Why a Nova Sauna Costs More. Quality Matters
Most saunas look identical online. They aren't. Here are the five hidden differences that determine how long your sauna lasts and how well it performs.
Difference #1
No Finger Jointed Timber
Every cheaper sauna in Australia is constructed using finger jointed staves. Short offcuts of timber are coated in adhesive and pressed together to make staves. 15% is the timber species being advertised, the rest is cheaper timber held together with glue.
Every Nova sauna is built from full length, 100% Canadian timber with no adhesives. This is one of the easiest corners for manufacturers to cut. It looks identical, so buyers never realise they're getting a cheaper product.
Why does this matter?
Cheap timber and glued offcuts are more prone to splitting and movement, while unnecessary adhesives have no place in a sauna your family uses.
Difference #2
Canadian vs Japanese Timber
Not all cedar is the same. Many saunas use Japanese Cedar instead of Canadian Red Cedar. Japanese Cedar grows faster and produces a softer less dense timber. Canadian timber grows slower in colder climates which creates a tighter more stable grain.
Every Nova Sauna is built from 100% Canadian timber. You can choose Canadian Hemlock or premium Canadian Red Cedar. Both are selected for their strength and stability in Australian outdoor conditions.
READ THE FINE PRINT
Don't just look for the word “cedar.” Japanese Cedar is not the same as Canadian Red Cedar.
Difference #3
Thermal Modification
Every Nova Sauna is built from thermally modified timber. Each board is heat treated for 72 hours in a high heat, low oxygen environment to remove excess moisture and sugars. This dramatically improves dimensional stability which reduces warping, shrinking and gaps while improving insulation and heat retention. The result is a sauna that lasts longer and performs better.
Other companies skip thermal modification because it's one of the most expensive manufacturing steps and you can't see the difference before you buy. You only notice it years later when the timber starts shrinking, and gaps start appearing in your sauna.
What to look for
The word "thermally modified" or "Thermowood" on the spec sheet.
Difference #4
38mm vs 30mm Timber
Our 38mm timber is 27% thicker than the 30mm panels other sauna companies use. That means better insulation and a more durable sauna. Your sauna will heat faster, hold heat longer and stay dimensionally stable for decades in Australian conditions.
Thicker timber costs significantly more, which is why other companies use 30mm. They look identical online, but the difference is obvious the day your sauna arrives, and every time you use it.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU
Faster heat up times, better heat retention and a sauna that is actually built to last for decades.
Difference #5
Fully Assembled, 15 Point Quality Check
Before any Nova Sauna leaves our warehouse, it's fully assembled and put through 15 quality assurance tests. This ensures every panel fits correctly, no pieces are broken or missing, and every sauna arrives exactly as advertised. It takes more time and costs more, but it dramatically reduces the risk of installation issues and manufacturing defects.
BUY WITH CONFIDENCE
You're investing thousands into a sauna. The last thing you want is to discover missing parts or manufacturing defects halfway through installation.
What to look for.
Full-Length Timber
Yes
Finger-jointed
Finger-jointed
100% Canadian Timber
Yes
Japanese Timber
Japanese Timber
Thermally Modified Timber
Yes
No
No
38mm Timber
Yes
30mm Timber
30mm Timber
8mm Tempered Glass
Yes
Yes
6mm Glass
Cheapest Option
$1k–$2k more
Yes
Yes
If You're Looking for the Cheapest Sauna, We're Not for You.
You've now seen the hidden differences that separate a premium outdoor sauna from a cheaper alternative. If you're looking for the cheapest option on the market, that isn't us.
But if you're looking for the highest quality outdoor sauna on the market, engineered specifically for Australian conditions and built to last for decades, there's a reason so many Australians choose Nova.
