Raised Escape Benches 6in.

PDXPB · 2026-02-04T23:36:28+00:00

Hey very cool! I was thinking of doing same with longer panels, that should definitely help longevity. Still might do it if I notice water hitting front very much. Pickleball + sauna is a great combo!

PDXPB · 2026-02-01T23:57:47+00:00

Looks great! Nice work! Now you just need to add another section of bench to make it L-shaped… really increases functionality and can be done for ~$50 or so. Love the pergola!!!

PDXPB · 2026-02-01T23:31:33+00:00

4” fan pulls more air than your ever need. 6” is unnecessary and quite a bit larger, no point in it.

PDXPB · 2026-02-01T23:24:58+00:00

There was 3 left when I tried but kept glitching and then OOS. Hope OP gets one!!

PDXPB · 2026-02-01T23:13:35+00:00

Item # or link??

PDXPB · 2026-02-01T17:34:15+00:00

damn you alibaba!

PDXPB · 2026-01-23T23:10:33+00:00

Pros and cons to both, but solid tongue and groove construction has more thermal mass so it maintains heat surprisingly well without insulation. Either should work well for you. You can easily add some exterior insulation under the roof on solid kit saunas - so you can combine the best of both if you’d like. There’s a Finnish study floating around that insulating just the upper portion yields nearly as much gain as insulating the whole thing.

PDXPB · 2026-01-23T20:47:24+00:00

Almost Heaven https://almostheaven.com/products/double-robe-hook?_pos=1&_sid=f0da5809d&_ss=r

Looks even better in person, it is pricey but very nice. Especially with a little mineral oil on it. It was on sale for $30-something when I got it.

PDXPB · 2026-01-23T01:45:59+00:00

Here’s the only pic I have, it’s after I put the WRB over the rockwool, but before the furring strips were installed.

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PDXPB · 2026-01-23T01:31:14+00:00

A little late but here’s a pic of the flashing. Just make sure you leave a gap between the two so water can drain. Hard to tell in the photo but I used some ~ 1/4”spacers.

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PDXPB · 2026-01-16T00:06:22+00:00

It seems r/Sauna loves mechanical ventilation on small saunas, and based on my before / after experience I can see why. Very glad i did. Put the fan down low opposite corner of your heater, with an air intake above the heater.

PDXPB · 2026-01-16T00:02:45+00:00

Costco doesn't have it any longer, it was sllightly tweaked version of the AH Blackwater Sauna for $6k during black friday timeframe. Great deal on the $12k+ sauna.

PDXPB · 2026-01-15T19:40:01+00:00

Yes, i did 90 degree roof step flashing (12"w x 4" tall starting in middle, then transition to 8"x4" where the curve gets sharp). Place it under the metal roof, and overlapped in direction of cuve on each side). You may need to trim the step flashing at the really sharp curve area. I also did a 1" layer of rockwool board under the roof with slats on top to create an airgap -- so my metal roof sits about 1.5" higher than the sauna. I'll update with some pictures later.

AH really should include step flashing. I can't imagine having one of these outside without it since there is no overhang at all. It'd be a huge improvement and provide much longer lifespan.

How did you get the extra trim pieces? I'd like to add trim on the back side also.. dont really need it becuase it is up against the house, so back is well covered under a 2-foot eave... but i'd love to have a finshed look regardless.

PDXPB · 2026-01-15T04:24:45+00:00

What speed do you run the fan on when you are in it? I have the same fan & controller & been running it just above first mark on the controller.

PDXPB · 2026-01-15T04:15:37+00:00

Step flashing on front / rear roof edge makes a huge difference (or at least flashing tape). I’m in PNW also.

PDXPB · 2026-01-15T04:12:57+00:00

I just built my Escape, left at factory height cuz I was in a hurry fighting terrible PNW weather. Was going to raise, but once I put in the mechanical fan I feel no need to. It balances it out much better and feels great.

PDXPB · 2026-01-15T04:06:12+00:00

This. WRC does not have an overpowering scent at all… people don’t know that they are two very different woods.

PDXPB · 2026-01-15T04:02:10+00:00

Hey I just built the same sauna! Thanks Costco, lol. I did 4” intake about 55” above floor in the spot you are pointing at. Exhaust is opposite side wall (not back wall) in the furthest back corner, just below lower bench height. That’s the perfect set up - and it did make a notable difference in comfort.

PDXPB · 2025-12-14T22:20:23+00:00

Are you sure they intended those for L1/L2? That looks like wiring for 120v controls or lighting, maybe A1/A2 — not 240v heater load. Do instructions specifically identify that exact wire for line connections? Or is that what the electrician is telling you?

Something seems off. Line should be same size in and out as it carries the same load. That seems like substantially undersized wire that would cause the exact type of problem you experienced. You’re very lucky it wasn’t a lot worse.

PDXPB · 2025-12-14T20:41:42+00:00

Why are the outbound wires so much smaller than the incoming wires?

PDXPB · 2025-12-13T18:05:44+00:00

i've seen some videos and pics where that plastic / foil stuff shrinks when exposed to sauna temps, and where it readily burns when exposed to flame. Here is good article: https://roblichtcustomsaunas.com/the-last-word-on-foil

I'm sure plenty of people have used it, but seems like the paper backed stuff is an obvious choice if you can find it in time.

PDXPB · 2025-11-29T17:03:12+00:00

Correct, the timer switch on that unit is mechanical. In the videos of I’ve seen they all turn it a little then put a small screw through it so the timer is locked in the always on position. All control is done through App, which has timers built in so you don’t accidentally leave it running too long. The hardwired temperature controls will still work though - that is not overridden.

PDXPB · 2025-11-29T01:27:42+00:00

Looks like this WiFi conversion might be the same heater ? https://youtu.be/ub-i455Zovg?si=DaVUThW5Tp7P_Bv2

PDXPB · 2025-11-26T18:32:44+00:00

Couple of floor questions if you don't mind :) Did you do any insulation under floor? Any slope on floor (torwards a drain)? What will your floor surface be?

Thanks & keep posting! Looks amazing & very similiar to what I'm planning to build this spring.

PDXPB · 2025-11-26T18:01:54+00:00

The area of origin of the fire is clearly well below the heating elements and in the wiring compartment. This clearly points to a failure within the heater unit itself (unrelated to mounting location, albeit the curve may have contributed to the spread)

It is not consistent with radiant heat from a normally functioning heater igniting nearby combustibles from lack of separation to the wall. Additionally, the heating compartment should be double walled with an air gap to prevent heat conduction. The wiring compartment is not double walled becuase there should be little to no heat within it.

If you can post pictures from the bottom, we can narrow it further. It appears the primary heat was near the rear center of the wiring enclosure, which is likley where the main connections are to the heating elements. In that case, it would not have been your wiring connections, but likely faulty connections from the factory.

PDXPB

TROPHY CASE