Craft · 7 April 2026 · 6 min read
Thermowood vs Cedar: Which Timber Is Better?
Cedar is the traditional choice and a beautiful one. Here is how it compares with modern Thermowood.
Cedar earned its reputation honestly. It is light, aromatic, naturally resistant to decay and it has been the premium sauna timber for decades.
Thermowood takes a different route to the same qualities. Heat and steam treatment removes the moisture and sugars that cause rot and movement, producing timber that is exceptionally stable in a damp climate and a strong insulator.
In practice, Thermowood tends to hold its shape better through wet British winters, resists cupping and splitting, and costs less to produce responsibly. Cedar offers the scent and a paler tone that some people prefer in a sheltered setting.
We build outdoors in Thermowood because longevity in this climate is the priority. If the sauna will live in a garden rather than a bathroom, it is the material we would choose every time.
