Wood Fired Saunas

A wood burning sauna heats by routing the heat from a wood fired stove through a chamber of sauna stones sitting above the firebox. As the stove burns, the stones absorb and store the heat, and the cabin air warms to bathing temperature, typically between 70 and 90 degrees Celsius. Pouring water onto the hot stones releases löyly, the burst of soft steam that defines authentic Finnish bathing. The fire itself is contained within the stove, vented safely through an insulated flue that exits the roof or wall, so the cabin interior stays clean, dry and free of smoke.

Most wood burning saunas reach bathing temperature in 30 to 45 minutes, though this depends on the cabin size, the stove output, the dryness of the wood and the outside temperature. We always size the stove to the cabin volume, with a small margin for UK winter conditions, so the sauna comes up to temperature reliably even on a cold January evening.

Dry, seasoned hardwood is best. Birch is the traditional Finnish choice, prized for a clean burn and a faint, pleasant aroma, but ash, oak, beech and hornbeam all perform well. Avoid softwoods such as pine and spruce for the main burn, as they spit, deposit resin in the flue and shorten its service life. Whatever timber you use, it should be split, stacked under cover and seasoned to under 20 percent moisture content. Wet wood is the most common reason a sauna fails to reach temperature, and can cause excessive creosote buildup within your flue and chimney, increasing the need for further maintenance and potentially creating fire hazard.

Open the stove's air intake fully, lay a base of crumpled paper or natural firelighters, build a small criss-cross stack of kindling on top, and add two or three pieces of seasoned hardwood. Light from below, leave the door slightly ajar for a minute or two until the draught establishes, then close the door and let the fire settle. Once the kindling is well lit, add larger logs as needed. From here the stove will work its way up to temperature. Always follow the specific fire lighting instructions supplied with your stove, as air intake design varies by model.

Yes, and most of our customers do. Wood fired saunas are best suited to outdoor installation, typically in a garden, on a patio or in a paddock, where the flue can pass safely through the roof and clearances to nearby structures can be respected. Planning permission is generally not required for a garden sauna in the UK provided it falls within permitted development limits, though we always recommend checking with your local authority, particularly for listed properties, conservation areas or installations close to a boundary.

Neither is objectively better, they are different experiences. A wood burning sauna offers a softer, more aromatic heat, the ritual of tending a fire, and complete independence from the electricity supply. An electric sauna offers convenience, predictable heat-up times and the ability to set a timer or schedule via wifi control. We sell both, and we are happy to talk through which is right for your site, your usage pattern and your preferences.  

Yes. We deliver throughout mainland UK, with installation available via our inhouse team if required. Every order includes the stove, chimney kit and stones matched to the cabin. We walk you through the delivery and commissioning process before dispatch. For more information, call our in-house sauna specialists today.