SweatDecks Blog

Welcome to the SweatDecks wellness journal. Our team of credentialed experts -- including sports medicine physicians, exercise scientists, and master builders -- covers everything from cold plunge protocols and sauna health benefits to installation guides and product comparisons. Whether you're researching your first home sauna or optimizing a contrast therapy routine, you'll find science-backed answers here.

Cedar tongue-and-groove sauna wall boards with small expansion gap spacers between courses

Jul 10, 2026
by SweatDecks

Sauna wall board expansion gaps: exactly how much space you need

Leave 3 to 6 mm (⅛, ¼ in) between sauna wall boards for wood expansion. This guide explains why, how to measure, and what happens if you skip it. 140 chars

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Cedar Finnish sauna interior with hot stones, wooden bench, ladle, and bucket

Jul 10, 2026
by SweatDecks

Finnish sauna vs steam room humidity levels: what's actually different

Finnish saunas run 10-20% humidity; steam rooms hit 100%. Here's what that gap means for how each feels, who benefits, and which one to choose.

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Aluminum foil vapor barrier stapled to wooden sauna wall studs during construction

Jul 10, 2026
by SweatDecks

Sauna foil vapor barrier vs plastic sheeting: what's the real difference?

Foil vapor barriers and plastic sheeting are not the same thing. Here's exactly why the wrong choice ruins your sauna walls and what to use instead.

Read: Sauna foil vapor barrier vs plastic sheeting: what's the real difference?