What are the best types of wood for your barrel sauna? Tips and advice

When manufacturing high-quality barrel saunas, we carefully select the best woods to ensure quality, durability and aesthetics. Three of our favorite woods are Red Cedar, Modified Ayous and Thermowood Spruce. Each of these woods has unique properties that make them ideal for saunas. Here is an in-depth description of these woods and why they are perfect for your barrel sauna.

Why the right choice of wood is important

Choosing the right wood for your barrel sauna is more than just an aesthetic decision. The wood must be able to withstand the high temperatures and humidity that characterize a sauna environment. It must also have a long lifespan and require minimal maintenance to keep the sauna in top condition. The types of wood we use are carefully selected to meet these requirements, and each type of wood offers unique benefits for the quality of your sauna experience.

Red Cedar: our absolute favorite

Red Cedar is one of the most prized woods for barrel saunas, and for good reason. This wood is known for its exceptional beauty, durability, and functional benefits, making it an excellent choice for your sauna.

Aesthetics

Red Cedar has a warm color that varies from light brown to deep red. These colors give the sauna a beautiful, natural look. What makes this wood special are the knots and patterns that are visible in the wood, which creates a unique and cozy atmosphere in your sauna. This natural beauty makes Red Cedar a popular choice for people who value both aesthetics and functionality.

Smell

Red Cedar spreads a pleasant, natural scent that contributes to a relaxing atmosphere in the sauna. In addition, this wood has natural antibacterial properties, which keeps your sauna fresh for longer. This makes Red Cedar attractive not only because of its scent, but also because of its hygienic benefits.

Sustainability

Red Cedar is naturally resistant to mold and insects, making it ideal for humid sauna environments. This wood remains strong and in excellent condition, even with heavy use, making your sauna long-lasting and a smart investment.

Insulation

Thanks to the excellent insulating properties of Red Cedar, the heat is retained well in the sauna. This ensures that the sauna quickly reaches the right temperature and the heat is evenly distributed. This not only makes your sauna more efficient, but also more energy-efficient, which reduces operating costs.

Maintenance

The maintenance of Red Cedar is simple. Regular cleaning is sufficient to remove dirt and dust. For a longer lifespan, you can treat the wood occasionally with a special oil, which will preserve its beautiful appearance and extend its lifespan.

Modified Ayous: lightweight and durable

Modified Ayous is another type of wood that we proudly use for our barrel saunas. This wood has been specially treated to increase its durability and resistance to moisture, making it ideal for sauna applications.

Aesthetics

Modified Ayous has a light, even colour that gives a modern look to your sauna. The smooth texture and straight grain provide a luxurious and sleek finish, ideal for those who love a minimalist aesthetic.

Smell

Unlike some other woods, modified Ayous has a neutral scent, which is ideal for those who prefer a subtle and clean sauna experience. It ensures that the sauna experience is not overshadowed by strong scents, so you can enjoy pure relaxation.

Sustainability

Ayous' modification makes the wood more resistant to moisture, warping and shrinking, even under the high temperatures and humidity of a sauna. This makes your sauna last longer and keeps the wood in excellent condition, making it a sustainable choice.

Insulation

Although modified Ayous is slightly less insulating than Red Cedar, it still provides good insulation for a pleasant sauna experience. It helps distribute and retain heat evenly, making your sauna work efficiently.

Maintenance

Modified Ayous is easy to maintain. It requires less intensive care than some other types of wood, although it is still important to clean the wood regularly and occasionally treat it with a protective oil.

Thermowood Spruce: sustainable and environmentally friendly

Thermowood spruce is a popular choice because of its environmentally friendly thermal treatment which makes the wood more durable. This wood is perfect for saunas because of its natural resistance to moisture and mold.

Aesthetics

Thermowood has a warm, natural look thanks to the thermal treatment that gives the wood a rich, medium brown colour. This enhances the appearance of your sauna and makes it a stylish addition to your garden.

Smell

Thermowood spreads a soft, pleasant scent that contributes to a relaxing sauna experience. This scent is subtle enough to create a calm atmosphere without being overwhelming.

Sustainability

The thermal treatment makes Thermowood more durable and more resistant to moisture, fungi and insects, which ensures a long lifespan. This wood retains its shape and quality, even with intensive use in a humid sauna environment.

Insulation

Thermowood offers excellent insulating properties, which means the sauna heats up quickly and retains heat efficiently. This contributes to an energy-efficient and comfortable sauna experience.

Maintenance

Thermowood is easy to maintain. Regular cleaning and occasional treatment with a special oil or stain will help keep the wood in good condition, so that your sauna always looks its best and functions optimally.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the unique properties of Red Cedar?

Red Cedar is loved for its warm, rich colour and unique knots that give your sauna a natural look. The wood has a pleasant smell, antibacterial properties and is naturally resistant to fungi and insects. It also offers excellent insulation, which contributes to an energy-efficient and comfortable sauna experience.

Why is modified Ayous a good choice for barrel saunas?

Modified Ayous is ideal for barrel saunas because of its light, uniform colour and modern look. The wood is smooth and has a straight grain, which gives it a sleek look. Thanks to the modification, Ayous is more resistant to moisture and wear, making it less likely to warp or shrink. It also offers good insulating properties and requires minimal maintenance.

How do I maintain the different types of wood in my barrel sauna?

Red Cedar and Thermowood pine require regular cleaning and occasional treatment with a special oil or stain to maintain their beauty and functionality. Modified Ayous is relatively low maintenance, but it is advisable to clean the wood regularly and apply a protective treatment periodically.

Is modified Ayous odorless?

Yes, modified Ayous has a neutral scent, meaning it does not give off strong aromas. This can be an advantage for people who prefer a subtle and clean scent in their sauna. The neutral scent ensures that the sauna experience is not affected by unwanted odors, allowing you to relax optimally.

How does Thermowood contribute to the sustainability of a barrel sauna?

Thermowood is thermally treated, which improves the natural resistance to moisture, fungi and insects. This treatment makes the wood more durable and less susceptible to warping and shrinking. Thermowood spruce also offers good insulating properties and a warm appearance, which contributes to a comfortable sauna experience.

Find out more about our wood types and barrel saunas in our collection and make the right choice for your sauna.