Almost Heaven vs SaunaCloud: Cedar Construction

Two cedar saunas can cost the same and still be built nothing alike. The grade of the wood, how the panels join, and how the cedar sits against heaters and red light panels decide how the cabin performs after year five.

This comparison covers cedar grade and sourcing, handcrafted versus kit construction, integrated design, and pricing for both brands. By the end you will know exactly which one fits your build, budget, and long-term plans.

Quick Verdict: Almost Heaven vs SaunaCloud Cedar Construction

When comparing Almost Heaven Saunas and SaunaCloud on cedar construction, the key differentiators are cedar grade, customization, and integrated technology. Both brands build with red cedar, and both have earned loyal followings. The real question is what kind of cedar experience you want: a standard kit you assemble yourself, or a handcrafted build tailored to your space.

SaunaCloud uses clear-grade kiln-dried Western Red Cedar with no particle board, glues, or veneers. Every component is designed and manufactured in-house, and the wood is chosen for moisture resistance and long-term stability. Almost Heaven typically builds its kits around standard cedar grades, which keeps costs predictable but often leaves less room for premium board selection.

The bigger split shows up in what comes with the wood. SaunaCloud integrates red light therapy directly into benches and backrests at clinical proximity of 2 to 6 inches. VantaWave heaters emit under 3mG EMF, often below 0.5mG, and reach a 190°F surface temperature at 7.9 microns peak wavelength. Almost Heaven generally focuses on traditional heater pairings with ready-to-assemble panels.

Assembly style matters too. Almost Heaven is often praised for straightforward DIY assembly, which suits buyers who want a weekend project and an established brand name behind the purchase. SaunaCloud leans toward a done-right, handcrafted approach, backed by a lifetime warranty, a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating from 217 verified reviews, and a BBB A+ rating since 2015.

The short answer: choose SaunaCloud for full customization, clear-grade cedar, and integrated red light therapy in one build. Choose Almost Heaven if simple DIY assembly and a familiar kit format matter more than tailoring the sauna to your body and your room.

At a glance: how SaunaCloud compares to Almost Heaven Saunas, Almost Heaven on the features that matter most.

What Is SaunaCloud?

SaunaCloud is a California-based manufacturer of custom infrared saunas that integrate clinical-proximity red light therapy. Founded in 2014 in Diamond Springs, California, the company has grown into a sauna manufacturer serving homeowners, clinics, and wellness centers across North America, with more than 3,000 installations completed to date.

What separates SaunaCloud from many prefab sauna brands is that it designs, engineers, and builds every unit in-house. That includes its VantaWave® heaters, CORE 5™ power supplies, printed circuit boards, Wi-Fi control systems, and red light therapy arrays. The company operates from facilities in Diamond Springs, CA and Montreal, Quebec, and handcrafts each sauna rather than assembling imported components.

For readers comparing wood and construction quality across sauna brands, this matters. The company's approach to cedar lumber, joinery, and heater placement shapes how each cabin sauna or outdoor sauna performs over time, just as it does with Almost Heaven Saunas.

The core lineup centers on two custom infrared models, the Atlas and Sierra, both built around VantaWave® ultra-low-EMF carbon heaters. These heaters emit under 3mG of EMF, and often below 0.5mG, while reaching a 190°F surface temperature at a 7.9 micron peak wavelength. That combination of low electromagnetic output and consistent infrared output is a meaningful selling point for buyers who are sensitive to EMF exposure.

Each sauna also includes integrated 660nm red and 850nm near-infrared LED red light therapy, positioned 2 to 6 inches from the skin. That clinical-proximity placement is intended to deliver light therapy at close range rather than across the full cabin, which is a different design philosophy from saunas that treat red light as an afterthought.

SaunaCloud backs its builds with a 7-year limited lifetime warranty. Combined with in-house engineering and handcrafted assembly, that coverage signals confidence in the materials and heater systems used across its custom infrared saunas.

What Is Almost Heaven Saunas?

Almost Heaven Saunas is a well-known manufacturer of cedar sauna kits, including barrel and cabin styles, popular for DIY assembly. The company has built a reputation over several decades in the home sauna market, and its name often comes up in any serious sauna brand comparison.

Their catalog generally falls into three broad categories:

• Barrel saunas, which use curved staves and metal bands to form a cylindrical room, typically sold as outdoor units.
• Cabin saunas, which resemble small wooden buildings and are often placed in a backyard or on a patio.
• Indoor and outdoor kits, which range from compact corner models to larger multi-person rooms.

Most of their kits ship as pre-cut, pre-drilled packages intended for modular assembly. Panels arrive labeled, and the buyer typically fastens them together with basic hand tools. This approach appeals to DIY sauna enthusiasts who want a traditional sauna experience without hiring a full construction crew.

On materials, Almost Heaven is closely associated with Western Red Cedar, the aromatic softwood botanically known as thuja plicata. Western Red Cedar is valued for its natural oils, moisture resistance, and rot resistance, qualities that matter in a room exposed to heat and humidity. Their kits often use tongue-and-groove cedar lumber for walls, with cedar benches inside.

Buyers should keep a few general points in mind when evaluating any kit from this brand. Lumber grade can vary by model, and terms like clear grade and knotty cedar describe how much visible character the wood carries. Wall thickness and plank thickness also differ across product lines, which can affect thermal insulation and how quickly a room heats up.

Heater options are usually flexible. Many Almost Heaven models are set up for an electric heater, while some outdoor configurations may accommodate a wood-burning stove. Exact specifications, dimensions, and pricing change over time, so it pays to check current listings rather than rely on older reviews.

In short, Almost Heaven occupies a familiar position in the cedar sauna market: a traditional-leaning sauna manufacturer offering prefab sauna kits for people who want to assemble a barrel sauna or cabin sauna themselves. That makes them a natural reference point when comparing cedar construction against what SaunaCloud offers.

What Is Almost Heaven?

Almost Heaven is a brand under the same company as Almost Heaven Saunas, often used interchangeably in the sauna market. Shoppers will see the name shortened to "Almost Heaven" in reviews, retailer listings, and forum threads, but the reference points to the same product line. The company is generally associated with barrel saunas and cabin saunas built from cedar, sold as prefab sauna kits for home assembly.

Because the brand name and the company name overlap so closely, the shorthand can create confusion during a sauna brand comparison. A listing that says "Almost Heaven cedar sauna" and one that says "Almost Heaven Saunas barrel sauna" are typically describing the same catalog. Treat the shorter form as a brand label, not a separate manufacturer or a distinct grade of cedar.

In terms of market perception, Almost Heaven tends to be viewed as an established, widely distributed name in the residential sauna space. Its kits are commonly discussed for outdoor sauna use, where a barrel shape and cedar construction are the headline features. Retailers may carry the line under either version of the name, which is why the shorthand persists.

What the name does not tell you is much about the specifics that matter in a cedar construction comparison:

• Which cedar species is used, such as Western Red Cedar (thuja plicata) or a white cedar variety
• Whether the cedar lumber is clear grade or knotty cedar
• How the planks are milled, including tongue-and-groove profiles and plank thickness
• Whether the wood is kiln-dried before assembly

Those details usually live in a spec sheet or product page rather than in the brand name itself. For a buyer weighing cedar construction, the shorthand is only a starting point. The real comparison begins once you look at wood species, lumber grade, and wall thickness side by side, which is where the next parts of this article focus.

Features Compared

This section compares SaunaCloud and Almost Heaven across three critical feature areas: cedar grade and sourcing, construction method and customization, and integrated design elements.

Both brands build with red cedar, and both serve buyers who want a natural wood sauna rather than a synthetic enclosure. The difference lies in what grade of cedar each brand selects and how the wood is used once it arrives at the shop.

The first comparison looks at lumber grade and sourcing. SaunaCloud builds exclusively with clear-grade Western Red Cedar, while Almost Heaven kits generally rely on standard-grade cedar, which may include knots and natural variation.

The second area covers how each sauna comes together. SaunaCloud handcrafts each unit to order, allowing custom dimensions and bench layouts. Almost Heaven takes a kit approach, with pre-cut panels designed for modular assembly at home.

The third area examines how cedar performs around heat sources. Cedar's thermal insulation and moisture resistance matter in any sauna, but they matter differently when red light panels are part of the design.

Each subsection below covers one area in detail. The goal is to give you a clear basis for judging which cedar construction approach fits your space, your assembly preferences, and your therapy goals. No single factor decides the comparison, but cedar grade and construction method shape nearly everything else about how a sauna ages and performs.

Cedar Grade and Sourcing: Clear-Grade Western Red Cedar vs Standard Cedar Kits

SaunaCloud uses clear-grade Western Red Cedar, while Almost Heaven typically sources standard-grade cedar for its kits.

Clear grade means the lumber is selected for tight knots, straight grain, and minimal defects. SaunaCloud specifies clear-grade kiln-dried Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata), with no particle board, glues, or veneers anywhere in the build. The species is valued for high natural oil content, which supports moisture resistance and rot resistance in humid sauna conditions.

Kiln-drying is the other half of the story. Properly dried cedar lumber holds its shape better, which matters for tongue-and-groove panels that need to stay aligned through repeated heating and cooling cycles. SaunaCloud emphasizes hand-selected lumber rather than bulk purchasing.

Almost Heaven kits generally use standard-grade cedar, which may include knots and wider grain variation. That does not make the wood unsuitable. Knotty cedar still offers good durability and the classic aromatic cedar look many buyers want. The trade-off is cosmetic and structural consistency rather than outright quality.

For buyers comparing lumber grade directly, the practical questions are simple: how visible are the knots, how uniform is the grain, and how carefully was the wood dried before milling. SaunaCloud's answer is a premium cedar specification across every unit, from indoor sauna builds to weather-sealed outdoor sauna models.

Construction Method and Customization: Handcrafted Builds vs Pre-Built Kit Assembly

SaunaCloud handcrafts each sauna to order with custom sizing, whereas Almost Heaven offers pre-built kit assembly with standard dimensions.

The handcrafted model changes what is possible. SaunaCloud builds to order, so buyers can specify custom dimensions, bench configurations, and heater placement rather than fitting a room to a fixed footprint. Customization extends to wood thickness and bench design, which affects both the feel of the space and how the cedar benches sit relative to the heat source.

Almost Heaven takes the sauna kit route. Its kits arrive pre-cut and pre-drilled for modular assembly, typically in standard sizes. That approach suits DIY sauna buyers who want a predictable build with clear instructions and no custom fabrication.

Both brands rely on tongue-and-groove joinery for wall panels, a standard method that creates a tight seal between boards. The difference is in the surrounding decisions: a prefab sauna kit ships as a defined package, while a handcrafted build is assembled around the buyer's specifications.

Support differs as well. SaunaCloud provides detailed installation plans plus phone and video support during the build. Almost Heaven kits are designed for self-directed DIY assembly with written instructions. Neither approach is wrong, but they attract different buyers. If you want a barrel sauna or cabin sauna in a specific size, made to order, the handcrafted path offers more room to negotiate the details.

Integrated Design Elements: How Cedar Interacts With Heaters and Red Light Panels

SaunaCloud integrates red light therapy panels directly into cedar benches and backrests, while Almost Heaven saunas are primarily designed for traditional heater placement.

Cedar is not just a finish material in a SaunaCloud build. The wood's thermal insulation properties complement the VantaWave heaters, which emit under 3mG EMF (often below 0.5mG) and reach a 190°F surface temperature at 7.9 microns peak wavelength. The cedar enclosure helps hold heat efficiently around those panels.

The integrated design goes further with light therapy. SaunaCloud positions 660nm red and 850nm near-infrared LED panels at clinical proximity, 2 to 6 inches from the skin, built into the benches and backrests themselves. That placement is only possible when the bench construction and wall thickness are planned around the panels from the start.

Almost Heaven saunas generally leave space for a sauna heater, whether electric or wood-burning, but they do not come with integrated red light therapy. Cedar is used for walls and benches, yet the construction is not specifically engineered for red light integration.

For buyers who want a traditional hot-room experience, that distinction may not matter. For those comparing sauna brands on therapy features, it is the clearest dividing line in this comparison. SaunaCloud designs the cedar structure, the heaters, and the light panels as one system rather than three separate purchases.

Pricing Compared

Pricing for cedar saunas varies significantly based on customization, cedar grade, and integrated features. Two saunas can look similar in photos yet sit in very different price brackets once you account for lumber selection, build method, and what comes included.

Understanding what drives those differences helps you judge whether a lower sticker price is genuinely better value or simply reflects fewer materials and simpler construction.

Almost Heaven Saunas is generally known for pre-built kits offered at a range of price points, with standard models tending to land on the more budget-friendly end. Their kits are often positioned for DIYers who want a straightforward assembly process and predictable sizing.

Those lower entry prices typically reflect standardized dimensions and off-the-shelf configurations rather than one-off builds, which can keep manufacturing costs down.

SaunaCloud takes a different approach. Its saunas are custom-built, so pricing reflects custom sizing, premium clear-grade cedar, and integrated red light therapy. Each of those choices adds material and labor cost compared with a fixed kit.

Clear-grade cedar, for example, contains fewer knots and blemishes than knotty grades, and it is generally selected for consistent grain and appearance. That selection process raises the cost of the raw cedar lumber before construction even begins.

Custom sizing also means dimensions are built to your space rather than fitted into a predetermined footprint, which is a meaningfully different production model from a catalog kit.

Several factors explain why handcrafted saunas often command a premium:

• Custom dimensions built to a specific room, corner, or outdoor pad rather than a standard kit size
• Clear-grade cedar with fewer knots and more uniform grain than common knotty grades
• Integrated red light therapy, which adds components and wiring beyond a traditional heater setup
• Handcrafted assembly, where labor is spread across individual builds instead of a repeating kit line

Almost Heaven's kits, by contrast, are generally designed around modular assembly and standardized panels. That structure can translate to lower costs and a simpler path for a confident DIY sauna builder.

It can also mean fewer opportunities to adjust dimensions or finishes to match an unusual space.

Warranty coverage is another part of the value equation, not just the purchase price. SaunaCloud provides a 7-year limited lifetime warranty, which adds value beyond the initial outlay and can matter over the life of an outdoor sauna exposed to moisture and temperature swings.

When comparing quotes, weigh the total picture rather than the headline number alone. A lower-priced kit may require additional finishing, insulation work, or aftermarket additions, while a custom build bundles more of those decisions upfront.

For buyers prioritizing exact fit, premium clear-grade cedar, and integrated red light therapy, SaunaCloud's custom model is built around those priorities. For buyers prioritizing the lowest possible upfront cost and a standard footprint, Almost Heaven's kit approach may be the more budget-friendly route.

Neither structure is inherently wrong. They simply serve different budgets, timelines, and expectations about customization.

Who Should Choose SaunaCloud

SaunaCloud is ideal for those seeking a fully customized infrared sauna with integrated red light therapy and premium cedar construction. The brand's target audience is specific: homeowners, clinics, and wellness centers focused on recovery, pain relief, sleep improvement, stress reduction, and cardiovascular health. That focus shapes every design decision, from heater selection to bench layout.

For a homeowner building an indoor sauna or outdoor sauna, the appeal is control. SaunaCloud builds to order rather than pushing a fixed catalog model, so dimensions, bench construction, and heater placement can be matched to the room and the routine. Someone using a sauna nightly for sleep and stress reduction has different needs than a household using it three times a week for general wellness.

Clinics and wellness centers tend to choose SaunaCloud for a different reason: clinical-proximity red light therapy integrated into the same cabin. Rather than sending clients to a separate light therapy unit, practitioners can offer both modalities in one space. Combined with ultra-low EMF heaters, this makes the sauna a better fit for settings where repeated, extended sessions are the norm.

Handcrafted quality matters to this audience too. Buyers in this category are typically investing once and expecting the cabin to hold up for years, so construction details carry real weight. SaunaCloud serves North America and provides detailed installation support, which removes much of the uncertainty that comes with a custom build.

In short, SaunaCloud suits buyers who want customization over a stock configuration, integrated red light therapy over a separate device, and low-EMF heating over a generic heater package. If those priorities match how you plan to use a sauna, the brand is built around exactly that use case.

Who Should Choose Almost Heaven Saunas

Almost Heaven Saunas is best for DIY enthusiasts and those who prefer a traditional cedar sauna kit at a more accessible price point. The brand has built a following among homeowners who want the ritual of a classic hot room without extra features layered on top. If your priority is a straightforward cedar sauna and you are willing to handle some assembly, Almost Heaven is a reasonable name to keep on your shortlist.

These kits typically suit buyers who are comfortable with modular assembly and basic tools. Many Almost Heaven models are designed to arrive in panels and pieces, which keeps shipping manageable but shifts the build work to you. That trade-off appeals to people who enjoy a weekend project and want to understand how their outdoor sauna or indoor sauna goes together.

The lineup covers a range of shapes and sizes, including barrel sauna and cabin sauna configurations. Barrel designs save floor space and drain well in wet climates, while cabin styles feel more like a small room and offer more usable interior volume. Both directions give shoppers flexibility on footprint, seating, and placement.

Availability is another draw. Almost Heaven products tend to be widely distributed through major retailers and online channels, so buyers can often compare listings, read owner feedback, and find a model without hunting through specialty dealers. For someone who values convenience and a familiar retail path, that matters.

On materials, most kits in this category lean on cedar lumber, often Western Red Cedar or another aromatic species. Cedar is prized for natural oils, moisture resistance, and rot resistance, which help it hold up in humid sauna conditions. Buyers should still ask about wood species, lumber grade, and whether the wood is kiln-dried, since those details affect feel and longevity.

One honest caveat: a traditional kit experience usually means no integrated light therapy and a more hands-on setup. If you want a plug-and-play cabin with modern extras, you may prefer a different route. For the traditionalist who wants cedar, choice, and broad availability, Almost Heaven fits the brief.

Who Should Choose Almost Heaven

Almost Heaven, as a brand, appeals to those who value a well-known name in cedar saunas and prefer a straightforward, kit-based approach. In casual conversation, the name is often used synonymously with Almost Heaven Saunas, so the same audience tends to apply either way. Buyers who already know the brand by reputation often start their search there and rarely look far beyond it.

That recognition carries real weight for a first-time buyer. A familiar brand name can reduce the anxiety of a large purchase, especially for someone who has never assembled a cedar sauna kit before. If peace of mind from a recognizable label matters more than comparing every detail of cedar construction, this brand tends to be the natural starting point.

Availability is another reason some shoppers lean this way. Almost Heaven saunas are commonly sold through large retailers and specialty dealers, which means a buyer may be able to see a display model, ask questions in person, or arrange delivery through a channel they already trust. For people who prefer buying face to face rather than online, that retail presence can be a deciding factor.

Community support also plays a role. Because the brand has been around for a while, owners can often find forum threads, videos, and user groups discussing assembly tips and long-term care of red cedar and white cedar models. That shared knowledge base can be genuinely helpful when a question comes up months after purchase.

It is worth noting the trade-offs. A widely distributed brand may offer less room for customization, and buyers who want to compare wood species, lumber grade, or plank thickness in fine detail might find the standard configurations limiting. Availability can also vary by region and season, so not every model is always in stock.

In short, Almost Heaven tends to suit buyers who prioritize brand recognition, retail access, and an established owner community over a highly tailored cedar specification. Those who want to weigh clear grade versus knotty cedar, or compare tongue-and-groove profiles across multiple manufacturers, may prefer to keep shopping around.

Final Verdict

In the final analysis, SaunaCloud stands out for custom cedar construction with integrated red light therapy, while Almost Heaven remains a solid choice for traditional cedar sauna kits. The two brands are not really chasing the same buyer.

SaunaCloud builds with clear-grade kiln-dried Western Red Cedar and nothing else. No particle board, no glues, no veneers. Every component is designed and manufactured in-house, which is what makes the handcrafted customization possible.

Almost Heaven, by contrast, is known for approachable cedar kits that a motivated DIYer can assemble without a crew. That simplicity is a genuine strength, and it is the main reason the brand comes up so often in sauna brand comparison discussions.

Here is how the two stack up on the points that matter most in this article:

The heater difference deserves a closer look. VantaWave heaters reach a 190°F surface temperature at 7.9 microns peak wavelength, with EMF emissions under 3mG and often below 0.5mG. For wellness-focused buyers, that combination of heat and low EMF is the whole point.

Red light therapy placement matters just as much. SaunaCloud integrates it into the benches and backrests at clinical proximity, meaning 2 to 6 inches from the body. A panel bolted to a far wall cannot replicate that distance.

Where Almost Heaven wins is accessibility. If your goal is a straightforward cedar build at a friendlier entry point, and you enjoy assembling things yourself, a kit approach has real appeal. That is a fair reason to choose it.

But for buyers who care about lumber grade, wood species, and long-term durability, the calculus shifts. Clear-grade Western Red Cedar resists moisture and rot naturally, and skipping glues and veneers removes a common failure point in humid outdoor sauna and indoor sauna environments alike.

SaunaCloud's track record backs the construction claims. The brand holds a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating from 217 verified reviews and a BBB A+ rating since 2015. It was named Inc. Regionals Pacific #118 fastest-growing company in 2023.

It also serves North America with a lifetime warranty and has completed 3,000+ installations. Buyers including Tony Robbins, The Westin, Marriott, and Cavallo Point Resort have chosen the brand, which says something about how the cedar holds up in commercial use.

So the recommendation comes down to your priorities:

• Choose SaunaCloud if you want premium clear-grade cedar, handcrafted customization, integrated red light therapy at clinical proximity, and ultra-low EMF heaters.
• Choose Almost Heaven if you want an affordable cedar kit and prefer handling the assembly yourself.

Neither path is wrong. One is built around wellness performance and premium materials. The other is built around cost and convenience. Match the sauna to your goals, and you will be happy with either.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the cedar construction in a SaunaCloud sauna compare to Almost Heaven's?

Both companies build with cedar, but their approaches differ. Almost Heaven is a West Virginia manufacturer that has been producing barrel, cabin, cube, and hybrid saunas since 1977, with a broad catalog that also includes cold plunges and wood-fired hot tubs. SaunaCloud has been engineering and handcrafting custom infrared saunas since 2014 from Diamond Springs, California, with each build tailored to the customer's space and wellness goals rather than produced as a standard model.

Are SaunaCloud saunas only infrared, while Almost Heaven offers more variety?

That's a fair distinction. Almost Heaven offers traditional, infrared, and hybrid saunas in indoor and outdoor configurations, so it's a good fit if you want an off-the-shelf traditional option. SaunaCloud specializes exclusively in custom infrared saunas-the Atlas and Sierra models-featuring VantaWave® ultra-low-EMF carbon heaters and integrated red light therapy, so the focus is depth in one category rather than breadth across many.

What makes SaunaCloud's heater and red light technology different?

SaunaCloud's VantaWave® heaters emit under 3mG EMF (often below 0.5mG) and reach 190°F surface temperature at a 7.9-micron peak wavelength. The 660nm red and 850nm near-infrared LED therapy is built directly into the benches and backrests at clinical proximity-2 to 6 inches from the skin-rather than mounted as an afterthought. Almost Heaven's infrared and hybrid models are a solid mainstream option, but they don't publish comparable EMF or red light proximity specifications.

How does pricing work if I'm comparing the two?

Almost Heaven runs frequent promotions, with best-sellers currently around 30% off and models like the Rainelle 4 Person Indoor Sauna starting near $5,859. SaunaCloud builds each sauna custom, so pricing depends on your chosen model, size, and configuration-the best path is a direct consultation with founder Christopher Kiggins, who handles consultations personally. Call 800-370-0820 or email [email protected] for a quote tailored to your space.

What kind of warranty and support does SaunaCloud provide?

SaunaCloud backs its saunas with a 7-year limited lifetime warranty and ships complete kits with all components and fasteners included. You also get detailed installation plans plus phone and video support, and with 3,000+ installations since 2014, the team has seen just about every setup scenario. Almost Heaven is a long-established manufacturer as well, so warranty coverage is worth comparing line by line for the specific model you're considering.

How long does a SaunaCloud sauna take to produce and deliver?

Typical production time is 7 weeks, since each sauna is handcrafted to order rather than pulled from stock. SaunaCloud serves North America from its Diamond Springs, California facilities, with a Montreal office in Quebec, Canada. If you'd like to see the craftsmanship in person, showroom visits are available by appointment.