Saunas utilize dry heat at higher temperatures than steam rooms. Additionally, saunas are clad in natural wood. A traditional sauna with a heated mass of stones should reach around 200 degrees Farenheight. Most sauna users consider temperatures around 200 degrees (measured at the ceiling) to be satisfactory. Sauna users can add water to the hot stones, which creates a hot burst of steam and increases humidity, causing the sauna to feel even warmer. Generally, a 1% increase in relative humidity within the sauna will feel like an additional degree of temperature. So, a 190-degree sauna with 20% relative humidity will feel like 210 degrees!
A steam room, however, is a waterproofed and sealed room that fills with steam, reaching 100% humidity. It is built more like a shower, with tile or stone on all surfaces and with all of the moisture draining to floor drains. Steam rooms also utilize high temperatures, generally topping out around 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The reason for the lower temperature is the humidity, which makes it feel hotter. Using the same rule of thumb we use for heat in saunas, a steam room at 120 degrees will actually feel more like 220 degrees due to the room being saturated at 100% relative humidity. This is why the steam room should run at a lower temperature than a sauna!
While we specialize in commercial installations, we occasionally do residential installations, so long as the client is willing to work to commercial safety standards. While meeting these safety standards might make us a bit more expensive than others, it also ensures that your safety is top priority.
You can get a sauna constructed wherever you have space. However, we recommend the following locations:
In traditional saunas, temperatures range between 185° F and 200° F. They provide an environment with high heat and low humidity.
Infrared saunas create a lower-heat sauna experience that is designed to target the body at a cellular level. This new technology may provide the following health benefits:
Please consult with your healthcare professional before using an infrared sauna.
Before getting a steam room installed, you need to consider the size of the steam room, flooring, water supply, and electricity supply. Then, you need to decide where you want the steam room to be built. You can customize the size of your steam room to fit your needs and your space.
Steam rooms are powered by a steam generator that boils the water. You need to have a water supply to feed the steam generator before getting the steam room installed. Additionally, steam rooms need a nonporous floor with a drainage system so that when the steam room cools down and the steam condenses, it can drain. Proper flooring will limit the risk of bacteria as it will allow the steam room to dry quickly.
You also need an electrical supply, as steam rooms run on electricity. The electrical supply required for your steam room will depend on the size of the steam generator and the size of the steam room.
Check with the installation team to make sure everything is in place to avoid delays or additional costs.
The humidity of a sauna is about 10%. The softwood absorbs the moisture and reduces the humidity so the heat that escapes when the door opens is dry.
However, steam rooms do produce high humidity that could damage surrounding areas. The surrounding bathroom, pool deck, or locker room should be carefully constructed to accommodate for waterproofing and appropriate finishes.
Everyone should check with their doctor or health care practitioner to ensure that they are fit for sauna or steam room use.
Various materials can be used to construct soaking tubs, like stainless steel, tile, wood, copper, or porcelain. Ecotone specializes in all-wood traditional soaking tubs, which can be outfitted for cold- or hot-water circulation. Commercial cold plunge pools are usually stainless steel enclosures that are either left as polished stainless steel or are tiled.
A cold plunge simulates the traditional sauna ritual of jumping in a nearby cold (or frozen!) lake after a sauna session. Cold plunge pools are generally kept at a constant temperature of 50 to 55 degrees Farenheit. Cold plunges improve blood circulation, protect the skin, and detoxify the body. If you suffer from muscle soreness, it can help facilitate a speedy recovery. As always, consult with your doctor before using a cold plunge pool.
No. We do design and furnish custom kits of our own design. We can also coordinate the installation of our kits with your contractors on-site from anywhere around the country.
We are not a spa, nor do we have any available sauna or spa facilities for public use. We are a design and build specialty trade contractor, and we build spas for clients. However, we are exploring the concept of owning and operating our own spas in the future. Follow us on social media and check back on our website to stay up-to-date.
To contact our team, mail us on info@ecotoneNY.com or give us a call on the number provided on our website. You can also visit our website and send us a message. We will get back to you as soon as possible.