A personal build journal · Shoreline, WA

I built a sauna.
Here's everything
I learned.

This site documents my sauna build from the first planning decision to the finished room — including every mistake, every course correction, and everything I wish someone had told me before I started.

Buying a sauna heater and building a sauna are two very different things. The heater is the last step in a long process most sellers don't walk you through. This guide does.

Sauna92″ × 66″
Changing Room92″ × 66″
LayoutTwo-tier bench
HeaterElectric
[ Your finished sauna photo goes here ]

Where would you like to start?

Each section goes deep. Read in sequence or jump to what matters most for your build right now.

Getting Started
01Planning Your SaunaThe decisions to make, in the right order — before anything else happens. 02Kits vs. ConvertingWhat a sauna kit includes, when it makes sense, and what I did instead.
The Sauna
03The SpaceRoom dimensions, door placement, heater wall, and what to verify after construction. 04Walls & InsulationFraming, mineral wool, vapor barrier, and cedar cladding — how it should be done. 05Ventilation & ElectricalVent placement, circuit requirements, and the gotchas I discovered too late. 06The BenchesHeights, depths, structural options, and the wall-to-wall beam design I landed on. 07Heater & ControlsSizing, clearances, stones, control units, and what to ask before you buy.
The Changing Room
08The Changing Room92″ × 66″ — layout, finishes, storage, and how it connects to the sauna.
Reference
09Materials & CostComplete lumber list with quantities, rates, and sourcing notes. 10Lessons LearnedEverything I wish I'd known before I started — the full gotcha list. 11DrawingsContractor-ready structural drawings for the bench design.