Building a sauna pad into side of mountain. Help/tips?
I already have the sauna looking to build a stable pad for it. What are some recommendations on how I should build the pad to make it last? What kind of drainage do I need?
OP you need to consult with a professional. This is in need of a structural engineer to make sure that hillside doesn’t collapse.
10Core56
Doesn’t look like a simple DIY project. I would hire a professional or educate yourself. Plenty of YouTube vids to look re:concrete pads, but the retaining wall for the mountain ain’t a piece-o-cake.
MelonHead1214
I can’t help with building the pad, but please consider removing some of those plants bc they will shed straight into the sauna, and being so close to the bushes will create an absolute spider problem.
slowd
My only advice is to make sure you’re finished with that slope before building your pad. If you’re adding a wall and drainage it would be a shame to pull up any pad you put down or try to work around it.
cEquals1
It looks like you made a nice low spot for all the water to run. Unless your soil has crazy good perk, which if it is solid rock it will not you’re probably going to need a sump pump.
Otherwise I would probably put it up on piers.
Independent-Bobcat-1
Make sure you have your conduit for electrical trenched under the timber and 90° up where the power supply is gonna be.
Drive 4’ 1/2” rebar thru the timber every 32” or so, 4” deck screws toenailed into each other.
Dig out dirt, compact. Fabric. 6” clean 3/4” stone. Compact. Supply electric.
How4u
Ignoring the wall… I’d make a gravel or paver/poly sand pad, no reason to overcomplicate this with concrete. There are a lot of youtube videos on how that’s done, but it would involve a bit more excavation and building up a solid base and adjusting the slope away from your walls. I did this for my barrel sauna and it’s been rock solid for 5 years now.
Pinstrip3
I think pouring concrete would be easiest and best solution to last. I’d move away from the rock a bit and make a drainage channel between pad and rocks. If the sauna is solid enough you could get away with pouring only footings.
Getting rid of the rocks and soil you most likely cut roots of the trees above what means that there’s a chance of them falling, if not soon, likely when they grow. I’d get rid of some on the edge and move the edge of the soil even further. It will expose cool rocks and lessen the chance of the soil falling down. If possible I’d keep pines. They look cool with rocks and can be kept low when maintained properly.
Melodic-Matter4685
Do a deck. I’m normally all about concrete pads, but a deck there maybe easier? Cheaper…
Rare_Magazine_5362
I love that this is the point you got to and then decided to ask for advice. We are kindred spirits.
avdpos
Stable pad? Don’t you like a sauna to stand on supports?
Having a continuous pad handling the temperature shifts from a 90⁰C sauna (and more under the heater). You also often have small gaps in the wooden floor so the water drain out easily. And as hot air go up that ain’t a problem.
I would build my sauna with cement /stone blocks as a foundation.
I looked fast at 5 Swedish build instructions. Everyone uses blocks as foundation. We do have the second moat saunas in the world – so I think we know how it is done
bonerb0ys
personally, if i was in the bush like you seem to be, i would make a cool little path to a super private sauna.
Ready-Act7339
Man do it yourself!
How else are you going to learn. Im an Excavation contractor.
If you have any questions hit me up with them.
Do you have heavy equipment? It looks like you do.
Noimenglish
Looking through these comments, you’ve argued with most of the posted advice here, OP.
If you know more than us, don’t waste our time asking. However, given that your excavated pad area looks about as level as a moron’s forehead, you might want to do what folks are recommending and go get a pro.
HazeCorps22
Damn… Definitely need a retaining wall or some structural support on that bad boy.
Next big rain season will prove be a challenge.
wacojacoco
Slope the hill around it to drain any run off away from the pad . The more room, the better
17 Comments
Looks uneven
OP you need to consult with a professional. This is in need of a structural engineer to make sure that hillside doesn’t collapse.
Doesn’t look like a simple DIY project. I would hire a professional or educate yourself. Plenty of YouTube vids to look re:concrete pads, but the retaining wall for the mountain ain’t a piece-o-cake.
I can’t help with building the pad, but please consider removing some of those plants bc they will shed straight into the sauna, and being so close to the bushes will create an absolute spider problem.
My only advice is to make sure you’re finished with that slope before building your pad. If you’re adding a wall and drainage it would be a shame to pull up any pad you put down or try to work around it.
It looks like you made a nice low spot for all the water to run. Unless your soil has crazy good perk, which if it is solid rock it will not you’re probably going to need a sump pump.
Otherwise I would probably put it up on piers.
Make sure you have your conduit for electrical trenched under the timber and 90° up where the power supply is gonna be.
Drive 4’ 1/2” rebar thru the timber every 32” or so, 4” deck screws toenailed into each other.
Dig out dirt, compact. Fabric. 6” clean 3/4” stone. Compact. Supply electric.
Ignoring the wall… I’d make a gravel or paver/poly sand pad, no reason to overcomplicate this with concrete. There are a lot of youtube videos on how that’s done, but it would involve a bit more excavation and building up a solid base and adjusting the slope away from your walls. I did this for my barrel sauna and it’s been rock solid for 5 years now.
I think pouring concrete would be easiest and best solution to last. I’d move away from the rock a bit and make a drainage channel between pad and rocks. If the sauna is solid enough you could get away with pouring only footings.
Getting rid of the rocks and soil you most likely cut roots of the trees above what means that there’s a chance of them falling, if not soon, likely when they grow. I’d get rid of some on the edge and move the edge of the soil even further. It will expose cool rocks and lessen the chance of the soil falling down. If possible I’d keep pines. They look cool with rocks and can be kept low when maintained properly.
Do a deck. I’m normally all about concrete pads, but a deck there maybe easier? Cheaper…
I love that this is the point you got to and then decided to ask for advice. We are kindred spirits.
Stable pad? Don’t you like a sauna to stand on supports?
Having a continuous pad handling the temperature shifts from a 90⁰C sauna (and more under the heater). You also often have small gaps in the wooden floor so the water drain out easily. And as hot air go up that ain’t a problem.
I would build my sauna with cement /stone blocks as a foundation.
I looked fast at 5 Swedish build instructions. Everyone uses blocks as foundation. We do have the second moat saunas in the world – so I think we know how it is done
personally, if i was in the bush like you seem to be, i would make a cool little path to a super private sauna.
Man do it yourself!
How else are you going to learn. Im an Excavation contractor.
If you have any questions hit me up with them.
Do you have heavy equipment? It looks like you do.
Looking through these comments, you’ve argued with most of the posted advice here, OP.
If you know more than us, don’t waste our time asking. However, given that your excavated pad area looks about as level as a moron’s forehead, you might want to do what folks are recommending and go get a pro.
Damn… Definitely need a retaining wall or some structural support on that bad boy.
Next big rain season will prove be a challenge.
Slope the hill around it to drain any run off away from the pad . The more room, the better