Canadian hemlocks have long been known to be the best choice for the interior of a sauna room or infra red sauna. The alternative to hemlock , is red cedar which has a bolder finish and a more aromatic presence inside the sauna. However many people have allergies to the natural cedar oils and find that hemlock is a much better choice for there sauna. There are a few things to look for in hemlock for home use in saunas, spas and infrared saunas.
Make sure your hemlock is kiln or air dried and not treated with any chemicals. Kiln dried hemlock will not warp or twist under the excessive heat of your sauna. Next, you want to select only choice pieces with no knots. Once you have your choice pieces selected, you will machine cut and hand sand them to fit your sauna needs. Infrared Saunas require a back panel to cover the actual heating elements to prevent any contact with them during your time inside. This can easily be done by making 2×1 in. strips and shaping them in a grid to cover to provide that barrier between you and your saunas heater.
There are many sauna kits available online in different place, and it is suggested to always know what kind of wood they are made of before you purchase from them. Its hard to recommend using anything except the canadian variety of hemlock as other species tend to be softer and will nick, scratch, dent more easily. Saunas made of red cedar are also a good choice, however you should try one of these before making the decision to build your sauna from it ; mainly to make sure you prefer the heavier release of natural cedar smells.
Many cheaper infrared saunas and home sauna kits are made from particle board laminated with thin hemlock strips both inside and outside. If you are on a budget and have decided to go with hemlock for your sauna; make sure it is not a laminated variety. These saunas and kits tend to have all sorts of harmful stuff in them, like poly glues, varnishes and other stains which all break down and get into the air inside. It is especially advised to avoid these at all costs.
Shown below is an Infrared Sauna made from 100% Canadian Hemlock
