While saunas and steamrooms used to be associated with country clubs, they are increasingly being incorporated into everyday home life. One common variation on this trend is the steamshower, which can be installed new or added to an existing shower.

Steamshowers

A steamshower is energy efficient and conveniently adapts to standard shower stalls. To function, it requires a steam generator that is normally mounted within 20 feet or less of the shower to minimize heat loss through the pipe. The temperature control unit is mounted on the wall next to the shower door. Select a generator large enough to produce a comfortable steamroom temperature within 15 minutes or less.

If you are thinking of adding a steam generator to create a steamshower, here are some planning elements to consider:

• The walls surrounding the steamshower must have a waterproof substrate of cement board and water-resistant drywall.
• The actual shower wall must be able to withstand high heat and excessive moisture. Before selecting a material for a custom shower wall, check with the manufacturer that it will withstand steam heat without decay. For instance, the manufacturer of Corian does not recommend its use in a steamshower.
• The door must completely encase the opening. If converting a shower stall to a steamroom, a matching panel of glass or plastic can be located above the door.
• A slanted ceiling is desirable because condensation will run down it to the wall rather than dripping on the bather.
• Add a comfortable bench in the shower, located as far as possible from the steam outlet to avoid accidental scalding.

Saunas

Saunas use dry heat rather than steam and require more space, but would easily fit in a large and luxurious master bath. A common size is about 5 by 7 feet. Saunas can also be located in other parts of the house, such as conveniently close to a swimming pool, a lake, or snow bank to jump into when you finish.

Saunas are traditionally constructed from wood, which not only insulates well but also is not hot to the touch. The sauna also needs a minimum of two wall-attached benches at different heights, the lower one being cooler than the upper. To prevent heated air rising into unusable space, a 7-foot ceiling is the norm.

Once the steamroom is framed, insulated, and lined with aspen, cedar, redwood, or pine, the sauna elements are added. These include an air intake vent, an outlet, adjustable lighting, and the stove. The stove, either electric or gas, heats imitation stones, which bathers can sprinkle with water periodically to increase the heat. Select a stove large enough to efficiently operate in the sauna. A 5-by-7-foot sauna, for instance, requires a 1 Kilowatt electric stove or a 1,000 BTU gas stove.