DIY Outdoor Sauna

Determine the location for the new sauna outside your house. Measure the area you will need for the foundation using a tape measure. Remove the soil from the area using a shovel. Make the area 4 inches deep. Place boards around the sides of the hole to make a frame. This will form the mold for your concrete.

Mix the concrete according to manufacturer instructions in the bucket. Pour the concrete into the hole, inside the frame that you built. Continue adding concrete as necessary to fill the entire hole, 4 inches deep. Smooth the concrete using a trowel. Allow it to cure and dry properly before you move on to the next step. Proper curing time is 48 hours for this project.

Assemble the frame of the walls by placing 2-by-4 boards on the ground, 16 inches apart. Lay a 2-by-4 board above and below the row of boards. Make any necessary cuts in the lumber using a circular saw. Overall length depends on the dimensions of the sauna you choose to build.

Nail the frame together using a hammer and nails. Repeat the process until you have two side walls, a front wall and a back wall. Remember to leave the opening for the door on the front wall. If you are using a single sloping roof, remember to make the back wall shorter than the front wall by 6 inches.

Install the cedar boards inside of the frames you just built using a hammer and nails. Stand the back wall up on the foundation and connect the two side walls to it using a hammer and nails. Install the front wall and connect it with a hammer and nails. Insert insulation in between the frames of the wall on the outside. Cover the walls with plywood using a hammer and nails. Cut openings at the top of each side of the sauna using a reciprocating saw large enough to accept the louver vents.

Install the louver vents into the side walls using a drill, screwdriver bit and wood screws. Assemble the door for your new sauna using the remaining lumber, a hammer and nails. Attach the hinges to the sauna using a drill, screwdriver bit and wood screws. Place the door into the opening and attach it to the building using a drill, screwdriver bit and wood screws.

Install the door latch using a drill, screwdriver bit and wood screws. Build a bench inside the sauna by cutting 2-by-4 boards to the height and width of your choice. Assemble the frame using a hammer and nails. Cut 1-by-12 boards to the proper length for the frame using a circular saw. Place the 1-by-12 boards on the bench frame and secure it using a drill, screwdriver bit and wood screws.

Install the sauna heater of your choice inside the sauna on the wall. You will install the control panel on the outside of the sauna, on the other side of the wall from the heater unit. Follow manufacturer instructions for the installation of your sauna heater, according to the brand and model you are using.