Swell Sport · Practical guide

Roof joints and exterior penetrations: a sauna inspection guide

Inspect an outdoor sauna roof from the ground by recording what is visible, what changed and where water first appeared. A useful inspection does not require climbing onto the cabin or lifting shingles. Its purpose is to give the supplier or installer an organised record and identify the next inspection needed.

Swell Cedar Cube 2 in a home setting.

Give each outside face a fixed name

Use front, rear, left and right as viewed from the door, then label roof-edge photographs accordingly. Start with a full-cabin view before zooming in. Include neighbouring vegetation or nearby structures where they help explain access or exposure, but keep private household details out of a support enquiry.

Inspect in daylight from a stable ground-level position. Use camera zoom for inaccessible areas and mark anything hidden as “not visible”. Do not stand on benches, the cabin or improvised platforms to fill a gap in the record. A partial but accurate view is more useful than an unsafe attempt at completeness.

Know the inspection areas for the actual model

The supplied Cube 2 manual calls for inspection of front and rear panel-to-stave joins, roof joins and exposed weather seals monthly and after heavy rain. Its waterproofing section says external silicone should be inspected for splitting, lifting, shrinking or pulling away from timber. Use those descriptions to label visible conditions without prescribing a repair. ^[1]

The Cube 2 assembly instructions also specify a waterproof membrane beneath the roof shingles. A photograph of the outer roof cannot establish the condition of that concealed layer. Record the limits of the view instead of labelling the entire roof sound because the visible shingles look tidy. ^[1]

Use a four-column observation record

Location: identify a fixed reference such as rear upper left join. Observation: describe a visible condition such as lifted edge, debris lying nearby or a damp patch. Timing: record the date and relevant weather. Evidence: name the overview and detail photographs. Add “not inspected” wherever access or visibility prevented a check.

For an exterior cable entry or other penetration, photograph the surrounding surface without opening covers or moving the cable. The Cube 2 manual says not to operate with apparently damaged wiring, plugs, controls or heater, and restricts opening the control box or modifying wiring to authorised qualified service personnel. Keep electrical concerns out of a general roof repair experiment. ^[1]

Trace observations without inventing a water path

Hypothetical example: after heavy rain, an owner records moisture at the rear interior corner and photographs a lifted-looking exterior edge from the ground. They report both observations and the timing, but do not claim the edge is the leak source. The installer can decide what closer inspection is needed.

Include whether water was seen during rain or only afterwards, and whether the sauna had recently been used. Keep the first wet location separate from later spreading or staining. Do not run a hose over the roof or introduce water around electrical entries to recreate a suspected leak.

Ask for an assessment scope

Send the record and ask which areas need closer inspection, who will safely access them and whether use should remain paused. Request a written scope before anyone removes roof pieces or applies a new product. Agree the repair materials and safe access arrangements with the person carrying out the work.

After the work, retain the findings, treated locations and any follow-up requested. Repeat photographs from the same ground-level positions so the record can show a change. Do not describe a completed repair as a waterproof guarantee unless the supplier has actually provided that specific promise.

Your practical checklist

Label every photograph by cabin face and location.
Record visible condition, timing and image reference.
Mark hidden roof areas as not inspected.
Keep electrical covers and cable entries untouched.
Ask who will assess concealed layers and complete follow-up.

Do tidy shingles prove the roof cannot leak?

No. The Cube 2 assembly includes a membrane beneath the shingles; the outer view does not inspect that concealed layer. ^[1]

Should I clear a high roof area myself?

Do not climb or improvise access for this inspection. Record what can be seen and arrange suitable access with the person assessing the roof.

Sources and further reading

Swell Cedar Cube 2 supplied manual — roof construction, weatherproofing and electrical boundaries (supplied owner manual; consult the copy for your equipment)