Wood-fired saunas
The crackle of the fire, the smell of the wood and a soft, deep heat. A wood-fired sauna is the oldest kind there is, and still one of the best.
Talk to us about a wood-fired saunaReal fire, real löyly.
A wood-fired stove heats a big load of stones from below. The heat it gives off is softer and rounder than many electric heaters, and the löyly when you throw water is something special.
It's also part of the ritual. Lighting the fire, feeding it, watching the thermometer climb: by the time the sauna is ready you've already slowed down. Many Finns wouldn't have it any other way at the summer cottage.
It is more work than flicking a switch, and it takes a bit longer to heat. But for an outdoor sauna, a bach, a farm or a lifestyle block, it's often the natural choice.
A sauna that needs no power.
A wood-fired sauna doesn't need a big electrical supply, or any at all for the heat. That makes it ideal where three-phase power isn't available, where running a cable to the bottom of the section would cost a fortune, or where there's simply no grid.
Some stoves can also heat water for washing. Harvia makes a 22-litre pipe-model water heater that fits to the flue, so you get warm water from the same fire.
You'll still want light. A little low-voltage lighting, or a window placed to catch the evening sun, does the job.
Harvia and Narvi, both from Finland.
We stock wood-fired stoves from the two Finnish names we trust: Harvia and Narvi. Choosing between them comes down to the size of the room, how you want to feed the fire, and how it looks.
Harvia
From the compact M3 for smaller rooms to the Pro 26 for big ones. The Legend range, like the Legend 150, holds a large load of stones for long, even heat. The Linear models have a big glass door so you can watch the fire.
Narvi
Solid, no-nonsense Finnish stoves. The Narvi Inari heats the Mangawhai sauna below, and the Kuru 14 and Black 20 cover smaller and mid-sized rooms.
See every model with prices in wood-fired heaters. Not sure which suits your room? Send us the measurements and we'll tell you.
Built to be safe for decades.
The stove is only half of it. A wood-fired sauna needs a properly installed flue, the right clearances from walls and benches, and heat shields where they're needed. Harvia's steel chimney system, protective sheaths and floor protection are all made for exactly this, and we fit them to the manufacturer's instructions.
In New Zealand, installing a solid-fuel heater usually needs building consent, and your council may have its own rules about flue height and distance from boundaries. Check with your council early. We're happy to help with the details they ask for.
One habit we always follow: we fire a new stove outdoors first, before it goes in. That burns off the factory paint and oils outside, so the smoke and smell never get into the new timber. You can read about it in our Mangawhai build.
Designed around the fire.
Every wood-fired sauna we build is custom. We size the room and the stove together, plan where the firebox door goes (inside the sauna, or fed from outside so the room stays clean), and lay out the benches so the heat lands where you sit.
Benches are made and test-fitted in our Auckland workshop, then the room is built on site in Finnish and Estonian timber. Thermally modified alder and aspen are favourites for wood-fired rooms. Our timber guide explains why.
Have a look at the standalone sauna on Waiheke Island, built around a Harvia Finland 100 anniversary stove, and the Mangawhai sauna with its big window over the paddocks.
Wood-fired saunas we've built.
Common questions.
Is a wood-fired sauna better than electric?
It's different. Wood gives you the fire, the smell and a soft heat, and needs no power. Electric is quicker, cleaner and can be switched on from inside the house. Both make a great sauna.
How long does a wood-fired sauna take to heat?
Usually a little longer than electric. It depends on the stove, the size of the room, your firewood and the weather outside.
Do I need building consent for a wood-fired sauna?
Installing a solid-fuel heater in New Zealand usually needs building consent. Rules vary between councils, so check with yours early.
Can the stove be fed from outside the sauna?
Yes, with the right stove. Some models have an extended firebox that goes through the wall, so you load wood from outside and keep the sauna clean.
Do you sell wood-fired stoves on their own?
Yes. We stock Harvia and Narvi stoves, chimneys and protective sheaths in Auckland and ship nationwide. See wood-fired heaters.
Send us a few photos of the space and rough measurements. That is usually enough for us to tell you what is possible and give you a price.
Get a quoteOr call 0800 FINNSAUNA. Looking for a heater or timber? Product enquiry.
