Premium Outdoor Sauna

Elma S – a contemporary glass-front garden sauna for up to two

The Bloomcabin Elma S is designed for a permanent outdoor setting where space needs to be used carefully. At about 162 cm wide, 158 cm deep and 242 cm high, this compact model combines a broad clear-glass façade with a light thermo-aspen interior and uncluttered lines. The cabin accommodates up to two people, making it practical for households that normally enjoy the sauna alone or together rather than with a group. It may be positioned on a patio, within a courtyard or elsewhere in the garden when the base, access and services are suitable. Its rectangular profile works particularly well in neatly arranged outdoor spaces. When choosing the position, look beyond the cabin dimensions and assess the approach to the door, orientation of the glazing and outlook from the seats.

Use the following guidance to decide whether Elma S fits your location, site conditions and preferred way of using a sauna. For other capacities and cabin forms, browse the Bloomcabin sauna range.

What makes this model distinctive

Capacity, permanent site area, structural system, glazing and service requirements should guide your initial choice. Review these principal features first, then prepare the detailed position and connections for your particular property.

Inside Elma S: thermo aspen, thermo spruce and CLT

Pale thermo aspen finishes the Elma S interior, defining the seating zone and contrasting gently with the dark detailing around the glazed façade. LED strips concealed behind the backrest cast indirect light without adding a visible fitting to the clean front elevation. During use, cover the timber with generous sitting or reclining towels to limit direct absorption of sweat. Take damp fabrics out once the session ends rather than leaving them inside. Treat the internal surfaces carefully and follow the care directions supplied for this model. Abrasive equipment, harsh cleaning products and unnecessary amounts of water may damage the wood or alter its appearance.

Several colours and surface treatments are offered for the thermo-spruce outer cladding. Compare them with the adjoining façade, window frames, paving, deck and garden features instead of relying on one photograph. Checking samples or the selected appearance in daylight will give a better indication of how the materials work together. Darker treatments accentuate the box-like geometry, whereas a natural timber finish can blend more softly with planting and timber decking. Keep every external face accessible regardless of the chosen colour. Routine access allows dirt, signs of moisture and developing damage to be noticed before they become harder to address.

Structural support comes from 60 mm CLT, or cross-laminated timber. Layers of wood are arranged and joined as substantial panels from which the straight-sided cabin is formed. This has practical consequences for delivery, assembly and base preparation. Elma S is intended to remain in one established position; it should not be treated like outdoor furniture that can be shifted whenever the layout changes. The completed support must distribute the cabin’s full weight evenly. Preparing it accurately before delivery is far simpler than trying to correct settlement or alignment once the sauna has been assembled.

Planning essentials before you order Elma S

Without its heater, the sauna weighs approximately 915 kg. The completed support must remain level, resist settlement and carry this load evenly for the long term. The appropriate solution depends on the ground and proposed setting; possibilities include a properly constructed concrete slab, suitable paving, isolated footings or a deck structure whose capacity has been assessed. Obtain professional advice whenever the load-bearing performance is uncertain. Drainage needs equal attention. Rain and cleaning water should be directed away rather than collecting below the cabin or remaining against its cladding, so assess structural support and water movement as one site-planning task.

Elma S is designed for three-phase 400 V, 50 Hz power. Before paving or base works are completed, map the cable route from the building and decide where the technical equipment will connect. Engage a suitably qualified, locally licensed electrician to install the heater, controller, lighting and all other electrical components for the nominated equipment and site conditions. Extension leads and DIY connection work are unsuitable. Coordinate the electrical layout with the foundation design before surfaces are closed or paths finished. Good sequencing avoids having to disturb completed paving, decking or landscaped areas to install cables later.

The cabin’s measurements describe only part of the area you will need. Keep a flat, open zone beyond the glazed façade so the door travels through its full arc and users can enter and leave comfortably. Working clearance is also needed along the sides and rear for installation, inspection, cleaning and future upkeep. Survey the route from the unloading location to the prepared base as carefully as the site itself. Gates, steps, walls, low eaves, trees and existing services may obstruct delivery even when the final position is large enough. Confirm the route against the intended delivery method before placing the order.

Before work starts, ask the relevant council, state or territory bodies and trades which planning, siting, electrical and, where applicable, fire-safety requirements affect the proposal. The responsible authority and documents needed depend on the property, location and work involved. Obtain advice early enough to incorporate it into the design. A small Elma S footprint does not, by itself, reduce the requirements that may apply. Broader planning guidance appears under Useful information.

Who is Elma S particularly suited to?

Typical user numbers, frequency and the area that can remain dedicated to the sauna will shape the decision. These examples illustrate settings where Elma S may work particularly well.

Choosing between Elma S and a compact barrel sauna

Choose Elma S when a small, rectilinear sauna better suits the character of your outdoor area. Its clear façade, light-coloured lining and CLT shell produce a restrained contemporary appearance beside modern buildings and patios. Straight sides can be set deliberately against paving joints, paths or architectural lines in a way that a curved cabin cannot. From within, the transparent front also keeps the garden visually connected to the interior. The important preference is whether that openness appeals to you or whether a more enclosed cabin with traditional styling would feel more comfortable.

HC150 and similar compact barrel saunas create a noticeably different effect. Curved walls and a stronger expression of timber give the form a more traditional presence in the landscape. Compare how each option feels inside, where its entry sits, how the front is composed and how the structure will appear when viewed from the house; footprint alone is not enough. Neither shape is inherently the better-quality choice. Select the one that responds most successfully to your routines, available site and existing garden design.

If the sauna will often host more than two people, or you want extra movement within the linear Elma design, consider the roomier Elma L instead.

Plan routes, ventilation and care across the seasons

Design the trip from the house around the weather and light conditions in which the sauna will genuinely be used. Provide a clearly visible, obstacle-free route with an appropriately slip-resistant surface. Set out towels, a robe and suitable footwear before the heater is started, reducing the time the door remains open. A cooling place and sheltered seat should both be conveniently reached after leaving the cabin. If cold water is part of your routine, manage it so spray does not wet the entrance or collect below the structure. Anyone with concerns about whether sauna use is suitable for their health should seek medical advice beforehand.

After each session, give the moisture generated in the cabin a route out. Use the ventilation and operating arrangements described for the model, without covering or restricting any air passages. Dry the room before closing it for a prolonged interval, and take out wet towels and vessels that still contain water. Equipment, climate and current weather will affect the precise process, but moisture should not remain enclosed. Inspect the benches, backrest, floor zone and joints beside the glazing. Around the exterior, clear away soil, fallen leaves and plant material before they interfere with drainage.

Make detailed visual checks at regular intervals, including the fasteners, seals, glazing, outer cladding and supporting base. After heavy rainfall or freezing conditions, look for movement and verify that runoff still leaves the site properly. Cleaning and surface care should use only methods and products suitable for the materials. Leave electrical work to an appropriately qualified professional. For the detailed schedule, the model-specific installation and maintenance instructions apply.

Plan the glazed outlook without giving up privacy

What lies beyond the clear front has a major influence on the atmosphere inside Elma S. Outline the cabin position, then check the likely view from approximately seated height. Garden foliage or a quieter corner can enhance the sense of openness. A façade directed towards busy paths, neighbouring windows, bins or parked vehicles may prove less relaxing in daily use. Repeat the assessment in darkness: once the internal LEDs are operating, visibility into and out of the cabin will differ from daytime conditions.

Privacy elements should sit beside the sauna or far enough in front that they do not restrict entry, ventilation or maintenance access. Allow planting room to mature and leave space for pruning or other care. Remember that a leafy screen providing good cover in summer may become much more open during winter. Permanent slatted panels and similar structures also need to be considered in the site planning. Seek a layout that screens unwanted views while retaining the outlook and keeping every working area around the cabin accessible.

Study glare, reflections and direct sunlight at the hours when sessions are most likely. No single compass orientation will suit every site. The position of the dwelling, nearby structures, trees and overhead cover generally has a greater practical effect on the light and outlook than the nominal direction alone.

Making a compact sauna routine work smoothly

Preparation is especially useful when the cabin accommodates no more than two people. Arrange towels and personal items outside, keeping the whole entrance zone open. Anything unable to tolerate sauna temperatures should remain elsewhere. Before switching on, check that neither the approach nor the cabin contains an obstruction, then operate the controller and heater only as directed in their instructions. A child, or anyone who needs help to use the sauna safely, should always have appropriate supervision.

Position the resting area close enough to reach easily between rounds, but keep chairs and loungers away from the walking line. Place towels and robes on a sheltered, dry surface so they do not introduce avoidable moisture. In practice, an uncluttered approach, convenient storage and a comfortable nearby seat provide the essentials for an orderly routine.

Set aside independent space now if a plunge pool, outdoor shower or shelter may be introduced later. Lay out drainage, water, cabling and service clearances together so each installation remains accessible. Any addition should be professionally designed, and nothing should be fixed to the sauna retrospectively unless the product documentation expressly permits it. This forward planning allows the surrounding facilities to grow in stages while preserving the entry route and the access required to maintain Elma S.

FAQ – Bloomcabin Elma S