Need help with steam shower build

Mint tile Minneapolis

Hi

Just an fyi as you research thru the sea of confusion...

Note that Laticrete no longer supports hydroban liquid in new steamer builds. They stand by the old approval w/wrrty but now only approve their hydroban sheet membrane going fwd. I have a few older steamers i built with hydroban liquid when it was approved that are functioning just fine i will add!

As for Kerdi you are looking for the perm rating of Kerdi DS ( an exhausted subject and the least quality product IMHO)

people often confuse waterproofing a shower with "vapourproof" which is what a steam shower requires .

The industry changes quickly and what was approved 3 years ago is no longer accepted often times. (IE hydroban/Kerdi.) for this reason we stay studied and on top of the industry's swift progression.

more direct:

You should be looking at "perm ratings" of the membrane/materiial., & mechancal specifications direct from the chosen materials MFG.

For example We use the Noble Company's Nobleseal TS as a membrane, we then follow the Noble company's mechanical steam room specs, in conjunction with TCNA and ANSI.. Beyond that we are making smart Tile selections such as Low vitrosity porcelain with verifiable absorption ratings, Paying extra attention to the shower/structures framing(upgrading), and using the proper methods/setting materials .

this means we are making guided decisions at every turn, following MFG, and industry specifications and materials approved for this specific application.

There's A lot more to consider and id suggest you start with the 2015/16 TCNA (manual) and its Steam shower specification, and your'e chosen product mfg's tech support to get accurate guidance direct from the horses mouth.

A steam shower is a very high liability installation, I see a few failed steam showers a year here in minneapolis, almost always they tried to waterproof a shower and add a steam unit. or add a steam unit to an already fuctioning shower.

best of luck , great to see you doing such in depth homework.

RECAP in short LOL!!! Lean on the TCNA and the product MFG ( IE laticrete, noble company etc) they will best help you find a skilled installer in your'e locale.

s c

contact a professional tile installer. the process of waterproofing a shower stall is the same regardless of steam shower or regular shower, with the exception of also waterproofing the ceiling inside the stall. There's a lot of resources on the web with info on how to waterproof correctly for a steam shower but a tile pro should be able to tell you without you having to do all the research yourself.

jbrown93

Thanks for your response. I've read horror stories about what happens when a steam shower is not done correctly. From what I've read here different waterproofing backing (kerdi?) is recommended. I think I've scared my builder and myself! I will look into the tile installer angle. My builder normally uses a guy that does a good job on tile but is a jack of all trades and I'm not sure about using him for the steam shower.

s c

Schluter does make great waterproofing and tile installation products, like kerdi and ditra, very expensive though. There are a number of different ways to go about waterproofing a steam shower. I like the Laticrete Lifetime System using cement board and Hydro Ban Liquid waterproofing. I prefer a traditional mud bed floor with a bonded drain assembly, again waterproofed with hydro ban.

You might find guidance on a tile advice forum like John Bridge
http://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1

The TCNA also has a lot of resources available on their site
http://www.tcnatile.com/resources/faqs.html

Laticrete is my preference for manufacturers of tile prep, waterproofing and installation materials. They've also got a ton of literature and videos on just about all of their products and how they recommend you install them.
http://www.laticrete.com/contractors/products/waterproofing.aspx

But I would strongly advise hiring a professional tile contractor if your builder and his subcontractor aren't experienced in waterproofing for a steam shower. hope that helps.

s c

Oh, as far as the actual steam unit, it's not terribly complex. I'v never used that particular brand, but generally they only require a plumber and an electrician to install the steam generator.

jbrown93

It does help. I've read so much my head is spinning. Do you agree that I need a slightly sloped ceiling, transom window, and preferably porcelain tile? I read that the steam outlet needs to be away from the bench and entrance door. My shower will be about 5ft deep and 4 ft wide. Bench and door will be on the 4 ft sides. Where would I put the steam outlet? Middle of the 5 ft wall? Thanks so much for your help.

User

Ditch the steam shower unless you can find an experienced team to create it for you. You are asking for trouble being their lab rat.

Martin Siwy

Tundra Finish Works LLC well said! jbrown93 here is a link that I think you will find useful. It's showing components from a different brand BUT take this as your guideline and verify with your brand to make sure you can install their control inside the shower. Also as Tundra Finish Works LLC mentioned the waterproofing and vapor-proofing is a key. Look at Wedi product. Very easy to do if your framing is done correctly. Good luck!

Gentry Home Builders

A steam shower is a great luxury to have in your home. There are a variety of ways to properly waterproof your steam shower. We use a high quality tile backer board followed by a roll-on waterproofing compound.

As for the location of your steam head, it should be located approximately 6-12 inches above the floor on the wall opposite the seating area, away from the door.

alwayscold

JBrown93 how did it turn out??

Need help with steam shower build

Mint tile Minneapolis

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