Installing an outdoor sauna is incredibly exciting, adding a touch of luxury to your garden space and providing the perfect relaxation escape just steps from the convenience of your home.
There are many health benefits associated with an outdoor sauna Scotland, and by installing your very own you won’t need to spend time and money every time you fancy a sauna session by needing to visit the spa.
Home saunas provide homeowners with the same level of relaxation that has been enjoyed in Finland for many centuries, and with the country repeatedly voted as the happiest country in the world, they’ve clearly been doing something right.
Unlike the Fins with their stone clad heated hollows all those centuries ago, you have a huge number of customisation options to choose from when picking your outdoor sauna, from design and colour options to Bluetooth speakers, LED lighting, and much more besides.
What sauna type do you want?
The first decision that you need to make when picking the perfect outdoor sauna is choosing the type of sauna you want.
There are three main types of sauna that dominate the home sauna market in the UK.
- Traditional Saunas
- Steam Rooms
- Infrared saunas
Traditional saunas are what most people picture when they hear the word sauna, picture a wooden clad room with benches and you won’t be too far away. These saunas were once heated by hot stones and fire but modern variations feature an electric heater that is used to raise the temperature in the room to a high level.
Traditional saunas use dry heat with humidity kept as close to zero as is possible.
Steam rooms, on the other hand are right at the other end of the spectrum when it comes to the type of heat they produce. Steam rooms often achieve humidity levels of over 90%, providing a very different experience to the user. Whilst both traditional saunas and steam rooms offer a range of similar health benefits, this difference is usually the deciding factor for buyers.
If you prefer dry heat, choose a sauna, humid heat, a steam room. The benefits of the two are not exactly the same, however, and the presence of steam does add certain additional benefits including helping provide relief from certain cold symptoms by clearing your airways.
Whilst traditional sauna set-ups and steam rooms have been around for many centuries now, Infrared saunas are the new kid on the block, and they are taking the outdoor sauna market by storm.
Rather than heating the room itself to a high temperature, these units send infrared waves directly to the user’s body, providing an intense heat experience without having the heat the room to as high a temperature. This not only saves money and energy, but also achieves a deep penetrating relief that simply isn’t achievable using any other home sauna type.
At the end of the day, all three of these home sauna options have their own pros and cons to consider and the final decision will come down to personal preference and which type of sauna you think will look best in your outside space. If you are still unsure after reading this guide, visit our website today and get in touch with one of our sauna and spa bath experts who will be delighted to tell you more and answer any questions that you may have.
What additional extras do you need?
There are a range of different additional extras that can be built into the modern home sauna, allowing you to customise your experience to your taste and budget.
Despite what most people imagine, as long as you have electrical access, there are actually more additional extras available with outdoor saunas than inside.
When picking your outside sauna, choose form the following options to make the experience as enjoyable as possible for you and any guests who are lucky enough to get an invite:
- Bluetooth speakers
- LED light therapy
- Custom built seating
- Bespoke heating system
- And much more besides.
Bear in mind that these extras will usually not be included in the installation cost and need to be accounted for in your budget before going ahead with installation.
How long a warranty does the outdoor sauna come with?
To avoid any nasty surprises further down the line, pick a home sauna unit that comes with a warranty of several years. This way, you can be confident using your sauna stress free for many years to come, safe in the knowledge that any repairs or replacement parts that are required will be covered by the manufacturer.
When picking the sauna you want, as the installer for information on the maintenance required to keep the unit in tip-top condition.