Where Tahoe Sauna Company started. Finnish-inspired design, three-tier benches, and built to handle Tahoe winters.
This is where it all began. Before Tahoe Sauna Company was a business, it was a personal obsession — months of researching traditional Finnish sauna design principles, studying heat stratification, bench ergonomics, and ventilation before building anything. The result was this custom 8×8 outdoor sauna on Fountain Ave in South Lake Tahoe. The design prioritized getting users high in the heat zone with three tiers of benches, strategic window placement for views of the surrounding trees while maintaining backyard privacy, and a Harvia KIP 80 electric sauna heater (8kW, 240V) with manual controls. Western red cedar paneling throughout the interior with fiberglass insulation and aluminum vapor barrier behind it. Years later, it's still holding up strong through harsh Tahoe winters with heavy snow loads and freeze-thaw cycles — a testament to quality materials, proper insulation, and getting the building envelope right. This sauna is the reason Tahoe Sauna Company exists, and every custom sauna design we do today draws from what we learned building it.
Every Tahoe Sauna Company design draws from lessons learned on this build. The 8×8 footprint was chosen to maximize building material efficiency. The 7.5-foot ceiling height was deliberately lower than standard to keep heat concentrated at bench level — a core Finnish principle that many first-time builders overlook. Manual heater controls were chosen over WiFi to keep costs down without sacrificing performance. These are the kinds of practical, experience-driven decisions that inform every project we take on today.
Includes the layout, materials list, heater sizing, bench dimensions, and design notes — everything you need to use this project as a reference for your own build.
8x8 Electric Sauna Plan — $49
Your plan package will be delivered to your email within 24 hours of purchase.
We design outdoor saunas, garage saunas, and shed conversions based on real building experience — not guesswork. Electric or wood-fired, we'll spec it for your space and climate.
Start the Design ProcessTahoe Sauna Company provides design and consulting services only. Construction was performed by an independent, properly licensed contractor hired directly by the client under a separate agreement.
12 decisions that determine how well your sauna performs — insulation, bench height, heater sizing, ventilation, and more. Get them right before you build.
Schedule a free 15-minute intro call or send us a message about your project.
We'll learn about your space, goals, and timeline — and recommend the right next step for your project.