Sauna Wood Types: The Top Picks to Consider (2022)

​The type of sauna wood you pick is very crucial. You cannot select one just randomly. The one which best suits your home sauna is the need. The longevity of your sauna and the value of your investment depend on the wood type you select.
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If you plan on building a home sauna soon, the sort of wood you use for it will have a significant impact on the sauna's aesthetics, functionality, lifespan, and even the mood you'll experience throughout each session. Keep reading, and we'll go over some of the top choices for sauna wood types. The end goal is to build a sauna that will last for years or maybe a lifetime.

You might also want to read: Types of Saunas and How to Choose the Right One for You

Top Sauna Wood Types to Consider

Cedar

When it comes to outdoor saunas, Cedar has long been a popular choice for its aesthetic and practical benefits. Cedar is weatherproof and strong enough to endure the elements. Its resistance to deterioration is another feature that makes it a valuable investment. In addition, high temperatures in saunas have no effect on Cedar. It doesn't get swollen, nor does it shrink. It's perfect for insulation without becoming hot to the touch.

Western Red Cedar and Eastern White Cedar are two of the most common species used to construct saunas, although there are many other cedar species to choose from.

You probably already know that southern Alaska, western Canada, northwest California, and western Montana are the natural homes of western red Cedar (Thuja plicata). It has a lovely crimson color and only a handful of knots. Western Red Cedar has long been considered a premium wood. Thus it's no surprise that most sauna bath providers employ Western Red Cedar in their sauna construction.
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Thuja occidentalis, more commonly known as Eastern White Cedar, is a common tree in the East and the Central United States and eastern Canada forests. The Western Red Cedar is taller, but this species naturally regenerates every 35 years, making it a more sustainable resource. The color ranges from a barely-there tan or brown to an almost invisible white. Exposure to the environment causes unpainted white wood to weather a lovely silvery gray over time.

Hemlock

In the same way that there are various species of Cedar, there are also several varieties of Hemlock, such as the Canadian, Western, and Hem-Fir hemlocks.

One of the most classy options for indoor and infrared saunas is Canadian Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), often known as Eastern Hemlock. It originates in the eastern part of North America, and its homogeneous texture (very few knots) and exquisite light white color make it highly pleasant to the eye.

Hemlock's many advantages, including its low resin content, high resistance to dampness, and long lifespan, don't get put down by its low price. However, its almost odorless nature makes it ideal for those with hypersensitive noses or allergic reactions.

The Western Hemlock, or Tsuga heterophylla, is a conifer that grows naturally in western North America. In the same manner that Western Red Cedar is present in woods from Alaska to the San Francisco Bay Area's north, so is the Western White Pine. The two complement each other wonderfully in the sauna and are appealing.

Other common sauna woods are Hem-Fir (also known as Hemlock Fir) and Fir (also known as Fir). Western hemlock and fir species, including "Noble, California red, Grand, Pacific silver, and White fir," make up the Hem-Fir species blend. Uses include sauna benches, doors, and other decorative accents, much like Western Hemlock's, due to its similar light straw color and elegant appearance.
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You might also want to read: Top 9 Sauna Heaters For Your Home (2022 Review)

Nordic Spruce

Norway spruce (Picea abies) or European Spruce is a type of Spruce that grows naturally in the colder regions of Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe. Its high density and firmly ingrown structure make it an excellent wood choice for a sauna. This is one of the reasons why it is one of the most common sauna wood types there in Finland and other traditional saunas located throughout Europe.

Nordic Spruce is recognized for its lovely white color, which it maintains throughout its lifespan. In addition, it emits a pleasant scent that might help with relaxation. It has natural insect-repellent terpene hydrocarbons in it.

Due to the nature of the material, there will be some variation in the amount of pitch (sap) in the wood from plank to plank. During extreme heat cycles, sap seepage is perfectly normal though it is unlikely. Furthermore, it has no health risks. Once it has cooled, you can use a razor blade to scrape it off the wood, then rubbing alcohol to get rid of any lingering residue.
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You can completely avoid sap seepage from Spruce by first treating the wood with heat. Thermotherapy, as practiced in Thermory Saunas, involves applying a controlled amount of heat and steam to the sauna wood to impart improved structural integrity and decay resistance. What's even better is that it's an entirely chemical-free and environmentally safe method that can be used on any type of wood, including Spruce, to bring out its full potential.

Common Aspen

Common Aspen (Populus tremula) is a member of the willow family and is popular for its vibrant coloring. Naturally, it lives in the colder parts of Europe and Asia, from Iceland and the British Isles to Scandinavia and northern Russia, and even up to the northern parts of Japan.
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Aspen is "friendly" to everyone. It poses no danger to human health, does not induce allergies, and contains no resin. Furthermore, it does not warp or rot quickly during exposure to water. Thanks to this, it's a preference for most sauna types. These include traditional saunas, infrared saunas, public saunas, hotel saunas, and gym saunas. In addition, Aspen is resistant to bacterial and fungal attacks, making it one of the healthiest options for sauna flooring.

You might also want to read: 10 Tips To Build The Best Sauna Room

Pine

Pine is amongst the top affordable alternatives. People use them in the framing phase of the sauna building. The majority of pine species consist of a darker wood that is reminiscent of Spruce while having more knots.

Although knots are rarely an issue, certain types of Pine frequently have huge, loose knots. Along with a high resin concentration, this can lead to the unpleasant side effects of sap leaking and resin emission. As a result, it is not as long-lasting as other sauna woods and is prone to bending and warping.
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Pine, like Spruce, is a softwood that's easily damageable by moisture. However, after undergoing heat treatment, Pine completely transforms into a different sauna wood species that is much more robust and long-lasting.

Douglas Fir

Douglas fir (Doug fir) is a member of the pine family (Pinaceae) despite its misleading common name, which suggests it is more closely related to firs, spruces, and hemlocks. It is the most productive tree species in North America and is native to the western region. It also grows along the coast and further inland in the Rocky Mountains.

Douglas fir enjoys the recognition as the go-to Christmas tree in yards and parks since the 1920s. Doug fir is highly sought after for its strength, durability, and aesthetic value. This is basically when it's milled lumber or kiln-dried and is common for sauna construction. It is commonly used in saunas, both indoors and outdoors, as well as in the construction of furniture and stairways. As an added bonus, kiln-dried Douglas fir wood pitch pockets won't leak resin (sap).
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Doug Fir is popular for its aesthetically pleasing uniformity of appearance. It has a straight grain and light brown color with hints of creamy yellow or red. It barely emits any odor.

​You might also want to read: Top 10 Sauna Benefits to Boost Your Health

Final Words

Sauna wood types are essential to categorize because you cannot pick just any wood. We hope this blog will help you choose the best sauna wood type for your home.
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Further, if you are searching for a top-notch steam sauna bath service, you are at the right place. Steam and Sauna Experts is an industry pioneer when speaking of indoor and outdoor steam sauna installation and other services. If you wish to understand more about saunas and their wood types, you can contact our customer specialist. We can help you decide on the best possible options for your sauna. Furthermore, we can set up an entire sauna room for you, keeping you from the hassle and letting you enjoy the final product.