Installing a Sauna Shower in a Bathroom

A sauna shower can add a relaxing spa touch to your bathroom. Although it might sound like adding a sauna shower would take a great deal of construction effort, in most cases it can be done easily without the need to tear apart large portions of the bathroom area. If you are building a sauna shower in your bathroom, the main concern is finding ways to prevent the water vapor from damaging other bathroom materials.

All text copyright Relica. Photo from Flikr - "Finnish sauna" courtesy of chadmiller.

Retrofitting Your Existing Shower as a Sauna

If you already have a nice shower area in your bathroom, you can retrofit it so that you can utilize the investment you have already made. A sauna shower needs to be waterproofed on all sides, including the ceiling. It must also be sealed tight to keep the steam inside the shower. Since most shower enclosures have standard ceilings, you can consider adding a sloped ceiling to the shower enclosure, so that the water condensation will roll down the wall instead of dripping back on you as you use the sauna shower. All wall surfaces inside the shower area should be covered in a waterproof material, such as tile or a shower enclosure, as the moisture produced by a sauna shower can be damaging to painted drywall surfaces.

To keep the steam inside the shower area, you will need to purchase and install a sauna shower door. These doors are constructed in a way that prevents water vapor escaping. The final step to retrofitting an existing shower is to add a steam generator. A steam generator must be installed properly, as it utilizes both the electricity and the water lines. If you don't feel comfortable working with these systems, hire a professional to install the steam generator.

All text copyright Relica. Photo from Flikr - "Super Secret Lair" courtesy of Todd Huffman.

Installing a Ready-Made Sauna Shower

If you are building a new bathroom, or completely redecorating an existing bathroom, you might choose to add a new sauna shower unit instead of attempting to retrofit your existing shower. These units can be purchased as complete units, which can be installed in the bathroom, eliminating the need to waterproof and vapor seal the shower area. The units are designed in different sizes and shapes to make it easy to find one that fits into your bathroom area. Some models of ready-made steam shower units even come with luxury features such as massage units and access to audio systems for the ultimate relaxing experience.

When planning a new bathroom or bathroom remodeling project that includes a sauna shower, you need to determine if you want a separate sauna shower area, in addition to a regular shower, or if you want to combine the features of a shower and a sauna in one unit. Another option would be to build a sauna shower in one area of the bathroom, while adding a standard bathtub in another area, so that you have the full range of bathing and spa options. However, in smaller bathrooms, choosing a sauna shower unit that serves both the purposes of a shower as well as a steam sauna is generally the most space-efficient solution.

When it’s time to decorate your bathroom, remember that canvas art, prints and photos do not stand up well to the heat and moisture of the bathroom. Your best bet is sturdy metal art; you’ll find pieces to suit all styles from traditional metal fleur de lis wall art to contemporary metal abstract wall hangings.

All text copyright Relica. Photo from Flikr - "Pool House with Shower, Wet Sauna and Sink" courtesy of fivedollarones.