SaunaFin Sauna Material Kits Instruction Manual

SaunaFin Sauna Material Kits

Product Specifications:

• Material: Cedar, T&G Cedar, Spruce/Pine
• Insulation: 3-1/2″ R12 fiberglass (not included)
• Joists: 2×4, 16″ O/C (not included)
• Heater: Sauna Craft Heater
• Ventilation: Passive venting system

Product Usage Instructions

Rough-in Details:

This rough-in guide is for our Sauna Material kits. Refer to the Sauna Material Kits on the website for more details.

Horizontal Lining:

Horizontal lining is standard. Check your material list to verify your lining direction.

Top Bench Construction:

Ensure proper installation of upper and lower bench reinforcing studs and cedar lining. Use cedar cleats to secure benches into reinforcing studs.

Ventilation:

Proper sauna venting is crucial for effective heater operation. The inlet vent should be low behind the heater, while the outlet should be located high on a wall diagonal from the inlet. Install slide vent covers and exterior grills as needed.

Heater Installation:

Follow the specific instructions for installing the Sauna Craft Heater. Ensure proper framing and blocking for heater reinforcement.

Door Installation:

Install the sauna door according to the provided rough opening dimensions. Pay attention to the type of framing required based on the door type.

Bench Construction:

Use spruce/pine blocking to create floating benches. Follow specific elevations for bench top blocking based on the sauna kit  model.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to include insulation in my sauna kit?

A: Yes, you will need to purchase 3-1/2″ R12 fiberglass insulation separately as it is not included in the kit.

Q: How should I position the inlet and outlet vents?

A: The inlet vent should be placed low behind the heater, while the outlet vent should be located high on a wall diagonal from the inlet for proper ventilation.

115 Bowes Rd, Unit 2,
Concord, ON. L4K 1H7
Ph: 905-738-4017 / 800-387-7029
sales@saunafin.com
www.saunafin.com

This rough-in guide is for our Sauna Material kits
For more detail see “Sauna Material Kits” on website: https://www.saunafin.com/resources

YOU SUPPLY

FRAMING:
Use 2 x 4 construction grade spruce studs to frame the walls and ceiling. Unless otherwise specified, for saunas up to 8′ x 8′, the walls are LINED HORIZONTALLY and FRAMED VERTICALLY. Frame the walls at 16″ on center. Frame or strap the ceiling to an inside height of 83-1/2″. Frame the ceiling so that the cedar will run the shortest direction. Provide extra blocking for bench supports and heater.
Standard kit height 831/2″.
Most Saunas are 7′ height or lower. Minimum height is generally 75″ to 78″ depending on heater model.
Maximum sauna height should never be higher than 8′. If you really want higher, we strongly urge being as close to 7′ as you are willing to go; i.e. 7′-4″ or 7′-6″.

STRAPPING:
For standard horizontal lining, strapping is not required.
If lining vertically, strap (1 x 2 spf) over the foil to change direction. Can be used to create air space, but it is not necessary.

WIRING:
Electrical rough-in of heater, control and light should be done at this time. If using an outside control, the thermostat should be installed at this stage. (See heater specifications and control wiring diagrams for wire and breaker sizes.) Hook-up of the heater and light can be done after the sauna is completed.

INSULATION:
The space between the studs in the walls and ceiling is filled with 3-1/2″, R-12 fiberglass insulation.

WE SUPPLY

• Foil Vapour Barrier (apply over the inside edge face of studs over the insulation).
• Tongue & groove cedar lining
• Benches
• Heater with rocks
• Heater Guard
• Doors
• Outlet cedar slide vent
• Cedar Floor (optional)

Frameless glass door is standard. Frameless glass door has jamb on four sides. And comes with detachable spacer for bottom which has channel for back up ventilation

• With included spacer blocking at bottom, rough opening is 27-1/2″ x 76-1/2″
• Cedar framed door style Rough Opening 26″ x 76-1/2″
• ROUGH OPENING: If unsure which door you want, we recommend going with the larger. You can always reduce and trim later.
• Frameless Glass Door = 24″ x 72″. With bottom spacer, Rough Opening=271/2 x 761/2″.)
• Cedar Door Style. Size = 24″ x 74″. Standard Rough opening=26″ x 761/2″.
• Larger and custom doors available (i.e Tall Door=24″x78″, Commercial Door=28″x78″, Handicap Access=36″x78″)
• SAUNA DOORS SHOULD OPENS OUT.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

DRAINAGE
Commercial (public) saunas should have a drain in the center of the floor (sloped to the drain) to facilitate cleaning.
Most residential saunas have drains, but it is not essential. Water should only be used in moderation. (Our rule of thumb: If you are doing complete reno; i.e., breaking floors, new shower & bathroom, etc., we would suggest a sauna drain. If you are putting sauna in to an already finished area, it is likely not worth the cost to add a drain.

TILE
For residential, tile is attractive and functional; however, it is also acceptable to leave cement. If sauna is on upper level with wood sub-floor, there should be a rubber membrane, cement scratch coat and tile (like shower floor).
If floor is sloped to drain, mosaic tiles are best.
You may add a tile baseboard up the wall 2-3″

HORIZONTAL LINING IS STANDARD. CHECK YOUR MATERIAL LIST TO VERIFY YOUR

LINING

SPRUCE/PINE BENCH BLOCKING (not included)

A = Top bench: From floor to top edge of blocking.
B = Bottom bench: From floor to top edge of blocking.

REINFORCING STUDS for HEATERS

Tounge & Groove Hidden Nailing

Vent Details

A NOTE ON VENTING:
Proper sauna venting is an important part of sauna heater operation and to effectively heat the sauna room. Sauna ventilation is passive. There is no mechanical fan. It is not part of the HVAC or bathroom exhaust.

INLET goes low behind heater (usually on front wall). Typically, it is simply holes drilled through cedar on sauna side.
Fixed cedar grill (in lieu of holes) is available as option.
Exterior has aluminum grill (not included) to match exterior decor.

OUTLET located high on wall diagonal from inlet
Cedar slide cover on outlet (sauna side).
Exterior has aluminum grill (not included) to match exterior decor.

Slide Vent Cover

If outlet is exterior wall, you must run duct or construct a chase through stud cavity and over drop ceiling. Exhaust into room in front of sauna.

Slide Vent Cover

The inlet vent should be driven straight through the wall directly below the center of the heater.
The cross-section of the vent for a wall mounted sauna is approx. 19 sq.in.
For larger saunas approx. 40 sq.in

Position the air inlet and outlet vents as far away from one another as possible (diagonally opposite).

The outlet vent should be located high on a wall or in the ceiling, and should have the same cross-section area as the inlet vent. Spent air should always be led back into house – it should not be discharged directly to the outside.
Do not install inlet and outlet vents on same wall.
Bad ventilation can be worse than no ventilation.

A: Outlet vent through the sauna wall (seen from above). The vent is placed high up, near the ceiling.
B: Outlet vent through the cavity above the sauna ceiling (seen from the side).
C: Outlet vent through a drum under the ceiling in the sauna (seen from the side). The outlet duct should be placed at an angle between the ceiling and the wall. The drum can be built of wooden panelling and have the same area as the outlet vent.
Inlet: If drilling holes for inlet, must equal specified sq inch requirement. Six 2″ or eight 1.75″ holes are sufficient.

SAUNA DOORS

NOTE: Rough Opening means above “finished” floor; i.e. above tile

NOTE: We do provide instructions for how to hang a door. That is not something unique to saunas. We assume installer is familiar with how to shim, square and secure a door in place. If not there are numerous YouTube video demonstrations.

Jamb Extention Detail

References

• Sauna Manuals & Documents | Saunafin Saunas & Sauna Kits

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