All in one shower/steam shower/tub - anyone have one?

[Vipergrün]

I've always wanted a steam shower, thinking about a bathroom remodel and I've seen some combo units which are a shower, tub, and steam shower all in one. They are standalone units, some have LEDs and bluetooth, perhaps a bit to blinged out for me.

Looks like an easy way to get what I want.

Anyone have one? Looks like some require 220 and others a 15V 120 circuit. Pulling in 220 would be a PITA, but I assume I'd be better off with it.

Thoughts?

Thanks!
-Brad

[Tobra]

I think 220 is going to be far preferable. My parents have a shower/steam room, which is not exactly what you are talking about, but steam is steam, right. They have this steam generator in this little closet, and it is piped into this tiled shower room. It has been extremely serviceable, had repairs done after 25 years of service. It was not putting out the heat like it was, so they got it refurbished.

They did a little room, maybe 4'x5' with a bench on two sides, the door on the other short side, steam emitter is a little metal piece, 6"-8" from the floor, pointed down. Room for two or three to sit comfortably, takes a few minutes to get warm. Glass door opens to hot tub that is off the master bedroom, redwood and glass, pool straight out from steam room.

They have a pretty baller setup. Remodeled the master suite, put the roses in the front of the house and the hot tub where the roses were. Dad wanted a steam room more than hot tub anyway. He uses the steam room a lot, or he did. I am planning to use it tomorrow when we get their Christmas tree out. A steam sounds good.

I suppose it would depend on the materials used too. There was a redwood one that had these rocks sitting on a heater in the corner. More of a dry heat, but you could put water on the rocks. I don't think a fiberglass shower would hold up well to steam, I could be wrong.

[GWN7]

My sister has one in her house. I asked her about it. She said she used it once (steam part). It was her husbands idea to put it in when they were building. She said he's used the steam part 3-4 times.

[look 171]

Personally, I would never put on in my own house, but have install them in client's. Like a Jetted tub, it almost never get use all that much. Mr.Steam make one of the best units out there. Its all it does, make steam. Mr.Steam - homepage

Oh, with our CA paint, plan on painting the ceiling of the shower often?

[billybek]

I am putting steam into a built up shower in the house right now.
Wedi board shower and base. Fully tiled enclosure with glass door.
I have some asthma like symptoms particularly when trying to get over a cold and my sinuses bother me in the winter when it is so dry outside. (it is drier than a popcorn fart up here!)
Installing steam into a regular shower certainly increased the cost of the shower and I am hoping it is worth it.

[Vipergrün]

Thank you all for the replies. Below is something that I've been looking at. This one does not have the tub option. They are fully enclosed and self-contained, which is kind of cool;

[trekkor]

Anyone using anything but proper waterproofing and a full mortar prepped enclosure will be disappointed at an early failure.

Wedi, Schluter, Hardi, Durock or Wonderboard are not the way to go for a steam shower.

[Tobra]

The tile has been extremely durable. The wood one I was describing was also very durable, but was primarily dry heat.

Dad used the steam room every day he went to work for probably 10 years. Steam. shower and shave. They had it built out by the hot tub so all the moisture could be evacuated a bit more easily, which would be a concern, depending on the location of the unit.

I will say this. If you never shaved after taking some steam, you will not believe how close a shave you can get.

I thought you might comment KT, I hope you are well.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Tobra

I think 220 is going to be far preferable. My parents have a shower/steam room, which is not exactly what you are talking about, but steam is steam, right. They have this steam generator in this little closet, and it is piped into this tiled shower room. It has been extremely serviceable, had repairs done after 25 years of service. It was not putting out the heat like it was, so they got it refurbished.

They did a little room, maybe 4'x5' with a bench on two sides, the door on the other short side, steam emitter is a little metal piece, 6"-8" from the floor, pointed down. Room for two or three to sit comfortably, takes a few minutes to get warm. Glass door opens to hot tub that is off the master bedroom, redwood and glass, pool straight out from steam room.

They have a pretty baller setup. Remodeled the master suite, put the roses in the front of the house and the hot tub where the roses were. Dad wanted a steam room more than hot tub anyway. He uses the steam room a lot, or he did. I am planning to use it tomorrow when we get their Christmas tree out. A steam sounds good.

I suppose it would depend on the materials used too. There was a redwood one that had these rocks sitting on a heater in the corner. More of a dry heat, but you could put water on the rocks. I don't think a fiberglass shower would hold up well to steam, I could be wrong.

I have no experience with the all in one unit where the steam is part of the shower fixture. The one you described are the best where the generator is on the other side of the bath. Its designed to do one thing, make steam. Issues with those is hard water deposit. It kills these generators. Water treatment is always recommended.

[ckelly78z]

We really like having a nice hot tub out on the unheated back porch. It's a bit of a cold walk from the kitchen, but the cold air around you in the Winter time makes you appreciate the 104 degree water even more. I easily get overheated if a hot tub is in a 75 degree room. I've never been in a steam room so I can't comment.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

We really like having a nice hot tub out on the unheated back porch. It's a bit of a cold walk from the kitchen, but the cold air around you in the Winter time makes you appreciate the 104 degree water even more. I easily get overheated if a hot tub is in a 75 degree room. I've never been in a steam room so I can't comment.

Yeah right

Steam room is a very different experience from a hot tub/spa. I occasionally hit the steam room at the gym after my workout and find it much more relaxing than a hot water spa. Dry heat works best for me. That said I doubt I would use one at home enough to warrant the cost.

If you are going with a steam shower then definitely heed the advice from KT. And make it habit to seal the tile with really good stuff on a semi annual basis.

Edit - should have read Brad's original post

Brad, who makes that unit? Curious in the picture it appears to be trimmed inside with wood. Fine for a steam room but how is that going to hold up in an actual shower (lots of water use) environment?

[Vipergrün]

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

Yeah right



Brad, who makes that unit? Curious in the picture it appears to be trimmed inside with wood. Fine for a steam room but how is that going to hold up in an actual shower (lots of water use) environment?

I just pulled that as a random pic (wrong thread LOL) to demonstrate what I'm considering.

I think i will ditch that idea, though, and listen to KT, do it right, and do a fully tiled/enclosed shower with a bench and steam generator.

I really appreciate the replies :--)

[madmmac]

I had a 1 piece fully contained, with 2 separate seating areas in fiberglass in my first house that I built.

Loved it. Ran on 110. Easy to clean and keep clean. Shower only, no tub. Liked that if you got too hot you could just cool off with the shower, never have to leave and make no mess.

[Rusty Heap]

Bumping an old post.


Did anyone have further input to provide?


Some units even have a small dry sauna off to the side.


Brand New Aglow Dry Sauna With Shower Steam Room Combination

[speedster911]

We do not have a stand alone unit - but do have a traditional shower with a steam unit.

We had a tub shower combo and when we remodeled- we kept the same foot print but made it a large shower / steam with bench. 220 unit, single outlet which is fine for our space even with high ceilings. Contril panel in shower area- remember the steam uit needs to be installed higer than steam outlets - rarely gets used

[billybek]

It has been two years and I still haven't wired and installed the steam generator for my steam shower.
I have the controls and the steam outlet in just need to hang the steam generator and wire it.
The Wedi board and base has held up well so far.
Even though I couldn't stand the tile guy, he did pretty good work.
My steam generator is made by Kohler and it requires a 50 amp breaker and #8 wire.
To be quite honest with the tight fit door I get a steam every shower even without the generator connected.

[Gogar]

Ms. Gogar has an enclosed 4x8 tile shower with a steam unit. I use it a lot, and it's pretty great.

[Crowbob]

Up in da UP of Michigan is a lotta Finns who like da saunas in da wintertime.

Some of the saunas, like what Bob Painter has off his back porch, have a sort of loofa sponge/bristle brush that he scrubs off his dead skin with, I guess.

Anyways me, Old Eddy, Dennis from Ishpeming and da Paint were in da sauna one fine day. So da Paint, being a big and burly guy all pink except for his arms, neck and baldy head, asks old Eddy to scrub his back with dat brush thing.

So Eddy's scrubbing away and looks over to Dennis and asks, 'Eh Dennis, you tink we'll have him ready in time for da fair?

[Gogar]

This shower is about 4'x7'x8',

And it's got a "thermasol ssa-395."

Takes about 3-4 minutes to get like in the pic. I like it!

I think the best choice is to just get a unit that can easily fill the shower as opposed to one that's struggling or at the top of its capacity.

[ben parrish]

Bringing this back...thinking about one of the units to just drop in.... anyone have one?