Information for Architects
Country Saunas has been doing business with architects in Northeastern Connecticut since 2006. We offer a full line of Finlandia Saunas of Portland Oregon. We are primarily all of New England, but we are able to service a number of other areas effectively. Our sauna designs can be flexible to meet the site conditions with our prefab modular units.
We are able to provide both Indoor and Outdoor units and are able to spec. We can provide you with a completely installed Sauna unit, or you can order certain packages to be installed by your own contractor / installer.
As an added service to architects, we can provide our own fully licensed and insured contractors that have years of experience installing Finlandia Saunas, in hundreds of homes and businesses in the area.
Sauna units come in two flavors: Prefabricated and Precut. A Prefabricated unit is just like it sounds; think of it as a complete Sauna Kit that comes ready to be assembled and requires very few tools. One key benefit to a Prefabricated Unit is that it can be easily dismantled and taken to your new residence should you move at any point.
A Precut unit is more geared towards experienced installers and carpenters, and is customized to your specific size requirements. Both units come complete with all necessary components for installation and operation. All units run on a standard 220 electrical feed, which is equivalent to an electric stove. All electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician for warranty purposes.
Specifications for Architects
Benches shall be clear S4S kiln-dried 2"x 2" tops with ½" spacing and 2"x 4" facing; glued and fastened with exposed nails countersunk. Bench tops shall be fastened from bottom to eliminate exposed metal
Door shall be FGD 2'0"x6' 8" of vertical grain Douglas Fir rails and clear hermetically sealed, double glass, tempered (16"x60") with casing, jamb, and threshold of Redwood
Door Hardware shall be (3) 4"x 4" butt hinges, Ives ball catch MP347B3. (2) wooden door pulls 080
Vents shall be (2) 4"x 10" louvered V10 for upper wall placement and lower wall placement. RO = 3¾"x9¾".
Removable Flooring shall be Super Dek interlocking 12" squares-sanitary, non-skid surface in terra cotta color-over walking area of base floor
Light shall be wall-mounted, vapor-proof Progress P5511, satin finish cast aluminum, rated for 75 watts
Sauna Heater shall be FINLANDIA model …as per cubic room footage and voltage requirements
Heater Fence shall be of 2"x 2" &1" x 2" and shall be placed 2½" away from Sauna heater
Temperature: Control/Contactor Panel shall be Model FLB, Model FIN, Club Model or New Generation heaters
Accessories listed in accessory section of the site
Stones shall be a peridotite, heat tested, igneous type from Finland
Precut and Prefab Saunas shall be as per specifications on FPC and FPF pages.
Warranty shall be 1 yr. on room materials and workmanship and 5 yr. limited warranty on Sauna heaters when installed according to Finlandia specifications and wiring information
Maintenance
Finlandia Sauna heaters and rooms require minimum care and maintenance. Basic household methods, including cleaning of Sauna room floor with a product such as Pine Sol, and occasional scrubbing of benches with a mild soap, is necessary for sanitary and odor-free atmosphere. When wood becomes dark or stained from perspiration, a light sanding will help to restore its beautiful appearance. Do not use sealers, paint or varnish on interior wood, as toxic vapors could be dangerous in the high temperatures of a Sauna.
NOTE: When figuring room capacities for number of bathers, allow 2’ of bench space per person.
FINLANDIA SAUNA IS THE ONLY U.S. COMPANY WHICH OFFERS A CHOICE OF THE WORLD’S BEST SAUNA WOODS:
100% clear vertical grain California Redwood, clear Western Red Cedar, clear Alaska Yellow Cedar, and clear V.G. Western Hemlock (all are 1”x 4”).
Our CALIFORNIA REDWOOD is 100% vertical grain (tight grain to prevent raising and slivering in the high heat), is the most fire resistant, most dry-rot resistant, most termite resistant, and does not warp.
The best known and most widely used of the West Coast cedars is WESTERN RED CEDAR. It has the most beautiful color variation, has a refreshing aroma, and is dry-rot resistant. Because it’s the softest wood, it is least hot to sit on or lean against.
ALASKA YELLOW CEDAR is an exclusive white cedar with a pungent aroma. It feels almost silky to the touch, and has a beautiful appearance.
Clear WESTERN HEMLOCK is an excellent wood for people who have wood allergies-it has no aroma and no resins.
Finlandia Sauna does not use inexpensive woods such as thin knotty spruce which has a tendency to cup, shrink, warp and crack; (and some knots come loose when the pitch and resin around them dries in the high heat of the Sauna). Many European Saunas, however, are built from knotty spruce as it has been the available wood for centuries. Knotty spruce cannot be used for benches as it gets too hot, and the knots and pitch can burn the bather; so African Abachi is imported for benches. Abachi is a clear wood and it’s comfortable for sitting; but it has a peculiar, unpleasant odor. FINLANDIA uses only clear Western soft- woods with the proper matching softwood for benches.
Note to architect before specifying: To be sure that your customer gets the best wood, ask for lumber samples from Sauna suppliers to compare wood qualities and thickness. Finlandia is happy to supply samples, upon request.
These specifications also apply to our Harvia Saunas.
General Contractor Specifications
Framing of walls and ceiling shall be of dry Douglas Fir, construction grade no.1 or 2, 16” center. Use pressure treated plates (against concrete)
Ceiling shall be 7’ 0” from finished floor to ceiling joists (16” center)
Door shall be roughed in at 26”x 82” and must open out
Insulation of walls and ceiling shall be of R11 foil faced fiberglass batts (R19 if Sauna has exterior location)
Drywall shall be 5/8” firewall (only if required by local building codes)
Added Vapor Barrier shall be of Type C construction foil over insulation or drywall—walls and ceiling (recommended as second vapor barrier)
Flooring shall be of hard surfaced, waterproof type-concrete, ceramic tile, heavy-duty seamless vinyl
Floor Drain is recommended for new construction and is essential for commercial and public Saunas
Exterior Walls shall be of drywall, paneling, tile, etc. and exterior painting, door finishing, etc. shall be included
Back to Top ↑Electrical Contractor Specifications
(Must be licensed and Insured)
Rough-in for Sauna controls, heater, room light shall be as per Finlandia wiring diagram (provided with control box or in heater box)
Hookup of controls, heater, light shall be as per Finlandia wiring diagram. COPPER WIRE ONLY
Back to Top ↑Finlandia Sauna Contractor Specifications
Walls and Ceiling shall be 1”x 4” select, certified, kiln-dried (moisture content not exceeding 11%) T&G, v joint, clear, 1”x 4” vertical grain Redwood, clear 1”x 4” Western Red Cedar, clear 1”x 4” Alaska Yellow Cedar, or clear 1”x 4” V.G. Western Hemlock. All boards shall be blind nailed with 5p galvanized, hot dipped nails, or power stapled with galvanized staples. Note: Our sauna designs can be flexible to meet the site conditions with our prefab modular units.
Please contact us so we can share the many benefits of installing a Precut or Prefab portable sauna kit at your client’s home or business. As a full service company we offer pre-site visits for customers located in Connecticut ( CT ), Massachusetts ( MA ) and Rhode Island ( RI ) at no cost.
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