Sauna floor
Hi guys,
I’m currently designing a sauna. An issue that keeps stumping me is the floor. I want it to be made out of wood and I want to use a subfloor so it feels solid. My thinking is 2×6 joists- vapor permeable barrier- mineral wool- plywood subfloor (possibly acts as a vapor barrier?)- underlayment (cork)- finished cedar floor (1×4).
It’s been recommended that I do joists- ff-pir(insulation & vapor barrier)- air gap- finished wood floor.
My hesitation with not using subfloor is that when you walk (or jump who knows) on the floor it will feel weak.
Can anyone offer insight into how I can make a strong, air tight, wood floor that will last decades. Thank you!
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Replies
What did you do in the end? I am struggling with this myself. My plans is to have a tongue and groove floor, oiled, with a central drain. I want insulation between the floor joists, but I am worried about moisture getting trapped.
Outdoor sauna I assume? I built my outdoor unit like a shed, with 2 x 8 joists and 4 x 4 treated runners to keep it off the ground. Plywood floor, covered with cement board covered with a skim coat that is angled to a center drain with furring strips of different thicknesses. In the area where people walk I have wooden slatted mats. I insulated the walls and the ceiling, but not the floor. Never an issue. I’m not a fan of oiling anything in the sauna as the heat will just aerify (not a word) everything. Go to saunatimes.com for a hundred informed opinions. Good luck with your project.
Plywood isn't a great vapor barrier on its own, and mineral wool is vapor permeable, which could allow moisture to rise into the floor assembly and potentially lead to issues down the line. It's important to use proper vapor barriers and insulation materials in such cases to prevent moisture buildup. On a different note, I’ve always dreamed of having a sauna in my house one day. The idea of having a personal space to relax and unwind is so appealing. But before I can make that dream a reality, I first need to finish college. I’ve been using services like DoMyPaper https://domypaper.com/ to help me manage my academic workload, so I can stay on track with my studies. Once I graduate and land a decent job, I’ll finally have the financial freedom to build that sauna and create the perfect space to relax