All You Need to Know About Outdoor Saunas—and Then Some
Best Prefab Outdoor Sauna: The Backcountry Hut Company System S
This freestanding prefab outdoor sauna can easily fit four people and is crafted in British Columbia from sustainably sourced clear cedar and clad in a durable stainless steel. But the best part? It’s plug-and-play design is delivered on a flatbed truck ready to connect to your existing electrical system and fire up same day. No assembly required. Though the high design and easy of use comes with a similarly elevated price tag. (More on Backcountry Hut Company here.)
Style: Preassembled Nordic Sauna
Number of People: Up to 6 people
Material: Sustainably sourced Clear Cedar
Dimensions: 8’ x 10’
Heat Source: Tylo Sense Pure 8 heating system
Extra Features: Plug and play prefabricated design
Outdoor Sauna FAQs
How do I Buy and Install a Sauna?
There are essentially two options when purchasing a home or backyard sauna: prefab saunas delivered fully assembled and ready to use, and sauna kits, which are delivered flat packed and require assembly on site. Sauna kits are more common, and we can say from experience, relatively easy to install.
Whether you’re interested in an indoor sauna or an outdoor sauna, the primary factors to consider before buying are how much usable space is available, the flooring or foundation, and access to electricity. Indoor saunas need a good waterproof floor or foundation, and enough space for the sauna itself, as well as room for a tempered glass door or wooden door to swing open. For an electric stove, it’s essential to make sure that the sauna has adequate and safe electric hookups.
Before buying an outdoor sauna, check your local regulations and building codes as sometimes permits are required. The top priority for installing a freestanding outdoor sauna is finding a safe and reliable source of power for the electric stove and lighting. If you’re using a wood stove to hear your sauna, you have more freedom of placement. Regardless, always check with the manufacturer for install information.
What’s the History of Saunas?
Saunas originated in European countries with colder climates some 2,000 years ago—traditional Finnish saunas preceded the Estonian, Russian, and Latvian sweat baths, and are still the most popular style today.
Primitive and functional, they were built into a mound of earth and heated by a fireplace with sauna stones to throw water over. Over the years, the technology changed and designs evolved (you can even get your hands on a gondola converted into a sauna), but the traditional Finnish sauna remained as a way of life and ritual in Nordic and Scandinavian culture. Today, saunas are still considered a regular part of everyday life that improves wellbeing, promotes relaxation, and offers a communal space to gather and simply be. In public, sauna etiquette usually means being respectful of other bathers’ peace and quiet, always sitting on a clean towel, and of course, giving a nod or grunt if you fancy pouring more hot water over the sauna stone.
Source: https://fieldmag.herokuapp.com/articles/outdoor-sauna-guide
