The-Home-Sauna-and-Spa-Blog

My last post discussed different types of wood that are suitable for building saunas. The reason the topic came up is an article about a new wood on the market that is being used for some custom saunas.

It is called Ipe (pronounced ee-pay) and is from Brazil. You can get it through hardwood distributors but probably not your local lumberyard. Here is a link to and article about the characteristics and uses of the wood.

Whenever I see a new rainforest wood being promoted I wonder about the environmental impact of logging that type of wood. Some species and logging methods are not a problem but others are. I prefer to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem if I can help it. The problem is figuring out good practices from bad.

One way (and it is mentioned in the article) is with the help of a group called the Forest Stewardship Council. They give a chain-of-custody certification that helps identify woods that are harvested in a sustainable way. Here is a link, check em out.

October 6, 2006 15:41 - Pirts and sheep twins

Here are a few interesting traditional beliefs that I recently saw in an article about pirts. Pirts are the Latvian version of a sauna. Some of the beliefs have a logical basis for them but some of the more interesting seem to come out of left field. The article also gives a good description of the traditional sauna experience including what used to be the common tradition of beating with branches.

You should visit the sauna near the full moon to avoid getting lice.
- If a man uses branches for beating for the first time in autumn, the household won't see a wedding that year.
- You should not leave branches on the floor after use or evil spirits can get at them.
- If leaves from the switches stick to your back after the massage, you should eat at least one and then your sheep will have twins.
- You should never talk about fires in the sauna or it could burn down.
- You should never urinate in the sauna or you will suffer from teary eyes.
- To avoid attracting evil when dressing after the pirts one piece of clothing should always be put on inside out or backwards.
- If you dream that you are washing in the pirts or in dirty water, you will become ill.
- If you are quarrelling with someone, you should tie your sauna branches together at the end of the month.
- If you hang sauna branches in the house, you will get into a fight.
To visit the entire article follow this link

October 11, 2006 13:07 - You say you want a real traditional sauna experience? Go to the sauna museum

On the Torne River on the northern Swedish-Finnish border in the Kukkolaforsen region they are building a sauna museum. This is just below the article Circle. What a great place to learn the old sauna traditions. If there are any experts in the world you will find them here.

It will feature a diversity of sauna styles from around the world, including a sweat lodge used by Mayan Indians thousands of years ago. In this case its modified somewhat by using Reindeer hides instead of the deer of central America.

Visitors will see things not only from around the world but throughout thousands of years of history. Different styles of saunas and steam bathes will be displayed from diverse regions of the world and diverse time periods. You can stay in various accommodations from rented cabins to camping in tents. Within 15 miles you can also rent a hotel room.

If saunas, steam rooms and sweat lodges are not enough to hold your interest there is also a nearby fishing museum plus local treats like Whitefish in herb sauce and local salmon grilled on an open fire.

For more information about the museum check at www.kukkolaforsen.se

for more information about saunas check www.the-home-sauna-center.com

October 17, 2006 10:30 - Need Money for Your New Project?

Here is an article that has some ideas about paying for your home improvement ideas. Considering A Loan To Buy A Hot Tub Or Any Other Big Ticket Item? Copyright © 2006 Emerson Lockwood Super Home Ideas http://www.SuperHomeIdeas.com

A new hot tub is a great addition to any home. A hot tub can bring hours of pleasure and fun to you and your family. Nothing is more relaxing than sitting in a steaming hot tub and feeling the jets blasting on your sore back.

Hot tubs can also add to the overall value of your home and make for a good investment. If you ever decide to sell your home, you can offer the hot tub as an additional selling point for your house.

Unless you have been saving up your money for some time, it is likely that you will need to take out a loan in order to purchase a hot tub. There are many options available to get financing for a new hot tub for your home. The option that you choose to finance your new hot tub will depend greatly on your personal financial situation and on the best deals that you can find for financing.

IN-HOUSE FINANCING

Many companies that sell hot tubs offer their own financing options, much like a new or used car dealer would offer. This may be the right option for some buyers, because some of these companies may be offering great interest rates in order to get more business.

However, I would like to pass on a word of caution at this point. The small loan companies that work with the hot tub companies and other small businesses generally have higher interest rates and many surcharges that accompany the loan.

Take the time to learn about all of the surcharges and extra fees that might accompany these in-house financing options. Make sure that you are really getting a good deal.

Another reason in-house financing options may be advantageous to the buyer is in situations when the buyer has poor credit. Retailers intent on selling their products generally have three or four options lined up to get a loan for their prospective customers.

Most retailers have their primary lenders, and then they have back-up lenders who might be willing to take a bigger gamble with certain high-risk consumers. If you have bad credit, the retailer might be able to get you a loan for your purchase, but it will most likely have higher fees and surcharges associated with it. Those lenders, who are willing to gamble on long shots, always take higher rewards from the consumer for having taken the risk.

LOW-INTEREST RATE CREDIT CARDS

Most of us already have plastic in our pockets. Take a good look at your own credit cards to see which card might offer the lowest interest rates on your purchases.

Some of your credit cards may be very competitive with your local bank. And in some cases, making a purchase on your credit card could be hundreds of dollars cheaper than the same credit line from your bank.

If you can save money by using your credit card, then by all means, take advantage of the low interest rates that your credit card company is offering.

HOME IMPROVEMENT LOANS

The option of a home improvement loan for purchasing a new hot tub is the perfect option for some people. A home improvement loan often offers great interest rates and minor surcharges in obtaining the loan. Another reason that many people choose a home improvement loan for buying a hot tub is because home improvement loans are well known financing options and are often more trusted by consumers.

A home improvement loan comes in many forms. You can get a home equity line of credit or a home equity loan. Another option is to take out another mortgage on your home for home improvement projects, such as hot tubs. Taking out a second mortgage can help solve some of your short-term financial difficulties, but may harm your finances in the long run, because you are more or less paying for your home twice. Whatever you have already paid on your home will have to be repaid again.

The various home improvement loan lenders will offer a variety of deals, some good and some bad. One choice that you will have to make is if you would prefer a fixed interest rate on your loan or a variable interest rate. A fixed interest rate stays consistent over the life of the loan and many people prefer this because they will always know what they owe. A variable interest rate changes with the federal interest rate. This is a good choice if the federal interest rate goes down, but you will be paying more if the interest rate increases. The choice is really up to you and how risk averse you are.

OTHER TYPES OF LENDERS

You can also shop around for lenders that charge no fees or surcharges. These fees are not necessary, because the lender will make most of their money from the interest that you pay on the loan. These fees and surcharges are just their way of trying to make a little extra money. Negotiating aggressively with a lender can result in having these fees and charges waived in some instances.

WOULD IT BE A WISE INVESTMENT IN YOUR HOME?

A hot tub or any other home improvement is usually seen as a wise investment in your home. The only trick is to make sure that you are not spending so much on your home improvement that you will get a low return on your investment. Spending a lot of money on a project that will not increase the sales value of your home is a losing investment.

A hot tub will not always increase the value of your home. This depends dramatically on the buyer and what his or her preferences are. If this potential buyer has always wanted a hot tub, then it is a great investment. If the potential buyer does not care for hot tubs then her or she is not very likely to pay extra for the accessory. Many people do not see hot tubs, saunas, swimming pools, etc. as being great additions to a home and/or see them as increasing the homes value.

If it works out that the person buying your home does not want to pay extra for the home, on account of your home having a hot tub, the best solution will be to take your hot tub out of the home sale contract and to take your hot tub with you when you move.

FINAL THOUGHTS...

The primary thing that you must do is to research various lenders and loan opportunities thoroughly. Doing your homework and spending time learning about the various loans available could potentially save you thousands of dollars over the years. So, you need to be sure and read the fine print of the various loans that are offered, so that you fully understand the costs and details of the loan.

If you plan on staying in your home for several more years, and you have always wanted a hot tub, then a hot tub is an excellent investment in your own personal happiness. You and your family will be able to enjoy your hot tub for many years to come.

--------------------------------------------------------------------- Emerson Lockwood writes on topics related to Home Improvement. When you are ready to buy a hot tub or spa, please visit: http://www.spasnstuff.com/ for factory-direct prices. You can review the Spas 'N Stuff sitemap at this URL: http://www.spasnstuff.com/component/com_joomap/Itemid,100/ . For more Home Improvement articles written by Emerson Lockwood, please visit: http://www.SuperHomeIdeas.com

October 31, 2006 10:05 - Some Additional Tips for Newcomers to the Sauna

Written for Virtual Finland by Joe Brady

Allow yourself a reasonable amount of time: the sauna is a place for relieving stress and tension - unhurriedly.
Have a shower before entering the hot room.
Place a small towel on the bench to sit on, both for hygienic reasons and because the bench may feel rather hot.
The temperature in the hot room is a matter of preference but the Finnish Sauna Society recommends from 80 to 100 degrees Celsius. Some people, however, are quite happy in 70 degree heat. What is universally agreed by responsible sauna bathers is that competing to see who can stand the most heat is both silly and unhealthy.
Increase the humidity by throwing water on the stones and after a few minutes of perspiring refresh yourself in the shower or with other clean water. People with heart complaints or high blood pressure should avoid swimming in cold water after leaving the hot room.If you are enjoying the sauna experience, go back into the hot room to perspire more and whisk yourself with the bundle of leafy birch twigs known in Finnish as a "vihta". Use of the vihta, or sauna whisk, is not essential (and you may not be able to obtain one) but it does enhance the cleansing effect of the sauna by opening up the pores.
You can repeat the heating and cooling process as many times as you wish: in Finland most people would have at least two sessions in the hot room.
Washing with soap or shampoo is generally part of the sauna routine, usually towards the end of the whole procedure.
Get dressed only after the your body temperature has returned to normal and you have stopped perspiring.
The following words of advice from the Finnish Sauna Society are worth remembering: "big meals and alcohol should be avoided before the sauna." (However), "the sauna leaves you not only content but also thirsty and hungry." Then, of course, refreshing drinks should be taken to quench the thirst and restore the body's fluid balance. What you drink depends on local custom. The Finns usually enjoy low-strength beer - nice and cold.