ProSaunas Western Red Cedar 1x4 Tongue & Groove Sauna Paneling, Clear, Nickel Gap is a clear Western Red Cedar board for lining sauna walls and ceilings. Each board is 0.69 in thick and 3.38 in wide, covers 3 in of wall once fitted, and is sold by the piece in 1 ft, 2 ft, 3 ft, 4 ft, 5 ft, 7 ft, 8 ft and 10 ft lengths.
Why Western Red Cedar for a sauna?
ProSaunas calls Western Red Cedar the traditional sauna wood in North America and selects cedar with smooth, even, straight grain and a consistent light reddish-brown color. According to ProSaunas, cedar stays comfortable to the touch in high heat, naturally resists decay, rot and insects, and contains organic compounds that help repel water.
The nickel-gap profile
ProSaunas describes this nickel-gap, tongue-and-groove profile as creating an elegant surface for sauna walls and ceilings. Each board's tongue fits into the groove of the next, so the boards lock together into one continuous surface.
Nominal 1x4 vs. actual size
"1x4" is the nominal size: the board's size when it is cut from the log, before drying and surfacing. The finished board is 0.69 in thick and 3.38 in wide. Its tongue sits in the groove of the next board, so each board covers 3 in of wall rather than its full width.
How many boards do you need?
One linear foot of this board covers about 0.25 sq ft of wall (3 in of coverage × 12 in). To estimate an order, multiply the wall and ceiling area in square feet by 4.00 to get linear feet, then divide by the board length you choose. For example, 100 sq ft in 8-ft boards is about 400 linear ft, or 50 boards, before an allowance for cuts. The number of boards also sets the freight rate shown under Shipping.
Matching paneling, bench wood and trim
Most saunas are built in one wood. Western Red Cedar Sauna Wood collects every Western Red Cedar paneling profile and bench size; Western Red Cedar comes without matching trim. Sauna Paneling lists every paneling profile in all species, and Sauna Wood collects ProSaunas paneling, bench wood and trim by species.
Cleaning and care
ProSaunas recommends wiping benches, walls and floors with a mild detergent solution to remove sweat, oils and dirt, and ventilating the sauna after each use so moisture does not build up and lead to mold or mildew.