Just build a sauna

Build Your Own Sauna – Better and More Fun!

Many of our customers have already built their own saunas, and we see a growing interest in creating something sustainable and unique. With a sawmill, you can cut exactly the timber you need – the right dimensions, the right quality, and with a personal touch. Plus, it’s a fun project that brings a real sense of pride when you take that first sauna bath.

Bastumajoren’s (translation of the Swedish name: The Sauna Major) Best Tips

Bastumajoren – the sauna builders who have built saunas for Swedish celebrities Marko and Irma on Swedish national TV and appeared on SVT’s Saunadreams – are experts in saunas and fine woodworking.

“If you want to build something that lasts and is fun to create, we think you should go for a log-built sauna. We milled logs with a Logosol B751 and learned the entire process, from long grooves to interlocking joints,” says Tommi Sorvari, who runs Bastumajoren together with Charlotte Granqvist.

If log construction feels too advanced, Tommi and Charlotte recommend building with thick timber planks, just like they do for their customers’ saunas. The planks are simply stacked on top of each other, with the same plank used for both the interior and exterior. Inside, you can treat the wood with sauna wax, and for the exterior, traditional Swedish slam paint is a great option.

“These buildings need to breathe,” Charlotte explains.
“For benches, we recommend aspen or the darker alder. Both types of wood work excellently in sauna environments and create a beautiful aesthetic. The floor is usually made of loosely nailed heartwood pine, providing a stable and durable surface,” Tommi adds.

“We don’t typically build with framework, interior paneling, and exterior paneling. But when we do, we use an air gap, sauna foil, insulation, and wind barrier paper to ensure a solid construction. A few logs in the stove after your sauna session dry everything out nicely and keep the sauna fresh for longer,” Tommi concludes.

Go KAJ – and Go Sauna Building!

At Woodworking projects, we also want to take the chance to wish KAJ the best of luck in Eurovision! With Bara bada bastu, we hope they take the world by storm – and that even more people discover how fun it is to build their own sauna with home-milled timber.