We get some version of the same question pretty often: What does working with you actually look like?

It's a fair question. Building a custom sauna isn't something most people do more than once. The process isn't obvious, the options can feel overwhelming, and it's hard to know where to even begin. So we want to lay it out clearly — every step, in plain language — so you know exactly what to expect when you reach out to us.

It Starts With a Conversation

The first step is a phone call, usually somewhere between 20 and 30 minutes. We're not trying to sell you anything on that call. We're trying to understand what you're actually looking for and whether a custom sauna is the right fit for your situation.

We'll ask about how you plan to use the sauna, who's using it, and how often. From there we walk through the core tradeoffs — wood-burning versus electric heat, indoor versus outdoor, size options, and the features that tend to matter most to people living and recreating in the mountains. We'll also give you a realistic sense of cost so there are no surprises down the road.

Some people come to us with a clear vision. Others aren't sure what they want yet. Either way, that first call gives us enough to point you in the right direction.

A Site Visit Changes Everything

If it makes sense to move forward, the next step is a site visit or a virtual video walkthrough of your property. This is where the real design work begins, and it's honestly one of the most important parts of our process.

We're not just walking around taking measurements. We're looking at your property the way a designer looks at it — thinking about orientation, light, privacy, and how a sauna fits into the landscape you already have.

A few specific things we're evaluating:

Views and privacy. Up here in Tahoe, the views are often the whole point. We want to know where the best sightlines are — the ridgeline, the lake, the trees — and how to orient windows to frame them. At the same time, we're thinking about neighbors and foot traffic, so you have the privacy to actually use the sauna the way you want.

Scale and style. A sauna that looks right on a modern cabin with a metal roof is going to look different from one that belongs next to a classic log home. We're paying attention to rooflines, exterior finishes, and how the footprint and height of the sauna relate to the existing structures on your property.

Foundation and infrastructure. Not every site is the same. Some locations need a concrete slab, others work well with pier footings or a deck-mounted build. We also assess your electrical situation early — particularly for electric saunas, which require a dedicated circuit and appropriate panel capacity. It's much better to know about these requirements before design than after.

The small stuff you can only catch in person. There's always something — a drainage issue, a grade change, a setback consideration, a tree that changes the whole layout. These are the details that simply don't come through over email, and they're exactly why we make the time to see your property before we put anything on paper.

The Design Package

Once we've done the site visit and gathered what we need, we put together a full design package. This includes a detailed 3D rendering of the proposed sauna and a complete materials list.

The rendering gives you a real sense of what the finished sauna will look like from the outside — how it sits on the property, what the roofline looks like, where the windows and door are placed. It's not a rough sketch. It's a finished visual you can actually evaluate and respond to.

From there, we want your feedback. What do you love? What feels off? Is the footprint right, or do you want to go bigger? Should the door swing the other way? We revise the design package until you're genuinely comfortable with it — not just close enough, but actually right.

This back-and-forth is part of the process, and we build time in for it. Getting the design right on paper is far easier than making changes mid-build.

The Build

Once the design is locked in, we connect you with a licensed contractor we trust to carry out the build. These aren't random referrals — they're builders we have an established relationship with and whose work we stand behind.

We stay involved throughout the build process. If questions come up, we're available. If something on-site needs to be adjusted to match the design intent, we work through it together. Our goal is to make sure what gets built actually reflects what we designed.

Every Project Starts the Same Way

We've worked on projects at every stage — bare lots before any site work, sheds mid-conversion, garages being transformed into proper sauna spaces, and brand-new builds going up in the trees. They all look different by the end. But every single one of them started with a simple conversation.

If you've been thinking about building a sauna at your Tahoe property, that's genuinely all it takes to get started. Reach out, and we'll set up a call.