FAQ - Outdoor Saunas
Timeline
Material Procurement: Material availability from our suppliers might affect the timeline if there are unforeseen supply delays or if a material substitution is necessary.
Production Queue: Contact us ahead of your desired delivery date to ensure a space in our production queue.
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Ability to deliver projects in areas where contracting labor is scarce and on-site costs are high.
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Fixed price predictability of pre-fabrication reduces the risk of budget overruns common in traditional on-site construction.
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Quality control of handcrafted products with premium finishes, at a lower cost. On-site equivalent often costs 2x due to added complexity.
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Design Option
Size: Choose your hot room size (6 ft or 10ft) and cool down room size (4 ft or 6ft). Add on your recovery, porch shower, enclosed cold plunge station, 8ft stargazing deck for a cold plunge area.
Interiors: Select wood types for walls and ceiling, bench design, electric heater, lighting options, sound system
Exterior: Choose your siding or stargazing decking, and outdoor shower.
New Primitive offers a selection of base saunas accommodating 2-4 or 6-8 persons. You can customize your sauna further by adding recovery features to enhance your thermal bathing experience.
Turnkey Services
New Primitive offers an assisted delivery and placement service to ensure your sauna is positioned correctly and ready for final connection. Our team coordinates logistics, transport, and on-site placement—using the proper equipment as needed—so your unit lands precisely where it belongs.
What this includes
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Coordinated delivery to your property
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Professional placement in the designated location
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Assistance with access planning (clearances, slopes, crane/forklift if required)
What to know
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Site prep, foundations, and utility connections are handled by your local professionals
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We confirm placement details during the site survey to avoid delays
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Cost & Financing
New Primitive Sauna arrives nearly fully assembled with all interior and exterior finishes completed. To get started, simply plug it in electric. Then, add the included sauna stones, and your sauna is ready to fire up!
We provide the best delivery rate available at the time of shipment. On average, the rates are between $4/mile - $7/mile. Shipped fully insured from our workshop in Lyons, Colorado.
For select customers, New Primitive offers a payment plan for 6 or 75 equal installments for buying a sauna. Contact us for more information.
Permits & Zoning
All New Primitive units are under 200 sq ft. In most jurisdictions, this means no state building permit is required for the structure itself. Local codes can vary, so we verify requirements during the site survey.
HOAs are separate from city or state permitting. Many approve our units because of their small footprint, high-end materials, and discreet placement, but approval is HOA-specific.
What we recommend
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Review your HOA guidelines early
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Submit renderings, dimensions, and material details (we provide these)
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Confirm setbacks, visibility, and utility rules
If needed, our team can support your HOA submission with drawings and specs to streamline approval. Built small. Designed to pass. Set up right the first time.
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Site Work & Foundation
Site work is only necessary if you do not have leveled ground or access for a truck to deliver the New Primitive Sauna. If you already have a leveled ground and access, no additional site work is required.
Site work is handled by your local general contractor (GC), if needed.
This may include:
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Concrete pad or foundation
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Electrical trenching and hookups
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Plumbing or drainage (for cold plunge or outdoor showers)
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Access improvements or grading
New Primitive provides clear site requirements, dimensions, and utility specs so your GC can prepare the space correctly before delivery. We coordinate placement once the site is ready.
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Modular Delivery
In many cases, we deliver your New Primitive Sauna using trailer drop delivery. The sauna is lifted off the trailer with hydraulic jacks or a forklift with 6-foot forks and placed directly on the site.
Delivery requires a truck and trailer to have enough space to either back into the site, or make a turnaround. We will plan the delivery details based on your specific site conditions.
Installation
Installing a sauna takes just a few hours. Once your New Primitive Sauna is delivered and secured, all checks are completed, and the stove is plugged in, you can fire it up right away.
Unless you added power add-ons or add-ons that require water connection (for example, outdoor shower), there are no utilities to handle. If you need power and/or water hook-ups, we provide simple garden hose and power cord connections underneath the sauna for a quick and simple utility hook-up that you can do yourself.
New Primitive saunas are delivered as fully assembled units. We typically coordinate a crane delivery to lift the sauna from the truck and set it directly into its final position.
What are the site access requirements?
Delivery requires adequate access for a delivery truck and crane setup. This includes sufficient street or driveway space for positioning and safe lifting. We plan all logistics in advance based on your specific site conditions.
What if my site is hard to reach?
We work closely with you during the site survey to evaluate access, clearances, and placement options. While we are not liable for damage related to site conditions or access limitations, we collaborate with the client to ensure everything checks out before delivery and to determine the best possible solution.
Warranty
New Primitive Sauna is backed by a 10 year structural warranty and a 1 year systems warranty. Individual components carry additional manufacturer warranties. For example, an EPDM roof is warrantied for 30 years, and exterior siding is often warrantied for 50 years.
Investment Returns
Many clients report strong rental performance. Unique design and wellness amenities typically command 20-30% premium over standard rentals.
What's the health benefits?
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Ancient traditions from countries like Finland, Turkey, and Japan have long incorporated heat therapies into their health routines. Both steam saunas and dry saunas have rich histories around the world. Recently, the benefits of regular sauna use have gained attention in North America, with studies highlighting potential natural health benefits, including:
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Reduced Stress: High heat environments induce a calming effect, releasing endorphins and reducing cortisol levels over a period of regular sauna use. (2)
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Cardiovascular Health: By enhancing blood circulation and lowering blood pressure, sauna exposure can reduce the risk of heart disease and improve overall heart function. Using the sauna post work-out is particularly beneficial. (2)
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Muscle Soreness & Joint Pain: Heat relieves muscle soreness and joint pain by increasing blood flow and reducing inflammation. Regular sauna use is beneficial for athletes and individuals with chronic pain. (2)
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Skin Health: Using a sauna for skin related issues can be beneficial. Sauna steam helps open pores and gets you sweating, which can detoxify and improve skin health. (2)
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Respiratory Health: The warm, humid environment of a sauna can help relax bronchial muscles and reduce stress, making it easier to breath. Regularly using a sauna for asthma, can help improve respiratory function. (2)
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Immune System: Sauna therapy can boost your immune system, by promoting better circulation. Links between regularly using a sauna and flu prevention have been studied. (2)
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Migraine Relief: Using a sauna for migraine and headache issues may help improve severity and frequency of episodes. (2)
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Weight Loss: Increased heart rate and metabolic rate from sauna sessions can contribute to a calorie burn similar to moderate exercise. Regular use of a steam sauna for weight loss, can be effective.
(1) Disclaimer: Reports of health benefits do not replace medical advice. Please consult your doctor before adding regular sauna use into your health routine. References: 1) Biro, S., et al. (2003). "Clinical Implications of Thermal Therapy in Lifestyle-Related Diseases." Experimental Biology and Medicine. 2) Laukkanen, J. A., Laukkanen, T., & Kunutsor, S. K. (2018). Cardiovascular and Other Health Benefits of Sauna Bathing: A Review of the Evidence. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 93(8), 1111-1121.
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