QUALITY TIMBER
In Scandinavian countries, the trees used for sauna are Finnish spruce, Nordic Pine, and Poplar. In eastern North America we have several suitable species that can be used for sauna building. We prefer to use Eastern White Pine for sauna logs. White Pine responds well to the stresses of a wood-fired sauna and will last over 100 years when built correctly. White Pine has less sap production than Red Pine, and tends to be more stable and less likely to twist during the drying process. Examples of traditional log saunas across the upper midwest still persist today that date back to the 1800s and early 1900s.
The small scale and directed scope of our projects allow us to put extra care and consideration into the wood we use for our saunas and where we source it. Utilizing local sawmills and businesses helps create strong bonds between the people and the materials, while also forming an important connection between the structure and the land.
The timing of tree felling, milling, drying, and carving play important roles in the final outcome. Trees felled in late fall to mid-winter provide optimal results for sauna logs due to reduced sap production during this time of year. The dormancy of the trees not only results in little to no sap and pitch in the final product, but it aids in the workability of the lumber. Timbers for a sauna will dry on stickers for multiple months to a year before being worked.
Logs are a great natural insulator and provide excellent breathability and indoor air quality, making them a perfect choice for sauna construction.
Locally sourced poplar or cedar lumber is our choice for sauna bench and ceiling material. Poplar lumber is often under-appreciated, but provides many benefits. It is mostly free of knots and imperfections, stays cooler to the touch than other woods, and provides a warm white color to the sauna interior to brighten the room. Poplar trees also reach maturity quickly, which results in more sustainable timber harvest.
White oak is our preferred species for window and door material, especially those exposed to the environment. White oak provides excellent natural rot and fungi resistance, and has been used historically for sill logs on cabins due to its durability and tight cellular structure which resists decay and insect infestation. For our saunas built on concrete piers with wooden floor systems, white oak is used for sill logs and floor joists. Eastern white cedar is also a good option for windows and doors due to its natural decay resistance.
We aim to build our saunas with minimal manufactured chemical products to make the experience as natural and healthy as possible. We avoid using treated lumber or any paints, stains, or finishes inside the steam room.
The heat and lӧyly from an authentic log sauna is hard to match. The heating process for a log sauna will be longer than it would be for a stick-framed sauna. Fortunately, the longer time contributes to the overall heat retention of the structure. The high thermal capacity of the logs and stones retain the heat which gently radiates during sauna. This provides a smooth, even heat that is unique to a log structure.
