Using a steam shower enclosure in bathroom remodel.

luma

Hello everyone,

I'm planning on master suite bathroom remodel and am considering purchasing one of a steam shower enclosures, similar to this one -

https://mysaunaworld.com/products/mesa-ws-300-walk-in-steam-shower?srsltid=AfmBOopLJ4k0nP6aPr8eiSSIShwDKkCGMkUtE-wGPCCBmlbgIQhvG6vz

. The main reason we want to get an enclosure, is that the bathroom is pretty cold during winter, the room has cathedral ceiling and open custom shower won't provide a comfortable temp wise environment, especially when you need to exit the shower. I had a few plumbers over to give me an estimate / the amount of work, far I haven't found one who would attempt to get this done. The install seems to me being a pretty straightforward process, so the question I have is that have any of you dealt with installation of such units? Any feedback on such install would be much appreciated.

Regards,

Mark.

hot_rod

The people that manufacturer steam generators, Mr Steam, etc recommend against any plastics, acrylics, composites, etc. for steam enclosures. The cultured marble companies I checked with advise against it also.

It looks a little cluttered inside for cleaning. 35" dimension may be tight inside, when seated? Have you seen this unit in person?

A 1 year warranty?

A properly built glass and tile enclosure will last a very long time.

luma

hot_rod, appreciate your feedback.

I live in MA, and as far as I know, there aren’t any showrooms around here that carry these types of enclosures. Unfortunately, I’ve never seen one in person, nor do I know anyone who owns one. There are so many variations in style and size, and the model I referenced in my post was mainly just for illustration.

From what I can tell, most of these enclosures offer about the same amount of usable space as a standard bathtub in a small bathroom. As I mentioned earlier, my bathroom has a cathedral ceiling, so to maintain a comfortable temperature inside the custom shower, I’d likely need to build some sort of ceiling above the shower. That would turn into a massive project, probably wouldn’t look great, and would almost certainly be very expensive.

I’m pretty set on buying one of these units, but I’m really interested in hearing how others have handled connecting the water and electrical supplies to the unit.

hot_rod

I agree that model looks to be a replacement tub drop in. Typical bathtubs are 60" long, 30" wide. 30"W is a bit tight for me for a shower. The model you show is a bit wider, 36" with a bench, and the faucet assembly is still tight.

I imagine they are designed to be plug and play, supply water, drain and a power source, probably a 30A 240V circuit for a 4-5KW unit

This would be a fairly simple install for a plumber if piping is there for a tub? A circuit for power would probably need to be pulled from the panel box.

I'm still having trouble with plastic parts subjected to those temperatures??

Yes, a custom built SS enclosure would need a lid, or a steamer large enough to fill the entire bathroom :) The unit you are considering has a lid also.

I do like steamers, had one in our first home. You tend to stay healthier during flu season with regular use to kill germs.

I recommend a steamer fill water filtration filter assembly, hard water takes elements out quickly if you use it regularly. Some steam generators units have a drain down and flush after use also.

Intplm.

With a custom designed shower you can install a Kohler steam generator. They work fine with a well put together shower stall.

They do require a space for service. You can also add a fragrance injector if you like.

jumper

Heat lamps and other radiant heaters can warm a small space.

luma

Thank you all for your input, can wait for the warmer weather to kick off the remodel. I'll go with one of the enclosures for sure, originally was considering getting one like this one, but the size of it is simply to big for the room.

https://www.aquapeutics.com/product-page/saint-kitts-bl-steam-sauna

mattmia2

do you have hot water heating? could you put radiant in the floor and shower walls or even electric radiant to make it feel warmer.

hot_rod

the steam will add a lot of moisture to the bathroom, I would not depend on it to warm the room. And in a cold room you will get even more condensation from the steam.

You will want to have some ventilation in the room.

If walls and ceilings get moist and or start dripping you could end up with mold issues

luma

I thought of getting hot water radiant heat done, but since I have a finished basement, it'll take a lot of demolition to get it done, and it's really cost prohibitive, so it's not an option for me. The only thing that I'll do is to install electric radiant heated floor system. I'll also planning on installing one of the Panasonic exhaust fans to deal with the moisture.