We are building a custom sauna that is attached to a glass shower . It is only 40.5” x 49.25” so not a lot to work with. We are doing glass front and glass in between sauna and shower (mostly). Fronts will have matching glass door. Trying to keep at 8’ height.

Because 7’ is ideal, we’re trying to figure if we can raise the floor with a base floor or put a drop shelf/cubbie from the ceiling to take off a foot. Here is an idea of the side by side. We are trying to figure how far back the first lower bench needs to be. And since we’re trying to raise it all up should we build this on a 8” platform? I only have 40.5” deep.

Entry starts 12.5” back from door (fits heater)
Lower bench: 17” high -10” deep
Upper bench: 18” high -18” deep
(12.5 floor+10” lower+18” upper is 49.5” deep).

Or I can notch into the bench and do a full 20” deep upper bench,

Or we do the entry at 10.5” deep and notch a few inches into the lower bench (unit is 12.5” deep). Then lower bench is 10” and upper is 20”.

1. is it worth putting in a base floor/step 8” up when you walk in? This gets me closer to the feel of a 7’ sauna since it is really 8’.

2. top bench is it ok 18” vs 20”?

3. other ideas?