Frequently Asked Questions.

You asked, we answered. Black Canyon Lifestyle is founded on lasting personal relationships and ongoing conversations - if you want to know more, please contact us!

Health Benefits

  • Regular sauna bathing is linked to measurable improvements in nearly every metric of our longevity: cardiovascular, metabolic, and mental health.

    Regular heat exposure has been shown to reduce inflammation, ease muscle recovery, promote relaxation, and improve sleep quality. The combined effects make sauna bathing one of the simplest, most natural ways to support long-term health and balance.

  • Traditional saunas provide higher air temperatures and therefore elevate core temperature more effectively. Higher temperatures more effectively trigger cardiovascular adaptations, plasma volume expansion, and heat-shock protein activity — all linked to enhanced endurance and muscle recovery. Infrared saunas provide localized heat, which is less effective for systemic performance adaptations. Research consistently supports traditional saunas for athletic and cardiovascular benefits.

  • Modern science is catching up with what Nordic cultures have known for centuries: regular sauna use is deeply good for you. Long-term studies from Finland published in journals like JAMA Internal Medicine and Neurology, have shown that people who use a sauna several times a week have lower rates of heart disease, dementia, and premature death. Researchers believe the benefits come from the way heat stress improves circulation, lowers blood pressure, reduces inflammation, and supports the body’s natural repair processes.

    Another long-term study, the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease (KIHD) Risk Factors Study, showed a 65% reduction in Alzheimer’s Disease and a 40% reduction in all-cause mortality for regular (5+ times a week) sauna users vs non- or inconsistent users.

    Consistent sauna bathing is a powerful ritual for heart and brain health, and overall wellbeing.

Build/Design Know-how

  • Traditional Finnish saunas are typically heated via wood fire stoves, but usually, your modern lifestyle answers this for us. We recommend electric heaters for their convenience, cleanliness and ease of use. We want you to use your sauna near daily - and electric heaters help make this easy. We exclusively use Canadian-made Homecraft brand heaters, a trusted brand in sauna heating — delivering a superior range of both electric and wood fired heaters. We help you choose a heater that matches your sauna’s size and design.

  • If a permit is required, we will fully support you through it. For two decades, Black Canyon has been a leader in home renovations, including garden suites, carriage homes and lifestyle spaces. We understand the permit process and will manage your permits with professionalism and expediency. Our business has always been built on a foundation of outstanding client relationships, and this includes the handling of the permits for your backyard or in-home construction projects - this includes our saunas and our lifestyle suites.

  • Black Canyon’s focus will always be on client care and nurturing long standing relationships. Big windows are not energy efficient and require larger heaters, increasing your cost both in the short and long term. We live and build in Edmonton, AB, and want you to be able to enjoy your sauna almost every day, year round. Smaller windows help keep heat inside the sauna where it belongs, but still offer sky views and additional natural light. If having a big window is important to you, we can absolutely build that into your design.

  • The short answer is: if you dream it, we can build it. That said, decades of experience means we have a deep understanding of what works in our Canadian climate and our team will help you tailor your style and vision, while still meeting our standards for performance, durability and design. Typical customization options for our saunas include any colour of Hardie or stucco siding; clear vs knotty cedar interiors and benches; composite or cedar decking surrounding your structure. For the suites, we will work to personalize your space according to your needs and the unit’s purpose.

    During our consultations and build process, we’ll work together to make sure your sauna or suite is perfect for you.

Timelines/Aftercare

  • This is a nuanced answer! A large scale garage suite with personal fitness space and change room will take longer than a small sauna designed for 3-4 users at a time. Each Black Canyon project is given the time it deserves and we always strive to provide accurate client timelines. 4-6 weeks would be a great general timeline for most of our sauna builds.

  • We believe Black Canyon saunas and suites are long-term investments in your property, health, and family. Unlike most kit or barrel sauna options, our saunas are custom built for you onsite and are designed to last a lifetime with proper care, just like your home. Our suites and home renovations meet and exceed the specifications of the New Home Warranty program.

    With this in mind, we provide a full 2-year warranty on our workmanship.

  • Very minimal upkeep required! We recommend initially treating the cedar with a sauna-specific wax to provide protection from sweat and spills. This can be reapplied yearly if you are using your sauna 3-4 times a week.

    Your sauna stones may need to be replaced every 10 years, but can last up to 15 years with regular use.

Money Matters

  • Your quote will include design, materials, and build. We use licenced trades (carpentry, electrical, plumbing) which will be subcontracted to our team partners as needed and your quote will include complete pricing, including permits, for your unique project. We strive for transparency throughout, and any major changes would be clearly discussed in advance.

  • We are working with a financing partner to offer 3rd party financing. Details will follow soon.

  • Upon booking, a deposit is required for the contract. Typically, during your build, we use a draw system whereby your unique project will have payments scheduled as per progress timelines outlined in advance, with final payment upon completion.

    Alternatively, after a deposit to secure the contract, you can use our financing partner for the remainder of your balance. Details on this financing route to follow soon.