Building a Plug and Play Outdoor Sauna

Quick Navigation

What are the benefits of a Sauna?
What does a sauna do for your body?
Is a sauna good for your lungs?
How much does it cost to build an outdoor sauna?
Can I put my sauna outside?
Do outdoor saunas need insulation?
Do you need a floor drain in a sauna?
What is a plug and play outdoor sauna?

A sauna is a great place to relax and recover from the stresses of everyday life, but not everybody can get to a spa to enjoy the benefits. An outdoor sauna at home is an option you may not have considered, and with Loghouse’s new sauna garden room, it is much easier than you might think.

If you’ve never used a sauna before, you might be wondering what it’s all about. To the uninitiated, it seems like a room that you can just sit in to get warm – but there is a lot more to it than that.

What are the benefits of a Sauna?

The benefits of an outdoor sauna include reducing stress levels, improving your cardiovascular health, relieving asthma, and even helping with an assortment of skin problems. Saunas generate a dry heat that positively affects your body, and do not create moisture in the same way that a steam room does.

What does a sauna do for your body?

In the simplest terms, a sauna will raise your body temperature. Because of this, your blood vessels naturally widen, and you begin to sweat. It is also common for your heart rate to increase.

The widening of the blood vessels has a positive effect on cardiovascular health as it allows greater blood flow and keeps the vessels themselves flexible. Studies have shown that regular use of an outdoor sauna can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and heart attacks. (1)

This can also be linked to a lowering in blood pressure, which is why many people choose an outdoor sauna as a place to relax.

Increased blood flow is important for several reasons. Injuries and inflammation can all benefit from increased blood flow (hence the importance of compression bandages for treating sports injuries) and saunas can help to reduce muscle soreness and reduce pain caused by arthritis.

Using a sauna may also reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s. (2) It is easy to see why many people enjoy using a sauna as relaxation is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the list of benefits.

Is a sauna good for your lungs?

If you have issues with your lungs (or any other medical issue), it is always important to consult your doctor before using an outdoor sauna. That said, if a sauna is safe for you to use, symptoms of issues like asthma can be relieved through sauna use.

Saunas can help your airways to open, facilitating more comfortable breathing. As some pulmonary problems are made worse by stress, once again the relaxing atmosphere of an outdoor sauna is beneficial. Studies have also shown that pulmonary diseases including COPD can be improved through the use of saunas, which indicates that saunas are indeed good for your lungs. (3)

How much does it cost to build an outdoor sauna?

Traditionally, it can be very expensive to build an outdoor sauna. Fortunately, the team at Loghouse have experience with many kinds of outdoor buildings, and we’ve used the technology from our garden rooms to create a simple outdoor sauna solution.

A 3.5m x 2.4m outdoor sauna with a sauna room (including a Harvia electric sauna heater) and shower room starts at €14,999 with free delivery in the Dublin area. As always, financing through humm by flexifi is available to make obtaining your very own outdoor sauna as easy as possible.

Can I put my sauna outside?

Due to the size of Loghouse outdoor saunas, you are unlikely to require planning permission – but always check with your local authority, just in case. It is common to find saunas outside as they work well as separate buildings.

Connection to the main electric and water supply is possible, which makes an outdoor sauna highly convenient and a great place to relax and unwind.

Does an outdoor sauna need insulation?

As an outdoor sauna will incorporate a heater, insulation is not strictly necessary, but it is always recommended. Without insulation, the interior will need to be continually heated while the sauna is in use, and the air will cool down very quickly should the heating be turned off.

With insulation, it is much faster and easier to heat the sauna, reducing your energy usage and allowing you quicker access to your sauna. It also reduces wear and tear on your sauna heater, prolonging the life of the heater and maximizing your enjoyment.

Do you need a floor drain in a sauna?

Saunas are warmed with dry heat which means there is not a lot of moisture in the air. Humidity can be increased by sprinkling water over the sauna stones, but this is only a minimal amount of liquid. The moisture will eventually be absorbed by the wood of the benches and wall, subsequently dried out by the heat within the room.

Of course, a floor drain can be installed if you want one (an additional charge may apply), but a sauna is not a steam room and so it is usually unnecessary. You may experience a small amount of condensation in a sauna, but this is easily wiped away or dealt with by the dry heat.

What is a plug and play outdoor sauna?

A “plug and play” outdoor sauna is simply a sauna that is ready to build and use quickly. Our outdoor saunas are built with structured insulated panels (SIP) covered with thermowood and stone cladding to help reduce your energy usage and keep your sauna warm. Linden benches and linden interior cladding are included, and a separate shower room is built in – all you need to do is get in there and start enjoying your outdoor sauna.

We’ll help you on your path to greater relaxation and improved health by setting everything up for you. Finished off with double glazed windows and doors alongside exterior lighting, your outdoor sauna will make a great addition to your home.

IMPORTANT: Always consult with your doctor before using a sauna to ensure sauna use is safe.

References

Thinking of extending your home – view our latest blog post about building a log cabin extension