Stone and tiles in the sauna

Stones and different tiling solutions can serve many purposes in a sauna, which is why they are frequently specified in both commercial and home installations. High-quality stone surfaces are a great addition to the interior by complementing the overall design or by providing a functional purpose, such as minimising required safety distances from the sauna heater. In this article, we cover commonly asked questions about using tiles or stone in a home sauna.  

Tiles are commonly used on the floors and around the sauna heater. The drain allows excess water to flow away. This installation features a soapstone cladded Tulikivi Tuisku XL electric sauna heater. 

 

How to incorporate tiles and stone into a sauna? 

There are many ways to utilise stone and tiles in saunas. The robust structure of stone can cut down minimum required safety distances from the heater body and provide aesthetically pleasing decorative features to complement the overall design of the sauna. Tiles are often used as sauna floors because they are more hardwearing in comparison to wood.  

Stone surfaces can cut down minimum required safety distances from the sauna heater to combustible materials. 

 

Feature walls & splashbacks 

Feature walls and splashbacks create a beautiful finishing touch behind the sauna heater. They have become popular in the past years and are an on-going design trend in modern saunas. Freely arranged stone slates, blocks of slate or quartzite tiling with rough-edged or smooth sawn finishes can all be utilised when designing a feature wall for a sauna.  

 

Stone walls add a unique detail and character to the interior. This installation has a white stone surface feature wall with a smooth finish to match the custom cladding on the electric heater in front. 

 

Granite and other natural stones are commonly used as elements for feature or splashback walls in saunas. They are a stylish addition to highlight the heater, which is considered to be the heart of a sauna.  

 

Commonly used stones and tiles in saunas: 

• Marble
• Quartz  
• Quartzite  
• Slate  
• Soapstone

Soapstone is popular in Nordic design and used as cladding around wood burning and electric sauna heaters, as well as on sauna floors and walls as mosaics 

Many designers and clients are drawn to the distinctive characteristics of natural stone slate. It effortlessly complements various wood finishes, allowing for striking contrasts in the sauna. It seamlessly blends with a variety of design styles spanning from contemporary to classic and rustic. The adaptability of the stone’s structure enables creating either smooth and polished or textured, rough surfaces.  

This bespoke indoor sauna features black quartzite split-face mosaic tiles, which add to the overall aesthetic of the sauna space.  

 

Split-face mosaic tiles make for an excellent choice for behind-the-heater tiling in saunas. We have designed and installed many sauna projects with a tiled wall as a central feature of the sauna space.  

 

Tiled Sauna Floors  

Tile and stone surfaces work well for sauna floors. As with other wet and leisure environments, sauna floors must have an appropriate anti-slip rating. Commonly, the required rating is R-13 for commercial installations and R-12 for home saunas.  

Compared to wooden floors, tile and natural stone surfaces require less maintenance and withstand hot, cold and fluctuating temperature and humidity levels. They are also easy to clean and respond well to specialized sauna cleaning products. 

Natural stone and tile surfaces last well in hot, cold and fluctuating temperatures and humidity levels. 

 

In comparison to wooden floors, tile or stone surfaces are lower maintenance – particularly with the addition of a drain to allow excess water to flow away.  

Whilst being aesthetically pleasing, tiled floors are heat-resistant and durable. At times, tiled floors are used on the interior surrounds of saunas, which can be incorporated into sauna cladding designs. Although traditional wooden benches are still prevalent, there has been a growing interest in combining them with stone, tiles, mosaic and glass.  

 

A combination of a smooth and stylish tiled floor and a full glass front creates a modern aesthetic in the sauna. 

Pros of using tiles in the sauna 

• Easy to clean 
• Heat resistant 
• Aesthetically pleasing  
• Hard-wearing 
• Low maintenance 
• They respond well to specialist sauna cleaning products  

 

Get in touch with our team to enquire more about stone and tiling solutions in your home sauna.