Kilted Sauna

[Eujeankilt]

A year or so ago I got interested in sustainability and specifically alternative building technologies. I've always been a handy sort. As a kid, my best friend was of Finnish extraction and my Dad and his Dad were best friends. Our families spent many a Saturday evening together, enjoying the sauna they had in their basement. My Dad has had saunas in most of the places he's lived and I decided it was my turn. I found a book by Rob Roy, called "The Sauna", on building a sauna with cordwood masonry. http://www.cordwoodmasonry.com/Cordwood.html

I poured the slab last summer, harvested the Red Cedar last winter and began construction early September.

This is the building so far...




I'm pouring a mixture of sawdust and builders lime as insulation between rows of mortar.



Obligatory kilt shot - Me placing a log.


I've spent many hours on this, but it's been a nice break from computer work.

Dale

[Riverkilt]

What a project!

Be right over....skyclad though in the sauna...

Ron

[Eujeankilt]

What a project!

Be right over....skyclad though in the sauna...

Ron

It's the only way! I'd be honored to have you over for a sweat.

Dale

[Ayin McFye]

I love the work on it. It looks great. I only wish I had as much constructive talent.

thanks for sharing!

[LoftGuy]

Hi,

Great project and links; some amazing buildings, indeed.

Does the inevitable shrinkage and cracking of the wood present problems?

Bob

[James MacMillan]

That's a really nice project. What a place for a kilt night!

[pipesndrumsnun]

Wow! That's great!

[Howard Clark]

I'd like to build a house that way, but I can't sell my wife on the idea. Mostly it is an elapsed time issue, not aesthetic or structural disagreement.

It did not help my case when I mentioned that cordwood construction walls are bullet proof.

Not sure why.

[haukehaien]

What a project!

Be right over....skyclad though in the sauna...

Ron

Two sauna stories, one of which relates to Riverkilt's statement which I've quoted:

Our church has partnered with a church in Estonia, and we have had several teams go over there for varying lengths of time. While we were there on the first trip, Alan, one of the Estonians was explaining sauna to the Americans and got increasingly frustrated as various people questioned whether it was permissible to wear a swimsuit or something similar in the sauna. He finally exclaimed loudly, "No! NO ONE wears clotheses in sauna!"

We followed his rule.

The other story is that while we were in the sauna, getting a pretty good heat going, one of the teenagers spoke up. "Dad," he asked, "am I a man yet?"

Made me laugh.

This is a very cool project; I've thought about putting a sauna in at my house. What are you using for heat?

[Galician]

Great project and pics! I'm particularly impressed by how it shows you doing the work in a kilt. Is it a UK?