SaunaDesignPro changelog and sauna design software release notes

The Designer Is Clearer, Lighter, and More Helpful

The completed UX overhaul is live in production, bringing the main design tool into one calmer workshop flow without removing the construction-grade controls behind it.

• Better first run: New visitors can start from a guided brief or a curated template gallery instead of landing on a blank canvas.
• Trust while editing: Autosave status, undo and redo controls, safer start-over behavior, and session restore prompts make experimentation less fragile.
• Live Sauna Coach: Comfort, safety, and heat guidance now appears in the workspace, with one-tap fixes, clearer auto-placement notices, and heater sizing explanations.
• Honest pricing: The quote path keeps quantities visible for planning, shows ballpark context while exact localized pricing remains gated, and unlocks line-item prices with email and project ZIP.
• Homeowner language and brand polish: Plain-language labels, glossary explainers, the light workshop UI, branded modals, refreshed screenshots, and larger mobile touch targets make the app easier to scan and use.

Pricing and Build Packets Now Match More of the Real Job

Deployment records since the last changelog update show a heavy pass on quote accuracy, construction documentation, and glass-front guidance.

• Pricing accuracy: Local structural pricing was reconciled to live retail baselines, and Thermory/SaunaMarketplace cladding prices now track live per-linear-foot catalog pricing.
• Cleaner submittals: Element drawings download separately from the main build packet, submittal copy is written in plainer builder language, and floor framing plus ceiling sheathing coverage show up in the right places.
• Glass-front planning: A new glass-front guide covers sourcing paths, framing and sealing approaches, and heater-sizing implications for large tempered-glass fronts.

The Money Path Has Better Signals

Checkout, attribution, and support workflows now provide cleaner business data without risking customer work.

• Checkout events: Checkout starts, invoice creation, paid-order revenue, and cart snapshots are tracked more directly across quote and invoice paths.
• Attribution: Admin analytics now surfaces source attribution, and Reddit Ads pixel events can report page visits, leads, purchases, and heater product views when configured.
• Read-only impersonation: Admin customer review sessions now block autosave and design mutations, making support inspection safer.

The Designer Is More Canvas-First and More Resilient

The main design workspace, mobile 3D experience, and shared-link recovery behavior all moved forward in deployed builds.

• Workspace shell: The designer now uses a canvas-first layout with a left rail, top mode controls, and mobile plan/elevation/3D tabs.
• Mobile 3D reliability: Wood textures are cached, mobile resolution scales down where needed, touch orbit is faster and horizon-clamped, and low-GPU QA overrides are available.
• Safer links and taps: Long or malformed design URLs show recovery messaging without overwriting autosaves, while door/window placement uses a top-level tap catcher so overlays no longer swallow wall taps.

Step-Level AI Can Now Edit the Design and Save the Thread

The AI design loop now captures more user intent and turns it into repeatable, traceable design changes.

• Intent box edits: The per-step "What are you trying to do?" box can apply design patches through the same engine as the AI builder.
• Saved chats: Each AI conversation can be saved in the sidebar, reopened, renamed, or deleted, keeping design help tied to the current project.
• Submittal notes: Users and agents can attach custom project notes and clarifications so PDFs capture site conditions, scope responsibility, and field assumptions.
• Admin feedback loop: Intent trends and the roadmap backlog cluster repeated questions into improvement opportunities.

Heater Sizing and 3D Models Are Closer to Manufacturer Reality

Harvia and HUUM planning received a broad accuracy pass across sizing formulas, official assets, and product presentation.

• Official sizing: Harvia and HUUM electric recommendations now follow manufacturer calculator methods, including cold-surface adjustments, log-room factors, outdoor factors, and voltage handling.
• Manufacturer geometry: HUUM Cliff, Cliff Mini, and Steel use official assets, while Harvia Virta, Virta Pro, Virta Combi, KIP, Cilindro Half, and Spirit models were rebuilt or corrected from CAD/source assets.
• Product presentation: Heater pages frame the product sooner, keep loaders visible until real models render, and use generated thumbnails across the catalog.

Commercial Heater Plans and Indoor Assemblies Got More Explicit

Several shipped changes make large rooms and nuanced wall assemblies easier to document.

• Commercial heaters: Designs can carry additional units of the same heater model, with voltage/phase visibility and zero-price quote warnings for supplier-confirmed packages.
• Saunum recommendations: Automatic Saunum suggestions now defer when a two-level non-Saunum layout is already appropriate, while still surfacing where they are useful.
• Indoor WRB: Indoor wall assemblies can opt into exterior Tyvek/WRB layers, with 3D layer toggles, local sourcing lines, and submittal coverage.

Harvia Spirit Got a Full Product and Marketplace Experience

The Spirit product flow now spans SEO pages, embeddable shopping tools, 3D commerce assets, and in-room previewing.

• Marketplace embed: The lightweight embed follows Harvia sizing inputs, supports live price cards and direct WooCommerce buy links, and resizes cleanly inside product pages.
• SEO and assets: The Spirit SEO page uses self-hosted product media, accurate CAD models, Google Merchant 3D/AR kit support, and cleaner structured data.
• In-room preview: Heater pages and embeds can open the existing AI room-photo preview with heater-specific copy and reference imagery.

The Public Site and Showroom Now Better Match the Product

The marketing surface shifted toward clearer buying context, real product imagery, and cleaner brand assets.

• Homepage positioning: The homepage now leads with the free design tool and wood/material ordering relationship, backed by real app screenshots and clearer cost drivers.
• Brand polish: The favicon and social imagery moved to the sage brand mark, and marketplace attribution and Saunum buy-box copy were tightened.
• Showroom and product renders: The Thermory No. 60 barrel model was rebuilt closer to the real product, heater install placeholders became branded loaders, Kohler shadow artifacts were fixed, and door handles align across faces.

The Submittal Package Covers More of the Build

The downloadable construction submittal now documents more of the structure behind each sauna, moving the package closer to permit-ready output straight from the 3D sauna designer.

• Structural schedules: Expanded submittal pages and structural material schedules capture more of the lumber, sheathing, and assembly detail behind each wall.
• Drawing accuracy: Framing elevation unit labels and veranda knee brace counts were corrected, and planning and installation verification notices are clearer about what to confirm on site.
• Mechanical partitions: Mechanical room finishes now stay on the sauna side of the partition, and indoor builds finish their walls by default with an optional utility plywood top cover reflected in materials and visuals.

Harvia Heaters Now Render from Official CAD Data

Harvia heater previews replaced proxy geometry with official CAD-derived models, so the heater in the designer matches the heater that ships.

• Virta lineup: Virta HL110, Pro, and Combi show open stone cavities, manual-accurate serpentine heating elements, and sharpened real logos.
• Cilindro stone fill: Cilindro and Cilindro Half USA models fill with dense two-ring stone packing behind open grates, with smaller, smoother stones capped below the safety grate.
• More of the catalog: KIP top assemblies, The Wall CAD assets, and wood stove chimney insertion were corrected, and interior cladding profiles render with finer detail and cleaner seams.

HUUM Cliff Mini Joins, and Heaters Place Themselves Smarter

The heater catalog grew while placement logic got better at keeping heaters oriented and clear of the room around them.

• HUUM Cliff Mini: The wall heater renders from its official asset with correct wall-side orientation.
• Placement intelligence: Floor heaters prefer room-facing rotations, placement honors rotated clearance envelopes, and positions re-check after bench layout changes.
• Steadier interactions: Heater selection no longer jitters, and product views focus through visible walls so the heater stays in frame.

Heater Pages Now Show the Real Product in 3D

Sauna heater pages now preview the actual product models with interactive views, planning tools, and manual-backed data.

• Live 3D embeds: Heater pages use embed routes with camera view controls, a heater page switcher, and direct design and buy actions.
• Harvia M3 planning: The wood stove page adds a fit checker, heat overlay, hot spots, and an auto-added protective sheath near clearances.
• Harvia Spirit embed: A marketplace embed sizes the room with the Harvia method and links straight to purchase.
• Manual-backed data: Safety and sizing data sync from manufacturer manuals to the pages and the designer, with manual downloads, canonical URLs, and US catalog filtering.

New Barrel and Glass Sauna Showroom Models

The showroom picked up two new product-accurate models while existing Kohler renders were corrected.

• Thermory 60 barrel: A rebuilt barrel sauna model includes framing views and refreshed interior and rear window renders.
• Libera glass sauna: A glass-walled model loads with wood-tone front trim.
• Kohler corrections: C1 graphite wrap and compact side window issues were fixed alongside C2 trim, base plinth, and lower bench geometry.

Moving Through the Layout Workspace Is More Direct

Navigation in the layout workspace got more direct on desktop and mobile, with new ways to recover when a design session stalls.

• Substep navigation: The step picker jumps straight to substeps, visited substeps are tracked, and progress cues are clearer.
• Mobile chrome: A mobile top menu, simplified design header, and safer reset flow keep small screens uncluttered.
• Design rescue: A rescue widget helps recover stuck sessions, and a return footer leads back to the designer.
• Editing continuity: Room dimensions sit above advanced setup, and benches survive switching between elevation and 3D views.

Classic Sauna Bench Layouts Are One Click Away

Bench planning now starts from proven layouts instead of a blank room, and bench construction details continue to firm up.

• DWG-derived presets: Classic sauna plans converted from real drawings are available as starting layouts.
• H-shape layout: The H layout was promoted with refined capacity guidance, and the facing bench preset was corrected.
• Construction detail: Glass-adjacent bench ends cap cleanly, bench guidance respects unit settings, and freestanding bench construction is modeled in more detail.

Ventilation, Accounts, and Support Routing Improved

Supporting systems around the designer were tightened so buying, signing in, and getting help all work more reliably.

• Ventilation flow: The ventilation marketplace flow was updated alongside refreshed sauna ventilation guidance, and bench modules carry richer marketplace metadata.
• Account access: Legacy accounts can complete password setup again.
• Support routing: Help requests and sample notifications route to the right place, and admin views prioritize leads with shipping details and clearer journey analytics.

Construction Docs and Assembly Layers Are Easier to Audit

SaunaDesignPro now gives builders and designers a clearer path from the 3D sauna designer to the construction documentation package. Finished surfaces, framing, and outdoor assembly layers are easier to review independently.

Highlights

• Layer visibility controls: Interior cladding, sleepers, foil barrier, wall framing, ceiling framing, outdoor sheathing, WRB, rainscreen, exterior cladding, roof framing, roof sheathing, and trim can be toggled for cleaner 3D review.
• Documentation architecture: Submittal page assembly and material schedules were refactored so summary pages, dimension drawings, element drawings, cut lists, and BOM outputs stay easier to maintain.
• Better product analytics: Admin and analytics routes now keep clearer context around design progress, bounce pages, and workflow friction.

Kohler Showroom Renders and Door Details Got Cleaner

Recent rendering work improves how product-specific sauna models appear in the SaunaDesignPro showroom and how standard sauna doors fit into design previews.

• Kohler C1 rendering: Graphite interior materials were refined, dark trim was excluded where it made CAD previews less accurate, and exterior corner caps now close visible shell gaps.
• Prehung door fit: Sauna doors trim to the prehung frame more consistently across 2D, 3D, validation, and material workflows.
• Product QA coverage: Kohler product rendering specs were expanded so showroom and marketplace previews can be checked more reliably.

The Layout Workflow Is More Direct on Desktop and Mobile

The sauna layout editor now starts from a more practical 2D editing flow before users move into 3D review, making openings, benches, heaters, and plan details easier to adjust.

• 2D-first editing: Layout steps now emphasize floor-plan editing for dimensions, doors, windows, benches, and heater placement before 3D visualization.
• Mobile elevation timing: Mobile elevation behavior advances from the layout stage instead of appearing too early in the setup flow.
• Cleaner interactions: Bench plan editors, 2D context details, and popovers dismiss more predictably when users click outside the active control.
• Less mobile clutter: Detail popovers stay out of the way on small screens where they can cover the working plan.

Bench Choices Now Inform Ceiling and Vent Details

Bench layout decisions carry more context into ceiling drop controls, heater validation, and ventilation placement, which helps sauna plans stay coordinated as the room changes.

• Bench-aware ceiling drops: Bench selections can drive ceiling drop controls so the layout better reflects the intended heat zone and seating geometry.
• Vent placement updates: Intake and exhaust placement logic is better coordinated with benches, heaters, and plan accessories.
• Add-on step flow: Step flow and add-on tabs were refined so optional design systems feel connected to the core sauna configuration.

The Quote Path Has Better Handoff and Better Signals

SaunaDesignPro's material and quote workflow now has stronger support for partner handoff, checkout preparation, and admin visibility into where users need help.

• Partner quote handling: Marketplace material selections can move through a cleaner partner quote path from cart to follow-up.
• Save and share reliability: Pre-cart save retries and share rate limits were tightened to reduce failed handoffs and accidental request bursts.
• Admin action insights: Funnel and action views help the team see where users pause, bounce, or need clearer next steps.
• Compact desktop polish: Heater option cards fit better in tighter desktop layouts.

Documentation, Assembly Rendering, and Validation Are Tighter

Sauna docs and 3D assembly views continue to move toward a construction-grade design package instead of a visual-only configurator.

• Assembly rendering: Infrared panels, vents, and 3D assembly details render more consistently across sauna configurations.
• Heater and vent validation: Heater positioning, partition placement, l-bench interactions, and vent placement checks were expanded.
• Quote schedule alignment: Marketplace quote generation and DIY bench bundle takeoffs were tightened so material schedules better match the modeled design.

Infrared Is Now a First-Class Heat Source

SaunaDesignPro now carries infrared heater decisions through the full design workflow instead of treating them as a note at the end of a quote.

Highlights

• Finnmark package recommendations: Infrared kits are selected by room shape, size, and aspect ratio so panel coverage starts from a more realistic baseline.
• 3D infrared panels: Wall panel plans render in the model, with combined wall plans by bench height for cleaner placement.
• State-aware output: Infrared selections flow into the heater step, materials schedule, marketplace quote data, and generated submittal details.
• Expanded testing: Finnmark package selection and panel planning are covered by dedicated tests.

This makes infrared sauna layouts easier to compare against electric and wood-fired heater paths.

Material Handoff Is More Quote-Ready

The materials step now has a clearer bridge from design intent to purchasing, invoice prep, and customer-facing quotes.

• Marketplace quote export: Configurator material selections can be exported into quote-ready data for follow-up and invoice workflows.
• Wood freight handling: Bulky wood shipping is separated more explicitly across cart totals, Stripe invoice prep, and submittal material schedules.
• Cleaner invoice edits: Removed and zero-quantity items are handled without throwing off order totals.
• Dimension lock: Room sizing can stay pinned while the rest of the design is refined.

Bench Layouts and Finish Takeoffs Got Sharper

Recent bench work focuses on making complex layouts look right and produce construction-grade finish schedules.

• H-shape bench support: H layouts normalize better from AI design briefs, appear correctly in the bench picker, and initialize cleanly in the materials step.
• Shared lower platforms: DIY H benches now model the shared lower platform more consistently across 2D, 3D, and framing tests.
• Finished ends: Waterfall and visible-end controls now feed finish cut schedules instead of being visual-only.
• AI layout tuning: The auto-patcher handles bench and heater placement more predictably for real project prompts.

Wood Stove Planning Now Includes the Chimney Path

Harvia wood stove support now accounts for the roof and ceiling details that make or break a real install.

• Harvia M3 support: The M3 wood-burning stove is available in the heater data and 3D model pipeline.
• CAD-backed chimney assets: Harvia steel chimney and extension models are converted, validated, and available for rendering.
• Clearance framing: Roof and ceiling framing can represent the chimney clearance path instead of hiding it behind the heater model.
• Documentation coverage: Heater landing data, checklist output, and submittal notes were updated for chimney-aware installs.

Marketplace Embeds Preserve the Right Product Layout

The Nordic Misty configurator now keeps small-sauna embeds aligned with their intended fixed preview layout.

• Fixed small-layout previews: Misty S wood-burning products no longer drift into the wrong generated layout in marketplace embeds.
• Cleaner product renderings: LOD0 and LOD1 scene generation was refined alongside simpler glass door hardware.
• Embed documentation: Marketplace embed states are documented for easier product-page integration and review.

Better Signals, Better Test Runs, Fewer Accidental Edits

Several smaller releases tightened the internal feedback loop and everyday design interactions.

• Analytics funnel: Admin reporting now surfaces design-flow friction with richer funnel events and PostHog metadata.
• 3D test reliability: Screenshot capture, camera button targeting, and Playwright waits were hardened for more stable visual QA.
• Intentional editing: Heaters now require an explicit drag to move in 2D, and 3D wall openings are selectable directly.
• Geometry fixes: Bench support posts no longer extend below the floor, and glass door hardware renders more simply.
• Faster startup: Major configurator steps are lazy-loaded to reduce initial app weight.

Introducing Claude, Your AI Sauna Design Co-Pilot

Design your dream sauna faster than ever. Our new AI assistant powered by Gemini 2.5 understands natural language, images, and messy project source material—send entire conversations, PDF document details, plan notes, and photos, then watch your design come to life.

Highlights

• Text-to-design: Type “8x10 barrel-corner sauna with thermo-aspen walls and a three-tier bench” and the configurator builds it instantly.
• Conversation and document import: Send full email threads, chat transcripts, PDF specs, plan notes, dimensions, and customer requirements so AI can convert the brief into a SaunaDesignPro model.
• Image recognition: Upload a photo of your basement or backyard; the AI suggests shapes, dimensions, and layouts that fit your space.
• Smart heater sizing: AI automatically calculates kW heater requirements based on your room volume, ceiling height, window area, and insulation specs.
• Auto-placement with clearance validation: Heaters snap to code-compliant positions, respecting manufacturer clearances and obstruction zones.

No more guesswork. No more manual calculations. Bring the whole project context—conversation history, documents, plans, and images—and start refining.

Design Around Real-World Constraints

Basements have columns. Mechanical rooms have soffits. Now SaunaDesignPro handles them all.

• Column and bump-out modeling: Add structural obstructions with precise dimensions and watch your design adapt.
• Soffit clearance tracking: Model low ceiling areas to ensure heater placement stays safe and accessible.
• Side elevation preview: New visualization mode shows vertical clearances at a glance—essential for heater installation and ADA compliance.
• Heater exclusion zones: Obstructions automatically create no-place zones for heaters, preventing design errors before they become jobsite problems.

Perfect for contractors working in renovation spaces where every inch matters.

Precision Tools for Professional Installations

We've completely rebuilt the measurement system based on feedback from sauna builders and general contractors.

• Intent-specific ruler colors: Instantly distinguish between clearance checks (red), heater distances (orange), ADA compliance (blue), bench spans (green), pathway widths (yellow), and custom measurements (gray).
• 2D and 3D measurement: Take accurate dimensions in either view mode—no more switching back and forth.
• Three measurement baselines: Toggle between finished interior, stud interior, and stud exterior dimensions so your framing plans match your material orders.
• Dual-unit readouts: See inches and centimeters simultaneously on every measurement.

Whether you're pulling permits, ordering materials, or coordinating with tile setters, you'll always have the right number.

From Design to Material List in One Click

Your bill of materials is now as detailed as your design.

Structural BOM:

• Stud count and linear footage by dimension
• Mineral wool insulation coverage with waste factor
• Furring strip quantities
• Vapor barrier square footage with overlap allowance
• Foil tape and fastener counts

Finish Materials:

• Cladding bundles calculated per profile and length
• Automatic wall/ceiling splits for mixed installations
• Bench module quantities or DIY board counts
• Flooring boards and joist requirements

Fixtures & Equipment:

• Door and window specs with rough opening dimensions
• Heater package with controller, rocks, and accessories
• Hardware kits sized to your design

Two-Track Procurement:

• Marketplace quote: Premium materials priced and ready for Stripe checkout.
• Local sourcing list: Framing lumber and insulation specs formatted for your local lumberyard.

Stop over-ordering. Stop making return trips. Build from accurate numbers.

Premium Finishes, Visualized

We've partnered with Thermory to bring their complete sauna-grade wood library into the configurator.

• Thermo-Aspen and Thermo-Alder variants: See the rich, caramelized tones of thermally modified wood in realistic 3D textures.
• Profile options: KYTE, STEP, STS, and VIRE profiles with accurate shadow lines and dimension specs.
• Per-surface overrides: Mix materials—thermo-aspen ceiling with thermo-alder walls, or accent a single wall with a contrasting profile.
• Vertical and horizontal cladding: Toggle board direction per surface and preview ceiling board orientation (short-run vs. long-run).
• Inspiration galleries: Browse real installations filtered by species and profile to find your aesthetic.

Material system awareness ensures your BOM accounts for stud depth, furring, air gaps, and vapor barrier assemblies.

Benches That Actually Fit

The new bench editor gives you Thermory's modular system or full DIY control.

• Multi-level configurations: Design two-tier and three-tier layouts with independent height settings.
• Corner and straight modules: Mix bench types with automatic connection logic.
• Offset controls: Fine-tune bench position relative to walls.
• Board gap settings: Adjust spacing for drainage and aesthetics.
• Backrest and skirting toggles: Add or remove finishing elements per bench section.

Flooring modes:

• None: Concrete or tile-ready subfloor.
• Duckboard panels: Removable drainage-friendly flooring.
• Raised floor system: Full joist-and-board installation with direction, gap, and spacing controls.

Inset clearances automatically respect wall build-ups so your floor fits first time.

Doors and Windows, Precisely Placed

The new opening editor handles complex layouts that other tools can't.

• Multiple openings per wall: Add doors and windows wherever you need them.
• Auto-snap positioning: Openings snap to available wall spans, preventing collisions.
• Smart clamping: When you resize the room, openings shift to stay within valid positions.
• Handing and sill heights: Specify left or right swing, set window sill heights for code compliance.
• Curated presets: One-click selection of Thermory black aluminum windows, all-glass sauna doors, and traditional panel doors.
• Wall orientation labels: Start/end markers eliminate confusion when communicating with installers.

Glass area is automatically factored into kW heater sizing calculations—more windows means a higher kW recommendation.

Beyond the Box

Not every sauna is a rectangle. Now yours doesn't have to be either.

• L-shape rooms: Design around corners with independent wing dimensions.
• Beveled corners: Soften transitions with angled walls.
• Cutout sizing: Precise control over L-shape leg dimensions.
• Rotation and flip: Orient your design to match your actual floor plan.
• Ceiling footprint options: Choose whether ceiling boards follow the room outline or interior dimensions.

The shape selector is now step one in the guided configurator—pick your geometry before you size it.

Never Lose Your Work Again

Your designs are protected with multiple safety nets.

• Autosave: Signed-in users get automatic saves every 30 seconds.
• Pending design stash: Started a design before logging in? It's waiting for you after authentication.
• Design library: Save, load, delete, and rename multiple designs from your dashboard.
• Shareable links: Generate instant links or permanent short URLs to share with clients, contractors, or collaborators.
• URL-encoded state: Every design parameter lives in the URL—bookmark any configuration and return to it exactly.

Hand off a link to your GC. Email a quote to your client. Everyone sees the same design.

SaunaDesignPro Is Live

We're launching the most comprehensive 3D sauna design tool available online.

The guided configurator walks you through eight steps:

• Shape: Square, beveled, or L-shape with rotation and flip controls.
• Size: Width, depth, and height sliders with dual-unit readouts (inches, ft+in, metric).
• Openings: Doors and windows with position, handing, and sill height.
• Finishes: Wall and ceiling cladding from the Thermory wood library.
• Benches: Modular or DIY benches with multi-level support.
• Flooring: Duckboard, raised, or none.
• Heater: Sized to your room with placement validation.
• Materials: Complete BOM with pricing.

Visualization:

• Toggle between 2D floor plan and textured 3D model.
• Mobile-friendly fallback for devices without WebGL support.
• Real-time updates as you adjust any parameter.

For professionals:

• Stripe invoicing and checkout.
• Admin workspace for product catalog management.
• WooCommerce import for existing inventory.
• Google Analytics integration for conversion tracking.

Design your sauna. Price your materials. Order with confidence.

What's Next

• Maintenance reminders: Get notifications for heater stone replacement, wood treatment, and safety inspections.
• Remodel mode: Clone your built design to plan upgrades—new benches, flooring swaps, heater upgrades—with delta BOMs.
• Sauna binder: Digital owner's manual with your specific installation details, warranty info, and care instructions.