FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We offer a wide range of products including :

• Indoor and outdoor saunas
• Spas with acrylic tank
• Hammams
• Electric Nordic baths or wood heating
• Wooden spas
• Cold baths
• Sensory shower

Our products are carefully manufactured in various specialized workshops, each one an expert in its own field:

• The Atelier Nordic range is entirely designed and manufactured in a local joinery in Haute-Savoie, guaranteeing French craftsmanship and rigorous quality control.

• Our Viskan spas are made in Sweden, benefiting from Scandinavia’s renowned expertise in this field.

• Auroom indoor and outdoor saunas are made in Estonia, a country renowned for its long tradition of sauna design.

Yes, we do offer customized solutions to meet your specific needs. Our in-house design office is dedicated to the design and realization of your customized projects. It operates on two essential levels:

• Drawing up detailed plans for your project, adapted to your requirements and your space
• In-depth study of technical feasibility, guaranteeing the quality and durability of the project

Manufacturing and installation times vary according to the customization of your project and our order backlog. On average, please allow 13 weeks from order confirmation. We will provide you with a precise estimate when we study your project.

The choice between an indoor and outdoor sauna will depend on your preferences, available space and budget.

• Indoor sauna: Ideal for everyday use, it blends harmoniously into your interior, offering gentle, enveloping warmth.
• Outdoor sauna: For nature-lovers, this allows you to enjoy the benefits of the sauna while admiring the landscape. The contrast between the warmth of the sauna and the fresh outdoor air creates a sensation of intense well-being.

We offer installation services throughout mainland France. Please do not hesitate to contact us for details of installation in your area.

At Atelier Nordic, we believe in personalization. You can fully customize the dimensions, interior and exterior finishes of your product so that it fits perfectly into your space and meets your expectations.

The sauna offers many health benefits:

• Improved blood circulation
• Elimination of toxins through perspiration
• Relieves muscle and joint pain
• Boosting the immune system
• Reduces stress and improves sleep
• Skin purification
• Aids sports recovery
• Improved respiratory function

The traditional sauna heats the ambient air to a high temperature (80-100°C) using a stone stove. The heat is distributed throughout the cabin and penetrates the body gradually. The infrared sauna, on the other hand, uses emitters that heat the body directly without heating the ambient air (40-60°C). It consumes less energy and heats up faster, but offers a different experience from the classic sauna.

Red cedar :

• Moisture resistance Red cedar has remarkable natural properties that make it extremely resistant to moisture and temperature variations. This characteristic is crucial in an environment such as a sauna, where humidity and heat are constant.

• Antibacterial properties Red cedar wood contains natural oils with antibacterial and antifungal properties. This helps prevent the proliferation of mold and bacteria, ensuring a more hygienic environment.

• Outstanding thermal insulation Red cedar offers excellent thermal insulation. It retains heat efficiently while remaining pleasantly warm to the touch, ideal for the sauna experience.

• Durability and longevity Naturally rot-proof, red cedar stands up particularly well to the harsh conditions found in saunas. It does not warp easily and retains its structural integrity even after many years of intense use.

The preheating time varies according to the type of sauna:

• Finnish sauna: 30 to 45 minutes to reach 80-90°C
• Infrared sauna: 10 to 15 minutes to get going

These times may vary depending on :

• Heating system capacity
• Cabin volume
• Outside temperature
• Sauna insulation

For a comfortable sauna, the minimum surfaces recommended are :

• For 1-2 people: minimum 3-4 m².
• For 3-4 people: minimum 6 m².
• For 5-6 people: minimum 8-10 m².

The recommended minimum height is 2 meters. Sufficient space must be provided for benches at different levels and for circulation. Additional space in front of the sauna for a changing/relaxation area is also recommended.

The average lifespan of a spa is between 10 and 15 years, with regular and appropriate maintenance. This longevity depends on several key factors:

• Initial spa quality
• Frequency of use
• Regular maintenance
• Quality of weather protection (for outdoor spas)
• Compliance with manufacturer’s recommendations on water treatment and repairs

The choice of size depends on several criteria:

• Number of regular users
• Available space
• Budget
• Intended use (personal relaxation, entertaining friends, etc.)

A few points of reference:

• 2-3 person spa: ideal for a single person or a couple
• 4-5 seater spa: perfect for a small family or a couple entertaining occasionally
• 6-7 berth spa: recommended for large families or party-goers
• Spa 8 places and more: for collective spaces and second homes

Practical tip: always allow an extra 20-30 cm around the spa for maintenance and access.

Annual maintenance costs generally range from 500 to 1,500 euros, broken down as follows:

• Replacement filters: €100-250/year
• Electricity consumption: €600-1,000/year (depending on use and insulation)
• Preventive maintenance/repairs: €250-500/year

These costs may vary according to frequency of use, spa quality and your region.

Absolutely! Both configurations have their advantages:

Outdoor installation :

• View of nature
• Open-air feeling
• Potential for landscape integration
• Requires weather protection

Interior installation :

• Can be used all year round
• Protection against cold and bad weather
• Privacy guaranteed
• Need for a well-ventilated room with drainage system

Important points to check:

• Ground solidity
• Proximity to power source and water supply
• Ventilation system
• Water drainage

The recommended temperature is between 36°C and 40°C:

• 36-37°C: ideal for gentle relaxation
• 38-39°C: optimum comfort temperature
• 40°C: recommended for a deep therapeutic effect

Precautions :

• Do not exceed 40°C
• Older people and pregnant women: lower temperatures
• Maximum recommended duration: 15-20 minutes
• Important hydration before and after

Tip: start at a low temperature and gradually increase to find your personal comfort level.

The main difference lies in temperature and humidity. The hammam operates at a moderate temperature (between 40 and 50°C) with very high humidity (close to 100%), creating an atmosphere of hot steam. Saunas, on the other hand, operate at a much higher temperature (70 to 100°C) with very low humidity (10-20%).

The ideal temperature in a hammam is between 40 and 50°C. This moderate temperature, combined with high humidity, ensures optimum relaxation and sweating without being too much for the body. The heat is distributed evenly by steam.

It’s recommended not to exceed 15 to 20 minutes per session in a hammam. We recommend 2 to 3 15-minute sessions, interspersed with 10-minute breaks, during which you refresh and hydrate. Beginners should start with shorter 10-minute sessions.

Steam room maintenance includes :

• Daily cleaning of surfaces with appropriate disinfectants
• Monthly descaling of the steam generator
• Complete weekly disinfection
• Regular checking of seals and tightness
• An annual professional interview is recommended

The power consumption of a steam room varies according to its size and frequency of use. For a medium-sized domestic steam room (2-4 people), average consumption is between 3 and 6 kW/h during use. For a one-hour session (including preheating), you’ll need between 4 and 7 kWh. Monthly consumption can vary between 100 and 250 kWh, depending on usage.

• Nordic bath: generally made of wood, with a more natural, rustic look. Often semi-buried or above-ground.
• Classic spa: built in reinforced acrylic or composite plastic, with a more modern design. It features a molded shell with ergonomic seats.

Heating and temperature :

• Nordic bath: traditionally heated by a wood-burning stove or electric heater. The temperature is generally more moderate (37-39°C).
• Classic spa: electrically heated with precise temperature control, often maintained at higher levels (up to 40-42°C).

Features :

• Nordic bath: simpler, with no massage jets. The emphasis is on immersion and natural relaxation.
• Classic spa: equipped with numerous massage jets, sophisticated filtration systems and often features such as chromotherapy or music therapy.

Interview:

• Nordic bath: more frequent maintenance, requires emptying after each use.
• Classic spa: automatic filtration system, requiring less frequent intervention.

Authenticity: our baths are rooted in the culture of the Nordic countries. Our Nordic baths are made in our workshops by craftsmen with traditional know-how.

Wood is a noble, natural, warm and aesthetic material that blends perfectly with all environments: mountain, rural and urban.

Red cedar is a durable wood species with no sapwood or knots, which takes on a beautiful gray hue over time. Red cedar is the softwood with the greatest dimensional stability, thanks to its low density and light weight. It is one of the best woods for exterior use for the following reasons:

• Naturally rot-proof, it contains natural preservative oils that protect it from moisture, rot and insect attack.

• Exceptional dimensional stability

• Weather-resistant, red cedar withstands variations in climate and temperature.

• Moreover, red cedar is a highly ecological wood, growing rapidly and renewing itself easily.

Authenticity and ecology are at the heart of this wood-heated Nordic bath concept. The user plays an active role in the relaxation experience by feeding the fire in the stove with logs. There’s nothing more natural and environmentally friendly than heating your bath water with wood, a clean, renewable energy source.

Economical, in the sense that wood heating is the cheapest of all heating systems.

Efficiency: the wood-burning stove’s 30-kilowatt output ensures rapid heating of your bath water.

No maintenance-free

Yes, a Nordic bath can be used all year round, even in winter!

• The wood may dry out and shrink.
• Staves (wooden planks) can warp.
• Seals can become brittle, creating potential leaks.
• Wood can crack under the effect of sun and heat.

For equipment :

• Seals can become damaged as they dry out.
• The inner liner (for models equipped with one) may deform.

Recommendations:

• Always maintain 40 cm of water in the bath, even when not in use.