Heaters & Components

Wood & Materials

Wood choice matters in a sauna. The benches, walls, and ceiling are in contact with high heat and humidity repeatedly, and the wrong wood species will warp, crack, check, or off-gas resins unpleasantly. The Finnish standard for bench and interior wood is kiln-dried softwoods with low resin content: Nordic spruce, Canadian Western Red Cedar, and abachi (a West African hardwood with very low thermal conductivity, so it doesn't get hot to the touch) are the main options in North American residential builds. Cedar is aromatic and rot-resistant; hemlock is less fragrant and cheaper; thermowood is thermally modified pine or spruce that has improved durability and a darker finish. Vapor barrier material — typically foil-faced kraft paper or polyethylene — is essential between the sauna wall and the building structure to prevent moisture migration. The floor is usually tiled or treated concrete in residential builds; untreated wood floors rot. The guides here cover wood species selection, vapor barrier installation, and the material choices that affect sauna longevity and experience quality.