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Outdoor Wood Sauna vs. Thermowood Sauna: Which Wins?

Key Highlights

  • Thermowood sauna offer superior durability and weather resistance compared to traditional outdoor wood sauna.
  • While traditional outdoor wood sauna provide an authentic feel, they require more maintenance over time.
  • Choosing Thermowood can lead to long-term savings on energy and maintenance.
  • For your health benefits and overall enjoyment, Thermowood is often the best choice from outdoor sauna collections.

Introduction

Adding an outdoor sauna to your home is a great choice for better health. The right outdoor sauna can turn your backyard into a special place just for you. With each sauna session, you get good health benefits. But there are different types out there. How do you know which one is right? This guide looks at both outdoor wood saunas and new Thermowood saunas. This way, you can find the one that fits your life best.

Understanding Outdoor Wood Saunas and Thermowood Saunas

Traditional saunas are made from natural wood that has not been treated. Many people love the real sauna experience this gives. An outdoor wood sauna helps you feel connected to nature. It has a simple and classic look. The main health benefits are deep relaxation, sweating out toxins, and better blood flow. This makes the sauna part of a long-used way to feel good and relax.

A Thermowood sauna is different. The wood in it goes through heat treatment. This makes the wood stronger and helps it last longer. This special process also makes the sauna work better. You still get the same health benefits and enjoy the sauna experience, but with a few added advantages. Let’s look at what makes these two types of saunas different from each other.

What Sets a Thermowood Sauna Apart

Interior of a modern sauna with thermowood benches, vertical wood wall cladding, and a large panoramic window overlooking a green forest landscape

The magic of a Thermowood sauna comes from the way the wood is made. The wood is heated to high temperatures where there is no oxygen. This heat changes the inside of the wood. Because of this, the wood from a Thermowood sauna is more stable. It does not rot or take in water as fast as other types of wood.

One of the best things about it is that it keeps heat in very well. A Thermowood sauna holds its heat better. This means the sauna stove does not need to work as much to stay hot. It does not matter if you use a wood stove or an electric one, this still helps a lot.

With this type of efficient heating, you can get the benefits of heat therapy much sooner and more often. You do not need to wait as long for the sauna to get hot. You also use less energy to keep it warm. This makes each sauna session better and costs less too.

Features of Traditional Outdoor Wood Saunas

Traditional outdoor wood saunas have a special charm that many people love. They are known for their natural beauty and the classic ways people use them. One important part of a traditional sauna is the sauna stove, usually fired by wood. It gives a soft and even heat and you get to hear the sound of the fire, which many find relaxing.

However, traditional wood saunas also have certain limitations when compared to saunas built from thermally modified wood. Natural, untreated timber is more sensitive to moisture and temperature changes, which can lead to swelling, cracking, or warping over time. It typically requires more frequent maintenance, such as sealing or treating the wood, to protect it from decay.

Durability and Lifespan

When you get an outdoor sauna, you want it to last for a long time. How strong your sauna is and how long it will last are very important. These things help you get more value out of what you buy.

What your sauna is made from is the key thing that affects how long it lasts. The outside weather such as rain, snow, and changes in temperature can have a big effect. How well your sauna can deal with these will decide how many years you will get the health benefits. Now, let’s see how saunas made with regular wood and Thermowood stand up in this important way.

Resistance to Moisture and Extreme Temperatures

An outdoor sauna needs to stand up to rain, sun, and wind all the time. Many outdoor saunas use cedar because it holds up well to water. But even cedar can have problems with rot and decay if there is a lot of rain or it stays very damp.

Thermowood is a big step forward for outdoor sauna use. The way Thermowood is made changes the inside of the wood. It does not let water in so easily, which helps keep it dry. Because of this, rot and fungus have a hard time growing in or on the wood. This is good for your health and helps the sauna last longer.

You can use Thermowood saunas anywhere, even if you live by the sea or in a place where it gets very hot or cold. This means your outdoor sauna will stay strong and safe, which lets you enjoy regular sauna use to help support your immune system.

How Long an Outdoor Sauna Really Lasts

The durability of the wood directly translates to the sauna’s lifespan. With proper care, a traditional wood sauna can last for many years, but a Thermowood sauna is built to last even longer. This longevity ensures you can enjoy regular sauna sessions for decades.

Here’s a simple comparison of the expected lifespan:

Material TypeEstimated LifespanKey Factors
Traditional Wood4-6 yearsDepends on wood type and level of maintenance.
Thermowood30+ yearsHighly resistant to rot and requires minimal upkeep.

Ultimately, choosing Thermowood means you are investing in a structure designed for maximum durability. Its resilience against the elements means less worry about repairs and a longer period to enjoy your wellness retreat.

Performance and Heat Experience

The quality of the sauna session depends on the heat you feel inside. A great sauna gives even heat all around. This helps your body relax. Your pores open, and your blood flow gets better.

How well the sauna heats up and holds that heat is important for how it works. The material used to build the degree room matters most. Let’s see how traditional wood and Thermowood stack up when it comes to heating and comfort.

Heat Retention in Wood Sauna Outdoor Models

In a traditional outdoor wood sauna, how well it keeps heat in depends on the wood. If you use a wood like cedar, it is pretty good at keeping heat. But, some heat will still get out, especially when it is cold outside.

Because of this, your sauna stove needs to be on more often to keep it hot. It does not matter if you have a wood-burning or an electric one. This can make it less efficient. You may have to wait longer for it to heat up and use more energy during your time in the sauna.

Even if you pick a good sauna kit, you will lose a little bit of heat through the wood. So, the temperature inside can go up and down just a bit. This can make your heat experience not always the same.

Thermowood Saunas: Heating Efficiency and Comfort

This is where the Thermowood sauna stands out. The heat treatment gives the wood tiny air holes. This makes the wood much better at keeping heat in and stopping it from getting out.

Because of this, you get very efficient heating. Your Thermowood sauna will heat up quicker and stay warm with less work from the stove. This helps you save both time and energy.

In the end, you have a steady and comfortable heat during all of your sauna session. You reach the right temperature fast and the sauna stays there. Then, you can relax and enjoy the wellness benefits without anything getting in the way.

Maintenance and Upkeep

To keep your outdoor sauna working well, you need to do some basic upkeep. The time and work needed for this will change a lot based on what material your sauna is made of. If you have little time to look after your sauna, this can be a big thing to think about.

Some people like to take care of a classic wood sauna by hand. Others want an outdoor sauna that does not need a lot of work. Below, we will talk about easy ways to care for both types. With this help, you can answer detailed questions on how to look after your sauna.

Routine Cleaning Tips for Outdoor Wood Sauna

Keeping your outdoor sauna clean is important. It helps keep the space safe and friendly for anyone to use. If you have a traditional wood sauna, you need to care for the inside and the outside. Doing a few easy things will help your sauna look good and work well.

Here are some common things you need to do:

  • Wipe down benches and backrests with mild soap and water after you use them.
  • Keep the floor clean and free of any dirt.
  • Sometimes, put a protective sealant on the outside to stop water and sun from causing problems.
  • Look for mold or mildew and fix the problem right away.

If you ever have questions about your outdoor sauna, their customer service can help. They will tell you the best ways to care for your specific model.

Simple Care Steps for Thermowood Saunas

One great thing about a Thermowood sauna is how easy it is to take care of. This wood does not let in much water and do not rot fast. Because of that, you do not have to do as much work as with other wood, especially on the outside.

When it comes to cleaning, your job will be quick and easy. You clean the inside just like you would do for any sauna, but you do not need to keep treating the outside all the time.

Here are the simple care steps:

  • Wipe down interior surfaces as needed.
  • Occasionally wash the exterior to remove dirt.

That is all you need to do. With so little work, you can spend your time enjoying your sauna and relaxing more.

Environmental Impact and Sustainability

For many people, it is important to think about how a purchase can affect the environment. When you are thinking about saunas, being good to the earth means looking at two things. The first is where the wood in the sauna comes from. The second is how much energy you will need to use for the sauna.

Making an eco-friendly choice means looking at how the wood is sourced and how it will help save resources over time. There are good things to say about both traditional saunas and Thermowood saunas when it comes to being green. Still, there are some key ways these two types of saunas are not the same. Let’s see what makes each sauna a good choice for the earth.

Eco-Friendly Sourcing of Sauna Materials

When you pick a traditional wood sauna, it is important to make sure the wood comes from a source that cares for the land. Good companies get their wood from forests that are managed well. They make sure to plant new trees after cutting, so the land and animals stay healthy.

The Thermowood way also has some eco-friendly benefits. This treatment uses just heat and steam. There are no chemicals in the process. That means the wood is clean and safe for you and for the environment.

With this method, makers can use common, fast-growing trees and still get strong wood that usually comes only from older trees. This helps protect special forests and still gives people a great sauna experience.

Energy Use and Resource Conservation

Resource conservation does not end after you build the outdoor sauna. How much energy you use when it runs adds a lot to its impact on the environment. This is where Thermowood’s efficient heating helps a lot.

A Thermowood outdoor sauna heats up quickly and keeps the heat for a long time. This means it needs less energy. No matter if you are using a wood-burning or electric stove, you will not need as much fuel or power to get to the temperature you want and keep it there.

Using less energy in your outdoor sauna is good for the planet and for your bank account. With every sauna session, you help cut your carbon footprint and save on your bills. It is good for you and for the world.

Value, Cost, and Choosing the Right Sauna

In the end, you will choose based on cost and what matters most to you. It’s a good idea to think about more than just the unit price of the sauna. Be sure to look at the full cost you will have over the time you own it. The best choice is one that matches your budget and still gives you the performance and durability you want.

The starting purchase amount is only one part of what you will spend. When you add up long-term costs like maintenance and energy, you get a better idea of the value. Let’s break down the costs so you can make a good decision.

Upfront Costs vs. Long-Term Savings

A traditional outdoor wood sauna can sometimes cost less to buy at first. This makes it a good choice if you are on a smaller budget. But you need to think about the money you will spend later on.

A Thermowood sauna costs more at the start, but it helps you save a lot over time. You save money in these ways:

  • Lower Energy Bills: The good insulation means you use less energy to heat the sauna.
  • Reduced Maintenance Costs: This sauna does not rot or get damaged by weather as fast. You do not spend as much on fixing problems or on sealants.
  • Longer Lifespan: It lasts longer. You will not have to get a new one for many years, so you get more for your money.

Conclusion

To sum up, both outdoor wood sauna and thermowood sauna have their own benefits. But thermowood saunas are better when it comes to lasting longer and keeping heat in. The way thermowood is made helps the wood fight off water and changes in temperature. This means you can enjoy your sauna for many years. Thermowood is also good for the environment and looks nice, so it’s a smart pick if you care about style and being green. If you want to upgrade your sauna experience, contact us now to find out about the best thermowood sauna options from Eco Hearth. The perfect place for you to relax is waiting!

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Are outdoor wood saunas suitable for all climates?

    Traditional saunas can work well in many places if you take good care of them. Thermowood saunas, though, do even better in all kinds of weather. They do not break down from too much water or big changes in temperature. This makes them the best choice for any outside space. With Thermowood, you get something that lasts a long time and works well every day.

    What kind of maintenance does an outdoor sauna require?

    All outdoor saunas need regular cleaning on the inside. If you have a traditional wood sauna, you also have to seal the outside sometimes to keep it safe from the weather. Thermowood saunas, on the other hand, are strong and last long, so you do not need to do much to take care of the outside. This makes it much easier to look after them.

    Can I enhance my sauna experience with accessories?

    Absolutely! Things like a basic bucket and ladle, a comfy backrest, sand timer, and thermometer can make your sauna experience better. These items let you change how you relax in the heat and help you have a great sauna time that feels true and nice.

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