Meet Matt & Carina
Matt was born and raised in upstate New York, but in 2017 he traded snowbanks for shorelines and moved to Hawaii to pursue a career in teaching. That's where he met Carina. In 2021, they packed up and headed to upstate New York to build something of their own.
Matt promised Carina he'd do his best to bring a little bit of Hawaii back to upstate New York. That promise turned into a handcrafted cedar barrel sauna, nestled into the woods behind their home.
What started as a personal project quickly became a passion. Matt has been a devoted sauna enthusiast for years and is a strong advocate for the many health benefits that come with a consistent practice, from improved circulation and stress relief to deeper sleep and recovery. Since building the barrel, he and Carina have fallen in love with it all over again and are thrilled to share the experience with others.
Why we built this
Sauna by the Hour started as a simple idea: make real Finnish-style sauna and cold-water contrast accessible by the hour, without the crowded locker rooms, the membership fees, or the gym playlist. Just cedar, heat, cold water, and the woods.
How it started
This all started with a four hour trip to Warren, Ohio to pick up a lumber order of western red cedar from Menards. It was the closest place to buy such high-quality cedar, and I knew nothing else would be able to emulate the true feel of the sauna I wanted to build. From there, I took a set of plans and got to work constructing my very own barrel sauna.
Carving out the space
The next step was to envision the location of the sauna and get to work on creating access to the unique backyard terrace we have to work with. It started with building a set of landscaping stairs to access the upper area, and clearing out the space where the sauna would go.
Building the barrel
With the site prepped, it was time to actually build the sauna. The process was long and demanding, milling tongue-and-groove staves, gluing up the round front and back walls, routing the curves, fitting the door frame, shingling the roof, and wrangling every piece into a watertight barrel. There were plenty of late nights in the garage and a few moments where I wondered what I had gotten myself into, but piece by piece it came together. In the end the sauna turned out exactly the way I had pictured it from the beginning: solid, warm, and beautiful.
If you are interested in building your own barrel sauna, I put together a step-by-step guide with everything I learned along the way. You can find it here: Building Your Very Own Electric Barrel Sauna (Etsy).
Making it our own
Since finishing the barrel sauna itself, we have kept improving the space. Inside the sauna we added backrests and upgraded benches to make longer sessions more comfortable. Outside, we strung lights through the trees to create a warm ambience after dark, and built a floating deck so there is a proper spot to relax before and after a session, with room for a cold plunge and a couple of zero gravity chairs. Our favorite time of day is settling in out there after a long day of work and taking care of our kids, watching the sunset fade into a sky full of stars from the view above the valley. We love this little space we have built, and we are excited to share the experience with others.
The space
A handcrafted western red cedar barrel sauna, a deck tucked into the trees, and a cold plunge setup for the contrast cycle. Everything is private, so whether you're coming solo, as a couple, or with a small group of friends, the space is yours for the full hour.
Who runs it
Hi, I'm Matt. I run Sauna by the Hour out of my own backyard because I wanted a place like this to exist and couldn't find one nearby. Every booking goes straight to me, and I'm the one making sure the sauna is hot, the deck is swept, and everything is ready when you arrive.
Questions?
Reach out any time at hello@saunabythehour.com.