| A traditional Finnish style sauna is really hard to | | | | staining and increase the life of the sauna. |
| beat when it comes to getting both a good dry | | | | In most cases you cannot buy an outside |
| sauna followed by a hot steam sauna. The sauna | | | | traditional sauna as a kit. However due to the fact |
| has been used by many cultures from around the | | | | that they are relative small and lightweight you |
| world. Native American's used sweat lodges as | | | | can transport a barrel sauna in a regular utility |
| part of their healing and religious practices for | | | | trailer which means you can go to the |
| thousands of years. The Finnish people have also | | | | manufacture and pick it up yourself. Last year 4 |
| used the sauna for many centuries to stay | | | | of us not too young men unloaded and set up an |
| healthy and increase well being. Finnish immigrants | | | | 8 footer without any power equipment. It is our |
| brought their sauna culture with them when they | | | | opinion that you should purchase the largest sauna |
| immigrated to North America. | | | | that you can afford. This allows the maximum |
| The Finnish sauna became very popular all along | | | | amount of people to use the sauna at one time |
| the South and West shore of Lake Superior. | | | | which will save you wood in the long run. |
| Many homes were built with a sauna and even | | | | Most barrel sauna manufactures provide different |
| more had a sauna built adjacent to the house. | | | | heat sources options for your sauna. You can use |
| Across the Upper Midwest there are many | | | | the traditional wood fired sauna stove or you can |
| traditional sauna designs. Most are made white | | | | opt for an electric stove. Electric stoves normally |
| cedar and have a wood fired sauna stove for | | | | require a 220 volt hook up that will require a |
| heat. Floors are either concrete or wood and are | | | | licensed electrician to complete. Electric saunas |
| designed to drain water away during the sauna. In | | | | tend to stay a lot cleaner than wood stove |
| recent years the barrels sauna design has | | | | saunas due to the fact that you do not have all |
| become very popular. | | | | the wood and ash mess to deal with. However |
| The barrel sauna design has a lot of things going | | | | you can purchase a wood fired sauna stove that |
| for it. The shape of the sauna allows one to stand | | | | is loaded and cleaned out from the outside which |
| up in it yet have the room have a bench on each | | | | will keep the inside or your sauna clean. In both |
| side. Not all barrel saunas are round but the | | | | cases sauna rock racks are on top of the stove |
| essentially have the same shape and utility. Since | | | | for you to add your rocks or opt for the |
| they sit on a couple of cradles you do not have | | | | manufactures lava rocks. |
| to deal with building a floor or foundation. Most | | | | There are many very good barrel sauna |
| have a drain hole or bung in the bottom that | | | | manufactures located in Minnesota and Upper |
| readily allows all the water and sweat to drain out | | | | Michigan that build great saunas. Most |
| onto the ground. Most saunas are built of | | | | manufactures will be glad to build you a custom |
| Northern white cedar that is light, very durable | | | | sauna to meet your needs. In general it will cost |
| and rot resistant and also a great insulator not to | | | | less to purchase and install a barrel sauna than to |
| mention that this wood has a great aroma as well. | | | | build a traditional sauna from the ground up. If you |
| The sauna is held together with steel bands just | | | | are in the market for a good sauna then you |
| as any cooperage product. We recommend that | | | | should consider purchasing one of these great |
| you opt for the stainless steel bands to prevent | | | | saunas for your home or cabin. |