Convincing arguments speak for having your own sauna in the garden. Cooling down after a sauna session is much more fun in the great outdoors. In addition, the investment pays for itself over the years compared to visits to public sauna facilities - apart from the more trustworthy hygiene. You can find out here which options are available to you for building a garden sauna and what you should pay particular attention to.
How do I build a garden sauna myself?
To build a garden sauna yourself, you need a stable foundation, at least 40 mm thick external walls, tightly closing doors, insulated glass windows, 50 cm wide lying areas and an electric oven. Don't forget to get building permits beforehand and make sure you choose the right location.
Is a building permit required?
From the perspective of building law, a garden sauna is treated as a garden house. This fact requires a building permit from a certain volume of enclosed space. The regional building authority is responsible, as in Germany building law is subordinate to the states and municipalities. Therefore, please contact the responsible authority before construction begins so as not to experience any unpleasant surprises afterwards. Take this opportunity to ask about the correct distance from the neighboring property.
Stove heating requires check by chimney sweep
The state of the art for garden saunas is heating with electric ovens. These are operated via a high-voltage line, which must be installed by a certified electrician. If you still prefer rustic heating with a wood stove, the chimney sweep comes into play, who has to check and approve the special fireplace. Due to the safety concerns when dealing with fire in a wooden garden sauna, we recommend using an electric heater.
Which wood is suitable for a garden sauna?
The bar for the quality of sauna wood is set high. Not every type of wood can withstand the thermal stress that comes with a garden sauna. Please pay particular attention to the following criteria:
- No resin flow at high temperatures
- No or as small as possible branch inclusions
- Shatterproof
- Low heat conduction
- Soft structure for easy processing
- Plank thickness of at least 40 mm
If you manage your garden according to ecological principles, you will leave rainforest wood behind when building your garden sauna. Recommended sauna wood from sustainable cultivation is Nordic spruce, also known as polar spruce. The light, resin-free wood of the Canadian hemlock fir is also on the shortlist.
Build it yourself or assemble a kit?
Building a garden sauna from scratch requires a high level of craftsmanship, a well-founded we alth of experience and strong nerves. The classic do-it-yourselfer and hobby gardener is therefore well advised to get a kit. Compared to having an outdoor sauna built by a specialist company, this variant is significantly more cost-effective. All components are delivered ready for assembly, including detailed construction instructions. The builder only has to take care of the foundation himself.
What should you pay attention to when choosing a location?
The space required for a garden sauna is not limited to the building. Therefore, choose a location where you can also set up a small pool or shower to cool off. Sufficient space should also be planned for loungers. Around the sauna house, a heat-resistant pavement made of natural stone ensures a clean end to the sauna pleasures.
The ideal location for a garden sauna should also be convenient for laying power and water pipes. We also recommend a flat surface to create the foundation cost-effectively. If extensive work is required to straighten the area beforehand, this measure will unnecessarily increase costs.
What belongs in a garden sauna – what is luxury?
Very few people who build a garden sauna are blessed with unlimited resources. Where space is at a premium or the budget is tight, planning work requires special care. The following overview therefore summarizes all the components that are essential for a sauna in the garden:
- A stable, frost-proof foundation
- External walls with a thickness of at least 40 mm
- Tightly closing doors
- Windows made of insulating glass
- Stable lying surfaces with a width of 50 cm
- Floor area per person of at least 1.5 square meters
- Ideally with an electric oven
Where space and financial resources allow, we recommend a garden sauna with an anteroom as a heat lock. It is easy to undress and dress here, especially in winter. Larger sauna houses also offer the option of installing a shower in another room. Premium sauna cabins offer pure luxury with a separate, additionally insulated sauna area, a separate shower and a cozy lounge with seating.
Barrel sauna – the garden sauna in mini format
If you have to use your garden space sparingly, you will appreciate the advantages of a barrel sauna. With a length of just 200 cm and a floor area of 4 square meters, the round wooden structures offer carefree sauna pleasure. Compared to a classic sauna house, a barrel sauna not only takes up less space, but also fits harmoniously into any garden style.
Tip
The carefree joy of visiting a garden sauna is only guaranteed when you are safe from prying eyes. In the natural garden, fast-growing hedge plants protect your privacy as a garden fence. Until the bushes have grown to the height of a man, use reed mats (€45.00 on Amazon) to ward off annoying onlookers.