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View Full Version : What kind of door can I install for a steam room?


GALTOON
Jun 16, 2010, 12:17 PM
I am building a steam room in the bathroom. I want the bathroom to be one open room.
I am tiling the whole bathroom. There is a regular door going out of the bathroom into the hallway. What kind of door and what would the be the best way to seal this door so that the steam will not escape.

435Studio
Jun 16, 2010, 12:52 PM
Try Google:
This was the second link that came up searching for "steam room door"

Steam Room Doors for the Steam Room - Cedarbrook Sauna and Steam (http://www.cedarbrooksauna.com/store/steam-room-doors/)

massplumber2008
Jun 17, 2010, 05:43 AM
Hi Galtoon...

Lots involved in a steam room... ;)

For example, most steam rooms have a pitched ceiling (1-2" per foot of ceiling is recommended in my area) so that the water that condenses on the ceiling won't drip cool water on the person trying to relax on the bench... that make sense? Obviously, you pitch the ceiling AWAY from the seat/bench... right

You should also be considering installing tile on that pitched ceiling and all the way up the walls for a steam room.

Another issue to consider in a steam room will be installing a vapor barrier at the walls and ceiling to reduce the chances of moisture getting stuck in behind the wall which can create a great place for mold to grow and odors to arise.

Also consider the electrical connections/boxes as these should be protected from moisture as well. There may even be special code requirements here... OK?

Finally, most steam room doors also have a rotating transom door on the top of the shower door to allow you to let steam escape when/if a person becomes uncomforatble in there... very important to balancing the steam if it gets excessive. However, a shower door may not be correct in this application as you are still planning to use this as a BATHROOM, right?... :rolleyes:

Let us know if you'd like to discuss this more...

Mark

speedball1
Jun 18, 2010, 06:06 AM
For a selection of steam room doors click on; steam room doors - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=0&oq=steam+room+door&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLM_enUS380US380&q=steam+room+doors)
Good luck, Tom

Bljack
Jun 20, 2010, 06:54 AM
Mass brought up several huge points in his post. A glass door with a transom.

He also brought up a vapor barrier. I'll expand upon that. Whereas a shower only needs to be waterproof, a steam room needs to be vapor proof as well. 15 lb roofing felt or 4 mil plastic behind the cementboard is acceptable waterproofing for a normal shower but in yours you will want to use on of the many surface membranes applied to the cementboard walls, such as Kerdi or NoblesealTS, including to the pan area and ceiling. Noble, makers of Nobleseal, has a great technical bulletin on their site for steamers. Sheet Membranes & Shower Installation Products for Tile & Stone (http://www.noblecompany.com)

The joint between the ceiling and the walls in the steamer is an expansion joint, so it does not get taped and filled with thinset. Your surface membrane will wrap the area but there will be no solid fill between them as there would with normal wall finishing using thinset and cement board tape.

While mastic should never be used to set tile in any wet area, it will quickly disolve in a steamer. Whichever membrane you select will determine which setting medium you choose, whenter it's modified or unmodified.

Post back with any more questions. Good Luck.