Five Elements Africa

Saunas & cold plunges in Alexandria

Alexandria is humid in a way the rest of Egypt is not. A wet room here that does not dry out overnight will smell by the second season, and ventilation stops being a detail.

Alexandria, Egypt

Humidity is the design problem

Mediterranean air does not dry a closed room. Every hot or wet room gets mechanical extract, ducted out, on a humidistat rather than a timer so it runs when the air needs it.

Vapour barriers must be continuous and correctly placed, warm side, with every penetration sealed. A barrier with gaps in this climate traps moisture inside the wall, which is worse than no barrier at all.

Old buildings, small services

Much of Alexandria's good housing stock is old, with limited electrical capacity and service runs that were improvised decades ago. We survey the board and the risers before promising a heater size.

Salt without the Red Sea's bite

Mediterranean salt is real but gentler than the Red Sea's. Stainless fixings and a ventilated cavity remain non-negotiable; sealed plant enclosures are usually unnecessary here, which takes cost out.

Questions

Alexandria: what people ask

Why a humidistat rather than a timer?

Because Alexandria's air varies. A humidistat runs the extract when the room is actually damp, which a timer cannot know.

Is the salt as bad as Hurghada?

No. Mediterranean salt is gentler, and the specification is correspondingly lighter and cheaper.

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