See for yourself what it’s like to build a mini, two-person, thermally modified cube sauna in your coastal Maine backyard.
I’ve always dreamed of having an outdoor sauna just steps from my back door. I already have a three-season outdoor shower installed, and with about half an acre of land to work on, my coastal Maine home is in desperate need of one. After spending a lot of time (and fun) researching and writing about outdoor saunas (as well as wood-fired hot tubs and cold plunge pools) here at Field Mag, I was intrigued by the topic. Despite my apprehension about building a sauna myself, I decided to try out a new outdoor sauna kit from retailer Redwood Outdoors. Spoiler alert: it was a lot easier than I thought.
In this article I will tell you how to buy and assemble a sauna kit with minimal assembly experience, and I will also cover in detail each step of creating your personal sauna paradise, including: choosing a kit or ready-made sauna model (i.e. sauna shape, stove type, such as an electric Harvia stove, and features such as capacity), and where to order.
My hope is that by reviewing the Redwood Outdoors Mini Cube Sauna Kit, I can share valuable personal experience and help others gain the confidence and ability to purchase and build their own outdoor sauna.
The Redwood Outdoors Mini Cube Two-Person Sauna is a compact, traditional cube-shaped sauna made from Scandinavian Thermowood, a process that uses heat and steam to treat different types of wood to create a durable, rot-resistant material that insulates well and lasts a long time (other common types of wood used in saunas include northern spruce and pure western red cedar). This sauna’s small size—about 5.5 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 6.5 feet high—lets you make the most of your outdoor space without sacrificing the cozy warmth of the interior. (For larger groups, I recommend an outdoor barrel sauna or cabin sauna.)
The thermally modified wood construction is known for its durability and eco-friendliness and is a perfect match for Harvia heaters, which are the best choice for sauna lovers. Despite its compact size, the Mini Cube design provides an exciting sauna experience similar to a traditional Finnish sauna, especially when combined with real sauna stones.
Due to the compact size of my sauna, minimal site preparation was required. We chose the perfect spot among the pine trees, then dug a 54-inch-long by 72-inch-wide section of grass and buried four concrete deck pads purchased from a local hardware store in each corner. To save time and money, we built a pressure-treated wood platform as a base rather than pouring a concrete pad as suggested by Redwood Outdoors. Finally, we filled the open space with weed mulch and pea gravel to provide drainage.
To complete the site preparation, we needed to dig a trench about 30 feet long and 1 foot deep from the house to run the cables that would connect the sauna to the power grid. We could have hired an electrician to do this, but to save money, we decided to do it ourselves.
For those considering another type of sauna, such as a hot barrel sauna, the process may be slightly different, especially in terms of preparing the base and location. Barrel saunas are often considered the best barrel saunas due to their beauty and efficient design, but due to their unique shape, they may require a more specialized base.
We contacted a licensed electrician ahead of time, got a quote, and scheduled the installation within a week of the build so we could get started right away. Redwood Outdoors has sauna and stove assembly guides on their website to help you and your hired professionals get ready for the job. All that was left was making sure we had all the necessary tools (Phillips screwdriver, 7/16-inch and 9/16-inch open-end wrenches, 9/16-inch deep-end socket wrench, vise, and hammer), and then it was time to get started.
When purchased from Redwood Outdoors, unassembled sauna kits and heaters may be shipped in separate shipments. Harvia heaters and sauna stones are shipped via FedEx like other packages; however, sauna materials and other components are shipped via FedEx in wooden crates on the scheduled delivery date.
Be sure to check your email for tracking updates as FedEx requires scheduled delivery with a signature. Redwood Outdoors did a great job of automatically sending emails when items were shipped, which helped me keep track of everything.
All the pre-cut parts of the sauna kit are neatly stacked in a wooden box. When you open the lid of the box, a refreshing aroma hits your nose, making you feel really real and exciting.
Inside you will find the materials that make up the basic structure of the mini cube sauna, which is similar to a barrel sauna, including a front wall with a glass door, a back wall, and about 50 wooden planks that are connected together to form the side walls and roof; there are also two base supports.
My kit includes: – Two stainless steel straps that wrap around the finished sauna – Indoor bench, backrest, and footrest – Wooden front step – Indoor LED light – Sauna thermometer and hygrometer – Roof tiles – Sauna bucket and spoon – Door mat – Felt sauna cap for temperature control (and style!) – All screws and hardware, numbered and labeled, for assembly – Step-by-step instruction manual
Some of the items we received were add-ons, such as roof tiles and wooden steps. For the full wellness experience at home, dive into the world of sauna accessories and try combining a sauna with a cold bath.
How long does it take to build a DIY sauna kit? Two people with basic assembly experience can build a sauna kit in about half a day using a few common tools that most people already have. During the build, we used three levels (a 4-foot, a 2-foot, and a 9-inch), two cordless drills (one for each of us), a soft hammer for installing the crossbars, an adjustable socket wrench, and some measuring tapes.
Based on my experience building saunas, I recommend you do the following before starting your project:
Read the paper instructions that came with your sauna and watch the assembly video on the product page – sometimes visuals really help. Redwood Outdoors also has great customer service, which helped us when we had a question about our Harvia electric sauna heater and resolved the issue within 15 minutes!
Check the weather forecast (we had a surprise rain shower on the first day, New England weather) and plan enough time to complete preparations before dark.
Be organized! The wooden blocks are numbered with peel-off stickers, but the fasteners come in separate bags and it is easy to mix up the screws as some of them look the same. Be careful not to remove any of the labels during the sauna building process, it will save a lot of time and messy hair.
Overall, the manual is pretty clear and easy to follow, guiding you through the process from the start. Assembling the cabinet is easy and fun, as it mostly involves screwing the deck in place. Relatively speaking, the hardest part was installing the interior trim, such as the wood stove casings and benches, as they needed to be aligned and measured, but it was still pretty easy.
The last important detail to pay attention to is the roof tiles. Unless your sauna is under a canopy or covered by something else, you will need to protect it from rain and snow. Instead of using tiles, we decided to build a metal roof that would match the aforementioned chicken coop (we like integral structures, don’t we?) to protect the house from the elements. At this time, when the sauna is open, rainwater can leak in and wet it, which is not good. Wood does not rot, but if left in a damp place and not used for a long time, it will become moldy.
I highly recommend hiring a licensed electrician to hook up your lights and heater. It took our electrician a full day to do this part of the job, which included installing a switch on the outside of our house as a safety precaution.
Digging your own trenches will save you money, but hooking up to electricity will still cost an additional $1,700. Since this cost is not included in the sauna kit, it is important to factor it into the overall cost. It is also worth noting that labor costs may be lower or higher in your area.
If you are considering a different setup, such as a Harvia electric heater combined with an indoor sauna or an infrared sauna with a Wi-Fi heater, these factors may change slightly.
There’s nothing quite like enjoying your first sauna after building it with your own hands (technically four). Before using, Redwood Outdoors recommends “breaking in” your sauna by rinsing the sauna rocks, setting the heat to high for an hour to saturate the wood and burn away any impurities, and then slowly pouring a quart of water over the rocks.
The sauna is easy to use, and since it’s a small room, it can reach temperatures of 160–170 degrees Fahrenheit in about 40 minutes. There are two controls on the bottom of the Harvia heater: a temperature control and a timer. The timer can be set to a delay of one or eight hours, so you can set the heater to turn on when you’re ready to use it.
At first I was skeptical that the sauna would comfortably accommodate two people on a bench. I expected it to be cozy at best, but we were pleasantly surprised by how much space there was for two people. Still, it was nice to be alone in the mini-cube sauna and enjoy the warmth and privacy.
For those who have more space or want to host guests, a larger model, such as a 6-person barrel sauna or a panoramic coal and wood sauna, is more suitable. These models usually have a larger capacity and more powerful heaters (up to 195 degrees), allowing you to experience all the charm of a real Finnish sauna.
With a base price of $5,399, Redwood Outdoors’ smallest outdoor sauna is certainly an investment, but given its quality, ease of shipping and assembly, and durability for years to come, it’s a great buy for anyone looking to have an oasis in their own backyard.
I hope this review was helpful, especially if you’re considering a different option than competitors like Plunge Sauna, Sun Home, or Forest Cooperage (the former offers high-quality Canadian cedar saunas, cold plunge pools, and hot tubs). Whichever route you take, your sauna dream is within reach.
Take your wellness and home spa experience to the next level with our guide to cold plunges, or take a different route and learn more about infrared saunas here.
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