Alpina Large - View Sauna Installation & Owner's Manual
Almost Heaven Saunas
Important Safety Instructions
DANGER: Indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury.
WARNING: Indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.
CAUTION: Indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided, could result in minor or moderate injury.
NOTICE: Indicates information considered important, but not hazard-related.
- READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE INSTALLATION AND USE TO AVOID INJURY OR DAMAGE TO SAUNA
- FOLLOW SAFETY INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT TO AVOID SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH
- REFER TO YOUR LOCAL BUILDING CODES FOR ANY SPECIFIC INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS
- ALL ELECTRICAL WORK NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED BY A LICENSED ELECTRICIAN. FAILURE TO DO SO COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DAMAGE TO THE HEATER.
- KEEP THESE INSTRUCTIONS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
⚠️ WARNING
- This sauna is not intended for use by persons (including children) with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities, or lack of experience and knowledge, unless they have been given supervision or instruction concerning use of the sauna by a person responsible for their safety.
- Consult your doctor about any health-related limitations related to sauna use. Ignoring advice from your medical provider could cause serious injury or death.
- Do not let people with pre-existing health conditions bathe in the sauna on their own. Using the sauna could cause these users to lose consciousness.
- Parents should consult your pediatrician before allowing children to use the sauna. Ignoring advice from your medical provider could cause serious injury or death.
- Do not smoke, use alcohol, or exercise in the sauna. These tasks could cause users to lose consciousness.
- Do not exceed 30 minutes in the sauna at one time, as excessive exposure may be harmful to health. The sauna should not be used as an endurance test.
- Do not place any combustible material over the sauna heater (towels, bathing suits, wooden bucket or ladle)! This will cause the sauna to catch fire.
- Hyperthermia occurs when the internal temperature of the body reaches a level several degrees above the normal body temperature of 98.6 °F. The symptoms of hyperthermia include an increase in the internal temperature of the body, dizziness, lethargy, drowsiness, and fainting.
- Only use stones approved for sauna heater use. Inadequate stones may crack or explode leading to serious injury.
- Do not sleep in a sauna that the heater is operating. Sleeping in a heated sauna may lead to injury or death.
⚠️ CAUTION
- Keep all occupants away from the heater and when it is hot. The stones and outer surface of the heater may burn your skin.
- Do not throw excessive amounts of water on the stones. The evaporating water is boiling hot and could cause burns.
- Do not throw water directly onto the elements. This could cause burns and damage to the heater.
- Be very careful when moving in the sauna, as the benches and floors may be slippery. This could cause the user to slip and fall.
- Do not alter the sauna in any way, unless explicitly instructed in this manual. Altering the sauna could lead to structural damage, increasing the risk to bodily harm.
- When moving and lifting heavy pieces, use two or more people. Moving pieces without adequate manpower will lead to injury.
A Word About Our Saunas
Our sauna kits are designed for ease of assembly by the customer, and every attempt has been made to make assembly information as clear as possible. If you have any questions about assembly, please do not hesitate to call us at 888-355-3050, or send us an email at sales@almostheaven.com.
Thank you again for choosing Almost Heaven. We are grateful for your business and know you will have many years of enjoyment in your sauna!
Your Almost Heaven sauna is designed for outdoor use although it is perfectly fine to use it indoors. The lumber is naturally resistant to the elements. Rain and sun will not damage the wood, although natural weathering and coloring of the wood will occur over time. To preserve the initial look of the sauna, you may choose to stain the exterior with a UV inhibiting stain. Consult your local paint store for their recommendations on a particular stain for your sauna. We do not recommend that you paint or varnish inside your sauna. Properly assembled, you should not experience water dripping in the sauna.
Locating the Sauna
Because the traditional sauna experience involves a heating-cooling-resting regimen, it is important to plan ahead before installing your sauna. Our method of construction allows you to place your sauna in a wide variety of settings. Be sure the surface is firm and level, and can support the weight of the sauna and its users (1,000+ lbs). A deck or concrete slab is certainly an option, but if your sauna sits directly on the ground, be sure the base boards sit on paver stones or something similar to prevent the sauna from settling into the ground.
Basic Tools
These tools are helpful in the assembly of your outdoor sauna:
- Cordless Drill
- Drill Bit Set
- Bit Set
- Rubber Mallet
- Hammer
- Framing square
- 1/4" Hex Bit
- Utility knife
- Level
- Tape Measure
- Ladder
- Table or Skill Saw
First Considerations
Before beginning assembly, ensure that the installation surface is level. Many garage, basement or deck floors are sloped for drainage. A slight slope will not be an issue, but a more pronounced slope will require shimming to make the sauna level. An uneven installation surface can result in poor-fitting staves leading to poor sauna function. Also, if the site might receive heavy winds, it is recommended extra precautions are taken to ensure the door does not blow open. In most situations, this factor will not be a concern.
Electrical Requirements
Costs of an electrician can vary greatly depending on several factors, including your sauna's distance from your electrical service box, where you live and cost of materials. We always recommend you get quotes from two to three different licensed electricians before you begin installation in order to get the best possible service and price.
Use copper wire with 90C insulation. Do not use aluminum wire to make the connection. Consult with an electrician so you can determine the requirements for your particular situation. All wiring must conform to all national, state and local codes and regulations.
For further information and instruction on your heater installation and operation, please consult the provided heater manual.
Parts List Summary
The manual includes a comprehensive parts list detailing all components required for assembly, categorized by floor frame, inner base frame, wall elements, partition wall, glass elements, ceiling, roof, windows, door components, interior fittings, accessories, and exterior decor. Each part is listed with its quantity and dimensions.
Installation Guide
Floor/Foundation Plan
This section provides diagrams and dimensions for the floor and foundation. It emphasizes ensuring the foundation is sturdy, level, and can support the sauna's weight (1,000+ lbs). Recommendations include using a moisture barrier and anchoring the sauna to prevent damage from strong winds.
Image 1 illustrates the assembly of the outer floor frames, showing straight and corner connections, with dimensions provided for each frame piece. It details attaching these frames together using fourteen 5 X 70 screws.
Image 2 shows the placement and attachment of the inner base floor frames within the outer frames, detailing end and middle base frame connections and specifying thirty-two 5 X 90 screws for assembly.
Wall Assembly
This section details the step-by-step process of assembling the sauna walls, emphasizing predrilling screws to prevent breakage and ensuring corners are at right angles.
Notice: Screws must be predrilled. Avoid direct hammer impact on wall panel grooves; use a wooden strip. Check corner angles before full fastening.
Steps include:
- Fastening Wall Elements W1 and W2 to a corner post using four 6 X 130 screws.
- Attaching Wall W3 to W2 with one 5 X 70 screw.
- Attaching Wall W4 to W3 with one 5 X 70 screw.
- Connecting W2 and W4 using the W3 Mounting Rail and six 5 X 70 screws.
- Placing Wall W3-b on top of the mounting rail.
- Attaching the next corner post to Wall W4 using four 6 X 130 screws.
- Subsequent steps involve attaching walls W5 through W18, including electrical and ventilation elements, to corner posts and mounting rails using specified screws (e.g., 5 X 70, 6 X 130). Images illustrate the placement and fastening of each wall element and corner post.
Partition Wall Assembly
This section covers the installation of the partition wall.
Steps include:
- Locating and fastening the rear mounting rail to Wall W7 using four 5 X 80 screws, ensuring it's centered over the middle floor frame.
- Placing Wall W19 onto the middle floor frame, aligning multiclips, and fastening it to the mounting rail at the top and the floor frame at the bottom using two 5 X 70 screws.
Floor Installation
This section details how to install the floor boards.
Steps include:
- Starting with the partition wall floor board (54-3/4 x 4-1/2 x 3/4), laying it over the middle base frame and fastening it through the tongue with four 3.2 X 40 screws on each side. Ensure screws are countersunk.
- Continuing with long floor boards (76-3/4 x 4-1/8 x 3/4), placing them groove over tongue, and fastening to base frames with six 3.2 X 40 screws.
- For the last boards, cutting to fit if necessary and fastening down into the base frames with six 3.2 X 40 screws.
Partition Installation
This section focuses on installing the glass partition.
Steps include:
- Locating and fastening the front mounting rail to Wall W17 using four 5 X 80 screws, aligning it with W19.
- Fastening the front stand with glass groove to the front mounting rail using four 3.5 X 50 screws.
- Locating the rear stand with glass groove and sliding it down over the multiclips to connect it to W19.
- Notice: Handle glass with care; do not allow it to bend or damage corners to prevent shattering.
- Placing a 22-3/8" aluminum U-Channel on the floor, setting the 79 x 22-7/8 piece of glass into it, and sliding the glass and U-Channel into the front stand glass groove.
- Placing the above door element over the glass and between the front/rear glass grooves, predrilling, and fastening to the glass groove boards with four 4 X 70 screws.
- Inserting the spacer bar into the above door element groove and fastening through the bottom with three 3.2 X 40 screws.
Electrical Cable Installation
This section guides the installation of electrical components, such as lighting.
Danger: Turn off power to the heater at the breaker before installation or maintenance to prevent electrocution.
Steps include:
- Deciding the light location, typically in a corner with a cable channel (Walls 1, 5, 7, 10, 14).
- Drilling a hole through the wall to access the cable channel for routing the wire.
- Fastening the light to the wall, ensuring clearance from the ceiling for corner cover strips.
- If using a lamp protection grille, it must be in the corner to span corners and fastened with four 3.5 X 40 screws. It is recommended to defer grille installation until after corner covers are fitted.
- For the heater, use cable channels in Wall W17 to run wires for the heater and temperature sensor. Wires can be routed up into the ceiling and down another channel to exit outside near the power source. Cable channels can also be used for digital controller wires.
- It is recommended to defer connecting the heater to incoming power until exterior wall components are installed.
- Refer to the Heater section for more information.
Roof Installation
This section details the roof assembly process.
Steps include:
- Gathering six roof support strips and fastening them to the top of the walls using three 5 X 70 screws for short strips and four for long strips, ensuring cable notches are oriented correctly.
- Laying six roof elements onto the support strips and fastening them with twenty-six 6 X 120 screws, ensuring inspection opening and cable holes are correctly oriented.
- Installing the first layer of 4-5/8" roof rafter supports in the front using seven 6 X 200 screws, ensuring correct cutout orientation.
- Repeating for the second layer of 4-5/8" roof rafter supports. The final height of front supports should be 9-3/8".
- Using the single 3-1/8" tall roof rafter support in the back, fastening with seven 6 X 200 screws.
- Setting seven roof rafters (84-7/8 x 5-1/2 x 2-3/4) onto the support rails approximately 19" apart, ensuring ends sit flat, and fastening with one 6 X 250 screw into each end.
- Placing the 4 roof panels (69-1/8 x 45 x 3/4) on top of the rafters and fastening with eighty 4 X 50 screws (5 per rafter per panel).
- Placing roofing felt over the panels with a 22-1/2" overlap and attaching with 150 roofing nails.
Notice: It is recommended to purchase shingles, metal roofing, or other suitable roof covering from a local hardware store to finish the roof.
Window & Door Installation
This section covers the installation of windows and the door.
Steps include:
- Inserting six stainless steel ventilation covers into the outside of specified walls (W1, W5, W7, W10, W15, W17).
- Window Installation (Side): Place window mounting rails inside the window opening, offset to the inside of the sauna, and fasten with ten 4 X 70 screws per window. Install the window from outside, predrilling through mounting rails and fastening into the window frame with ten 5 X 80 screws per window.
- Cover the window opening with the inner window frame, fastening with fourteen 3.2 X 40 screws per window.
- Window Installation (Front): Place window mounting rails into the front window opening, offset to the inside, and fasten with fourteen 4 X 70 screws per window. Install the window from outside, predrilling through mounting rails and fastening into the window frame with ten 5 X 80 screws per window.
- Door Installation: Install door handles onto the door. Place door mounting rails into the door opening, offset to the inside, and fasten with ten 4 X 70 screws. Set the door from the outside, predrill and fasten through the mounting rail using ten 5 X 80 screws. Cover the door opening with inside door cover strips and fasten with thirteen 3.2 X 40 screws.
Benches, Backrests & Other Interior Component Installations
This section details the installation of interior elements like benches and backrests.
Steps include:
- Fastening skirting boards around the base of the floor using twenty-six 3.2 X 40 screws.
- Installing ventilation slides over exhaust openings using four 3.5 X 40 screws each.
- Positioning the bench foot wall in front of W15 and fastening it to W14 using three 5 X 120 screws.
- Mounting bench braces (22-7/8 x 1-5/8 x 1-5/8) using three 5 X 70 screws each.
- Mounting other bench braces (47-1/4 x 1-5/8 x 1-5/8) using three 5 X 70 screws each.
- Fastening bench screen mounting slats (10-1/4 x 1-5/8 x 1-5/8) using two 4 X 60 screws each.
- Placing benches on walls and supports, securing them with specified screws. For example, a 70-1/2" bench on the left wall, a 52-1/2" upper bench on the back wall, and a 44-7/8" bench in the entrance area.
- Installing bench screens against mounting slats.
- Attaching backrests to the wall, recommending approximately 8" above the top bench, using three 3.5 X 40 screws per backrest.
Exterior Decor Installation
This section covers the installation of exterior decorative elements.
Steps include:
- Fastening the outer ventilation grill over outside openings using four 3.5 X 40 screws each.
- Installing exterior decor panels, starting with element D1, placing them 2-1/2" off the foundation and fastening with five rows of three 4.2 X 70 screws.
- Working around the front, right, back, and left sides to install remaining exterior decor panels (D2-b, D4, D7, D14, etc.), using specified screws and noting that narrow sections may require fewer screws per row.
- Placing outer window frames over side and front windows using specified screws (3.2 X 40 and 4 X 70).
- Fastening the outer mounting rail below the door and attaching outer door cover strips with specified screws.
Interior Door Installation
This section details the final steps for the interior door.
Steps include:
- Connecting hinges to the interior door, ensuring they are fastened so the door swings into the entrance room.
- Mounting the door to the rear stand glass groove using three 4 X 30 screws.
- Installing the door handle (bottom hole 36-3/8" from the bottom) and the push plate over the top of the glass.
- Installing the door magnet into the door frame to match the push plate location.
- The sauna includes 2 headrests and 1 floor grid. The floor grid is recommended for the entrance room outside the sauna to wipe feet before entering.
Traditional Sauna Use
Congratulations on being ready to enjoy your sauna! You can use it in a wet or dry fashion.
Dry use: Do not sprinkle water onto the stones.
Wet use: Increase humidity by sprinkling water on the stones. Not much water is needed.
The typical Finnish sauna experience involves the following steps:
- Set your heater to achieve the desired temperature, typically 160-185+ °F. Novice users should start at the lower end and increase gradually.
- Take a quick shower or dip in a hot tub/pool.
- Step into the sauna for 5-15 minutes, sitting or lying on a towel. Leave when perspiring freely.
- Cool down with a plunge in a pool, shower, snowbank, or lake. Relax for 10-20 minutes.
- Re-enter the sauna. You may sprinkle small amounts of water on the stones for steam. If water spills through the heater to the floor, you are using too much water.
- Repeat this process. After your final visit, relax for at least 20 minutes. Shower with warm water initially, finishing with cool water.
Prepare to feel refreshed! Whatever your sauna routine, it is imperative that you STAY HYDRATED!
Care & Maintenance
Treating Lumber
The lumber is naturally resistant to elements. Left untreated, the exterior will weather naturally. You can pressure wash (low pressure) to restore original color. For retaining natural color, use an exterior-grade stain with a UV inhibitor. Follow manufacturer's instructions. NEVER TREAT THE INTERIOR OF THE SAUNA UNLESS APPROVED, AND NEVER USE VARNISH OR PAINT ON THE EXTERIOR.
Cleaning the Lumber
Periodically vacuum or brush out loose dirt. Discoloration from perspiration or wear can be cleaned with a baking soda and water solution, followed by rinsing. Heavier stains can be sanded with fine grit sandpaper. Low-pressure pressure washing can also effectively remove stains and dirt.
Location and Geography
Climate affects lumber through swelling, contraction, and fading from sunlight. These effects do not impact quality or performance but may require band tightening or re-staining. Check band tension and fading every few months, especially initially.
Replacement of Sauna Stones
Sauna stones may crack over time due to temperature fluctuations. Use only sauna stones designed for your heater. Replacement stones are available from Almost Heaven Saunas.
Replacement Parts
Replacement staves, doors, and components are available from Almost Heaven Saunas.
Accessories
Almost Heaven Saunas offers accessories like leg rests, back rests, drink holders, robe hooks, and magazine racks. Visit www.almostheaven.com for more information.
Final Things
Once assembly is complete, sweep and vacuum the interior. Wipe down with a damp cloth to remove dirt and debris.
Note: If the sauna absorbed moisture during storage, staves may shrink as heat evaporates moisture, potentially requiring band tightening. Exposure to rain can cause staves to expand. The untreated wood can be treated on the outside with an exterior-grade stain or sealant for durability and moisture protection.
Almost Heaven Saunas
Almost Heaven Saunas
