Off the Grid with 18V Confidence

When a collaboration built on trust results in a sauna made to last for generations

Our Festool Suomi Brand Ambassador Markus Tuovinen tells us all about his latest summer project: Building a sauna on an island in the Finnish Archipelago. The challenge was a remote fishing village without an electrical grid, combined with an environment that demands a high level of precision and careful planning, leaving little room for compromise.

Markus, can you please, tell us how the project came to life?

The client wanted a traditional log sauna that would fit naturally into the historic surroundings of the island – built as closely as possible to the way it would have been done two hundred years ago. The log frame was handcrafted at Hirsityö Heikkilä’s workshop, largely using traditional methods with a chainsaw and an axe. This way, the most important foundation of the building – the log frame itself – was created with respect for traditional craftsmanship. They had exactly the right skills to make the traditional log frame according to the requirements.

I already had experience building this type of structure on the island, as I had previously been involved in building two traditional log buildings there. Jonathan Kiiski joined me for this new sauna project, and together we set out to build it with respect for tradition, craftsmanship, and the history of the village.

The importance of this project comes with the meaning of the sauna. How important is sauna culture to you in Finland?

The sauna has always been much more to Finns than just a place to wash. In the past, people were born in saunas, the sick were cared for there, and it was a place connected with the final moments of life. The sauna was the cleanest place in the home and, at the same time, almost a sacred space. It was often the first building to be built, and people would even live in it until the main house was finished.

Although times have changed, the importance of the sauna has remained. For Finns, it is still a place where both body and mind can slow down, where everyday life is left outside for a moment, and where people come together. There are around 3.2 million saunas in Finland. This says a lot about how deeply sauna is rooted in the Finnish way of life.

What challenges did you face at the building site and what helped you overcome them?

Building on an island, especially in the outer archipelago, is always challenging. The sea and rapidly changing wind conditions create their own challenges, particularly when transporting materials and tools from the mainland by ferry or boat. And once everything has reached the island, it still needs to be transported to the actual building site, which was not always easy either. There is also no connection to the electrical grid on the island, which brings another challenge to the construction work. Fortunately, we had Festool’s 18V battery system and PowerStation, which allowed us to use the power tools we needed even in the middle of the outer archipelago.

After the log frame was transported to the island and assembled, we started working on the other wooden structures. This is where traditional building methods were combined with modern and precise Festool cordless tools. In these remote working conditions, they made a huge difference. Without them, we would not have been able to build as quickly, efficiently, and accurately.

Of course, the experience gained from our previous projects on the island was extremely valuable. Without that experience, this project would have been much more difficult to carry out.

Which tools were essential for this project?

For a continuous workflow, keeping the batteries charged was also essential. We charged them with the Festool PowerStation using the new SYS-MC 6/4 charger. This combination allowed us to use our cordless tools efficiently throughout the entire project.

The tool we used the most was definitely the Festool HKC 55 with the FSK 250 guide rail. We used it for almost all the cutting, from structural framing work to the more precise finishing details.

"When high-quality materials are combined with skilled craftsmanship, you can create something that will last for generations."

Markus Tuovinen, skilled craftsman and Festool Suomi Brand Ambassador

What is the key to good craftsmanship?

For me, the most important thing about good craftsmanship is that the work stands the test of time. It is also important that I am personally satisfied with the result. I have high standards for my own work, and when the finished result meets those standards, I know that the client will be satisfied as well.

Which part of your work do you enjoy the most?

I especially enjoyed building the sauna benches. The client gave me quite a lot of freedom in designing and building them, so I was able to use my own ideas and craftsmanship.

The bench frame was recessed directly into the log walls, creating a strong and simple structure. On top of that, the benches were built from solid aspen planks. It was especially rewarding to create a detail where traditional construction, craftsmanship, and my own design came together.

What leads to a good collaboration on a construction site?

For me, the most important foundation of good teamwork is trust in your colleagues and their professional skills. Hirsityö Heikkilä built us a beautiful, high-quality log frame, which gave us a great foundation to continue the rest of the construction. Jonathan Kiiski and I then continued from the log frame all the way to the finished sauna. He was responsible for overseeing the construction and the technical side of the structures.