Sauna Builder in Old Town Napa

Working inside Old Town's historic houses

Old Town Napa, south and west of downtown, holds much of the city's oldest housing: Queen Anne and Italianate Victorians, Colonial Revival cottages and Craftsman bungalows from the late 1800s and early 1900s, many on narrow lots around Fuller Park. Permits run through the City of Napa Building Division, and exterior changes visible from the street can also draw review under the city's historic preservation rules.

The August 2014 South Napa earthquake, a magnitude 6.0 centered just south of the city, hit this neighborhood hard. Brick chimneys fell, porches pulled away and some houses shifted on their foundations. That history affects how we build. Heaters are fastened to new blocking, tall benches are strapped to studs, and before a filled tub goes on an upper floor we check the joists and add support where they fall short.

Inside, older framing brings its own surprises. Balloon framing, lath and plaster, and pockets of knob-and-tube wiring are all common, and we open walls carefully to see what is there. An indoor sauna in a back bedroom, a converted sleeping porch or a finished attic works well in these houses, provided the vapor barrier is continuous and the old wall cavities are sealed so warm, moist air cannot drift into them.

Bathroom remodels are another common starting point. A steam room or steam shower fits inside many Old Town bathrooms if the floor is flattened and fully waterproofed first, since old subfloors are rarely level. We slope the ceiling, fit a sealed door and place the generator in a nearby closet or vanity where it can be serviced. Hard water is common in town, so we fit an automatic flush and recommend a descaling schedule.

Outside, the lots are narrow and garages often sit at the back along an alley. A small cabin sauna or barrel can work in these gardens, though side yards may be too tight for large panels, so we carry material in by hand or build in place. Trees are mature and roots run shallow, which we account for when setting footings. Owners who want the room to match the house can choose painted trim, a gable roof and window proportions borrowed from the main building, which also helps if the structure is visible from the street. We submit elevation drawings with those details so the city can review them in one pass.