Types of Saunas

Choosing the right type of sauna requires you to know a bit about each of the different types and what you get with each. You don't want to purchase a sauna you don't enjoy, after all, so it's important that you take a little time to learn about the benefits of each.

The traditional sauna uses hot rocks and water to create the steam saunas are known for. Traditional saunas are very easy to customize - you can build your sauna to fit in a basement, as part of a renovation on your home, or even add it on to your bathroom. The exterior of traditional saunas can even be painted to match the rest of your home. These saunas are usually made from cedar, although other wood can be used. Traditional saunas create a very intense heat, however, and the bursts of steam that come from throwing cold water on hot rocks can be too much for some people.

A steambath, on the other hand, is a much gentler environment. Steambaths generally look like large, glassed-in shower stalls as opposed to the traditional sauna, which is usually a closed, windowless room. In fact, you can actually add a steambath to any shower stall. All you need is a power and water supply - the small steam generator fits in almost any bathroom cabinet or can be installed above or below the room. Steambaths don't get as hot as traditional saunas, but they do generate a higher humidity.

Finally, infrared saunas are a new, modern form of the traditional sauna. Instead of using steam, however, infrared saunas use emitters to focus infrared radiation on your body. This form of radiation, which is completely safe, is absorbed quickly and directly, allowing the sauna to actually operate at a fairly low temperature when compared to the traditional sauna. Infrared saunas generally look more like the traditional cedar sauna, although this is usually for cosmetic appearances.

The good news is that no matter which type of sauna you install, almost all of the cost of the sauna will be in the installation. Saunas cost very little to operate - most of the cost is simply for lighting the sauna when it is in use. The normal cost of using a sauna for an hour generally averages out to be less than a pound. That certainly fits into anyone's monthly budget, and once you see how great you feel after relaxing in your sauna, you'll agree that the small monthly expense is worth it.