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Remodeling Design Dilemma Bathrooms

Sauna/steam room in master bathroom remodel

verizonmarianne

last year

We are planning on remodeling our master bathroom. Have a lot of space, but wondered if I could get thoughts on a couple of things:

1. ok to eliminate a tub to make space for a dry sauna? We have three others in the house, though one is in the basement.

2. if you were going to do a gut, would you do a steam room shower combo or just do a regular shower?

3. does adding a sauna hurt resale? I am doing this mostly for my health, but don't want to overlook resale.

Thanks.

Featured Answer

Nancy in Mich

last year

Saunas, especially dry ones with far infrared heat, are touted as great for health and for sweating out the impurities that we ingest. Others say that they are good for arthritis pain. If you want to fit one into your home, I say, go for it. Get yourself a self-contained one, cabin style. Put it in your bathroom if you want to, or put it in the basement or in a little-used guest room. I have mine in our smalest bedroom, which we now call the Sauna Room. I have not used it in four years - since the bath romodel next door had me stuffing it full of stuff that needed to be tucked out of the way during renovations. (We also widened all our doors to 36” during that remodel, so every bedroom had some construction in it.) I am not sure I ever really noticed much improvement when I did use it, but I neveer did use it regularly.

If you were wanting a more traditional indoor sauna with the bin of rocks and wooden pail of water and wooden water ladel, you might want it in the bathroom to be close to water and for the fan to deal with the steam. But if you are not doing that type, you can put it anywhere. If you go to sell, put it away, or leave it there and show how a small tub could replace it, if you have it in the bathroom. You could even do the plumbing for a tub and leave it in the walls, photograph it with a tape rule, showing its position in the wall so that you can tell buyers the plumbing is already in place. Bring a drain to the general area and measure out exactly where that sits under the flooring, too. Have a box of extra floor tiles to leave buyers if they have to open the floor. When you do weird things to your house, you can have the ”traditional” stuff under the surface, waiting for a new owner to uncover and use it. I did this in our main bath when I got rid of the second sink. The plumbing is in the wall for it, and I have the photos!

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Comments (12)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
last modified: last year
Why mnot a nice steam shower I like the ones that are all prebuilt they go in quickly no issues with leaking they have all kinds of bells andw hisltes too lik music , color change as much bling as you want.Just google [remade steam showers I use them for clients a lot IMO just abetter choice than one built on site. This one is 6K .
verizonmarianne thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
PRO
Kristin Petro Interiors, Inc.
last year
last modified: last year
Steam showers and saunas are two different things...one is wet and the other dry. In my market, we do many steam units in primary bath showers but no saunas in primary baths. When we include saunas, they are in or near a workout room.

I've never designed with an all-in-one unit like Patricia posted. Typically we include a unit in a custom shower design. I work with Steamist a lot which now has a nice digital valve that can control not only the steam unit but the shower fittings too which keeps your shower free from multiple controls.

Are saunas typical in the houses in your market? If not, I would image three saunas would be odd to potential buyers. They may not want to see a primary bath designed around one.
verizonmarianne thanked Kristin Petro Interiors, Inc.
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It's not an investment. It would be something you would do solely for your own enjoyment. I am currently remodeling and spending extra money on stuff that would NEVER be considered to be an investment since it's either being done for my own "peculiar needs" - i.e. taking out second sink in master and installing sit down vanity area or spending on more expensive stuff for aesthetic reasons - i.e. pricey tile and faucets for example. Since it would be solely for you, are you the kind of person who would actually use a shower if it's downstairs - it's not the end of the earth. Many people shower at the gym :=) Why don't you start showering in the downstairs bath for awhile to see whether you would actually shower downstairs. I could see some people using the steam shower - getting into a cozy robe and heading into the television room or a comfy lounge chair downstairs to relax with a glass of wine. I know it's not quite the same thing but I housesat for a friend with a hot tub outside and I would come home every night and get in even though it was downstairs and my bedroom was upstairs :-)
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PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
I agree with the comment above about a sauna.
verizonmarianne thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
PRO
Kristin Petro Interiors, Inc.
last year
Oh! Lol. You’re right! I totally read that the wrong way. No, you don’t need a tub in the primary bath. But I’m still not sure about replacing it with a sauna.
PRO
JAN MOYER
last year
If you really want decent answers? Show the existing condition of the bath, and your bath plan. Pictures, drawings, dimensions ,and ALL.

EVERYTHING LIVES IN THE CONTEXT OF A WHOLE. : )
verizonmarianne thanked JAN MOYER
Lynne Om (9A, New Smyrna Beach,FL)
last year
Our house has a sauna in the master bath and that was a major plus for me when we bought it. It’s not as if I use it every week, but when I do, it is soooo nice NOT to have to go to a gym.
Maureen
last year
last modified: last year
Losing the bathtub is not as much of an issue to me personally (if there is a nice shower) than having a sauna taking up valuable space/rarely used. Could the sauna be placed in the basement (take out 3rd tub if you have to),

https://mysaunaworld.com/blogs/my-sauna-world-blog/6-indoor-saunas?utm_source=pinterest&utm_medium=social

For your ensuite, suggest a steam shower and given it‘s a large space, may have room for a soaker tub; double bonus for you and resale.

http://blog.mrsteam.com/7-essentials-to-creating-a-steam-shower?hs_amp=true&epik=dj0yJnU9M2FUeDdkV3BkWFN2aC1rWEJNSW9WbF9lSm1ZUGNocjEmcD0wJm49TC1WVzBCLWJuQkdUTTA2RmdZV1IyZyZ0PUFBQUFBR1BLclZj
PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
last year
Don't worry about resale. This is your home and I'm assuming that if you're undertaking a large remodel, that you'll be in your home for a very long time. Do what works for you.

I probably wouldn't do both the steam shower and the sauna, so pick which one is most important to you. People pull out tubs in the master bath all the time to put in larger showers, so don't be concerned. If you're doing the sauna for health reasons, I'd consider making the shower a walk-in with full universal design to include grab bars. Make the entrance large enough to accommodate a walker/wheelchair if aging in place is the goal. Include a bench and a handshower, too. This doesn't have to look like a hospital shower. All the big manufacturers are making grab bars that match their faucets and towel bars, so it can actually be very attractive.

Transitional Bathroom walk in shower wood grab bar accessible shower · More Info

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Nancy in Mich
last year
I am wondering where the $25k cost estimate is coming from. Self contained, dry saunas can be built from scratch or bought as self-contained wooden cabins that just need to be assembled by buckling the four sides to the top and bottom and plugging in some wires. With a 220 volt electrical plug (or two free spots in your electric panel so an electrician can install one), it is plug-and-play. Cost is under $5000 for one sized for two or for one to stretch out (get the three person sauna unless you like to touch your partner when they are all sweaty, and if you want to stretch your legs out on the bench seat). Mine is beautiful, clear poplar wood from High Tech Health.
opaone
last year
last modified: last year
Some thoughts...
- IR is not sauna. Despite what sales and marketing folks say, these are very different and do not have the health benefits of a proper sauna (heated by stones upon which you throw water to create steam).
- In Europe a proper sauna helps resale and in much of northern Europe the lack of a sauna hurts resale. In MN, MI, ME, VT and a few other winter climate areas a good sauna (see Trumpkin's Notes) helps resale, a poorly done sauna not so much. In other parts of the U.S. it may or may not depending on the buyer.
- Sauna is also a social activity. Something to be enjoyed with friends and family.
There is some good info at localmile.org, particularly the Intro to Sauna, and Notes on Building a Sauna that you should read.
opaone
last year
As to steam shower or Turkish Bath...
- Most people tend to prefer a proper sauna to a steam room from a purely enjoyment standpoint.
- A sauna, when done properly with hot/cold/hot/cold/hot/cold, is better as an after workout recovery element.
- They both have health benefits but the benefits are somewhat different for each.
- Between the two I would easily choose a proper sauna but ideally have both. I would also much rather have a well done sauna than a poorly done sauna & steam room.

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