Why Our Outdoor Sauna is Different
Designed for Real Finnish Sauna Use (True Löyly)
Our saunas are designed specifically for wet steam (löyly). The stoves we use are rated for it, and the entire structure interior, exterior, and airflow is engineered to support it. The result is soft, enveloping heat that feels restorative, not punishing.
A true sauna is not just a hot room.
Many modern saunas (especially those sold online) are essentially sealed hot boxes. They trap heat, lack proper ventilation, and create an environment that feels harsh, suffocating, and draining. Over time, these designs also trap moisture, leading to rot, odors, and premature failure.
If you want a true deep dive into the design aspects of sauna that matter, we recommend "Trumpkin's Notes on Building a Sauna". Our design is largely built upon what is recommended in this guide as well as some of our own customizations which we've learned to matter for sauna usability and longevity.
Proper Sauna Ventilation for Comfortable, Breathable Heat
Ventilation is the most misunderstood and most important part of sauna design. The above image details the adjustable ventilation port ~2' above the stove. This ventilation port is specifically designed to allow fresh air to be drawn into the sauna room and mix with the hot air rising off the stove, leading to an enjoyable mixture of hot and fresh air for sauna participants.
Every Chesapeake sauna includes five adjustable ventilation points, intentionally placed to:
- Introduce fresh oxygen near the heat source
- Mix hot air evenly throughout the body zone
- Remove excess heat and moisture during and after sessions
The diagram in the previous section details the five ventilation ports in purple.
This allows the sauna to breathe while in use and dry properly afterward. You feel better during the session and the structure lasts longer because moisture isn’t trapped where it shouldn’t be.
As Americans, we are often subject to saunas without proper ventilation. They are very common, especially in gyms across the country. The side effects of a "hot box" style sauna, which lacks ventilation, is a wooden box that fills with CO2 over time, leading to fatigue and a general unpleasant experience.
A properly ventilated sauna allows everyone to enjoy the experience. Proper ventilation is something paramount to our design because of how important it is for health benefits alongside general enjoyment of the experience.
Finnish Style Sauna Construction Built for Longevity
Our wall and ceiling assemblies are designed for performance and longevity, not speed of production.
- Solid 2×4 framing
- Rockwool insulation for heat retention and moisture resistance
- Aluminum vapor barrier
- Interior air gap using furring strips
- Cedar installed without glue or VOC materials
This layered, breathable approach mirrors traditional Finnish construction principles and avoids the long-term issues common in tightly sealed, synthetic builds.
Ergonomic Sauna Bench Design & Heat Stratification
Our bench layout isn’t decorative it determines how the sauna feels and performs.
Our three-tier bench system is designed around how heat stratifies and how people actually sit, stretch, and relax. The spacing, depth, and height are intentional, allowing bathers to naturally find their ideal temperature.
The top bench is deep enough for one person to fully lie down comfortably, while still accommodating shared sessions for up to three to four people on the top bench (depending on people's size). Overall, the sauna can comfortably fit six people altogether with the seating arrangement. This is a sauna meant to be used and not just looked at.
The top bench has a 25" depth and is ~46" from the ceiling. The second tier bench has a 20" depth while the third bench (lowest) is a 8" bench with an L-shaped portion that is a 20" depth, allowing for a lower bench seating area for children or those who enjoy a mild sauna or recovery time (this L-shaped bench portion also has the best view of the stove's firebox which is mesmerizing at night).
Sauna Materials Chosen for Performance, Not Marketing
We primarily use knotty cedar for our interiors not because it’s trendy, but because it’s practical, available, and visually honest. The knots are purely aesthetic and do not affect performance.
Our floors are cedar decking installed with slight spacing to allow water to drain naturally beneath the sauna. Flashing is integrated to direct moisture away from the structure, while airflow under the floor promotes drying between sessions.
Chesapeake Sauna owners can freely pour cups of water on themselves while inside of the sauna, knowing the sauna will properly drain and breathe due to our design.
And on top of that, we focus on maintaining the health benefits of sauna by sourcing our materials correctly. No glue. No unnecessary chemicals.
Our windows are bronzed 1/4" tempered glass which combines the beauty of a partially darkened window, the heat-resistant strength of tempered glass, and the ability to customize dimensions of the glass itself to your preference.