‘There are so many benefits’: why more and more British people are building a home sauna

They is de rigueur in the Scandinavian and Scandinavian countries, with as many as one for every household in Finland, where the old saying goes, “First build the sauna, then the house,” and it seems the British are now following suit. According to marketing company Semrush, Google UK searches for ‘home sauna’ increased by 84% between January and March 2024 and the same period in 2020.

Hampson Architects – based in Brighton and operating in the South East of England – has seen a big increase in demand. “For larger homes (over 3,000 square feet), the number has gone from 30% wanting saunas to as high as 80-90% now,” says director Andy Parsons. “I think it will stay at that level now because the market expects them to have them.”

While sales may not be as vibrant as they were during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, there is still an upturn, with manufacturer and retailer UK Saunas reporting sales 50% to 80% higher than pre-Covid figures.

“Covid was a major reason behind the popularity of saunas,” says Lewis Jenkinson, technical officer at the British Sauna Society and founder of the Cedar Sauna Company. “People made their homes as comfortable as possible with the savings from the furlough schemes and holidays they didn’t take.”

Saunas are not just about relaxation. There are also links to major health benefits. Studies show that regular use can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

“There are so many benefits, from physical to mental,” says Dr. Susanna Søberg, the founder of the Søberg Institute and author of A healthier and happier life through sauna and cold therapy. “Research has shown that using a sauna can mimic the effects of moderate-intensity exercise, meaning that sitting in a sauna at around 90ºC for more than 20 minutes on average can increase your heart rate and act as exercise for the cardiovascular system. .”

Plus, sweating can increase your metabolism and help burn calories, she adds. It is said that regular sauna bathing also relieves stress, relaxes muscles and increases mental well-being. However, Søberg warns that extremely hot and cold temperatures can be dangerous. “Make sure you don’t have heart disease or irregular high or low blood pressure,” she says. If you are unsure, consult a doctor.

Choosing a sauna

The most traditional type is the Finnish sauna, which uses a wood stove or electricity to heat the air, and the temperature is usually between 70 and 90 degrees Celsius.

Alternatively, and increasingly popular, are infrared saunas, which use infrared light to directly heat the body, and typically have a lower heat range between 45 and 60 degrees Celsius. This type of sauna is not recognized by the International Sauna Association, which says that to qualify the air must be heated.

Prices start from around £1,500 for one small infrared indoor saunacomplete with wooden cabin and with enough space for one person, but can cost upwards of £40,000 for a bespoke cabin, including your chosen heating method.

Indoor saunas

Jenkinson says many people who opt for an indoor sauna build extensions to create a dedicated space, or incorporate it into an existing master bathroom, guest room or corner of a basement.

If you’re considering a sauna in your home, Brian Clarke, director at UK Saunas, says you should research the electrical requirements of your sauna and consider whether you can fit an extractor fan into the space. If it is a traditional Finnish sauna, you will need a drip-free floor, such as vinyl or tiles.

In general, the most popular indoor saunas are infrared, says Clarke: “Firstly, from a practical point of view, they run on a 13 amp socket (standard plug). They don’t need a waterproof floor and are easier to maintain.”

But, he says, most of his own customers opt for outdoor saunas. “Most people’s homes don’t have the space to turn a room into a sauna,” he says.

Outdoor saunas

To set up a sauna outdoors, experts say you need a concrete solid base, a special power supply for a traditional sauna, and you need to consider the distance from the house to ensure it can handle the power supply reaches. “You need an electrician-run cable from the fuse in the house to the sauna,” says Clarke.

As most saunas are less than 2.5 meters high and are considered portable buildings, planning permission is not generally required, but it is worth checking with your local council before making a purchase.

If you want to keep your neighbors on side, it’s worth talking to them too. And if you’re considering a wood-burning stove, you need to consider not only the environmental and health damage (make sure you’re not in a smoke-controlled zone), but also the impact on the people around you. “This is not a good idea in residential areas, especially if they are in regular use,” said Clarke, adding that some customers have switched to electricity after neighbors complained to the council about the smoke.

Most people buy the complete kit, including the building and heating, from a specialist company and pay someone to install it, or, if they have the skills and temperament, put it together themselves. However, you can build your own entirely from scratch.

Jenkinson says that if you’re thinking of going it alone or hiring a builder, you’ll need a wooden structure to create the base, frame and roof of the hut. “Some people put felt over the roof, but you could also have a rubber roof; that is a lot more sustainable. External cladding can be cheap. You want a soft wood like spruce, cedar or aspen inside, because hardwoods like oak get too hot. The labor costs can set you back from €8,000.

Jenkinson says a self-built sauna can cost between £5,000 and £10,000 in materials and equipment such as insulation, cladding, bench wood, heating and bricks. The British Sauna Society has one directory of installers and suppliers on its website.

If you have money to spend, you can opt for a luxurious, handmade sauna. Those from Estonia-based Iglucraft start from just under €13,000 (£11,200), with additional transport costs of around €2,000, plus VAT. For this you buy a steam sauna with enough space for four people and your choice of an electric or wood stove. The sauna is delivered ready-made, but you must prepare its foundation before it arrives.

Many of her customers personalize their saunas. “People change the length and play with the layout of the room,” says Priit Kallas, CEO of Iglucraft.

“Think about what you want: the durability, the craftsmanship and the different types of wood.”

While temperatures are rising, the cost of running a sauna isn’t as high as you might think. “People think they will use a lot of electricity because there is a lot of powerful heating, but if it is designed properly you only have to heat the room for an hour, and then it turns itself on and off once it reaches the right temperature. says Jenkinson, who estimates it will cost around £5 for the first hour, and half that for each hour after that.

Budget options

Of course, a home sauna won’t be within most people’s budget. Alternatives to building a sauna at home include portable sauna tents, which are wood or infrared fired, and start from around £100, portable steam sauna pods – such as An from Vital+, which is essentially a steam-filled tent and costs from £249, and infrared sauna blankets, which also start at £100. Søberg is a fan of the latter. “I have one myself and think it’s quite nice, as long as you sweat – that’s the most important thing.” You can also look for a used one to reduce costs.

Fortunately, there are other places to sweat – albeit with different ones – and many gyms have saunas. They are also popping up in communities across the UK.

For example, Community Sauna Baths, a not-for-profit organization with a selection of saunas and ice baths in Hackney, Stratford and Peckham in London, has sessions from £8.50, while membership costs £20 per month, with a 50% discount. sauna access.

“We wanted to create an affordable sauna in London,” says director Charlie Duckworth. “It generates a stronger sense of community and social environment.”

With over 400 members and 10,000 visitors per month, more are in the pipeline.

‘They turned into bananas. We believe they should be everywhere,” says Duckworth.

Ice baths

Ice baths are also having a moment, popularized in part by Dutch motivational speaker Wim Hof. The form of cold water therapy is believed to provide many health benefits, such as strengthening the immune system and aiding in muscle recovery.

From a practical point of view, Clarke from UK Saunas says you’ll need access to a 13 amp socket, a cover to keep the rain off and somewhere to drain the rain. “You have to change the water every few weeks.”

For £85 you can buy Lumi’s portable Recovery Pod ice bath, with lid and rain cover. You add cold water and it keeps it cool. For just under £4,500, Nuovo Luxury’s ice bath has temperature control and a sturdy bath to sit in and can be used indoors or outdoors.

Many enthusiasts use saunas and ice baths together. However, Søberg says: “Definitely take it easy. You don’t have to stay in the water for more than a few minutes to feel the benefits.”

‘I feel a deep-seated sense of joy and calm’

Because her mother is Finnish, Sabine Zetteler, 41, says it was only a matter of time before she achieved her lifelong dream of having her own sauna.

It happened earlier this year when she and her partner Alex installed one in their garden in Hackney, London, after saving £8,000 for the project.

“People think this is a wild luxury, while we actually have no children and don’t buy much, eat out much or drink much,” says Zetteler, who runs her own communications agency. “It was easy to be a little frugal because we knew the payback in the long run would be so great.”

The Polhus sauna cost a total of £6,629, including extras such as insulation, roof shingles and postage. The couple also paid £800 for an electrician for a full day, plus £650 for a gardener and foundation materials. The gardener helped build the foundation slab from broken stones and went to buy the blocks on which the beams of the sauna floor rest.

They saved money by putting it together themselves, with the help of some friends.

Zetteler says that the sauna has already brought them a lot of pleasure.

“It has given me a deep-seated sense of joy and calm, and a connection to Finland, my mother’s home country, that I really miss. It is also very healthy, so in the darkest months it is nice to get an injection of well-being.”