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Swell Sport · Practical guide
Checking a sauna site after heavy rain before installation
A post-rain check is a way to show your site contractor what the proposed sauna location actually does in wet conditions. It is not a soil test or proof that a base is ready. Observe safely, keep the photographs comparable and separate what you saw from what you think caused it.
Decide whether it is safe to observe at all
Do not enter floodwater or an area subject to emergency restrictions to collect photographs. NSW SES flood guidance says not to enter floodwater and to ensure structural stability before entering property after flash floods. If this is flood damage rather than ordinary garden rain, follow emergency and professional advice before resuming site preparation. [1]
For a routine check after rain, use accessible viewpoints and stay away from suspect ground, retaining walls or electrical equipment. A missing photograph is preferable to an unsafe inspection. Tell the contractor when an area could not be viewed rather than guessing its condition.
Use repeatable viewpoints
Choose named photo positions such as the back door, gate and edge of the proposed footprint. From each, take an overview and, where safe, a closer view of the issue. Include a fixed landmark and record the date and time. Take follow-up pictures from the same positions so the contractor can compare changes.
Keep a log with columns for photo ID, location, time, visible water, visible surface change and comments. Record rainfall from a named gauge or weather source if available; otherwise describe it as an observation such as overnight rain. Do not invent a rainfall total or a return-period description.
Describe the observation without diagnosing it
Useful entries are “water remains beside the proposed rear support area” or “new gap visible beside the paving edge”. Less useful entries are “failed drainage” or “unstable soil” unless a qualified reviewer has established that. Photograph sediment trails, displaced mulch and visible runoff approaches as clues for the contractor, not conclusions.
Include the installation access route as well as the footprint. Note any change to the unloading area, temporary storage or the path components would take. Ask the delivery or installation provider to review relevant changes rather than assuming an earlier access agreement still covers the observed conditions.
Turn the log into a targeted review
Send the contractor a marked plan and the photo log with a short question: “Do these observations change your proposed base, drainage or access arrangements? What needs inspection before installation can proceed?” Ask who will address each issue and what evidence will close it out.
In a hypothetical garden, the proposed cabin area looks dry by lunchtime, but early photographs show runoff crossing its intended approach. That record gives the contractor a question to investigate that the dry afternoon visit might miss. It does not establish the required drain location, capacity or lawful discharge point.
Record the decision before delivery
Use three statuses: no change advised after review, remedial work or inspection required, and installation on hold. Include the reviewer’s name, date and the scope of the response. Keep any completed-work record with the original photographs so the reason for a change is not lost.
Do not prescribe a fixed drying period, add fill to conceal a low point or cut a new drainage path based on this checklist. Those would move from observation into site design. A dry surface alone is not the acceptance decision; the responsible site and installation professionals must resolve the issues relevant to their work.
Your practical checklist
- Observe only from safe, permitted locations.
- Repeat named photo positions and record the times.
- Distinguish visible conditions from suspected causes.
- Obtain a recorded decision on unresolved base, drainage and access issues.
Should I photograph during the storm?
No photograph is worth entering unsafe conditions. Use safe observations after the event and follow local warnings; record any period or location you could not observe.
How long should I wait before installing?
No universal waiting period is specified. Send the observations to the responsible contractor and obtain the checks and decision appropriate to the site and planned works.
