All questions are answered by sauna masters. After familiarizing themselves with the client’s vision and assessing the technical possibilities, they can offer materials, stove, and design. The sauna must first be safe, and only then beautiful.
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Masters are divided into serious and one-day ones
Arnold Zavadski, who has 10 years of experience in sauna installation, became interested in this field spontaneously when his uncle, who was building a sauna, invited him to work together. “We worked as a duo for several years, then I decided to move forward independently. At first, getting orders was difficult because it is a niche area, not as high in demand as home construction,” says A. Zavadski.
It took a lot of work and effort before Arnold earned the trust of clients and received his first orders, building a good reputation and a name as a master who completes work on time and with quality.
“We worked three years without days off to complete projects on time. Now it brings a smile to my face when I remember, but once we finished a sauna on December 31 at 8 p.m. because the owner wanted to celebrate the New Year in the sauna. The client was very satisfied. We are people of our word – we complete work at the agreed time,” says A. Zavadski.
It would be difficult to work alone in this field, so Arnold works with another master. “You need to devote time to advertising, communicate with clients, coordinate individual projects,” says A. Zavadski.
Sauna masters introduce themselves as “Steam Oasis” to make it clearer to people who they are: “Masters are divided into serious and one-day ones.”
Sauna in a house, homestead, or even an apartment
A recent trend shows that people install saunas inside their homes – in basements, sanitary units next to bedrooms, or near living rooms for convenient access to outdoor terraces. It is also popular to order frame saunas built outdoors next to the house.
“If a new modern house is being designed, a place for the sauna is planned immediately, including communications, ventilation, air intake ducts, and other technical parameters. At this stage, clients invite us, sauna specialists, to ensure everything is done correctly – installing a sauna indoors is quite complex. You need to have a good understanding of ventilation and air supply systems,” says the master.
Those with more finances build frame saunas next to their homes. “Considering this, we expanded our range of services, implementing the entire project from scratch: ordering wood according to drawings, assembling the sauna frame. A large team works – designer, plumber, electrician, master pouring foundations – the client does not need to worry about anything,” says A. Zavadski about sauna installation.
If the plot is large and the client wants to build the sauna further from the house, and the environment is already landscaped with a lawn, there will be additional costs because installing water supply, sewage, and electricity involves digging up and trampling the lawn.
The most popular three types of saunas
According to A. Zavadski, three types of saunas are popular in Lithuania: Finnish dry steam saunas, wetter ones whose name is associated with a neighboring country not friendly to us, and Turkish “steam” saunas – lots of steam, low temperature.
“Saunas are most often installed because modern technology allows turning them into ‘steam rooms.’ There is a wide selection of electric stoves that can not only maintain high temperature but also generate a lot of moisture,” says the master.
Depending on clients’ preferences, an electric or wood-burning stove is chosen.
“We recommend good quality Lithuanian wood-burning stoves made of stainless steel, with technology patented in Germany. They are expensive, so many wonder if it’s worth it. But those who bought them have never regretted it. These stoves generate a lot of steam,” says A. Zavadski.
Electric stoves come from Sweden, Estonia, with integrated steam generators that produce more steam and make the sauna much more humid.
Not all apartments have technical possibilities
The master says that to install a sauna in an apartment, everything also starts with a project – the most important is to plan the installation of ventilation and air supply ducts. Without air supply, the sauna will lack oxygen, the person will feel sluggish and have headaches.
“Installing a sauna in an apartment is complicated by delivering materials to upper floors and working in a small space,” says Arnold.
If the apartment building is old, installing a sauna is impossible because getting permission to install ducts through the outer wall is very difficult.
Sometimes fixing mistakes requires demolishing everything
People also install saunas independently – there is a lot of technical literature and social media groups. “As masters, we also participate in all forums, give advice – after a few consultations, everything is done properly,” says the master.
On the other hand, there is a lot of misleading information that causes people to make many mistakes – then they call a master to fix them. “In such cases, we can offer only one option – demolish everything and do it right. Because fixing is too expensive – half of the sauna must be dismantled to access ventilation pipes,” laments Arnold.
A common mistake is insufficient air supply to the anteroom where people rest after the sauna. “Blood is not supplied with oxygen, then people go back to the hot sauna, the heart starts beating faster, and headaches begin,” says the master.
Another mistake is ventilation. “It is mistakenly thought that making a hole high on the wall is enough for the sauna to ventilate. But heat and moisture rise, so half of it escapes outside – meaning the sauna will be heated inefficiently,” explains the master.
It is important to choose the right materials. If plastic pipes are used for ventilation, condensation will accumulate inside them.
Another mistake is improper insulation and cladding of the sauna with paneling. “Wood expands and contracts due to moisture and heat; to stabilize it, there must be a ventilation gap underneath. Without it, the paneling warps and breaks,” says the master.
Sauna price from 10 to 20 thousand euros
According to A. Zavadski, the price of a sauna depends on the project: whether an individual design is created or chosen from ready-made projects. The price is determined by the choice of wood and stove: stove prices range from 500 to 10,000 EUR, and interior paneling from 27 to 180 EUR per square meter.
A simple steam sauna of 4 sq.m. inside a house, using simple Lithuanian wood, costs from 5 to 8 thousand EUR.
The price range for frame sauna construction is wider: a 50 sq.m. sauna costs 30-80 thousand EUR.
“The prices of saunas we install range from 10 to 20 thousand EUR,” says the master.
Latest sauna trends
In recent years, Arnold notes that saunas have become aesthetically more beautiful, elegant, with a prevailing minimalist Scandinavian style, and the interior reflects the client’s personality. “Most often, the sauna design is chosen by the housewife,” smiles the master.
According to Arnold, thermally treated wood, darker colors, and investment in lighting solutions are becoming popular. People do not skimp, choosing more expensive, higher-quality stoves that will last 10-20 years.
“Our clients are young or middle-aged people who invest their earned money in quality work and do not want to worry about anything themselves. The Lithuanian mindset has changed; people entrust work to professionals in their field,” says the master.
Sauna is a luxury, not a necessity
Aivaras Mileika has worked in construction all his life, and nine years ago, together with a friend, built his first sauna. “I found it interesting and enjoyable, so I decided to specialize in this field. If you want to be a good specialist, you must not be distracted. I only do sauna interior installation in private houses, cottages, and apartments,” says A. Mileika.
Starting work, Aivaras first listens to the client’s wishes, then introduces the possibilities, quality of materials and stove, creates visualizations, and presents an offer based on the budget. If everything fits, the sauna installation queue is 3-4 months.
The master receives inquiries about sauna installation all year round, only calls quiet down during summer holidays. “Sauna is a luxury, not a necessity; they are built by wealthy people who rest during holidays,” says the master.
Enjoying the sauna must be pleasant
According to A. Mileika, Lithuanians usually describe the sauna specifically: “The hotter, the better,” but first, the sauna must be “a pleasure, not a torment.”
The master admits that the hardest part is communicating with designers who create sauna visualizations because sometimes implementing their computer projects is not so easy, especially when looking for a cheaper solution. “Often designers find a master themselves, connect with project managers and clients,” says Aivaras.
A. Mileika says that when installing a sauna, everyone does their job – plumber, electrician, glazier: “It is better to avoid one master who knows everything because usually, it means the quality of work may suffer. To save money, I hire specialists from the region where the work is done so they don’t have to travel far.”
According to the sauna master, there is a wide choice of stoves: “The more expensive, the more features. A simple electric stove is enough for a sauna, but if the owner wants more steam, more stones are needed, and a more powerful stove is required to heat them. There are models with automatic control maintaining humidity and temperature, with automatic climate control – prices vary accordingly.”
Sauna durability depends on ventilation and insulation
Sauna durability primarily depends on ventilation. “If the sauna is not dried properly, mold will appear. Ventilation is also important to ensure enough fresh air in the sauna – this is important for our health,” says the master.
The sauna must not only be properly dried after use but also used regularly, at least once a month – if unused for a long time, moisture can accumulate, especially if it stands outdoors.
Proper sauna insulation is important – according to Aivaras, their parameters are standardized, and the sauna must be installed correctly to maintain the appropriate temperature inside. Insulation also protects walls from moisture.
“When installing a sauna, you need to understand technological requirements. The sauna must first be safe, and only then beautiful,” says A. Mileika.
People who want to install a sauna independently also contact Aivaras – for a fee, the master provides visualizations and consults throughout the process, advising on which materials to choose.
Refined aesthetics and quality materials
A. Mileika notes that sauna installation has become more expensive in recent years: “At least I don’t work cheaply. My work costs from 3000 to 10,000 EUR.” Together with materials and equipment, the sauna can cost from 3500 to 30,000 EUR. “Of course, the price can be even higher. I heard a client wanted an amber wall that would have cost 30 thousand. Or cedar paneling costing 200 EUR per square meter,” says the master.
Recently, sauna design features expensive and quality materials, good lighting, minimalism, and refined aesthetics.
“No more rounding, curls, or lamps in some corner – that’s outdated,” says A. Mileika.
