We traveled through the the landscape of upstate New York, then hopped on a ferry in order to reach our final destination on the east coast. Upon delivery, we topped off the rocks and lit the fire.
When we travel,the ever-changing landscape becomes the backdrop for our photo shoots.Our sauna design was inspired by the shepherd’s hut of the British Isles and one that specifically draws their identity from the land. It’s the wanderlust spirit that draws us to the creeks and into the woods for the most special sauna sessions.
The curve of an arched roofline softly settles into the landscape that surrounds.
One of the reasons we promote outdoor saunas is to experience the ebb and flow of nature when taking saunas. There is a good reason to get outside no matter how snowy, rainy and gray—you will be surprised how good the body feels with wild spindles steaming off your body in the cold crisp air. Read more about Sauna & Nature Connection > and Sauna Glamping>
Our latest sauna delivery parked next to a historic berry farm and sweeping willow tree.
Pine is Fine.
We would love more people toask us about using Pine (wood) for not only the exterior but the interior of our saunas. We think pine is fine and an affordable option when building a traditional and authentic sauna, especially in light of the increased cost of Western Red Cedar (due to tariffs). In the US sauna tradition, many of the old Finns built their saunas with Pine (including Podunk), but be aware of the sticky sap tears you will see (and feel) forever. If Pine is used for interior finishing we do recommend at least a Cedar backrest and Cedar benches.
We promote access to sauna, and to everyone, so if that means using Pine in order to afford a sauna of your own, that is great.
The typical scene at the sauna shop: back walls lined with Western Red Cedar (stk and clear), Pine and Douglas Fir all of which are used daily. Arches for the mobile sauna roof are ready to install are balanced on a pile of 2×4’s.
Arches balancing upside down—daily works of art.
Most of our customers prefer to finish the interior of their saunas with Western Red Cedar or Northern White Cedar and for good reasons. These woods are a great choice among the commonly available softwood species due to it’s very low density which makes it a good insulator and it does not feel hot to the touch like hardwoods. Its low weight makes it easy to handle and is key for reducing weight in our mobile saunas. (about heat tolerances in Cedar Woes post>). There are different types of cedars that you should be aware of, but unfortunately, the rot resistance of cedar is because of the slightly toxic nature of the resins. Some of it may be more toxic, like juniper (aka eastern red cedar or closet cedar,) so please do not repurpose that. We suggest wetting samples and smelling them to see if you have adverse reactions.
Western Red Cedar is not to be mistaken for what is commonly called Eastern Red Cedar (a misnomer), but is actually Juniper—something you’d find in your old closet and is toxic to moths and humans.
We also have our reservations about the deforestation of the old growth trees in British Columbia, Canada which is the primarily source for the clear Western Red Cedar (regularly seen in sauna kits). Clear Cedar is free of knots, easy to work but may still have a lot of color variation. Vertical grain (aka quarter sawn) Cedar is the premium stuff (at a premium price) but the heartwood found in vertical grain cedar has more of the toxic resin. We usually recommend using Western Red STK (select tight knots) which is often sustainably harvested from smaller trees—not old growth.
The nature of wood is that it is imperfect, but installing the boards carefully with joints so tight that we don’t need edge trim is part of the wrangled joys of being good finish carpenter.
Sauna Building Class & Workshop
This fall ’25 we welcomed another round of very enthusiastic students from all over the US to learn about traditional sauna building, the building science behind saunas, and learning the practice of taking sauna! To those who have now taken our class, you have learned that there is more than meets the eye for these small structures. Students come with the dream of building their own saunas then graduate with the knowledge and the confidence to build their own.
For builders and fledgling sauna businesses who take this workshop, it has been a game changer but not only for them, but for us as well. This master class with Rob is on par with any college credit course you would receive or continuing education certificate for professionals in the trades, architecture and design. Kudos to our classmates for completing an intensive class!
We are not just building saunas; we are building a community of sauna builders. For us, it is a win-win. By educating new builders, we are making a difference because we know it is for the benefit of everyone to have access to safe and long-lasting saunas that function as a sauna should.
“Rob doesn’t just teach you how to build a sauna; he teaches you the why behind every step, from wood selection to airflow design & proper craftsmanship.”
“I left the class not only with practical skills but a deeper respect for the craft and the people who keep it alive.”
Portlight
One of our trademark designs is the round window—which, since it does not open, is properly called a portlight not porthole! Thankfully, one of our class attendees, a Coast Guard veteran, corrected us on the proper usage of the nautical term. Our customers love the look especially if they’re near coastal areas. The round forms are soft and related the body which is in-line with our curvatures and design aesthetic in the landscapes. It also satisfies our need to keep challenging our woodworking skills.
Portlight on the “Purist” mobile sauna model and recent sauna boat design with salvaged portlight.
It’s ALL Sauna Business
We try not to talk about “the sauna business” when we are taking sauna and away from work but it inevitably happens. Sauna has been an integral part of each of our lives for a long time and so much that the lines blur between life, art, work & play. Maybe you can you hear the sauna bell ringing?
There is no better way to spend your wedding day than taking sauna!
We don’t normally take photos while a ladle of water is poured on the rocks löyly but this day was an exception! ❤️
After barreling down winding New England roads with precious cargo in tow, we arrived safely at our client’s seaside property. About an hour later the sauna was fired up! Their backyard was as flat as could be, which made for an easy delivery for their new electric mobile sauna. The longest part of setup was loading the rocks carefully into the Harvia Cilindro.
The family loves the sauna and look forward to the year-round cold plunges into the ocean!
With any sauna heater, read through the manual (not just about how to load the rocks!). The sauna should have an air intake under the heater, as per manufacturer’s instructions, and a gap under the door so the sauna gets a healthy exchange of fresh air. Learn how to build electric saunas the right way and review thispost on venting your electric sauna.
UKTS Summer Camp: A Visit
Saturday Sauna—a tradition going back almost 100 years.
Recently, on our return trip after delivering one of our mobile saunas to the area south of Boston, we visited the old sauna camp at UKTS in Pembroke, MA. UKTS is the Uljas Koitto (“Brave Dawn”) Temperance Society, founded in 1890 in Quincy, Mass. The sauna and camp on Furnace Pond was started in 1926. The Temperance Movement was popular at that time in the US and elsewhere and eventually led to Prohibition. It is refreshing to know that temperance is still practiced in many places, including UKTS. As it was then, sauna is still the perfect antidote to modern life’s excesses.
Fourth and fifth generations were eager to share the history and had many lovely stories while we were there. Scarlet and I were both welcome and known of, people asked a lot about our sauna projects. The recognition was nice, but I’m sure they would extend the same warmth to anyone. “All are welcome to come” via invitation. Read Full Blog Post >
FINGER LAKE FINNS EVENT
Eero Kilpi Lecture: “Sauna Lost in Translation: Restoring Finnishness to a Global Tradition”
After all these years, Rob finally met Eero in person! Eero Kilpi is President of NASS and Finlandia Foundation New York and is on The Upper Bench podcast. Kilpi came to the Ithaca area recently and presented his lecture. There was a large display of our local sauna history with photos courtesy of the DeWitt Historical Society via Michael Ludgate. Much of which is part of The Sauna in Central New York, a book by Melissa Ladenheim, including a history of the Podunk sauna in Trumansburg, NY.
Sadly, it was a short visit without any sauna time with Eero. However, we had the pleasure of meeting Soile, Eero’s wife, and enjoyed the Finnish-style lunch provided by members of Finger Lakes Finns.
The community flocked around Rob and Eero—enthusiastic to talk about their personal saunas. Many sought advice on fixing that old sauna in the woods.
“Sauna History” display, courtesy of DeWitt Historical Society in Tompkins County, NY. Photo by Michael Ludgate.
“HEATWAVE” is her name.
It’s been about three years since the beginning of this unique design/build project. We are happy to say that the sauna boat HEATWAVE is now safely docked at its home on Cayuga Lake. During this summer, we were able to make some finishing touches on deck edging and benches on the bow and tweaked the heater so it gets HOTTER. A good sweat is one thing we can guarantee.
We can’t wait to take her out with the family at sundown and cool off on that top deck.
It’s been a good summer. We have been super busy in the shop with several projects underway, and we’re getting ready for hosting the fall ’25 sauna building class. We haven’t planned the spring ’26 class yet but are thinking about a specific class for designer/builder/architect professionals. Stay tuned.
You may notice that our newsletter looks different. That is because we cut out our Mailchimp subscription! If you’d rather not receive the newsletter via email, please unsubscribe below, and we will delete your info and email address. In this seasonal newsletter, we share sauna news, recent blog posts, best practices, and inspiration with our growing worldwide community of sauna customers, builders, and enthusiasts.
One of the many labor of loves this year was building a sauna in Scarlet’s family cottage. It was one of those funky basement challenges but well worth it to be steps from the water. When you close the door, don’t be surprised by the whimsy naked lady enjoying the fruits of life. To Scarlet, its a reminder of those midsummer skinny dips as kids and the sentiment of a cottage that her parents have held on to. Read Rob’s new blog post about “Cottage Life” >>
saunas
The addition of a sauna to a cottage, is like ice cream on berry pie.
New Years’ Sauna Baby
We just finished and delivered her (below) days before Christmas. This traditional wood-fired sauna is what we call our “Purist” model and it really is just that. New England style Cedar bevel siding with candle windows for light source—no solar, no electric. It is tastefully elegant & traditional in turn simple and relaxing. This size without dressing room is still great for groups and hosted sauna events especially when you sit cheek-to-cheek!
“…The perfect contrast to sitting on top of a roaring engine out at sea in dense December fog” says our client.
If you’ve read our newsletter you’ve seen the many port windows we’ve made this year for the sauna boat. These windows are an exhaustive labor of love but well worth the unique and inviting moon-like draw. When our client – a sauna/wellness business woman and fisherman’s daughter – asked us for the port window, we couldn’t say no!
Listen in to the episode where he shares his sauna stories of Podunk and beyond in episode #46: “Rob Wants to Make Sauna BORING” … as well as ubiquitous and part of our everyday. If you “relish wood-burning sauna tales” from a sauna guru like Rob, you’ll like this episode. We hope Rob joins the crew again to talk sauna and more about sauna building science. Subscribe to Podcast Show >
Rob’s Sauna Blogging
We know it’s like the wild west out there in US sauna building terrain. Rob has been blogging to educate people on the science of sauna building in posts like Insulating Saunas and hot topics like External Feed Sauna stove or thru-wall stove. Building saunas without an understanding about building science can be dangerous or a tragic waste of time and materials. Here are new blog post excerpts on hot topics like Radiation.
When you close your eyes in a good sauna, you cannot tell where the stove is.
HOT TOPIC: RADIATION. In the sauna, radiation is really important. Transfer of heat is a hot topic in sauna forums so I hope the post is a good resource for everyone. Recently I heard, in an online sauna forum, two seasoned sauna veterans saying you don’t want radiant heat in a sauna. I believe they misspoke.You don’t want high intensity radiant heat, but no radiant heat just is not possible, unless everything has reached a state of equilibrium.
I have my bathers all facing the rocks and typically the stove is fired from outside, thru-wall, so there is no worry about the intense (visible) radiant heat through the firebox glass door, which, as cozy as it sounds, may feel too much sitting around a hot campfire and is not the kind of heat you want in a sauna. Learn the truth about heat transfer and how it applies to the best practices of sauna building. Read the full blog post about Radiation >
HOT TOPIC: FOIL. If you are interested in learning more about radiant heat vapor barrier, and the materials we use in the sauna these posts are packed with science-based info and thermodynamic experiments from our shop. In the post “The Last Word on Foil.” learn more and don’t get caught using a holiday tinsel-like product behind your cedar walls!
To give a gift to your body and experience thermodynamics try A full body sun-bath on a calm, freezing day to boost the sauna experience.
At the years end, we are thankful for our clients and the great opportunities for our small family run business. But most importantly we have made many friends along the way. Wishing you Health and Happiness in the New Year!
It’s been a busy year at Rob Licht Custom Saunas, and as the holidays approach, it is a good time to look back at everything that’s been accomplished and the hurdles we’ve gotten over and to be thankful for the blessings we’ve received.
We started the year in the midst of the pandemic which made for some challenges. But mostly, the pandemic has meant a huge uptick in the sauna business, as we all became more centered on home life and more reluctant to go out into public for things like gyms and saunas. Besides the several projects I have completed locally and around central New York, I have fielded calls and emails from folks desperate to have their own saunas from as far away as Europe and Australia. I never set out to become a sauna expert, but here I am, twenty-five years into making them, and people are seeking out my knowledge from all over. In the process, I feel like I have made many new friends. The global sauna community is alive and well. At the same time, due to the pandemic, I have mostly refrained from seeing all but my closest friends and family. It’s a strange new world, but I am thankful to be connecting to so many people, if only on Zoom.
For my new friends, I have designed and consulted on saunas from Maine to California—this has kept me busy when I was not getting my hands dirty. But whenever I can, I work with my hands, either in my 3000 sq. ft. shop, which I am ever grateful for, or on job sites. It used to be that builders would simply stop in the winter and spend the dark months sitting around the woodstove reading back issues of Fine Homebuilding, but now we all seem to be out there in any weather. My cut off is 10° F, any colder and I want to be by a fire—in the sauna, preferably. Good gear helps with the cold; I’m especially grateful for my boot warmer and insulated pants.
Mobile saunas showcased in the shop. Lansing, NY
Nothing I do is cookie cutter—I would die of boredom is life was too easy— thus the custom in my business moniker.
This year I seemed to run the gamut of sauna permutations: First, a garage retrofit for a yoga and sauna retreat, then a quiet walkout basement electric affair, then a classic one room wood burning sauna on an idyllic creek, then a more urban collaboration in Syracuse, followed by a tiny personal electric sauna in a bathroom, a rustic elegant wood-burning retreat in the trees, and a distance job downstate. Currently, I’m finishing up an electric sauna in a historic boathouse on Cayuga Lake. I’m hoping to take it for a test drive, with a jump in the frigid water, by Christmas.
Garage retrofit for hot yoga and sauna.Classic creekside sauna set fifty feet from swimming hole. Idyllic.Walkout basement electric sauna bliss.Backyard sauna design, urban collaboration in Syracuse, NY.Rustic, elegant wood burning sauna.Cozy interior of a backyard sauna.
Between all of these, I have sold a few of my Lämpimämpi sauna stoves and many sauna plans. Do It Yourself interest, in the mobile saunas is really big now. I get a kick out of seeing my designs being brought to life by many different hands. It is also fun to see all of the other builders following in my steps. The more builders, the better. There is plenty of work to go around, and I encourage anyone who wants to take the work seriously to pursue it with a passion. I did offer a sauna building class this year but had to cancel; Covid has thrown a wrench into a lot of plans. But stay tuned: perhaps 2022 will be the year.
Covid also tossed a wrench into the supply chain. We’ve all heard the phrase “supply chain disruption” by now. I bid jobs in the beginning of the year only to see prices on materials I quoted go up by 250%. Some materials simply vanished from the shelves. But now things have settled down, and I’ve started ordering and stock piling materials well in advance. I can keep several saunas worth of lumber and supplies in my big shop and insulate myself from some of the inflation—another reason to be grateful for the big work space.
Rob at the shop!
I’ve been working alone for most of the year, which actually suits me fine, especially with Covid lurking. Workers are hard to come by: not only are the skilled trades losing new blood, but I think the pandemic relief made a lot of people lazy and unwilling to get off the couch. Scarlet, now my partner in everything, has been my greatest blessing. When she can escape childcare duties, she has proven to be the hardest worker I could wish for. I could use a few more workers like her: eager to learn, unafraid of dust and dirt, and willing to sweat. She also manages all of the marketing, so give her kudos for the quality web media you see. The business feels like it wants to grow, so if anyone is seriously interested in building saunas and wants to relocate to Ithaca, drop me a line.
For those of you lucky enough to have a sauna, I hope you get to celebrate the New Year in it, for there is no better way to bring in the new and shake out the old. It’s been my tradition for four decades now, and I hope to continue for four more.
Taking sauna with Scarlet by the lake, December 2021.
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