If you decide to make your own sauna, remember that if the rocks are too large or too many they will take a needless amount of time to heat up. Too few or too small rocks will cause the sauna to cool after only a few splashes of water. Don't pack the rocks too tightly or too loosely as they won't heat properly.
How hot should the sauna rocks be? - 950-1500 degrees F is perfect.
A wood burning kiua will heat rocks until they turn bright red. You don't need to measure their temperature - test them by throwing some water on the rocks and if it makes a sharp cracking sound like opening a fizzy drink and one or two seconds later the room is filled with an invisible loyly they are good to go. Tepid rocks cause the water to bubble slowly and turn the sauna into a steam bath.
These basic pointers will get you started on the sauna making process. Of course, to make your own sauna you will need to choose a good building design or use a suitable pre-existing room. We recommend building a special, beautiful room to enhance the calm and relaxation offered by a sauna.
Fit it with your kiua and the best rocks you can find. Plant some flowers, plants or small trees outside the room to create a haven of tranquility and beauty and use natural running water or build a water feature to provide a pleasant bathing experience for you and your guests. You can make your own sauna with little fuss and not much financial outlay and enjoy the spa experience in the comfort of your own home and at the fraction of the cost too! Sound steamy? Go for it!
