There are convincing arguments for having your own sauna in the garden. Cooling off after a sauna session is much more fun in the great outdoors. In addition, the investment pays for itself over the years compared to visits to public sauna facilities - apart from the more trustworthy hygiene. Here you can find out which options are open to you for building a garden sauna and what you should primarily pay attention to.

A garden sauna is the dream of many wellness lovers

Is a building permit required?

From the point of view of building law, a garden sauna is treated as a garden house. This fact requires a building permit from a certain volume of enclosed space. The regional building authority is responsible, since in Germany building law is subject to the federal states and municipalities. Therefore, please contact the responsible authority before starting construction so that you do not experience any nasty surprises afterwards. Take this opportunity to ask about the correct distance to the neighboring property.

Furnace heating requires inspection by the chimney sweep

The state of the art for the garden sauna is heating with electric heaters. These are operated via a power line that is to be laid by a certified electrician. If you still prefer a rustic heating with a wood stove, the chimney sweep comes into play, who has to check and approve the special fireplace. Due to the safety concerns of handling fire in a wooden garden sauna, we recommend using an electric heater.

Which wood is suitable for a garden sauna?

The bar for the quality of sauna wood is high. By no means every type of wood can withstand the thermal stress associated with a garden sauna. Therefore, pay particular attention to the following criteria:

  • No resin flow at high temperatures
  • No knots or as small as possible
  • shatterproof
  • Low heat conduction
  • Soft structure for easy processing
  • Board thickness of at least 40 mm

Anyone who cultivates their garden according to ecological principles will ignore rainforest wood for the construction of their garden sauna. Recommended sauna wood from sustainable cultivation is Nordic spruce, also known as polar spruce. The light-colored, resin-free wood of the Canadian hemlock fir is also on the short list.

Build it yourself or assemble a kit?

The construction of a garden sauna from scratch requires a high degree of manual skill, a well-founded wealth of experience and strong nerves. The classic do-it-yourselfer and hobby gardener is therefore well advised to use a kit. Compared to the construction of an outdoor sauna by a specialist company, this variant is significantly cheaper. All components are delivered ready for assembly, including detailed assembly instructions. The client only has to take care of the foundation himself.

What should be considered when choosing a location?

The space required for a garden sauna is not limited to the building. Therefore, choose a location where you can also set up a small pool or a shower for cooling off. Sufficient space should also be planned for loungers. A heat-resistant pavement made of natural stone around the sauna house ensures a clean end to the pleasures of the sauna.

The ideal location for a garden sauna should also be convenient for the laying of power and water lines. In addition, we recommend a level surface to create the foundation inexpensively. If extensive work is required beforehand to straighten the terrain, this measure unnecessarily increases the costs.

What belongs in a garden sauna - what is luxury?

Very few builders of a garden sauna are blessed with unlimited resources. When space is scarce or the budget is tight, the planning work requires special care. The following overview therefore summarizes all components that are indispensable for a sauna in the garden:

  • A stable, frost-proof foundation
  • External walls with a thickness of at least 40 mm
  • Tightly closing doors
  • Insulating glass windows
  • Stable lying surfaces with a width of 50 cm
  • Floor space per person of at least 1.5 square meters
  • Ideally with an electric oven

Where space and financial resources allow, we recommend a garden sauna with an anteroom as a heat lock. It is easy to undress and dress here, especially in winter. Larger sauna houses also offer the option of installing a shower in another room. Premium sauna cabins with a separate, additionally insulated sauna area, a separate shower and a cozy lounge with seating offer pure luxury.

Barrel sauna - the garden sauna in mini format

Anyone who has to be economical with their garden space will appreciate the advantages of a barrel sauna. From a length of 200 cm and a floor area of 4 square meters, the round wooden constructions offer carefree sauna pleasure. Compared to a classic sauna house, a barrel sauna not only takes up less space, but also blends harmoniously into any garden style.

tips

The carefree pleasure of visiting a garden sauna is only guaranteed if you are safe from prying eyes. In the natural garden, fast-growing hedge plants protect your privacy as a garden fence. Until the bushes have grown as tall as a man, fend off annoying onlookers with reed mats.

Category:

Garden design