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In this What is a barrel sauna article, I will tell you who invented the barrel sauna, what the barrel sauna is made of and how to care for it properly.

What is a barrel sauna

A barrel sauna is a wooden barrel from which a sauna has been made. The barrel is turned upside down, so to speak, with a stove at one end and a door at the other.

The sides are covered and the ends have ventilation openings. Behind the stove at the bottom is the supply air and on the wall of the door at the top is the exhaust air.

The legs of the barrel sauna are what are known as skids.

The stove can be electric or wood-burning. However, I personally prefer a wood-burning stove. This will give you a wonderful sauna atmosphere.

A barrel sauna can be built from many different types of wood. Just like a normal sauna. Barrel saunas are built from fir, pine, larch, aspen and red cedar, among others.

How long does it take for a barrel sauna to heat up?

The good thing about a barrel sauna is that it heats up quickly. My own Sisu Sauna heats up really quickly in about 15-20 minutes.

Who invented the barrel sauna?

The inventor of the barrel sauna is Esko Niinimäki, the old host of Kievari Rantapirtti. He invented the idea of building a sauna out of a large wooden barrel from a tar factory. He saw that the giant barrel was made for a sauna.

Being a clever man, Esko figured out that a stove would go at one end, a door at the other and benches at the sides.

At first the barrel sauna was a so-called advertising sign on the roadside. Passers-by became interested in the barrel sauna, so it was decided to start manufacturing barrel saunas in Koskenpää.

Kievari Rantapirtti is located on the shore of Lake Salos in Koskenpää, Jämsä. The tourism company was founded by Esko Niinimäki back in 1964.

So you can still find the barrel sauna in Rantapirtti and even get a taste of its tasty baths.

We have not been completely sure about the inventor of the sauna, but the inventor of the barrel sauna is now known.

I know, many sauna professionals are of the opinion that a barrel sauna is not a proper sauna because, for example, the law of the steam does not apply.

A barrel sauna is quick and convenient to build

There are many different ways to build a barrel sauna. There is the more massive barrel sauna and then there is the lighter construction.

Especially here in Germany, barrel saunas are popular because they are lightweight and can be built in one day.

You can put it almost anywhere in the yard, on a terrace, balcony or on top of tiles.

It also means that a barrel sauna does not need a building permit. In Germany, obtaining building permits and especially a chimney sweep’s permit for a wood-fired sauna is not so easy.

You can move the barrel sauna to another location if necessary or take it with you when you move.

So the solution is a barrel sauna.

The pros and cons of a barrel sauna

A barrel sauna is indeed a matter of opinion. Nowadays I have a barrel sauna myself and I can’t say that the strokes are bad – quite the opposite.

Nor have I noticed that my toes get cold – on the contrary.

Of course, there are a few disadvantages to a barrel sauna. Especially the really lightweight barrel saunas are made of thin wood and there is no insulation in between.

I’ve also heard that many cheap barrel saunas get mouldy after a few years. This is a real nuisance.

So if and when you get a barrel sauna get a decent one. Cheap is not good in this case either.

How to care for a barrel sauna correctly

To keep your barrel sauna in good condition, it is also important to look after it. The same rules of thumb as with a normal indoor sauna.

After the sauna, give the heater a few pats of wood or, with an electric heater, leave the sauna on for another 20 minutes with the door closed. However, open the air vent completely.

This will allow the sauna to dry out as if by itself. When the sauna is completely dry, you can open the doors and ventilate through them as well.

It is also a good idea to wash the sauna floor regularly. If you take a sauna once a week, you should wash your barrel sauna 3-4 times a year.

As a barrel sauna is an outdoor sauna, it is more susceptible to moisture than a regular outdoor sauna. So you have to be careful with the humidity.

Especially here in Central Europe the air humidity is higher than in Finland.

Dry, maintain and wash the sauna regularly.

It is also worth treating the sauna floor with paraffin oil at regular intervals and always after washing. This will considerably prolong the life of your sauna floor.

I hope this article What is a barrel sauna was helpful to you.

With love,

Sauna-Kati

In the Checklist for building a sauna article, you will find tips on things to consider when you are building or buying a sauna.

The article was inspired by a Finnish expat friend’s thoughts on what to consider when starting to build your own sauna. So here now I have listed a few things that came to mind. Please drop me a comment if you missed something important.

Checklist for building a sauna

Where to build a sauna

The first thing to think about is where to build your sauna. Whether it makes more sense to build a sauna in the yard or inside the house. Is there room for a sauna on the ground floor, is it possible to build a sauna in the basement or in the attic?

What kind of sauna

The next thing to think about is what kind of sauna is best for you. Is it a garden sauna, a turnkey sauna, a bathroom sauna? Will you build or have the sauna built entirely by yourself?

What kind of heater?

Which heater is best for your needs, whether it’s wood-burning or electric. The size of your sauna and whether it has a window, for example, will determine how big or efficient a stove you should buy for your sauna. The number of people using the sauna should also be taken into account. Plus how often you sauna.

To get a wood stove I need a chimney and permits from a chimney sweep. Living abroad, this can be a bit difficult, but I’m sure it will work out in the end.

Who builds the sauna?

Next, it’s a good idea to think about who will build/operate the sauna. Are you handy with your hands or is there someone in your family circle of acquaintances who can help? Will you build the sauna from “long wood” or is it sensible to order a prefabricated sauna?

Wood materials

Which wood material to choose for sauna structures, panels and ceilings. There are many options and so-called colours. It is worth taking some time to think about which woods are suitable for your sauna.

Pine or spruce are usually used for sauna structures.

For the boards, it is advisable to use heat-treated wood. In Finland, spruce, alder or aspen and apache are used because they do not conduct heat well.

Panels can be untreated wood. However, wall and ceiling panels should be treated with sauna protection after installation.

Ventilation

The importance of ventilation cannot be ignored. Especially here in Germany, you see an annoying number of saunas with no ventilation at all.

Make sure that your Finnish sauna has either pressurised or mechanical ventilation. In saunas with wood-burning stoves, the ventilation is set up so that the supply air comes from the bottom and the exhaust air exits from the top.

Sealing and insulating the sauna

Sealing the sauna is particularly useful when the sauna is built in a residential building. Seals prevent the spread of moisture to the rest of the house.

It is worth insulating the sauna to prevent heat escaping. It is advisable to put 20 cm of insulation in the ceiling and 10 cm in the walls. Insulation is particularly important when building a garden sauna, especially if the sauna is used in winter.

The sauna heats up faster.

Flooring materials

The flooring material in saunas is nowadays tile. Remember that waterproofing is required and that the tiles are also raised slightly on the wall by 15-20 cm. From which the panels will then rise.

Sauna ceilings

Sauna ceilings are also calculated according to a certain formula, for example 60 cm width per person.

The difference in height between the top ceiling and the ceiling is 100-100 cm.

The total depth of the boards should be 100-120 cm and the width of the seating board should be 60-80 cm. The footrest should be 40 cm wide and should ideally be positioned at the height of the stove stones.

Floor drain

Make sure you have thought about the location of the floor drains. It would be best if the sauna and the washroom have their own floor drains. But of course that is not always possible.

Electricity

For the sauna you will also need electricity for lights and e.g. for the electric stove. The junction boxes required for the electrical connection are provided near the electric stove and the group wiring is brought to the boxes. The installation box should be placed 3 cm above the floor on the side of the heater. The piping is included in the cold side of the heat insulation when the sauna is installed.

Here are some things that came to mind when you think about what to consider when you start building a sauna. Drop me a comment if I missed something important.