FAQ

Most home saunas take about four to eight weeks, from the final plan to your first steam. A backyard cabin takes longer. A simple indoor sauna can be faster. Either way, we give you a real timeline before we start.

Yes. That is the best part of going custom. We have built saunas under stairs, in basements, in closets, and on rooftops. After we visit, we will tell you what your space can hold.

Both work well here. An indoor sauna is easy to use all year. An outdoor sauna feels like a getaway and goes great with a cold plunge. We will help you pick.

Yes, all of them. As a licensed builder, we file with the city, set up the inspections, and build to code. You never have to chase a form.

Yes, and that is what most saunas get wrong. Good steam needs enough rocks, the right size heater, and vents in the right spots. We plan for that from the start.

Yes, and it is most of what we do. Send us the model and the parts list, we make sure it fits your space and your power, then we take delivery, count every part, and build it. Have not bought one yet? We will help you pick.

Yes. Makers want the kit built to their plan with the right wiring, and that is how a licensed builder works. We keep records of the whole job in case you ever need them.

Often, yes, mostly for a wired heater or a bigger build. We check with the city and handle the permits as part of the job.

Most kits take three to seven days once all the parts are there. We give you a timeline after we see the kit and your space, and we never start until every part is counted.

Yes. Most heaters need their own power line, and we do the wiring, the hookup, and the testing. Then we heat it up so you can feel it work. If your panel needs work, we tell you early.

Yes, and most of our repair work is on saunas other people built, from imported cabins to flat-pack kits. Any brand, any age. We check it, find the problem, and get it working safely again.

Once a year is a good rule, and more often for outdoor or west-side saunas, where the fog and salt air are hard on the wood and vents. A yearly check heads off most big repairs.

Most of the time, yes. We come stocked with the common parts, so most calls are done that day. Big rebuilds or special-order parts need a second visit, which we plan ahead.

One yearly visit: we check the heater and stones, care for the wood, check the vents and seal, and adjust the door, all for one set price. It keeps the sauna working and catches small problems early.

Usually, yes. Weak heat is almost always a worn part, old stones, or lost sealing, and all of those can be fixed. We test it and tell you honestly if a repair or a new heater makes more sense.

They are really two different things. A cedar tub gives you deeper water, the smell of real wood, and a calmer soak, instead of jets and a plastic shell. It needs a little more care, and it has a warmth a plastic spa never gets.

Yes, and we suggest it. Building the tub, sauna, and plunge as one job shares the permit, trench, and crew. That saves money and gives you a real hot-and-cold routine in one spot.

Electric is the easy way: set the temperature and get in. Wood-fired gives you the fun of a fire and works even when the power is out. We walk you through both so you pick what fits how you will use it.

Cedar naturally resists rot, which is why it has held water for a long time. We use tight-grain heart cedar, band the staves right, and use weatherproof parts. Follow the simple care steps and it ages to a nice gray and lasts for years.

Most builds need an electrical permit, and sometimes more. As a licensed builder, we handle the permits and inspections with the city, so the whole job is done right and on record.

With the cooling unit sized to your tub, the plunge holds any temperature you pick between 39 and 55°F all day. You set it once and step in cold every morning. No ice, no waiting.

Either works. A plunge is a full recovery tool on its own. A lot of our clients put one next to a sauna for the hot-and-cold routine, and we design the pair together so it all fits.

Less than you think, and way less than hauling ice. The clean-water system and filter keep the water clear with little effort, so it is mostly quick checks and the odd refill. We set it up and show you the weekly routine.

Yes. We build on decks, in garages, in basements, and on rooftops. Each has its own weight, drain, and noise needs, so we pick a quiet filter and plan the build around your spot.

Yes. San Francisco Sauna is a licensed California Class B builder, insured and bonded. That means we do the whole job, from framing and waterproofing to wiring and finish, instead of handing off the parts that make a plunge work.