Choosing a Home Sauna for a Three-Season Porch Remodel

Selecting The Perfect Home Sauna For Your Lifestyle

The last few years forced many of us to rethink how we spend our time. The staycation trend was already growing. The COVID virus not only amplified it but staying home was mandated. As a result, many homeowners began exploring ways to improve their homes to add lifestyle value, creating health benefits in the process!

Here at Degnan, one remodeling update we've seen is an increase in homeowners choosing to include a home sauna when remodeling a three-season porch. Wisconsin's cold winters offer the perfect environment for enjoying a warm, relaxing, and healthy sauna year-round. Recent advances in sauna technology have brought the price for a home sauna well within reach of most homeowners while upping quality, durability, and functionality.

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In this article, we will look at the features and options of different home sauna units to help you to make the perfect choice to meet your family's needs and lifestyle.

The Benefits of a Home Sauna

A home sauna gives you the perfect space to escape life's everyday stresses and worries. Regardless of the heat source, a sauna's primary purpose is to produce sweat which helps to relax you and release toxins from your body. Regular sauna use can provide a number of therapeutic benefits. A sauna session not only relaxes you but also:

• Flushes Toxins From the Body

• Relieves Stress

• Burns Calories

• It helps you to Sleep Better

• Relaxes Your muscles

• Provides positive benefits to your Cardiovascular System

• Provide Relief For Chronic Pain

• Deep Cleans the Skin

• A sauna is fun for the entire family!

Consideration Before Buying Your Sauna

There are a range of home saunas available to homeowners today. They fall into two main categories: Wet or Dry. Wet saunas use steam to increase the production of sweat and maximize the detoxification process. Most wet saunas can also function as dry saunas if you don't use any water. Unfortunately, most dry-only saunas cannot be converted into wet saunas.

That's only one consideration. Before you purchase a home sauna, think about:

What are you looking for?
What is the main reason you want to install a home sauna? Will it be used for relaxation? Detoxification? Or do you need the therapeutic benefits of chronic pain relief? Defining your needs can help narrow your choices.

What's your budget?
Once you've defined your needs, you can shop for your sauna. Units come in all price ranges depending on the size, materials, and labor. The experts at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel can help you choose the perfect sauna to meet your remodeling budget.

Choosing the Right Home Sauna

You'll need to make a few fundamental decisions when buying your unit.

Heat Source

It's all about the heat. When it comes to home saunas, you have two basic options.

Traditional Saunas – These contain lava rocks heated by electricity. This creates a dry convection heat in which the air warms your skin, causing you to sweat. The ambient air in your sauna can reach as high as 200 degrees, which can be harsh on your eyes and nose. You can create a steam effect by dousing the rocks with water. Traditional saunas take about a half hour to reach temperature and can be used indoors or outdoors.

Radiant or Far-Infrared Saunas – This system replaces the rock and water method. These saunas typically have carbon or ceramic panels mounted in various spots that emit heat as light waves. Infrared heat is absorbed by the body resulting in a rise in body temperature. There are some advantages to an infrared system, they operate at least 30 degrees cooler than traditional saunas, and they heat up in 10 to 15 minutes. Plus, far-infrared heat is gentler on the body and is typically built for indoor use.

Wood Options

Typically, saunas are constructed from various softwoods. Softwood is preferred because it absorbs steam heat. Wood choice is more than just aesthetics. Typical wood choices include:

Spruce – This budget-friendly soft white wood is traditionally used in Finnish saunas. The wood may darken into a rich patina with use.

Pine – Similar to spruce, but it sports larger knots. The knots should be treated to prevent them from falling out.

Aspen – If you are sensitive to odors or suffer from allergies, aspen is odorless.

Hemlock – Another light-colored wood, hemlock offers a natural resistance to mildew and is a low-odor choice. Hemlock is another good choice for allergy sufferers.

Cedar – Cedar is a popular choice for home saunas because it is resistant to decay and insects. It offers a pleasing smell, and the wood wears well. However, this is one of the most expensive choices.

Accessories

While heat source, wood, and budget are the primary considerations when choosing a sauna, many manufacturers offer a wide range of accessories. These include LED lighting, MP3 players, automatic timers, beds, specially designed benches, and more. You also have a range of aesthetic options. These include custom windows and doors or stone walls. You can find something that will work with your home décor, appealing to your mind and body.

If you're considering a home sauna as part of your three-season porch remodeling project, and live in the Greater Madison area, call the experts at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel at (608) 846-5963. We can help you to take your home to the next level of comfort, design, and function! Ready to learn more? We're always happy to answer your questions.