Build Your Own Steam Shower Enclosure

You may have scoured the Internet to find a steam shower enclosure that will fit in the space you have available in your bathroom so that you don't have to take on any extensive or expensive remodeling in your home. The good news is that with a little work you can easily build one on your own to fit the space without having to tear out any existing walls. However, before you start this project, you do need to do some research so that you have all the materials and information you will need to complete the job and have a unit that will work properly.

The main things you have to consider when building your own steam shower enclosure are the roof, the door, the generator and whether or not you want to have seats and storage space inside. You can easily have a steam shower suite that includes steam jets and a regular shower in the same space as you would need for a normal bathtub enclosure. If you already have a small walk-in shower in your bathroom then you are halfway there because you have the basics of the enclosure in place.

The walls and ceiling of a steam shower enclosure must be waterproof. Some of the commonly used materials for this purpose are tile, slate, ceramic, marble, granite, limestone and fiberglass. The roof must be completely covered in by an acrylic dome shape or a cover made from stainless steel or fiberglass. You also have to look at the shape of the roof. If you have a flat ceiling in the enclosure, the water will drip from the roof onto your head and face as the steam rises and then condenses. For this reason, it is better to consider installing a sloping roof on the enclosure.

A steam shower enclosure or whirlpool steam shower has to be tightly sealed so that the steam will not escape into the room when you are taking a steam shower. If you do not take care to ensure the tightness of the enclosure, you could be looking at costly repairs a few years down the road. Steam can cause a lot of damage to the walls and ceilings in the development of mold, mildew and rot. In order to have this protection, you do need to give a lot of thought to the type of door you install in the enclosure.

There are a variety of doors you can choose from for a steam shower enclosure. The door has to extend to the ceiling and it must fit the frame of the enclosure very tightly. You can choose a single door or one that also has the form-fitting frame. There is a wide variety of designs and colors to choose from as well, with doors containing clear, obscure or deco glass. Depending on the size of the enclosure you build, you can also have the door custom built to fit the opening.

In order to have properly functioning steam shower units, you have to purchase and install a steam generator. You may need to hire a plumber and an electrician to do this for you if you don't have the experience needed for the job. The steam generator has to be connected to both the water line and to electricity.

The placement of the generator in the unit is also of importance to the final result. You can have this installed in a cabinet in the bathroom, in the basement or even in the attic. It doesn't need to be within the steam shower enclosure at all. Most can be as much as 50 feet away from the enclosure and still give you the proper amount of steam for your needs.

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