Custom Saunas in Petaluma

Petaluma homes, old and new, with room for heat

Petaluma has one of the best-kept historic downtowns in the county, with its iron-front buildings along the Petaluma River, and the streets around it are full of Victorians and early twentieth century homes. East of the freeway the town changes into ranch houses and subdivisions from the 1960s onward, and out past the edges there are dairy and poultry properties that go back generations.

The historic homes on the west side have their own quirks. Many have basements or raised floors, old wiring and small back yards with mature trees. Some sit inside historic districts where the city reviews exterior changes, so a backyard building visible from the street may need design review. We check that early, and in many of these houses we build indoor saunas in a spare room or basement instead, which avoids the question altogether. A basement room under a Victorian needs a careful look at the foundation and any past water stains before we frame anything.

Petaluma is an incorporated city with its own building department, and permits go through the City of Petaluma. The Petaluma River and its creeks have flood zones that reach into some neighborhoods, and parcels in those zones need the heater and electrical set above the flood elevation. Newer tracts on the east side generally have fewer surprises, although some sit under homeowners association rules that affect a backyard building.

The weather here is cooler than Sonoma Valley. Fog and wind come up the river from the bay in summer, and winters are damp. That makes a sauna a year-round thing, and it also means outdoor rooms need solid moisture control. On the east side, newer homes usually have 200-amp service and bigger lots, which makes a backyard cabin or barrel an easy fit. Out on the dairy land west of town, a wood stove is often the better fit, with a long gravel path from the house and plenty of open ground around it.

We also get plenty of calls about older units. If you bought a house with a sauna the previous owners put in, our sauna repair work covers heater elements, controls, rotten benches and doors that no longer seal. Often a few fixes bring a tired room back to full heat for far less than a replacement. When a room is past saving, we salvage what we can, such as the heater or the door, and build new around it.