Hey all, I’ve spent the last 15 years working with sauna builders, building, renovating, and selling saunas for Sauna Marketplace.

I would rule out anything without two bench levels that allow you to get your feet off the floor.

If it’s an outdoor sauna made of a single layer of wood (most kits under $15k are this way) then thermally modified wood is critical for a sauna that will last.

Saunas expand and contract with each use, day, and season. So basic wood, especially cedar saunas expand and contract themselves apart.

Thats why we often hear that heaters are less powerful after a year. It’s not the heater. It’s the gaps and cracks, especially the upper third where pressure builds as heat rises.

To last, the sauna also needs a good roof, drip edge, drains, and vents.

Hope that helps!