Once you’ve picked your steam shower’s tile and decided on the shower’s area and dimensions, it’s time to start building. Understanding a steam shower’s key components, prices and materials will ensure the outcome you want.
What’s perfect for your house may not always be expected by code. Talk with your builder or designer to find out about all of your choices for a safe and sturdy steam shower. Finding someone who will build your shower into the specifications of the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) and also the Terrazzo, Tile and Marble Association of Canada(TTMAC) will provide you a much better product and a more pleasing steam shower experience.
Bill Fry Construction – Wm. H. Fry Const. Co..
Any steam shower installation should include these necessities:
• Steam generator
• duvet seat (fixed or folding)
• Vapor barrier and waterproofing
• Lights
• Insulation
• Heating
The superb steam shower in this photo shows a perfect installation of each one of these products.
Steam generator. Clearly, you’re going to require a steam generator to generate steam. They vary widely in price and choices. Discovering the right size unit for your steam shower will require some calculating. ThermaSol units are selected by multiplying the length of the shower by its width and height. For instance, this 112-cubic-foot shower utilizes a ThermaSol Pro Series 140, which can handle steam showers up to 140 cubic feet.
You can expect to pay between $800 and $2,500 for the most popular and famous steam generator brands. Larger steam showers may require more than 1 generator, so account for this in your budget.
Tip: Try to set your steam generator outside the bathroom but someplace that is easily accessible. It’s almost always a fantastic idea to hook up the skillet into the property’s plumbing system, in the event of leaks.
Andre Rothblatt Architecture
Shower bench. If possible, put in a stationary chair with a heated seat. Putting the shower handheld near the seat can also help you heat up the chair, if a cable heating source isn’t an option. Built-in steam shower chairs require complete waterproofing, too. Make sure the whole seat is covered with a vaporproof and watertight membrane.
Tip: If distance is too tight, a folding shower seat will do the trick. Ensure that there’s appropriate wood service for the chair and there are no water or electrical lines where you anticipate bolting in the chair.
Noble Company
Vaporproofing and waterproofing. What’s behind the walls in a steam shower is vital. A steam shower needs constant waterproofing and vaporproofing to prevent structural damage to the house. This diagram from Noble Company shows the many levels involved with correctly waterproofing a steam shower. Designing in accordance with this diagram would suit the TCNA and TTMAC requirements for a steam shower built in North America.
A steam shower needs vaporproofing on the floors, walls, bench and ceiling. All penetrations in the barriers should be sealed prior to tile installation. Start looking for someone with experience for this when hiring your own installer.
Past Beige Interior Design Inc..
Lights. A dimming light can make your steam shower session more enjoyable. Search for a light designed for steam showers using fittings which are watertight and vaporproof. Think about adding a colored light source for layered light choices.
By Any Design Ltd..
Tip: A rain showerhead similar to this one is a great choice in steam showers. A cool drizzle feels fantastic during a hot steam shower, and big rain showerheads also make ideal access panels to your shower’s speakers and lights.
Before Photo
Tarkus Tile, Inc..
Insulation. Your steam shower ought to have insulated walls. I recommend with a 2-pound spray foam, as shown in this picture. This is a task which should definitely be left to a professional. In fact, many cities require a specific certificate for spray-foam installation.
Tip: though it’s not always required by manufacturers or code, I recommend having a high-heat insulation wrap to cover your steam line. This copper pipe, which attracts the warmth from the generator to the shower, can become extremely hot and dangerous.
Brandon Barré Architectural Interior Photographer
Ventilation. Ventilation is the last crucial ingredient in a great steam shower build. Leaving the shower door open after a fantastic steam is almost always a fantastic idea, especially if your steam shower does not have a transom over the door. But a fantastic ventilation fan is a must. Put the bathroom fan just outside the steam shower or transom — this will really enhance the drying times between showers and steam sessions.
More:
Green and Clean: Ventilate for a Healthful Bathroom
Steam Showers Bring a Beloved Spa Feature Home