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Ventilation is the unsung hero of good sauna performance and longevity. In a previous post, we discussed why this component of the sauna build is critical to success. A sauna with good airflow feels alive: the heat is even from floor to ceiling, the air stays breathable even at high temps, and the room dries out fast once you're done. Here's the primary system we build into our Driftwood saunas, and the reasoning behind it. Big Picture: One Intake, Two Exhausts Every sau

What Does It Actually Cost to Run a Sauna? It's one of the first questions we hear from homeowners in central Ohio: "A sauna sounds great — but isn't it going to double my electric bill?" It's a fair question, and the honest answer surprises most people. A sauna session costs about the same as drying a one or two loads of laundry in an electric clothes dryer. Here's the math behind it. The three numbers you need Figuring out the cost of any particular sauna session comes down

When designing custom saunas with potential clients, one of the first and most important decisions we make together is wood selection. It shapes how the sauna looks, how it feels against your skin, and how it last under intense heat and humidity over the years. This guide walks through every wood option we offer, why we recommend what we do, and how to think about matching wood choice to your specific sauna vision. A sauna is one of the most thermally demanding environments y

My sauna is the one place I can fully relax and decompress. I find it hard to slow the roll of my thoughts and the mental running to-do list I always have going. The sauna gives me that space to be present in the current moment and practice gratitude for all of the lovely things and people in my life. :) With a sauna routine of 4-5 sessions per week pretty consistently for the last 6 months, I have perfected my own personal routine that I find to have the best flow and the be

Most sauna companies make you sit through a sales call before you get anywhere near a real number. We think that's backwards. If you're considering a sauna for your home, you deserve to understand what the investment looks like before you pick up the phone. This guide breaks down the four most common paths to owning a sauna — from a DIY kit you assemble yourself to a fully custom outdoor structure built from scratch on your property. We've included real price ranges, the vari

I always find myself imagining every sauna that we draw up with shiplap siding. To me, that is the type of structure that I picture in my head when I think of a true retreat space. I've been obsessed with it for years. I believe there is something inherently coastal about shiplap that I just can’t shake. Even if we're building a sauna in the middle of an inland forest or a suburban backyard, the moment I see shiplap, the air feels different. I'm immediately reminded of old bo

Anytime a client asks me what the most important consideration is when building a sauna I always answer with the same variable -- ventilation. This a very painful variable to neglect, as correcting it after the original installation typically requires intrusively pulling apart of your sauna walls in order to properly install what's needed. A properly ventilated sauna will: Provide adequate oxygen for sauna user (huge deleterious effects if absent) Evenly heat the sauna space,