Hi Sophia - thank you for the links. Wow that is quite comprehensive. Do you think I could spend less if I purchased a prefabricated shower? 12-16 is more than I thought (by a lot) - especially because I also need a larger water heater too I think. I only have a 28 gallon heater and it is 9 years old, so even my regular showers at 2.0 GPM don't provide heat very long (12 minutes max at this point). With jets, a rain head, and handheld, I might only get 5 minutes in there. So, that's another 3-5k if I do a tankless (probably the best option given the space I have in that room - a bigger tank wouldn't fit). Also, one person apparently had to upgrade their wiring and fuse for the steam generator. I'm not sure if I would have to do this as well (1970s house - maybe)...so that's TBD.

Here's what I am thinking about with regard to prefab... though the complaints are that it is extremely hard to install the wall with all the plumbing because you almost need to get behind the enclosure while pressing the enclosure against the wall simultaneously... so installers / plumbers hate it. Some seem to have better reviews than others but I thought this might be an option. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003XZ2RKA/ref=psdc_6810473011_t3_B00D4B2UFK

Thanks again for your links. I have a lot of reading to do!

You don’t get what you won’t pay for. Don’t confuse that cheepchinesecrapola junk with a real steam shower. Hire correctly, and choose the right products. Or you will be on the “Help Disaster” list of posters.

If you are going to do a steam shower it has to be done properly -there are no shortcuts. Find a reputable installer (one who has done many before with good reviews) and be prepared to pay what they quote. Trying to cut corners and costs on something like a steam shower will only end in a poorly performing product or a badly leaking shower. If you can't afford the good quality product or the installer tells you it can't be done then forget it and move on. Alternatively you could be like my sons and just stand in the shower for half an hour with the hot water running. They managed to create quite a good sauna effect.

If you want a steamshower, ask a plumber who's installed one what his experience tells him about cost and use. A GPM showerhead will take 14 minutes to drain your water heater, a steamshower with jets could take twice as much or more. I've heard of people installing a second 50-gal water heater just to feed a steamshower like the one you want. If you've got a shower like this, you don't want to have to limit yourself to a quick 5 minute shower.

Here's another point: The US is number two in most surveys of water use per person globally, and in some surveys, it's number one. Glaciers are receding and ground water is getting scarcer or getting contaminated by industries like fracking. And I think that if you use this daily, your water bill is going to go through the roof.

One last point: Do any of the houses in your neighborhood have one? If not, that affects the comps the realtor pulls when you go to sell. Check to see whether or not this is something you can recoup through resale. There is only one in-ground swimming pool in my neighborhood. When the owner went to sell, his house was priced based on the others like it in the neighborhood, none of which have pools.

And don't buy cheapchinesecrapola, it just gives Sophie the fits!

Before you do anything rethink. Will you really use this and is it worth it? My sister spent a fortune on it and used it twice.

Saratoga, someone did a study and found that garden tubs were used (on average) seven times over the life of the tub, which I'd estimate to be about 10-15 years.