Sauna Room Wood Types: What to Choose and Avoid

A wood sauna is a significant investment in health, both in terms of money and time, and in maximizing valuable space. Educating yourself on the best and worst sauna room wood types is a must to avoid losing your hard-earned money and even potential health issues.

Sauna wood isn’t like furniture wood, where as long as it’s functional, you can use it. With the sauna, the wood is exposed to high temperatures and humidity. What makes good wood for furniture and homes is often the worst types of wood for saunas.

After this quick little read, you’ll be very familiar with the worst and best types of sauna wood to use so that you can make safer and healthier choices for you and your family.

While there are different kinds of high-quality sauna room wood types, the gold standard for long-lasting quality is cedar and hemlock.

Both types of wood have various subtypes. They are naturally resistant to bugs and decay, and they don’t warp or crack as much. That said, there are still other types of high-quality sauna wood to choose from that tend to be more affordable for the average Joe.

Cedar is one of the top-notch classes of sauna wood, and as you may have noticed, it has a soothing aroma. It’s naturally resistant to insects and decay, and is by default excellent for daily use.

The only con really is that cedar can be quite expensive. If you can afford it, it won’t let you down, and you’ll have a high-quality sauna for potentially many years to come. If you can’t afford it, don’t sweat it (pun intended), because there are still high-quality, cheaper options available.

A popular, premium-grade type of cedar is western red cedar, a coniferous evergreen. It’s also great for sauna benches due to its natural water resistance.

Cedar wood boasts a beautiful reddish color that features various shades. To me, that’s the perfect throwback to the connection that sauna has to Mother Nature.

Scientifically known as Tsuga canadensis, the Canadian hemlock, also known as eastern hemlock, is a coniferous tree in the pine family. Like cedar, it is very durable, doesn’t easily warp, and features a wonderful “foresty”aroma.

Canadian hemlock has a neutral appearance, contributing to a calm, minimalist atmosphere. It is suitable for those seeking wood that is neither too light nor too dark and who prefer a simple aesthetic.

It is particularly suitable for individuals who practice meditation and mindfulness. The light color also makes it a practical choice for exterior walls, allowing it to blend seamlessly with various home or yard designs.

It’s also scent-free, making it ideal for people who are sensitive to smells or have allergies. Due to its low-resin structure, it’s moisture-resistant and able to withstand the constant impact of steam.

Excellent for those who want to experience a traditional sauna fully, without worrying much about moisture issues.

A popular choice in Finland, Aspen has stood the test of time is a high-quality wood. A beautiful wood that features earthly grain patterns, it ranges from white to pale yellow and creates a spacious vibe. Great for those who want to amp up the already existing simplicity of a traditional wood sauna.

Because aspen is scentless, it’s great for people who like aromatherapy. It allows the chosen scent to fill the air without blending into a wood scent. Some of us are sensitive to scents, so it allows a user to have more control.

One thing to bear in mind: an aspen wood sauna requires regular cleaning to maintain its lighter color. That can be a downside of using lighter-colored woods. You have to be proactive in keeping the color.

Renowned for its high quality and practicality, Nordic pine is native to Northern Europe. The perfect throwback to the roots of classic European saunas. There’s something about being in a sauna that’s made out of European pine that really boosts that traditional sauna vibe.

The fact that it originates from the cold climate of Northern Europe has allowed it to develop robust durability and withstand harsh elements. Perfect if you want a sauna that’ll last a long time.

Because of its durable construction, it can withstand a lot of heat without overheating. Very important for sauna benches to avoid burns and discomfort. Nothing worse than walking into a beautiful sauna and enjoying the experience until, ouch! The uncomfortable sitting down.

Like Nordic Pine, Nordic Spruce has stood the test of time and is a leading sauna wood globally, the sauna wood of choice for over 90% of all saunas worldwide! It’s also the perfect blend of centuries of tradition and modern innovation.

While cedar and Canadian hemlock might be the gold standard of all sauna constructions, they really are more of a luxury than an absolute must. You can’t go wrong with Nordic Spruce.

As with Nordic Pine, Nordic Spruce has a lighter color. That makes it ideal for folks with a smaller sauna, as it can really open it up and make it feel more spacious than it is. The light-colored wood also makes it easier to illuminate the sauna with fewer light sources.

For safety reasons, there are certain types of wood that you must avoid when using a sauna. While sauna construction can definitely be a worthy, fun DIY project, you want to exercise caution.

Building a sauna isn’t as simple as building a bench patio room. You’ll be in an area that’ll get humid or, at the very least, in a room that isn’t as well-ventilated as a typical one. That means that whatever is in the air will be breathed in. You want to avoid breathing in the wrong stuff and using low-quality wood.

While North American pine is a beautiful choice for many types of furniture, it’s not ideal for sauna use. At high temperatures, North American pine wood releases resin that not only has an unpleasant smell but may also cause health problems if inhaled. North American pine wood also has knots that are less heat-resistant and may cause burns.

In contrast to the mighty and durable hardwoods of Northern Europe and Canada, North American pine isn’t as durable. It’s less resistant to rot and decay, meaning that it’ll require more maintenance over the years for long-term use than a high-quality hardwood.

If you love the smell and look of North American pine, that’s great. I also love North American pine trees and their scent. But I recommend not using it for a sauna. There are simple, better choices that are also affordable.

If you’re building a sauna completely from scratch, you have to really know what you’re doing and exercise caution. There are many great prebuilt saunas out there that I would recommend using unless you’re an expert sauna builder and/or have the proper guidance for safety when building a home sauna.

Remember to never use treated wood, as inhaling the chemicals from toxic paint and other chemicals can be extremely dangerous. Even if you’re buying wood from a local store, you still have to make sure it’s safe to use for building a sauna.

Personally, I would only purchase from a reliable, trustworthy sauna supplier if I were constructing my own sauna. Just because wood from a local store looks clean and fresh doesn’t mean that there aren’t any harmful chemicals on or in it.

Unseasoned wood and/or green wood is a disaster waiting to happen. The wood’s high moisture content makes it highly susceptible to warping, cracking, and other forms of damage. Basically, just a sauna falling apart. It’s not able to withstand the high temperature and moisture of saunas.

Healthwise, unseasoned wood is prone to mold growth, which not only destroys wood but also human health. Sauna wood undergoes kiln drying to be ready for use. You can wing it with some things in life, just not with sauna wood.

Here are some commonly asked questions regarding sauna room wood types. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the sauna room wood types covered in this blog post. I’m always looking to add and answer questions.

Several factors determine which sauna wood is safest to use. Some factors include mold risk, allergenic risk, and heat resistance.

Every good sauna wood mentioned in this blog post is a great choice for safety: cedar, Canadian Hemlock, aspen, Nordic Pine, and Nordic Spruce. With that said, as much as I love cedar and Canadian Hemlock, they aren’t always the best choice for people with allergies.

Basswood and mahogany are great choices if you struggle with allergies. Always talk to your doctor for guidance on avoiding allergies and on what is safe if you’re unsure.

In short, no. Cedar wood that is kiln-dried and approved for safe sauna use is toxin-free. In fact, good cedar wood has the opposite effect of toxicity.

For example, Western Red Cedar contains natural oils that not only have a pleasing aroma but also act as natural preservatives, helping prevent the formation of toxic substances.

The sauna is a harsh environment with wood. High temperatures, sometimes high moisture, and lots of human sweat. That’s a great formula for mold growth. Cedar, without any treatment, is resistant to toxicity. With that said, you want to do your due diligence and have a regular sauna maintenance routine.

No. Not every wood on planet Earth is safe to use in a sauna. You want to avoid using sauna wood that is the wrong tree species, green, unseasoned, or treated with toxic chemicals.

It’s an easy problem to solve, though. Just stick with trusted types of sauna woods that are reliable species and purchase them from trustworthy companies/suppliers.

You might be wondering, with all of that moisture in the air and sweat, how the heck does sauna wood not rot? Remember, not every sauna wood is moisture-resistant; hence, the mention of the best sauna wood types.

For high-quality sauna room wood types, such as Western Red Cedar and Canadian Hemlock, the wood is so dense and rich in moisture-repelling oils that it naturally wicks moisture away.

Another factor is ventilation. It’s best practice to air out a sauna after use and to always have some sort of ventilation. The flow allows moisture to exit the room and to dry again.

Paraffin oil has been a popular choice for many years for treating sauna wood and increasing its longevity. With that said, it’s important to realize that treating the interior vs. exterior is two different stories. Getting that wrong can cause health issues because you don’t want to be breathing in harmful chemicals during your sauna sessions.

While there are healthy options for treating the interior of the sauna, it’s not typically needed. Due to the dense, powerful structure of high-quality sauna wood, it is naturally “treated” by nature with oils that keep it fresh and repel moisture.

The exterior of a sauna needs more care, especially if you have an outdoor one. As you can imagine, it’s getting constantly exposed to the outside world, unlike the safe interior.

The exterior of the sauna can be stained and sealed to protect it. Always use safe, environmentally friendly products. The type of stain and sealer that you use depends on whether your sauna is indoors or outdoors.

If your sauna is outdoors, seal it as often as required, as recommended in the product’s instructions. Regularly check for cracks and other types of wood damage.

Have a simple cleaning routine for after sauna use and wipe the wood. Before you reach for a household disinfectant, remember to use a sauna cleaner designed for sauna use. Chemicals used to clean counters and tables aren’t always designed for high temperatures, which can lead to inhaling harmful chemicals.

Granted, perhaps it’s most important to buy a high-quality sauna wood to begin with. No matter how on top of your game you are with sauna maintenance, it’s not going to matter much in the long haul if the structural integrity of the sauna is poor due to lower-quality sauna wood.

There you have – the best and worst sauna woods that you can use. There are other great sauna woods out there, and this list is by no means an end-all be-all. My post highlights some of the best types of sauna wood that you can purchase.

Now that you’re armed with the knowledge of what to look for and what to avoid, you can find the sauna wood room types for you and your family.

Did I miss a great or bad sauna wood? Comment below to let me know your thoughts on another high-quality sauna wood and/or the worst wood type that a person can buy.