What installing the SaunaLife GL6 involves
Site and foundation
The GL6 must be set on a pre-made, level foundation with enough bearing capacity for a light outbuilding — SaunaLife's manual makes a level base a condition of the doors and windows working properly. The manual also advises removing the soil under the sauna and replacing it with well-drained, load-bearing material, and keeping planting back from the walls to limit moisture. Allow the full 90.2" × 90.2" footprint plus working room on all four sides during the build, and clearance in front of the side wall for the glass door to swing.
Assembly
SaunaLife states that two people with moderate DIY experience can assemble the GL6 in two days. It is not a tool-free build: the manual's own steps call for a circular saw to trim the final roof board, a hole saw or jigsaw to cut the 3.95" ventilation hole, and a utility knife to size the roof insulation panels. The kit supplies the fasteners, the silicone gun, the bitumen sealant and a hitting block for seating the wall boards.
Electrical work
All electrical work on the GL6, including installing the electric heater, must be carried out by a qualified specialist — that is SaunaLife's own instruction, not a recommendation. The circuit size depends on the heater you choose, so confirm the requirement against the heater manufacturer's manual before booking an electrician. Do not use the sauna during its first heating; SaunaLife specifies a first two-hour heat-up under supervision, ventilated throughout.
Caring for the GL6
SaunaLife requires the wooden parts of the GL6 to be treated with a suitable exterior wood preservative immediately after assembly, and states that the manufacturer is not responsible for damage caused by untreated wood. Re-treat at least once a year, more often with heavy use. Thermally treated spruce is more dimensionally stable and more moisture-resistant than untreated softwood, but SaunaLife's manual and warranty both describe surface cracking, darkening near the steam and moderate movement as normal behaviour for wood in a sauna. Inside, wipe the benches with a clean damp cloth after each session, ventilate until the surfaces are dry, and avoid pressure washing or running water anywhere on the timber.