Sauna Kit vs Showroom Cabin vs Built-In: An Honest Comparison
Waiting on an order that hasn't arrived? Been quoted $6,000 for a box and then found out the sparky, the slab and the switchboard upgrade are extra? You're not alone. Below is a plain side-by-side of the three ways Adelaide people end up with a sauna, and a second one for concrete quotes, so you can see what's actually included before you pay a deposit. We build the third option, so read it with that in mind, but the numbers are real.
1. Flat-pack kit shipped interstate — $4,000–$9,000 "plus"
What you get: a box of panels and a heater. What's extra: freight to Adelaide, a level slab or floor, a licensed electrician, often a switchboard upgrade for the heater, and you (or a handyman) to assemble it. Warranty is with a company in another state; if a panel arrives damaged or the heater fails, you're on the phone, not talking to the person who built it. Common outcome: "kit was $6k, ended up $11k, took four months".
2. Showroom infrared cabin — $5,000–$12,000 delivered
What you get: a finished infrared cabin, delivered and usually plugged into a normal power point. Good if you want it this month and have a spare corner. What you don't get: real Finnish heat (most top out around 60°C), a steam option, or anything that fits the room; it sits in the space like a wardrobe. Resale value is low and it goes with you, not with the house. Fine for some people, honestly. Just know what you're buying.
3. Trendscape built-in — from $14,500, one fixed price
What you get: a sauna designed for your room and built into it. Slab or floor, waterproofing, cedar or aspen lining, a real 80–100°C heater (or infrared if you prefer), electrician and switchboard work, ventilation, glass door and benches. One quote, one builder, one warranty, and the person who built it answers the phone. It adds to the house and stays with it. The price is higher up front because nothing is left out. You'll get a 3D model and a written fixed quote before you commit to anything.
Concrete: Cheapest Quote vs Fixed Quote
The $95/m² quote: usually no base prep spelled out, no mesh or the wrong mesh, no control joints, one coat of cheap sealer, and "we'll sort the crossover later". Cracks in a fortnight, a driveway that goes patchy in a year, and a phone that rings out. The Trendscape quote, $130–$180/m² fixed: clay subgrade dealt with, compacted base, SL72 mesh on chairs, 32 MPa concrete, saw-cut joints the day after the pour, UV-stable sealer, and it's all in writing with a fixed number before you book. Nobody has to chase us. Want either quote checked against yours? Send the details below or call Val on 0411 555 359.