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What
is a Sauna?
A
Sauna is a Finnish style sweat bath, usually consisting of a room constructed
of soft wood, containing a stove which is used to heat the room to about
180 degrees Fahrenheit. The stove heats rocks which produce steam when
water is ladled onto them.
Why
do you use water in a sauna?
Water
is usually ladeled over the rocks in the kiua(stove) to produce a steam
that helps the bather to regulate the humidity in the sauna.
What
materials should be used to build a sauna?
A sauna should
be constructed of a soft wood, such as Western Red Cedar which will radiate
the heat produced by the kiua softly and evenly. A dense wood, like oak,
would hold the heat and could burn the bather.
Should
the sauna have a waterproof floor and drain?
A
waterproof floor (such as cement) is recommended so that the sauna can
be kept sanitary, however a floor drain is not necessary since very little
water is actually used in the sauna.
Is
insulation necessary?
A sauna must be insulated in order to maintain
the proper level of heat. Inadequate insulation will increase the costs
of heating and operating your sauna.
Does
the ceiling height matter?
Most sauna experts have a very definite opinion as the
the ceiling height of a sauna. Since hot air rises, in order to achieve
the optimum temperatures, the ceiling of a sauna should not be more than
82" in height in order for the hot air to be around bathing level.
This is also the reason there are usually 2 benches in a sauna, the lower
bench is at a cooler temperature.
Where
should I install my sauna?
You can install your sauna anywhere. It is recommended
that there be a shower nearby for cooling and bathing convenience, but
a sauna can be installed indoors or out. It is not recommended that a
sauna be too close to a shower as too much moisture can cause the soft
wood to warp.
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