What tools do you need to build a DIY sauna

While we are certainly believers that any good project is another excuse to buy new tools, we also like to keep things simple. And believe it or not, the list of tools that you need for your DIY sauna build is pretty short. With the experience gained from our own builds, we also have some good expertise on where it might be nice to spend the extra money to get the right tool for the job. 

Essential tools for a DIY sauna build:

Hand tools:

• Tape measure

• Hammer

• Speed square

• Chalk line

• Chisel

• Metal snips

• Caulking gun

• Level (3’ or 4’ and torpedo)

• Staple gun

• Utility knife

• Ladder (6’ step is fine)

Power tools:

• Circular saw

• Drill

• Impact driver

• Framing nailer

• Finish nailer

• Hole saw set

Nice-to-haves:

• Miter saw

• Oscillating multi tool

• Pneumatic glass suction cups

• Track saw

• Table saw

• Laser level

• Nibblers or a grinder to cut metal siding and roofing

What kind of saws do you need? Do you need a miter saw to build a sauna?

The short answer - no, you don’t need a miter saw, a circular saw will suffice just fine. Our featured build here was built with just a circular saw. Using a speed square as a guide can help you keep cuts precise and square. A miter saw can certainly be helpful! Especially for precision cuts like your T&G cladding and window trims. 

A multi tool comes in handy in all types of small applications, from cutting out notches in the T&G. You can probably get away without one, but it can be a lifesaver. A jigsaw can be a substitute, or also nice to have. 

For things like making window and door trims and ripping longer materials to width, a table saw or track saw can be very nice to have. Again, not 100% needed, but helpful with precision. It’s possible to make your own “track saw” guide for your circular saw pretty easily. This is totally worth the time to set up and can help keep your tool budget in check. 

Important - remember your saw blades!

When was the last time you replaced your saw blades? The start of a new project, like your sauna build, is the perfect time. Your framing blade may not matter too much, but they’re cheap. However, working with a soft wood like cedar, a nice finish blade is absolutely worth the money. This will give you nice clean cuts instead of ragged edges.

What nail guns do you need? Can you just use screws?

Two nail guns are needed to complete your sauna build: a framing nailer and a finish nailer. Sure you are able to use screws for the framing, but nails are preferred, so we would not recommend skipping out. The framing nailer should be able to shoot 3” nails. Meanwhile, there are several different types of finish nailers. A 15ga (bigger nails) or 16ga (smaller nails) is the most versatile, and will be a solid choice. 

Don’t forget your nail choice, either! Nailing into pressure-treated, like your floor framing, means you need hot-dipped galvanized nails, or else they will corrode. For everything on the interior, stainless steel is the move, even more corrosion resistant, this will prevent rusting and staining. 

Pneumatic (air) vs battery

Both options will work no problem, this really comes down to personal preference, budget, and what tools you might already have. Once you have an air compressor ($150-300 on the low end), adding on new nailers is cheaper ($150-$250 each), so from scratch, this setup would cost about $400-700. Battery tools are more expensive up-front, $250-400 each, but don’t need a compressor. You do, however need batteries. Total cost here is about $600-800.