Information for Contractors
Specifications for Contractors
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 Portable Sauna Kits 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.
Back to Top ↑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 bonded)
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.
Back to Top ↑Miscellaneous Questions
WHERE CAN A SAUNA BE INSTALLED IN A HOME?
Anywhere you have the space. We recommend these locations: Close to the master bath, close to a shower, in the recreation or exercise area, in a basement, in a garage, on a patio, by the pool or hot tub, or on a deck.
WHAT IS THE BEST SIZE FOR A HOME SAUNA
A sauna can be as small as 4’ x 4’ (a one person sauna) or as large as a 10’ x 10’ ( a community size sauna), however if the space is available, the sauna should be as long as the height of the tallest person in the family (for reclining purposes), or you can plan the space allowing 2’ per person when sitting on the longest bench. A 4’ x 6’ space up to a 6’ x 8’ space would be sufficient for most home saunas.
SHOULD I INSTALL A PRECUT OR PREFAB SAUNA KIT?
In new construction, the architect or builder can design the space wherever the homeowner requests it. Then the sauna can be properly framed and insulated, and the hard surfaced, waterproof floor can be provided (with a drain if desired.) The builder can then order the precut package and build the interior of the sauna using the precut boards, assembled benches, prehung door, etc. supplied by Finlandia. In an existing home, a Finlandia prefab can be ordered if there is an available open area with a waterproof floor. The space should be a little larger and higher than the size of the prefab. The advantage of the Finlandia prefab is that it can be moved to another location and it is effortless to install because of the unique locking system.
CAN A PREFAB MODULAR SAUNA BE PORTABLE?
Our prefab portable Sauna kits are engineered with effortless and fast installation in mind, and can be installed on any level, hard-surfaced, waterproof floor. Our unique interlocking design makes other modular systems obsolete by comparison. Electrical hookup is made easy because all electrical conduit is sealed within the walls, and control box (where necessary) is premounted. Engineered for highest economy, with an R value of 13.5 (exceeding other modular Saunas on the market). Our prefabs are also designed with 2 vents to allow a natural exchange of air for comfort and fresh air supply for the bather. Our Finlandia prefabs are not only designed for the best function and eye appeal, but are manufactured with “old country” craftsmanship and are portable – we craft each room like a fine piece of Scandinavian furniture.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BUILD A SAUNA?
After the framing and insulation is supplied, the Finlandia precut sauna can be installed by 1 or 2 carpenters in 1 day. The Finlandia prefab can be installed in as little as 2 hours time.
WHAT ARE THE ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING REQUIREMENTS?
Most saunas require 220v/240v power with hard wire to a separate 30 or 40 amp breaker in the house panel. For a very small sauna (3’x 4’ x 6/12’ ceiling), the heater can be plugged into a 110v/120v outlet, as long as there is a #12 wire behind the plug. There is no plumbing requirement unless a floor drain is desired. A drain is not required and is only an accessory for cleaning.
IS THE SAUNA EXPENSIVE TO OPERATE?
NO. If your electric rates are 6 cents per K.W. hour, it will only cost 36 cents to operate a 6 K.W. heater per hour. It will cost less per hour to operate the same heater for a longer time, as the heater is not on for a full hour – The thermostat shuts it off at the desired temperature. If the sauna is used about 10 hours per month, the electric bill for the sauna will only be $3.00.
Please contact us so we can share the many benefits of installing a Precut or Prefab portable sauna kit at your customer’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.
DOES THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY OF THE SAUNA CAUSE ANY PROBLEMS FOR THE HOMEOWNER?
As the sauna is not a steam bath, there is no live steam to escape from the room and cause damage to the surrounding areas. The humidity of a sauna is only 10% (totally dry) to 30% (when water is added to the stones). The reason for the low humidity is that the softwood absorbs the moisture and the 180º F heat will dry out the moisture. Some of the heat will escape when the door is opened, but the heat is dry.
ARE VENTS REQUIRED?
One upper and one lower vent should be used for good air circulation. We recommend a size 4” x 10”. Saunas should be vented to an adjacent room or other open area, not to outside air (for reason of minimizing initial sauna heat up time.)
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