Sauna Värkätä

Home Depot excels by having amazing prices, good service and a good selection. There is a reason why they are a favorite of DIY enthusiasts and professionals. The following tips will help you to source nearly all the sauna materials you need to build your sauna.

Materials List – Nearly Everything Can be Sourced from the Home Depot

I am going to explain how to make buying all of the items in the sauna materials list above much easier and also explain the places you need to go for those materials you can not get at the Home Depot.

Researching and Planning Sauna Materials

Before you go to the hardware store, you make a list. Going to the Home Depot is no different. You will want to have your sauna fully designed before you begin purchasing from Home Depot. If you are going to follow the Sauna Build Series on this site and are happy with an exterior sauna that seats 2-4, with an electrical heater, then you can use the sauna materials list above as a starting point. 

However, you may be following a different design plan or have modified what I am recommending. Either way, just make sure you have your design down before you order the sauna materials. If you are unsure about how long the project is going to take you or on a budget, then you may want to buy the materials as you go. However, if you are confident in your design and are committed to getting the project done quickly, then you can save yourself a lot of time by just ordering everything from the beginning and have the Home Depot deliver the sauna materials to you. Home Depot only charges one flat fee for each delivery so it behooves you to order as much as you are comfortable with from the beginning.

Last Chance to Backout

Now is as good as time as any to make sure you really want to build your own sauna. The total price of $6,629 for all materials on the material list above is for the basic sauna materials only as of July 2023. It does not include the cost for exterior paints or stains, building permits, tools, electrician charges, etc. When I built my sauna back in the winter of 2021, it cost me $8,000 after I bought tools and paid for an electrician to hook everything up. Today, that cost would likely be north of $10,000. This cost is high when you consider that you can buy a barrel sauna for on sale for $4,700 at Almost Heaven saunas.

I say this to be clear that this is not a project you are taking on to save money necessarily. There are cheaper ways to get a sauna. Even if you do not buy a barrel sauna, you might be able to save a little time and money by buying a sauna kit for a small cabin design. However, in my opinion, there is not a better way to get a custom sauna that you will enjoy for years while learning valuable transferable DIY skills that will last you a lifetime than building your own custom sauna. Building your own sauna is also much cheaper than hiring a local contractor to build the sauna for you.

The Components of a Sauna

What makes building a sauna achievable for the ambitious DIYer, is that it is a pretty basic structure. There is not a lot of technology to master. You simply have a small shed with interior paneling and no paint that is insulated and heated by either an electric or wood stove. This means your materials will consist mainly of lumber, hardware such as screws and roof materials, and a sauna stove and door. The sauna stove and door are quite niche and Home Depot is not going to be a good source of those sauna materials. But nearly everything else can be sourced from the Home Depot.

When it comes to lumber, Home Depot is very often the cheapest but you still will want to make some phone calls. You will want to call the local lumber yard for prices and then call the Home Depot pro desk to get their lumber prices. You should do this for the 2x4s and the cedar tongue and groove 2x6s at a minimum since these are main pieces you will need for the sauna build. I just did the same today to check prices and Home Depot was substantially cheaper than the competition in my area.

Navigating Home Depot Online and In Store

Before you do anything, signup for a pro account at Home Dept. Their Pro Xtra account entitles you to special discounts and coupons after hitting certain milestones and also gives you access to the pro desk. Also, little-known-fact, you do not need to be a professional to join, anyone is eligible.

Second, download the Home Depot app if you have not already. I am pretty wary of putting a bunch of apps on my phone but Home Depot’s app is worth it. The app will tell you where an item is in store which is very valuable for anyone that has ever wondered aisles at the Home Depot. The app and Home Depot’s website can be used to track real time inventory levels for items. Be careful if the app or website only shows one item is left. In my experience, this usually means the store is out of the product. The app will also allow you to scan a barcode for your pro account when checking out in-store.

As mentioned above, if you can take advantage of Home Depot’s delivery service you will save yourself a lot of time. This is even a bigger help if you do not have a truck and putting 65 2x4s in your trunk is not an option.

When ordering wood it is best to call the pro desk. Their website is great for listing the inventory of hardware and everyday items but is not the best for lumber. Not every size and dimension of wood is listed on their website so give them a call to place your lumber order. This is especially true for the 2 in. x 6 in. x 8 ft. tongue and groove cedar.

Finding the Deals

One thing that makes Home Depot such a powerhouse for sauna materials is their Low Price Guarantee. The policy allows for you to get a price match for any item that is listed by a competitor at a lower price. There are exceptions for seasonal or discounted items but overall the policy is pretty generous. It is one reason why shopping at the Home Depot is so awesome!

Beyond the Low Price Guarantee, you can also watch for sales on drills, saws, and other tools needed for the project. If you know you are going to need a tool for the job, then begin watching the item for sales which happen pretty regularly. Also, there are additional discounts for pro members. Lumber and hardware are not as likely to go on sale as tools are.

In-Store Experience

As mentioned previously, if you can the sauna materials delivered to your door, then you will save yourself a lot of time. However, there are going to be times when it is just not practical to deliver everything to your door which means you will find yourself in the store. Never go to the Home Depot without first having a list of the items you need and the app downloaded on your phone. There really is nothing worse than wondering around aimlessly looking for a Home Depot worker to point you in the right direction.

I also like to visit the same store and do not bounce around to several different Home Depots since every story is a little different. In my town there is the very crowded Home Depot and then the smaller Home Depot down the street. I like the smaller Home Depot because it is much easier to navigate and it usually has similar inventory to the larger Home Depot. It takes a while to learn where everything is, but with a little practice, and help from the Home Depot app, you will be better at knowing where things are than the Home Depot workers in no time! 

Speaking of Home Depot workers, keep in mind that their level of expertise will vary. Home Depot has everyone from high school kids looking for a summer job to retirees with several years of experience in a local trade. If placing an order, always start with the pro desk. But if it is a trade-specific question, then try and track down that trade expert within the store. If you have an electrical question, like the best wiring for your sauna heater, then there should someone in the store with electrical knowledge. I have had much better luck with help and expertise from Home Depot staff during regular working hours mon-fri than I have had on the weekend when you typically are dealing with more part-time workers.

To sum things up, Home Depot is an invaluable resource for sauna builders due to its affordable prices, extensive selection, and helpful service. With the majority of materials needed for sauna construction available at Home Depot, it becomes a convenient one-stop shop for most items. You can use the material list I provided in this article as a starting point for your shopping list. Or you can also create your own shopping list if you are going for a sauna project much different than the Sauna Build Series.

Either way, it is best to have well-defined design before purchasing materials, and for those confident in their project, ordering everything at once for delivery can save time and money.

When shopping at Home Depot, utilizing the Pro Xtra account and the Home Depot app are indispensable. Keep an eye out for tool sales and utilize the expertise of Home Depot staff, especially at the pro desk. Overall, Home Depot serves as a reliable and valuable resource for sauna builders, offering competitive prices, and a wide range of products.