There is something different about stepping into a traditional wood sauna. The natural aroma of cedar, intense heat, warm wood surfaces, and the ability to add water to hot sauna stones create an experience that is difficult to duplicate with other types of home wellness equipment.
At Yoder’s Home Furnishings in Westcliffe, Colorado, we believe buying a sauna should involve more thought than simply choosing one that looks good online. A well-built sauna can become part of your home and outdoor lifestyle for many years, so there are several important things to consider before making your decision.
Here is what we recommend looking at when shopping for a wood sauna in Colorado.
1. Traditional Sauna or Infrared Sauna?
One of the first decisions is what type of sauna experience you want.
An infrared sauna primarily uses radiant heat to warm your body while operating at lower air temperatures. A traditional sauna heats the air and sauna stones, creating the hotter environment most people picture when they think of a sauna.
Traditional saunas also give you something infrared saunas do not provide in the same way: the ability to pour water over heated sauna stones and introduce bursts of humidity and steam.
For people looking for that classic sauna experience, we believe a traditional cedar sauna is hard to beat.
And remember: a “wood sauna” does not necessarily mean it has to be wood-fired. The sauna itself is constructed from wood, while the heater can be electric, wood-burning or, with certain models, another compatible heat source.
2. Pay Attention to the Wood
The species of wood used in a sauna matters because that wood will repeatedly experience heat, moisture and changing temperatures.
The saunas we offer feature Western Red Cedar sourced in the United States. Western Red Cedar has several characteristics that make it particularly well suited to this application. It is naturally resistant to decay, relatively dimensionally stable as moisture changes, and of course has the distinctive cedar aroma many people associate with a traditional sauna.
It also creates a beautiful structure that looks at home in a Colorado setting.
Whether your sauna overlooks the mountains, sits beside a patio or becomes part of a private backyard retreat, a cedar sauna can look more like an intentional part of the property than another piece of outdoor equipment.
3. Heat Distribution Matters More Than You Might Think
One feature that is easy to overlook when comparing saunas online is where the heat actually goes.
Hot air rises. That means sauna design, bench height, heater placement and airflow all affect the experience inside.
This is particularly important with barrel-style saunas. If the seating is too low, your upper body may be considerably warmer than your feet.
That is why we like features such as multi-level seating and insulated flooring. Raising the seating allows more of your body to enter the hotter portion of the sauna rather than allowing the best heat to collect unused near the ceiling.
When comparing saunas, don’t only ask:
“How hot does it get?”
Also ask:
“How evenly will I experience that heat while I am sitting in it?”
That is a much better buying question.
4. Choose the Right Size Sauna
Bigger is not always better.
Think realistically about how you will use your sauna:
- Will it usually be one or two people?
- Do you want enough space for family or guests?
- Would you like room to stretch out?
- Do you want multiple levels of seating?
- Would a changing area make the sauna more useful?
- Would you enjoy a panoramic window overlooking your property?
Sauna design guidelines generally recommend allowing roughly two feet of bench width per seated person. Larger sauna rooms also require more heating capacity, so matching the heater to the interior volume is important.
For a couple who primarily wants a quiet evening sauna, a compact model may be ideal. For a family or someone who likes entertaining, moving into a larger sauna may be well worth it.
5. Match the Heater to the Sauna
The heater is the heart of a traditional sauna.
A heater that is too small can struggle to bring the room to temperature, especially during a Colorado winter. An oversized heater can create its own problems. Proper heater sizing is based on the sauna’s cubic volume as well as heat-loss factors such as glass and other less-insulated surfaces.
Our sauna options include both electric and wood-fired heating choices, depending on the model.
An electric heater is convenient. Certain premium electric heaters can even offer Wi-Fi controls, allowing you to manage the sauna from your phone.
A wood-fired sauna provides a very different experience—the fire, ritual and traditional atmosphere are part of the appeal. It also requires proper chimney installation, clearances and planning.
This is one reason we recommend talking with us rather than simply ordering a sauna based on appearance. We can help you think through how you intend to use it before you choose the sauna and heater combination.
6. Colorado Winters Should Be Part of Your Decision
An outdoor sauna in Colorado has different demands than the same sauna sitting in a mild climate.
Exterior temperature directly affects warm-up time. The sauna models we carry typically reach approximately 150°F in roughly 20–40 minutes under normal conditions, while extremely cold temperatures can extend that warm-up period.
Construction and weather protection matter as well.
Western Red Cedar performs well outdoors, but adding a roof can give the structure another layer of protection from Colorado sun, snow and precipitation while also improving heat retention.
If you plan to use your sauna throughout the winter—and many people find winter to be their favorite time to use one—these details become especially important.
7. Don’t Forget Ventilation
A quality sauna is not supposed to be an airtight hot box.
Proper ventilation helps bring fresh air into the sauna, supports circulation around the heater and allows moisture to leave the space afterward.
Major sauna manufacturers recommend carefully positioned supply and exhaust ventilation, with different configurations depending on whether the sauna uses an electric or wood-burning heater.
Good ventilation is one of those things you might never notice when it is designed correctly—but you may notice when it isn’t.
8. Consider How the Sauna Will Arrive
This is one of the biggest differences between sauna options.
Many saunas sold online arrive as a kit. The price may initially look attractive, but then several boxes arrive and the homeowner is responsible for assembling the structure.
The sauna models available through Yoder’s take a different approach. They are handcrafted in Amish Country and available fully built, rather than leaving you with a major assembly project.
That means you are buying a finished structure built by people who build saunas—not spending your weekend trying to become a sauna builder yourself.
Placement and site accessibility still need to be considered, which is something we can discuss with you before ordering.
A Sauna Is Something You Should Experience Before You Buy
It is difficult to understand a sauna by looking at a photograph.
You cannot feel the cedar.
You cannot sit on the benches and determine whether the space feels right.
You cannot see the workmanship up close or understand how much difference various sizes, windows and seating configurations make.
That is exactly why we encourage you to visit Yoder’s Home Furnishings in Westcliffe before purchasing a sauna.
We have sauna models on display so you can step inside, look at the construction, experience the amount of room for yourself and talk with us about the options available.
Whether you are considering a smaller cedar sauna for two, a larger family sauna, panoramic windows, multi-level seating or different heating options, we would rather help you understand those choices before you make the investment.
Come See Our Wood Saunas in Westcliffe, Colorado
If you have been searching for an outdoor sauna in Colorado, traditional wood sauna, cedar sauna, or home sauna near Westcliffe, CO, stop in and see one in person.
Visit Yoder’s Home Furnishings at 57965 CO-69 in Westcliffe, Colorado.
Walk inside our display models. Sit down. See the cedar craftsmanship up close. Ask questions. Compare the options.
A sauna is something you may enjoy hundreds or even thousands of times over the years. We think it is worth choosing the right one.
Come see the sauna models on display at Yoder’s Home Furnishings and let us help you find the right sauna for your home, property and lifestyle.
