If you’re a confident DIYer with solid tools, patience, and attention to detail – yes. But don’t underestimate the complexity. A sauna is more than a timber box with a heater. It involves heat/air convection, vapour control, and fire safety – and getting it wrong can be expensive or dangerous.
Indoor saunas are usually exempt from building consent under Schedule 1 of the NZ Building Act, as long as they are:
Outdoor saunas may require consent if:
Always check with your local council before starting, especially if you’re adding external electrical work or plumbing.
The choice between an indoor or outdoor sauna depends on space, climate, budget, and the type of experience you want. Indoor saunas offer convenience and year-round use, while outdoor saunas provide a more natural, authentic feel with greater design flexibility.
Every proper sauna build will require:
Optional extras: Thermometers, hygrometers, WIFI controllers.
A Sauna is a room that relies on heat/air convection:
This creates an airflow loop, allowing fresh air to circulate and moist air to exit. A poorly ventilated sauna feels stuffy, fails to heat properly, and can lead to timber rot or mould.
We bundle our sauna barrier paper with our heaters for good reason:
Every seam should be taped and sealed.
We use only SAWO heaters rated for the volume of your sauna (e.g. a 4.5kW unit for ~5m3 space). Oversizing doesn’t help; it just wastes energy and increases the chance of damaging sauna timber.
Timber choice impacts performance, safety, and lifespan. The best sauna woods are Arctic Circle grown timbers like Western Red Cedar, Aspen, and Spruce – especially from Arctic regions. They insulate heat well, handle rapid temperature changes, and stay cool to the touch for comfortable seating.
SAWO timber goes further: it’s kiln-dried, resin-free, sustainably sourced from Nordic forests, and specifically rated for sauna use.
Our sauna timbers are engineered for sauna use: Our Tongue and Grove (T&G) profiles are optimised for sauna use with Long tongue/tails and drip lines. Locally available T&G profiles risk opening up over time and exposing the silver barrier paper behind.
Cheaper timbers may warp, crack, or release sap under heat, leading to costly repairs and safety risks. Investing in sauna-grade timber ensures beauty, durability, and a safe experience.
Timber isn’t just cosmetic – it affects performance, safety, and lifespan. SAWO sauna timber is:
Cheaper timber might seem appealing at first glance, but it warps, cracks, or emits sap when exposed to high heat. That means costly repairs conditions, and potentially unsafe.
Our DIY kits are curated to give you everything you need, nothing you don’t:
Explore Our DIY Sauna Kits.
“We leverage more than 30 years of experience installing saunas and steam rooms, and worked with many contract builders too, so we know a thing or two about the common challenges with sauna builds. We also know first-hand that building your own sauna is one of the most satisfying projects you can take on, but it’s not one to rush or wing! If you’re going to do it, do it right first time, and don’t cut corners”
His advice?
If you’d like support selecting the right kit, or just need a second opinion on your plan – get in touch with our team.
We’re Sauna People, after all.
Our Sauna Starter Pack is the ideal base for anyone looking to build a high-quality, long-lasting sauna. Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast, builder, or planning a professional install. This pack includes the essential core components needed to get your sauna project underway. The ideal starting point for those choosing to source their own timber.