If youre interested in buying or building a sauna for your personal use, you first need to determine which style of sauna will best suit your needs and lifestyle. While certain similarities undoubtedly exist, it would be a big mistake to assume that all saunas are the same. Being able to differentiate between the many types of saunas, therefore, should be the initial goal of every first-time sauna buyer and would-be sauna builder.

The biggest difference between pre-cut saunas and modular or pre-built saunas is usually the effort it takes to assemble and install the sauna. Pre-cut saunas are essentially sauna material kits that contain the lumber and most of the parts required for building a sauna for permanent installation. These kits usually include: the wood for the saunas walls and ceiling; sauna benches; a standard sauna heater with controls and rocks; duckboard flooring; a standard sauna door and trim; a standard sauna light; hardware, and additional components. As virtually all of the construction of the sauna is the responsibility of the consumer, pre-cut sauna kits are often referred to as do-it-yourself or DIY sauna kits.

Modular or pre-built saunas lessen the consumers workload substantially. Entire sections of the sauna, such as the wall and ceiling panels and benches, come already built. The sauna door is pre-hung; the electrical wiring is already hidden inside the walls; the air vents are built-in, and no plumbing is required. A pre-built sauna can typically be assembled in just a few simple steps in about an hour, and, because it is a free-standing structure, it can be easily dismantled and moved to different locations.

For many years, most pre-cut and pre-built saunas on the market were of the traditional Finnish sauna variety. In a traditional Finnish sauna, specially selected rocks or stones are heated on a stove to elevate the temperature of the air inside the sauna room. Steam can be then added, raising the temperature even further, by throwing water onto the hot rocks. The intense heat causes the person or people inside the sauna to perspire profusely, and that is one of the key objectives of the traditional Finnish sauna bath, as sweating has long been believed to be a very cleansing, rejuvenating experience for the human body.

While the centuries-old tradition of the hot Finnish sauna bath continues to thrive throughout the world, modern technology has enabled a much newer type of sauna to successfully court public favor: the far infrared sauna. Sometimes called infrared heat therapy rooms, these revolutionary inventions utilize far infrared energy emitters to heat the sauna bathers body directly and at lower, more tolerable temperatures than those offered by traditional Finnish saunas. Interestingly, even with the temperature difference, many sources claim that the volume of sweat produced during a far infrared sauna session can be as much as three times greater than in a traditional Finnish sauna.

Saunas and sauna kits for buying and building are fairly easy to find, thanks mostly to the modern conveniences of the Internet and worldwide web. As well, a plethora of online information exists on modular saunas, pre-cut sauna kits, Finnish saunas, and far infrared heat therapy rooms. As you continue your research, be sure to read up on the many health benefits regular sauna bathing offers as well as how to properly enjoy the experience to its fullest. Heres to you finding better health and greater happiness inside the sauna you select.