Top 8 Tips for Building a Salt Room

If you own or operate a spa or therapy business, adding a salt room to your space is a great way to expand your services, increase your customer base and generate more revenue. Salt therapy, known as halotherapy, is one of the fastest growing trends in the health and wellness sector worldwide. Adding a salt room to your space will allow you to offer your clients halotherapy sessions.

Business owners located in even the most remote of small towns report that the addition of a salt room has boosted their revenue, increased business and overall customer satisfaction.

Listed below are some important factors to consider when building a Salt Room.

Salt Room Tip #1: Renting is the More Affordable Solution

When looking for a space to convert into a salt room, most people believe that they must purchase the space, prior to converting it to a salt room. This is not true at all. It’s perfectly acceptable to convert a rental space to a salt room — as any design implementation can be easily reversed by the removal of salt bricks, salt tiles, and salt boulders.

For obvious reasons, renting a space for your salt room is more cost effective than buying. Most important, as in most commercial rental agreements, is that your landlord is notified of the business undertaking. In the event that you choose to leave the space in the future, your salt room can always be disassembled (verify with your particular salt cave builder).

Salt Room Tip #2: Existing versus a Newly Built Frame

Most salt rooms average at about 300 – 350 square feet. Depending on your commercial space and layout, you may need to build a frame if no existing rooms can be converted.

If your space offers an existing frame — room(s) to convert — in most instances, no building permit will be required prior to the build, for the salt cave component. It’s always best to confirm with your city. If, on the other hand, you’re working with an empty space, blueprints along with a building permit will most likely be required for your frame(s), and any other rooms you plan to build. Building permit applications can be filed by the tenant.

Salt Room Tip #3: Ceiling Height — What’s Best?

The short answer is there is no ideal height. In fact most commercial spaces have dropped ceilings which offer added height if required. However, real salt caves have varying ceiling heights anyway, which is reproduced in most designs. Ultimately, every space is unique and ceiling height slightly different. Work with your salt cave builder to design a ceiling that fits your spec.

In the event your design opts for a skylight feature (known as the twilight), ‘higher’ ceiling heights can be beneficial in order to reproduce a more ‘realistic’ effect.

Salt Room Tip #4: The HVAC System

If you own or rent a commercial space, it will most likely come with heating and air conditioning/ventilation system built in (known in the construction industry as the HVAC system). Your salt room simply connects to the existing HVAC system and your thermostat will control the temperature within the room. A separate zone – for added control – is usually installed for the salt room.

Connecting your salt room to the HVAC is vital because the temperature and humidity need to be controlled. If too high, the salt will lose water. The recommended temperature to keep your salt room is 66-68°F (19-20°C).

If your space requires an HVAC system, we recommend you obtain guidance from your salt room construction company.

Salt Room Tip #5: Foundation — Is a Concrete Floor Better?

The ideal foundation for a salt room is a concrete floor. The reason is that salt rooms can be very heavy due to the volume of salt (salt bricks, salt boulders, salt granules on the floor, etc), and can vary depending on the size of the room. For example, a 450 ft.² salt cave consumes approximately 15,000 pounds of salt, without human beings.

If your space has a basement underneath, this is not a problem — structural reinforcements to accommodate the weight of the salt can be added.

Salt Room Tip #6: Is a Building Permit Required?

A building permit is usually only required if you are making structural changes within the unit — erecting new walls for example. See Tip #2.

If your space has existing room(s) ready to convert, no building permit is usually required — and, assuming your salt room builder is available, you can start your build-out without delay.

Salt Room Tip #7: Funding: Writing a Business Plan

Most salt cave prospects don’t have the capital on hand to do a complete salt room build-out, and require funding of some sort. As with any conventional business, a business plan is essential. Visit our blog on writing a business plan.

Ideally, your salt room builder should work with you to evaluate all aspects of your business plan from financing, revenue potential, maintenance, and growing your clientele — this will ensure a successful business venture.

Salt Room Tip #8: Planning — The Timeframe

Generally, a salt room build can take anywhere from 4 – 6 weeks in the initial planning phase and ironing out all the details of the business plan and build-out, before setting a start date. This is the most optimal time to retain a Salt Cave builder, as most salt room build-outs usually require a minimum 1-2 month lead time.

Once an agreement is signed between the builder and client, the start date of the build-out is typically set.

The build process itself will take approximately 2 – 4 weeks, depending on the size of the salt room, and whether any additional features are required, such as a water cascade, fireplace/chimney, twilight, etc..

We hope the above tips are helpful — and if so we would love to hear your comments!