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Wall Materials
Like showers, steam showers must be constructed of waterproof materials for long-lasting performance. Typically, walls are constructed of 2" x 4" studs covered by a vapor proof barrier, concrete wall-board and finished with ceramic tile or other shower approved materials such as Acrylic, Brick, Cultured Marble, Fiberglass, Glass, Glass Block, Glass Tile, Granite, Marble, Natural Stone, or Slate. Click here if you are ready to size your steam shower and have already selected your wall material.
Note: SteamSaunaBath always recommends consulting with the manufacturer of your selected steam shower wall material for the specifics surrounding installation and appropriate use. Additionally, as construction principles vary regionally, we also recommend conferring with local tile trade professionals on the methods best suited for constructing a waterproof environment.
In addition to steam shower design and aesthetics, finished wall materials and design features (marble, exterior window, etc.) used in the construction of a steam room must be considered along with room volume (cubic feet) when properly sizing a steam generator for an environment. Why? Wall material physical properties such as thermal conductivity, insulating factor (R-value), and mass (weight) all affect the ability of steam heat to warm the enclosure (heat loss). Additionally, exterior walls and windows, as well as enclosure ceiling height, are also important factors when sizing a steam generator for a steam shower environment. Just like sizing a furnace or air-conditioning system for a home, a steam generator must be sized to appropriately warm your steam shower environment comfortably and safely!
Steam Shower Maintenance
The steam shower requires very little maintenance. Outside of routine cleaning as you would any wet environment, periodic inspection of walls, ceiling, and seat material for appropriateness is always recommended. A soft cloth and warm water is the best way to safely clean any polished metal fixture. SteamSaunaBath advises consulting with the manufacturer of any material in question for their suggested cleaning methods and approved cleansers.
Personal Steam Bathing Preferences
What are your personal bathing preferences? Some like it hot...and some not! We all enjoy the benefits of heat and humidity differently. For this reason, consider your personal steam bathing preferences when sizing the steam shower.
Steam Shower Ambient Room Temperature
The steam shower ambient room temperature is the temperature of the enclosure when not in use. This is the temperature that the steam generator must raise up to 105-120 degrees Fahrenheit within 15-20 minutes. If a steam shower is located in an unusually cool basement or naturally warm attic, the ambient steam shower temperature must be factored in when sizing the steam shower.
Steam Showers with Exterior House Walls
Exterior house walls generally vary in temperature from interior ones and seasons can often exaggerate this difference. Cooler walls take longer to heat and consequently, exterior house steam shower walls must factor in when sizing the steam shower.
Steam Shower Exterior Windows or Skylights
With windows comes heat loss. In general, windows have very poor insulating (R-value) properties. Though completely acceptable and create for elegant shower design, their ability to retain heat must be considered when sizing the steam shower.
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