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So, a few of you have been asking what it actually cost me to get my own sauna up and running in the backyard. Let me tell you, it was a bit of a journey, and the numbers definitely added up, but I reckon it was worth it in the end. I’m not talking about one of those fancy pre-built pods, no sir. This was a from-scratch, sweat-equity kind of deal.
Getting Started: The “Where and What” Phase
First off, I had to figure out where this thing was gonna live. I had a decent spot, a bit of unused space near the patio. Cleared that out, leveled it a bit. Didn’t cost much, mostly my time and a shovel. Then came the planning. I’m no architect, but I sketched out a rough box, say about 6×8 feet on the inside. Big enough for a couple of people to sit comfortably, maybe one to lie down if they hogged the bench.
The first real expense? Foundation. I just went with some concrete deck blocks and treated lumber for a basic frame to keep it off the ground. That was probably around $150 to $200 when all was said and done for the blocks, wood, and hefty screws.
The Bones and Skin: Framing and Wood
Framing the walls and roof was next. Just standard 2×4 lumber. You’d think it’s cheap, but man, it adds up when you’re building all four walls and a sloped roof. I reckon the framing lumber, including the roof joists and plywood for the subfloor and roof sheathing, set me back a good $400. Don’t forget the screws and nails – another $50 there easily.
Now, the wood for the inside. This is where it can get crazy expensive. Everyone raves about cedar. And yeah, it smells amazing and resists rot. But the price? Ouch. I looked at it, gulped, and decided to go with tongue-and-groove pine for the interior walls and ceiling. Still looks good, smells nice when it’s hot, and saved me a bundle. That pine paneling cost me about $600 for the quantity I needed. For the benches, I did splurge a little on some clear aspen, which is smoother and doesn’t get as hot. That was another $150 or so.
Keeping the Heat In: Insulation and Vapor Barrier
You absolutely cannot skimp on insulation. No point heating the great outdoors. I went with rockwool insulation for the walls and ceiling. Good R-value, fire-resistant, the works. That cost a fair bit, probably around $300 for all the batts. Then, a foil vapor barrier. Super important in a sauna to keep moisture out of the insulation. That was relatively cheap, maybe $50 for a big roll and the special tape.
The Heart of the Sauna: The Heater
This was a big one. I looked at wood-fired stoves, but decided an electric heater would be simpler for my setup. Less fuss with chimneys and all that. I researched online, read reviews, and found a decent 6kW electric sauna heater for about $350. Then you need the sauna stones, another $40. The wiring was a bit more involved. I’m okay with basic electrics, but for a 240V heater, I wanted it done right. Had a sparky mate help me run the proper gauge wire in conduit from my main panel. The materials for that (wire, conduit, breaker) were probably $150, and I paid my mate in beer and pizza, but if you hired it out, add a few hundred more for labor, for sure.
The Door and Other Bits
You need a proper sauna door. One that seals well and preferably has a small window. I found a pre-hung tempered glass sauna door online for about $250. Looked much better than trying to bodge something myself. For the exterior, I just used some treated plywood and stained it to match my shed. That was about $100 for the ply and stain. Add in some roofing felt and shingles for the roof, another $80.
Ventilation is key too. Needed an inlet vent near the floor by the heater and an outlet vent up high on the opposite wall. Simple wooden vent covers and a bit of ducting, maybe $40 all in.
Tallying It Up
So, let’s try and add this all up, roughly:
- Foundation: $200
- Framing Lumber & Fasteners: $450
- Interior Pine Paneling: $600
- Bench Wood (Aspen): $150
- Insulation: $300
- Vapor Barrier & Tape: $50
- Electric Heater & Stones: $390
- Electrical Wiring Materials: $150 (plus labor if you’re not a DIYer or have a helpful mate)
- Sauna Door: $250
- Exterior Plywood & Stain: $100
- Roofing Materials: $80
- Ventilation: $40
Grand total, by my quick math, looks like it was somewhere around $2,760. Let’s call it $2800 because there are always little bits and bobs you forget – extra screws, a caulk tube here and there, maybe a new drill bit you broke. And I didn’t even include the basic tools I already had. If you’re starting from zero tools, that’s another cost.
It took me a good few weekends, a lot of measuring twice (and sometimes still cutting wrong once), and a fair bit of head-scratching. But sitting in there now, on a cold evening, feeling that heat soak in? Yeah, totally worth the cost and effort. Plus, I built it myself, and that’s a good feeling.