade prematurely anyway. This is why saunas should always be built with stainless steel screws.

A softwood like cedar or hemlock will be the most pleasant surface for your bare skin. For this reason, these softwoods are ideal for benches and for any walls which are likely to serve as a back rest.

One trick to save money in the construction of your sauna would be to use more expensive woods like cedar or hemlock for your benches and backrests, while using cheaper woods like spruce or pine for framing and walls. Since the floor is the ultimate destination for most of the humidity in the sauna, a more durable and non-absorbent material like ceramic tile or even concrete may be your best bet.

Keep in mind, concrete can be polished into a beautifully smooth surface. If you want to keep with the wood theme, then your best option is to purchase hardwood sauna floor tiles. The surface of these tiles have wooden slats. The slats rest on top of a plastic or rubber layer which will allow water to pass through to the sauna drain. Hardwood slats are recommended, since they will be more durable than softwood.

Consider these ones made from teak wood. The important thing to know about traditional saunas versus infrared saunas is that the wood in a traditional sauna will be subject to more extreme conditions than that of an infrared sauna. Without the steam, the boards will swell less in the dryer air.

While I would never recommend that anyone purchase low quality wood for their sauna, you should take into account that the wood of an infrared sauna does not need to be quite as durable as that of an infrared sauna. It can be combined with dark woods to obtain strong color contrasts. Poplar wood is pale yellow to white, and typically has a straight, uniform grain. Although is a very resistant wood, it can be also easily worked and shaped. With its bright texture, it is a perfect choice to convey an atmosphere of suspended time.

Hemlock, a Canadian conifer, is a durable wood, characterized by its warm color and uniform texture, and is combined with contemporary details such as large and bright tempered glass walls and strip led lighting. For home saunas, the Topclass sauna line is designed to accommodate a modern and versatile Finnish cabin, in a recess or with elegant side walls.

Traditional saunas that respect Nordic criteria and offer the authenticity of Finnish culture: the light brown color and the presence of visible knots make this wood stand out from the best selections of Swedish plantations. Responsible use and sustainable management of forest wood make sure we respect nature during every step of the production process.

The Elegant line is defined by a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Types of wood for the sauna. Types of wood. Ancient wood sauna.