Leisurecraft CTC88PW Georgian Cabin Sauna with Porch Installation Guide
- July 26, 2024
- Leisurecraft
Table of Contents
Leisurecraft CTC88PW Georgian Cabin Sauna with Porch
Specifications:
- Product : CTC88PW Georgian Cabin Sauna with Porch
- Manufacturer : Leisurecraft
- Assembly Requirements : 2 People, Rubber Mallet, Carpenter’s Level, Tape Measure, Cordless Drill, Phillips & Robertson Drill Bits, Grinder & Metal Cutting Disc, Carpenter’s Hammer, Utility Knife, 2 (51mm) hole saw
Product Usage Instructions
Sauna Base Preparation:
Make sure the base for your sauna is level with a slight slope to the back for
drainage.
A solid base for your sauna is recommended and can be made from any of the following:
- Concrete Pad
- Wood Deck
- Crushed Stone
- Patio Stone/Paver Blocks
It is recommended to build a base larger than required to provide a sitting area for cooling off during your sauna session.
Cabin Assembly:
- Measure the distance from opposite corners to ensure the base is square, adjust if needed.
- Locate the board labeled porch floor starter at the front of the sauna to begin the floor.
- Place the starter piece ensuring it is flush to the front of the sauna and the inner joists on each side.
- Secure through the side of the floorboard using a 3 (76mm) screw into each joist.
- For stability and to keep the base square, you can temporarily secure a floorboard to the middle of the base.
- Align the next floorboard up to the edge of the first one and ensure it is tight to the first floorboard by tapping with a rubber mallet, so the tongue sits tightly into the groove.
- Once it is tight to the first board, secure it using a 3 (76mm) screw into each floor joist from the side with the groove. Repeat this process until you have installed 4 floorboards including the starter board.
- Locate and secure the board-labeled porch floor finisher using the same process.
- Place the door stave with notch cut out for the door facing upwards (tongue up, groove down), ensuring the dados line up with the outer floor joist on either side.
- Secure through the dado into the joist with 3 (76mm) screws.
- Secure the door stave to the floorboards from the inside with 3 (76mm) screws.
Requirements:
- 2 People (recommended)
- Rubber Mallet
- Carpenter’s Level
- Tape Measure
- Cordless Drill
- Phillips & Robertson Drill Bits
- ¼” (6mm) & ½” (13mm) Nut Driver Bit
- Step Ladder
- Grinder & Metal Cutting Disc
- Carpenter’s Hammer
- Utility Knife
- 2” (51mm) hole saw
It is highly recommended to view the assembly video prior to starting assembly!
Click here to View the assembly process or scan the QR code below
Assembly Instructions
Sauna Base Preparation
Make sure the base for your sauna is level with a slight slope to the back for
drainage. A solid base for your sauna is recommended and can be made from any
of the following.
It is recommended to build a base larger than required to provide a sitting area for cooling off during your sauna session.
Cabin Assembly
- Start the assembly of your Georgian Cabin by laying out the front and back starter staves and the 8 – floor joists.
- 2 floor joists on each end and 4 centered across the base on the lines.
- Insert 2 – 3” (76mm) screws into the end of each floor joist.
- Secure the 2 outer floor joists on each side together with 4 – 3” (76mm) screws per side.
- Measure the distance from opposite corners to ensure the base is square, adjust if needed.
- Locate the board labeled “porch floor starter” at the front of the sauna to begin the floor.
- Place the starter piece ensuring it is flush to the front of the sauna and the inner joists on each side.
- Secure through the side of the floorboard using a 3” (76mm) screw into each joist.
- For stability and to keep the base square, you can temporarily secure a floorboard to the middle of the base.
- Align the next floorboard up to the edge of the first one and ensure it is tight to the first floorboard by tapping with a rubber mallet, so the tongue sits tightly into the groove.
- Once it is tight to the first board, secure it using a 3” (76mm) screw into each floor joist from the side with the groove.
- Repeat this process until you have installed 4 floorboards including the starter board.
- Locate and secure the board labeled “porch floor finisher” using the same process.
- Locate the first wall stave labeled “door”.
- Place the door stave with notch cut out for the door facing upwards. (tongue up, groove down) ensuring the dados line up with the outer floor joist on either side.
- Secure through the dado into the joist with 3” (76mm) screws.
- Secure the door stave to the floorboards from the inside with 3” (76mm) screws.
- To continue with the floorboards, locate the board labeled “floor starter”.
- Place the flat side tight to the door stave and secure it using a 3” (76mm) screw into each floor joist from the side with the groove.
- Continue placing floorboards in the same manner until you reach the back of the sauna.
- When you reach the back of the sauna, use the floorboard labeled “floor finisher” and secure it with 6 – 3” (76mm) screws.
- Place the back wall starter stave. It is the same as the front wall starter stave without the door section cut out. Ensure the dados line up with the outer floor joist on either side.
- Place the first set of side wall staves ensuring they are securely inserted into the dados. Use the provided “hit block” to tap the stave to ensure the they are tight. Ensure the tongue is facing up on the side wall staves.
- Insert a 5” (127mm) screw into each of the notches in the 4 corners to secure the side wall stave to the front and back starter staves.
- Insert 3 – 3” (76mm) screws through the front and back starter staves into the floor.
- If the walls are not sitting tight on the base, you can use a 5” (127mm) screw to pull them down tight to the base.
- Repeat on the side wall staves. Locate the 2 short pieces labeled “porch railing starter”.
- Place the piece flush to the front floorboard and secure with 2 – 3” (76mm) screws. Repeat on opposite side.
- Locate the 2 porch wall corner pieces.
- Place the piece on the side wall stave , tap tight into the side wall stave and then secure through the dado groove with a 5” (127mm) screw. Repeat on opposite side.
- Be sure to apply screws on an angle to avoid hitting the screws below. Place the short front wall board, tap them tight into the stave below and then secure through the dado groove with a 5” (127mm) screw. Repeat on opposite side.
- Repeat for a back wall stave.
- Repeat on the side walls with 2 of the shorter side wall staves. Secure with 5” (127mm) screws in the dado grooves.
- Place a full-size porch stave on either side of the front and secure with a 5” (127mm) screw in the dado and a 3” (76mm) screw on the ends.
- Place another short front wall board, tap it tight into the stave below and then secure through the dado groove with a 5” (127mm) screw. Repeat on opposite side.
- Repeat for another back wall stave.
- Repeat on the side walls with 2 of the longer side wall staves. Secure with 5” (127mm) screws in the dado grooves.
- Place another short front wall board, tap it tight into the stave below and then secure through the dado groove with a 5” (127mm) screw. Repeat on opposite side.
- Repeat this method with a medium porch wall stave on either side.
- Place a small porch wall stave and secure with a 3” (76mm) screw at an angle on each side of the stave. Repeat for opposite side.
- Install a shorter side wall stave one either side followed by a back wall stave.
- Install the short side wall staves on both sides of sauna.
- Install the front wall staves labeled “window” on both sides ensuring the are the 4th row in the front wall.
- Place a full-size porch stave on either side of the front and secure with a 5” (127mm) screw in the dado and a 3” (76mm) screw on the ends.
- Install another back wall stave.
- Repeat on the side walls with 2 of the full-length side wall staves and then another back wall stave.
- Locate the 2 short pieces labeled “railing finisher”.
- Place the railing finishers on top of the front porch walls and secure with a 5” (127mm) screw on the notch side and a 3” (76mm) screw on the other side.
- Place a window wall board on the front wall and secure with a 5” (127mm) screw into the notch. Repeat on the opposite side.
- Install the short side wall staves on both sides of sauna.
- Install a window wall board on both sides of the front wall and then another back wall stave. Continue building in this pattern alternating between building the back and front then the side staves.
- If there is a gap in the middle of the staves, use a 5” (127mm) screw in the middle to pull the boards tight together.
- For the 13th row on the side walls, install the shorter of the longer staves in the same manner as in previous steps.
- Place your windows onto the front wall and ensure the staves are fully inserted into the grooves.
- Slide the door in between the front wall staves ensuring the hinges face outwards.
- Slide all the small front wall staves between the door and windows and ensure they are tight to each other by tapping with a mallet.
- Install the top front wall boards above each of the windows.
- Install a back wall stave and secure with a 5” (127mm) screw in the notches.
- install one of the longer staves on each side in the same manner as in previous steps and then install another back wall stave.
- Secure the full-length wall stave labelled “Door” above the windows and door and secure with 5” (127mm) screws into the notches in the same manner as the previous steps.
- Place the side wall staves with the tapered edges on the side walls and secure in the notches with a 5” (127mm) screw on both sides of the sauna.
- The longer edge of the taper on the side wall staves goes to the inside of the sauna.
- Place the pre-assembled gable ends onto the front and rear walls of the sauna.
- Use a rubber mallet to tap the piece tight to the wall and secure with 5” (127mm) screws into the pre-drilled holes.
- Place the top beam into the slots on the top of the triangle pieces.
- Use a rubber mallet to tap the top beam tight into the slots on the gable ends and secure with 5” (127mm) screws at both ends.
- Find the 2 roof starter pieces. Each piece is 2 boards wide with a notch cut out on either end..
- Align the notches with the edge of gable ends and secure using 2 – 3” (64mm) screws into each of the gable ends.
- Place an additional 4 – 3” (76mm) screws spaced out in each roof starter piece aligned so that the screws are going into the side wall.
- Start placing the roof staves going up the roof and tap into each other, Secure with 2 – 3” (76mm) screws into each gable end.
- When you reach the top of one side, use the wide stave without the groove on the top.
- Secure with 2 – 3” (76mm) screws into the gable ends and 4 mores screws centered along the peak into the roof support beam. Repeat the process on the other side of the roof. Pre-place 4 – 3” (76mm) screws into the back fascia trim piece ensuring it is flush.
- Repeat on the opposite side.
- Repeat the process for the fascia trim pieces on the front of the sauna.
- Place the side metal trim pieces on the sides of the roof and secure with the 12 of the included short black screws. Repeat for opposite side of sauna.
- Secure the front metal trim pieces onto the wood trim pieces with 4 of the included short black screws per side. Ensure they are flush and 1 side overlaps the other side. Repeat on the back side of the sauna.
- Start applying the metal shingles by sliding the shingle under the side metal trim piece and flush with the edge of the side trim. Secure using the included roofing screws into the 4 ridges closest to the edge of the sauna.
- Place the next shingle ensuring it is flush and overlaps the ridge of the previous shingle. Secure using the included roofing screws into the 4 ridges closest to the edge of the sauna.
- Cut the last shingle to fit.
- Continue adding the shingles up the roof overlapping the previous row securing with roofing screws on every ridge until you get to the last row needed.
- When you reach the peak, use half width shingles.
- Repeat on the opposite side of the roof.
- Reveal the adhesive side of the M-seal and apply it to the inside edges of the ridge caps.
- Place the roof ridge caps over the peak. Ensure they are overlapping each other and tucked under the front and rear trim pieces.
- Secure the ridge cap using the self-sealing roofing screws into each of the ridges on both sides.
- Using a saw, cut off the tongue on the porch railings.
- Place the railing trim on the inside of the porch wall and secure with 2 – 2” (51mm) screws.
- Repeat for the top front porch rails.
- Predrill a hole for the small side front rail to avoid the wood splitting and secure with a 2” (51mm) screw. Repeat for the other side of the porch.
- Install the outer door handle (small) at the desired height using 2 – 2 ” (51mm) screws in the pre-drilled holes.
- Install the inner door handle (large) horizontally at the desired height. Ensure the handle is level and secure using 2 – 2” (51mm) screws in the pre-drilled holes.
- Start the assembly of your benches by placing the 2-tier bench support along the wall.
- Using a pencil, trace the top and front of the upper and lower bench.
- Mount one of the wall mount bench brackets flush to the line on the upper bench and secure with 3 – 2 ½” (64mm) screws.
- Repeat for the line of the bottom bench and secure with 3 – 2 ½” (64mm) screws.
- Repeat process on opposite side of sauna,
- Place the top bench onto the supports and secure with 1 ¼” (32mm) screws.
- Place the screws into between the bench slats to make them less visible.
- Align the bench supports to the slats on bottom of bench.
- Ensure the bench support is square and secure with 1 ¼” (32mm) screws from the bench into the support.
- Again, place the screws into between the bench slats to make them less visible.
- Repeat the process for the bottom bench.
- Screw the bench supports to the floor and back wall using 2 ½” (64mm) screws.
- Place the small bench support against the inside of the middle wall and mark the top and the front as in previous steps.
- Mount the support board flush to the line of the bench and secure with 3 – 2 ½” (64mm) screws.
- Place the small bench support bracket on the other side.
- Screw the bench support to the floor and side wall using 2 ½” (64mm) screws.
- Place the bench on the supports and secure with 1 ¼” (32mm) screws.
- Again, place the screws into between the bench slats to make them less visible.
- Line up the middle support and secure the bench to the supports and the supports to the floor and side wall in the same manner as previous steps.
- Place a 2 ½” (64mm) screw through the middle hole on the 2 hinges and then centered in the frame between the 2 hinges.
- Insert 2 – 2 ½” (64mm) screws into the top of the door frame as shown.
- Repeat this for the side opposite the door hinges as well with 3 – 2 ½” (64mm) screws.
- Use a 5” (127mm) screw in between the previously placed screws in the top of the door frame to pull in the middle of the Gable end.
- Install the optional Thermometer using a 1 ½” (38mm) screws.
MAINTAINING YOUR SAUNA AFTER INSTALLATION
Interior
It is recommended to vacuum or sweep out the inside of your sauna frequently
to remove dirt and other debris. Under normal conditions, a slight wash of the
floor and benches with warm soapy water several times a year will maintain its
cleanliness. Leisurecraft offers a sauna room cleaner that can be used pure or
diluted at a 4-1 ratio. Simply spray and wipe! You can use a sheet of fine
grit sandpaper or a low-pressure wash to remove more stubborn stains or for a
deeper cleaning of the interior of your sauna.
Never use ammonia or harsh cleaners as they can turn the wood gray.
Water Seepage
Some minor water seeping into the sauna is expected and normal for an outdoor
sauna. If your sauna is properly installed, you should not have water dripping
in, but you should expect some water seepage, especially on the top and sides
of the sauna. This is due to the porous characteristics of the wood and to the
ball-and-socket profile design of the staves. Water Seepage will not harm the
sauna. The moisture will evaporate once you turn on the heater and the sauna
heats up. If the water marks are bothersome, they can be easily removed with a
light sanding (80 or 100 grit)
Exterior
Depending on the humidity and weather conditions in your area, the cedar will
either shrink or expand based on the amount of moisture absorption. The
desired effect is to have the cedar expand into the bands therefore making the
sauna staves much tighter. Over time the lumber will weather naturally as a
result of sun and rain, it will change into a weathered grey colour. This
natural weathering will not harm the wood or impair the sauna’s performance.
If you wish to retain the natural color of your Leisurecraft Sauna,
Leisurectaft offers cedar sauna stains in 4 amazing colors, Espresso,
Limestone Trail, Onyx Gem and Pickled White in convenient 1-gallon pails.
Never treat the interior of the Sauna,
WARRANTY
Leisurecraft warrants our Canadian Timber Collection Saunas against defects in
materials and workmanship under normal/residential use for a period of three
(3) years, as applicable, from the date of receipt of the product by the
original end-user consumer.
This warranty does not apply to normal wear and tear and/or natural weather
conditions. This warranty does not cover regular required maintenance of the
sauna, (eg. Tightening bands on the barrels, cleaning or staining the sauna)
Refer to your sauna assembly manual for maintenance guidelines. This warranty
does not cover misuse or negligence and the manufacturer, and associated
retailers are not liable for any injury or damage caused by the product. This
warranty is a parts only warranty and any service or labor costs would not be
considered as part of the 3-year warranty.
- Purchaser Name: __
- Date: ___
- Purchased From: __
Manufactured by: Leisurecraft
- tel : 888-923-9813
- info@leisurecraft.com
- web : www.leisurecraft.com
FAQ
Q: Can I assemble the sauna alone?
A: While it is recommended to have 2 people for assembly, it is possible to
assemble the sauna alone with proper tools and caution.
Q: Can I use a different base material than those recommended?
A: It is best to stick to the recommended base materials for the stability and
durability of your sauna.
References
- Saunas, Hot Tubs, Cold Plunge Tubs & More | Dundalk Leisurecraft
- Canadian Timber Collection Archives - Dundalk Leisurecraft
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