Can I build a shower to conver to steam later??

4 years ago

Long story short, sewer drains need to be repiped. A good portion of the master shower needs to be demolished. I decided to redo the shower instead of repair. I can afford to put in a fabulous shower, but not the steam generator. I just paid off my student loans, so i should be able to afford the steam portion in a year or two, but jt's not responsible to do it right now.
What would i need to do to make sure it was compatible with steam? Is it even possible to add steam after a shower is built?

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MongoCT

4 years ago

"If you where to DIY, which steps specifically would you leave for the pros?"

Biggest thing is getting the vapor-proof shower cube done correctly. "Cube" as in four walls, floor, and ceiling.

Consider looking at something like USG's Durock lightweight foam board as the tile backer for the cube. The foam board will offer some insulative value, which can help when creating and retaining steam. The USG system has pitched floor panels, so the slope is already there. Easy. You can buy a stock size floor pan, or they'll fabricate a custom size for you in about a week's time.

Then the wall panels. Follow the detailing instructions. Fasteners, corners, panel seams, etc. It's not difficult. You just have to pay attention to the details.

You'll want to plan for the shower door, any grab bars, the steam port pass-through location, the steamer controls, etc...do all that ahead of time. Install blocking during the framing stage so door hinge screws will find proper purchase. Figure out all of those locations. The steam vent usually has a special high temp membrane patch where it goes through the wall, install that now since it's part of the vapor-proofing. You can place the fitting and cap it on the back side.

Figure out all of the wiring.

Plumbing.

Steamer location.

If the steamer will be remote, you can do everything except install the generator.

Tile selection is important. natural stone sure looks purdy, but not is it's continually moist from steam drive. Chose a nice porcelain tile.

If you're a competent tiler, you can handle the tiling.

Glass doors? Gaskets for those doors? Any penetrations in the membrane need to be vapor-proof. Lighting, speakers, etc, the housings need to be vapor-tight and gasketed.

Build it fifty times in your head, have it all worked out on paper, before you start construction.

Step-by-step.

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Comments (9)

millworkman
4 years ago
You can add the steam unit later but the initial costs and work to make the shower steam usable is more material and labor intensive. The shower needs vapor proofing not just waterproofing. So if you do want to eventually make it a steamer, plan properly now.
Rachel Orosz thanked millworkman
User
4 years ago
The steam generator is the cheapest part. It’s the 15K construction of the rest that would have to all be done correctly first. A steam shower has to be vapor proof. Not just waterproof.
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chiflipper
4 years ago
The steam generator unit itself is a minor cost when compared to the cost of a properly built "steam shower enclosure". Consider installing a acrylic stall (for now) until you have sufficient funds that allow for a Steam Shower Pro design and install.
Rachel Orosz
Original Author
4 years ago
So, my Husband and I decided that we would build the shower ourselves, with the help of friends who are in the trades. If you where to DIY, which steps specifically would you leave for the pros?
User
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
You need to leave all of it to the right Pro. Unless you want to spend the 15K-20K twice to have a rotting mess torn out and replaced by the pro later. A steam shower is not where to begin a DIY career. It has nothing novice DIY friendly in it’s build. Start with a backsplash first. Get a year or two of DIY under your belt first.
Rachel Orosz
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks! This isn't our first remodel, we have a group of friends who pitch in on each others projects. We haven't called in our favors yet :). Plus, my FIL is going to be helping a ton, and he's friends with a home builder who helps him with these big projects. He just retired from the force, is restless, and has redone 3 bathrooms and a kitchen himself. He's even installed his own electric panel, with permits and everything. We're redoing another bathroom first, and the plan is to do the steam shower last.

We still have a lot to decide on the shower. I'll start working on some of the other details of the design.
Rachel Orosz
Original Author
4 years ago
So, I decided that we are going to put in a fiberglass shower for now, and do the steam shower in a few years. We'd going to e putting in a laundry room on the other side of the way and put in a tankless water heater. We also need to install a water softener, and I don't want to put in the steam room until all that is done. I don't want to risk damaging the vapour barrier when work is being done on the other side of the wall. I'm just going to make sure the drains and hookups are in the right spot.

Thanks for your input! It really helped me reach that decision
MongoCT
4 years ago
Good luck, and congrats on thinking it all through.

Can I build a shower to conver to steam later??

MongoCT

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millworkman

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