Sauna renovation planning and steps

• What does the renovation involve? (Is it just replacing the ceilings, panels and heater, or is it a more comprehensive wet room renovation, including, for example, demolition and replacement of the door wall and bathroom tiling?)
• What is the total budget for the renovation? (Answering the first question will help you get a more precise idea of the total budget, if necessary!)
• Timetable and phases of the renovation? If it is a complete sauna renovation, it will include at least the following steps:
  • Dismantling of the old sauna: dismantling of boards, panels, ventilation grilles and vapour barrier. If the floor, the partition wall between the sauna and the washroom and the tiles on the bathroom side are also replaced, this will extend the demolition time!
  • Building new: Typically, you start from the bathroom side, moving towards the sauna. The first step is to repair the floors in the bathroom and sauna, i.e. after dismantling, levelling the floor, any pouring, waterproofing, tiling and grouting. On the sauna side, the next stage of work is insulation, panelling and finally the installation of the tiles and the stove.
  • In an “optimal situation”, the renovation of the sauna takes about a week, of which the demolition takes 1 day. Insulation work, installation of ventilation grilles and panelling 1-2 days and finally installation of the ceiling, ceiling light and stove 1 day. If the partition walls are demolished, the air intake and exhaust locations are changed and the sauna is electrically wired, for example for fibre optic lights, you should allow 2 weeks for the whole project to save nerves!

What to do yourself and what to leave to the professionals?

For example, to ensure that the new flooring in the sauna and washroom meets building regulations, it is advisable to leave it and the waterproofing of the floor to a “professional”. Naturally, all electrical work (electricity for the fibre-optic lights, possible new electricity point for the stove) and the associated wiring should also be outsourced to a competent electrician. I would also recommend that the insulation and joinery work on the walls be done at least in conjunction with a professional, especially if you are renovating for the first time. At the same time, the final work, i.e. putting the ceiling, the ceiling light and the stove in place, can also be carried out conveniently.

We at Sun Sauna are also happy to help you in the planning phase. The starting point for the design is your wishes for your future sauna space. By involving a space planning professional early on in the project, the design work will be faster and easier. We’ve designed thousands of saunas, together we’ll make sure the dimensions, materials and other details are right!

Good luck with your new projects, use the Sun Sauna design tool (link) to help you with your planning, it also allows you to submit a detailed request for quotation for your desired Home Spa package!