Sauna flooring – Which flooring is best for a sauna?

The floor of your sauna is the foundation for a safe, hygienic and pleasant sauna experience. When planning your home sauna, the sauna floor therefore deserves special attention – after all, it must match the aesthetics and overall design of the sauna and also prove itself in terms of slip resistance, moisture resistance and heat conduction.

Whether you prefer natural wooden floors for a warm barefoot feeling or robust tile solutions with integrated drainage, at RUKU Sauna-Manufaktur we provide individual advice and find the sauna floor that perfectly suits your space and your requirements.

Wood is the most traditional flooring material for saunas and creates a particularly natural and cosy atmosphere. Wood has low thermal conductivity by nature, which means that the sauna floor does not get too hot or too cold. This makes it perfect for walking barefoot without burning your feet. Wood types commonly used for sauna floors are Nordic spruce or Canadian hemlock. The main advantage of wood is that it stores heat and releases it evenly. Another plus point is the non-slip properties of wooden flooring. However, compared to other materials, wood is more sensitive to moisture and requires longer drying periods after each sauna session.

Tiles are a popular choice for saunas due to their robustness and ease of maintenance. Tiles do not absorb moisture and are therefore very hygienic and easy to clean. Ceramic tiles remain pleasantly cool and fit perfectly into modern interiors. Stoneware tiles create a rustic yet elegant look. An important consideration when choosing tiles for a sauna floor is slip resistance. Tiles also have the advantage of remaining durable even in humid environments such as saunas. However, especially in larger areas, they can create a cooler atmosphere, which not every sauna lover finds pleasant.

PVC floor coverings are a very modern, easy-care and durable solution for saunas. They are characterised by their resistance to chemical and mechanical stress and are also water-resistant and non-slip. As PVC sauna floors are available in many different colours and patterns, you can customise your sauna even further.

Cork is an environmentally friendly, elastic floor covering for saunas. The material is pleasantly warm and non-slip. Cork also has insulating properties and thus contributes to heat retention in the sauna. However, cork is also susceptible to moisture, similar to wood, and needs to be thoroughly dried after each sauna session. Due to its soft structure, cork can wear out more quickly with intensive use – sauna lovers can only counteract this with thorough care.

Stone flooring gives saunas an elegant, rustic look. Natural stones such as granite are particularly robust and resistant to high temperatures and moisture. The advantage: stone floors are naturally non-slip and a very durable solution for saunas.

The disadvantage of stone floors is that they are often perceived as cool, which is not always considered pleasant in a sauna. However, this can be mitigated by using underfloor heating or choosing warmer types of stone.

Special moisture-resistant laminate flooring is a practical and easy-care choice for saunas. It is particularly resistant to moisture and heat, making it ideal for use as sauna flooring. Moisture-resistant laminate flooring differs from conventional laminate flooring in that it has a special sealant that makes it resistant to the challenges of a sauna environment. A particular advantage is that laminate has the look of wood without the risk of mould growth.