Frequently Asked Questions

Around 30 to 40 minutes to reach your target temperature. That figure moves with the weather. A sauna starting from near freezing on a January morning takes noticeably longer than the same room in July, and ventilation affects it too.

Most people set the heater going, get changed, and step in when it is ready.

A traditional sauna typically runs between 150°F and 194°F (roughly 65°C to 90°C). Where you sit inside that range is personal. Some people prefer the lower end for longer sessions, others want the top of the range for a short, intense sit.

Pouring water over the stones raises the humidity and makes a given temperature feel considerably hotter.

A heater warms a bed of stones, and the stones radiate heat into the room and hold it steady. Ladling water over them produces a burst of steam, which is what gives a traditional sauna its character.

We fit electric heaters from HUUM, Harvia, and Homecraft, and wood-burning stoves from Narvi. Electric heaters can be set on a timer or controlled remotely depending on the unit; a wood stove gives you a softer heat and no electrical load, but needs a chimney, clearances to combustibles, and someone to tend the fire. Each product page lists the heaters available for that build.

Ten to twenty minutes per round is a common starting point. Many people do two or three rounds with a cool-down in between: a cold plunge, a cool shower, or simply time outside in the air.

Drink water before and after, and come out when your body tells you to rather than aiming for a number. If you are pregnant, have a heart condition, or are on medication, check with your doctor before starting a sauna routine, and do not use a sauna after drinking alcohol.

Three things, in order of how often they hold a project up:

• A level, load-bearing base. A concrete pad, patio stones, a deck rated for the weight, or compacted gravel. It must be level and it must drain.
• Power. Electric heaters generally need a dedicated circuit, and larger heaters need more than a standard outlet provides. Have a licensed electrician confirm what your panel can support before you order.
• Access and clearance. A clear route to get the unit into position, plus the manufacturer's clearances around the heater and walls.

The heaters are independently certified. The Homecraft Revive is ETL-certified to CSA and UL standards, and the HUUM units carry their own. The room is assembled on site and wired there by a licensed electrician, which is the normal arrangement for saunas in Canada. Permit and inspection requirements still vary between municipalities, so check with yours before you build. If you are going with a wood-burning stove, expect your insurer to want a WETT inspection of the installation once it is in.

We deliver and install backyard saunas across British Columbia, including Vancouver, the North Shore, Squamish and Whistler, Vancouver Island, and the Gulf Islands. We ship Canada-wide.

On the product pages you can choose between full installation, delivery with placement only, or curbside drop-off if you are arranging your own crew. Shipping and installation are quoted separately from the product price, because both depend on your address and how straightforward access to the site is.

Tell us where it is going and what the approach looks like, and we will give you a firm number.