Learn About The Wood We Use
Canadian Red Cedar
Our specially sourced Canadian red cedar is a premium, naturally durable softwood that has been used traditionally for saunas and outdoor structures. We use a clear, top grade cedar that is modern, uniform and ages beautifully. It starts as a warm reddish color then becomes silver gray as it ages. Cedar has that distinctive aroma, and natural resistance to insects and decay due to its inherent oils. Cedar also offers excellent insulation properties, making it especially well-suited for sauna interiors and colder climates. However, it comes at a significantly higher cost, particularly for the clear-grade lumber we use. We recommend finishing it on site with linseed oil to give it a boost of extra protection once a year.
Thermowood
Thermowood is a sustainably modified softwood that has been heat-treated at very high temperatures (typically 180–220°C) using only heat and steam—no chemicals.
It is the strongest and most durable wood for outdoor use. It has a little more wood grain visible than clear cedar and can look very modern or rustic depending on the finish. We are happy to recommend and do test panels to ensure you get the finish and look you want.
Thermowood performs exceptionally well in harsh outdoor environments, especially in high UV and rainy climates where untreated wood would typically degrade more quickly. Over time, it weathers into a uniform silvery-gray patina if left untreated, and it requires minimal maintenance compared to many traditional exterior woods. It has a bit less insulating properties and may require extra insulation for the coldest winter climates.
Finnish Pine
Finnish Pine is a softwood that is less expensive than the other woods we use. We typically leverage it as an insulating in-between-layer for our walls to. It can also be used well inside a sauna as a cost-saving measure for people who are on a tight budget. It does not have the aroma of cedar or the strength of thermowood, but it can get the job done. This is a reasonable choice for a small backyard sauna on a budget.
Hemlock
Hemlock is a clean, light-toned softwood that is commonly used in sauna construction. It has a smooth, uniform grain with very few knots, giving it a more modern and refined appearance compared to more rustic woods. Unlike cedar, hemlock is non-aromatic, which makes it a great option for those who prefer a neutral scent or have sensitivities to strong wood oils. It is stable and resists warping in the controlled environment of a sauna, but it does not have the same natural resistance to moisture, rot, or insects as red cedar or Thermowood, which is why we typically only use it for the inside of our designs upon request. We do not recommend hemlock as an exterior wood as it degrades much faster in weather and is a bit more expensive than thermowood.
Birch
We use a finished birch plywood as a substitute for the much more costly drywall material / process to finish the walls, floors and ceiling in our outdoor rooms. It has a light color and a smooth, consistent grain that creates a clean, bright aesthetic. It looks modern and can be stained or left natural. It does not hold heat well which means it naturally keeps a room a bit cooler feeling on hot days.