From Reddit Rabbit Holes to Backyard Oasis: One Client’s Custom Sauna Journey
Every now and then, a client documents their sauna journey so thoroughly that we can’t help but share it. Maria Gonzalez-Blanch did exactly that, writing up the entire research process behind building a sauna in her beautiful San Diego backyard, from the first Reddit deep-dive all the way to her finished build. It’s one of the most honest, useful accounts of what it actually takes to go from “I want a sauna” to “I use it every single day,” and we’re grateful she let us be part of the story.
Her starting point will feel familiar to anyone who’s considered a backyard sauna. She had a small space, a real budget, and a long list of questions. Should it be infrared or traditional? Buy a pre-made kit, attempt a DIY build, or go fully custom? She did the homework on all of it, weighing the higher heat and steam of a traditional sauna against the lower energy draw and easier setup of infrared, and ultimately chose traditional for the intense heat she was after.
The custom route is where most people hit a wall, and Maria did too. When she called around for a custom sauna built to her exact specs, the quotes she got back were steep enough to put the idea out of reach. DIY plans were cheaper on paper, but as someone with the skills to actually attempt it, she realized the time cost was enormous. That’s the gap so many would-be sauna owners fall into: priced out of custom, but unwilling to settle for a flimsy imported kit they’d be sitting in for years.
This is where we came in. Maria found Kaiborg Builds through Instagram and local searches, came to see a finished sauna in person, and the rest followed from there. We built her our Vesper model, sized for four to five people, designed to fit the footprint she had to work with. The build used the materials we believe in: premium cedar, proper weatherproof roofing, sheep wool insulation, and a Huum heater that gets up to temperature fast and can be controlled from her phone. The part we’re proudest of is that we delivered the custom build she wanted at a better value than she’d been given elsewhere.
What we love most about Maria’s write-up is that it’s not really about us. It’s about a thoughtful person figuring out what she actually wanted and refusing to compromise on quality or budget. Months in, she uses the sauna nearly every day, has noticed real improvements in her sleep and recovery, and has turned it into a gathering spot for friends and family. That’s exactly the outcome we build for.
If you’re at the start of your own research, her post is genuinely worth reading. She describes the finished result as her “oasis of peace,” and that’s the feeling we aim for with every build.
You can read Maria’s full write-up on her Substack
Thinking about a sauna of your own? We’d love to help you design one that fits your space and your budget. Book a build with us to get started.
