Owning an outdoor or barrel sauna at your home often comes with benefits. Not only do you not have to share with the public, but it can also help relieve stress. You'll have that option if you wish to share the sauna with your immediate household or even alone. The good news is there are high-quality saunas designed specifically made for residential homes. In addition, buying a sauna online has never been easier, and shopping for one can be exciting.
The toughest challenge of shopping online for a sauna is picking the perfect one for your home. First, evaluate your needs so you can start by determining what they are. If you need help with that, you can go through this guide to help you navigate the various features, sizes, and upgrades you can get with barrel saunas. At the end of this guide, you'll be more informed and, hopefully, know what kind of sauna is perfect for your home.
You will need to consider key considerations in the guide, and it's been broken down to provide as much information as possible. For a deeper look at the history and benefits, check out our guide to Barrel Sauna Basics.
What size sauna is right for me?
It all depends on how you use the sauna and the amount of space that you have available. When shopping for a sauna, it will tell you how many people it can seat comfortably. It should also tell you the interior dimensions and give you the technical drawings so you know how to fit it in the space you'd like.
What kind of heater works best?
You can choose from a variety of sauna heaters to have in your sauna. It all depends on personal taste. The most traditional heater is the wood-burning stove, but it may not work well in a smaller space.
For example, if you only have the space for a smaller heater, electric stoves are ideal for small saunas 6x6' or less. A wood-burning stove wouldn't be ideal for saunas this size because it wouldn't be able to handle the heat that larger saunas would. Electric heaters are also easier to maintain, and you can control the temperature and humidity level, which is important in a smaller sauna. However, you will need a licensed electrician to install the electric heater inside the sauna.
Wood-fired heaters are one of the most popular choices for saunas because of the intense dry heat they produce and the authentic löyly experience when water is poured over the stones. It can get very hot, so it's best used in a sauna that is 6x6' or larger. It's also easy to install these heaters, and the ambiance is what you'd expect in a traditional sauna.
Does the type of sauna wood matter?
Choosing the right type of wood for a sauna is important. Why? Because it determines the design, insulation quality, and how it absorbs the heat and steam. Various types of wood can be used for the home and customized to your needs. To learn more, read our post on 10 Things You May Not Know About Barrel Saunas.
3 Different types of wood used for outdoor saunas
The wood used for home use is Spruce, Cedar, and Pine. They can easily absorb heat and steam efficiently, and many designs can be made with them. Some manufacturers also use thermowood—heat-treated timber that offers superior durability and moisture resistance for outdoor use. Let's look at the benefits.
Spruce Outdoor & Barrel Saunas
Spruce is one of the cost-effective woods you can use to build a high-quality sauna. Spruce is a white wood with fine grains and white knots. Over time, the wood will get darker but keep its lighter color. Spruce has a subtle, pleasant scent that you can smell while you use the sauna, which can be relaxing for many people. Its natural ventilation properties also help regulate airflow inside the sauna.
Pine Outdoor & Barrel Saunas
Pine, also very cost-effective like Spruce, can be used for saunas. It is light-colored, and it has great strength. Pine has a nice smelling aroma, which can be used indoors or outdoors. However, treat pine barrel saunas if using them outside your home to protect against moisture and decay.Cedar Outdoor & Barrel Saunas
Cedar is one of the most popular woods for barrel saunas because it's widely available. It is naturally resistant to termites, rot and decay, making it an attractive sauna option. It also has a pleasant aroma, which smells nice when relaxing in the sauna. Although there are many grades of red cedar saunas on the market, Backcountry Recreation only uses the highest clear grade cedar available, making our saunas one of the highest quality red cedar saunas on the market.Not sure if a barrel sauna is right for you? Read our post on 5 Reasons You Should Consider an Outdoor Barrel Sauna before you decide.
Want to shop our full line of outdoor saunas? Visit this page here.