Building A Steam Shower

Essential tasks for steam shower construction
plus references for more information

Fortunately, you won’t have to rip apart your bathroom to build a steam shower, and you won’t have to break the bank either. But…

If you’re planning to build your own steam shower or have one built for you, there are some very important things that will need to be done.

Part of your mission - should you choose to accept it, is to...

• cover the roof of your shower enclosure
• seal the enclosure with a special door
• install a steam shower generator
• optional: include something to sit on, like a folding or fixed bench or a tiled bench

If you decide to build a steam shower suite, which includes…

• a shower,
• steam jet, and
• built in seating,

it would take up about the same amount of space as an average bathtub enclosure.

You can convert a small walk-in shower into a steam shower, but the enclosure may not turn out big enough to include a bench. You wouldn’t be able to sit and relax during your steam shower - you’d have to stand up the entire time.

The structure

The walls and ceiling of your enclosure must be made of waterproof material like tile, marble, granite, limestone or fiberglass. Speaking of the ceiling…

Cover the roof

Many standard shower stall doors stop short of the ceiling by a foot or so. You'll have to…

1) buy a lightweight acrylic dome top, or
2) install a cover made of a material like fiberglass or stainless steel.

Consider a sloped or curved shower ceiling. Why?

Because steam condenses. If the shower ceiling is flat, condensed water will constantly drip.

Believe me, it's not pleasant when a few of those drops hits you in the eye.

Seal It

Your enclosure needs to be sealed very tight. If steam (actually, it's water vapor) is allowed to escape, well… you’re looking at damages to drywall, paint, or wallpaper.

You’ll also have to deal with rotting problems if steam is allowed to penetrate into your walls, ceiling and floor.

Not good.

Home steam showers are ideally meant for enjoyment, not ruining bathrooms.

You can't have a vapor-tight enclosure without the right kind of door. Manufacturers sell steam shower doors in a variety of styles and colors.

Now, how 'bout that steam?

If you want to build a steam shower, you're going to need something to make the steam, right? So...

You'll need to install a steam generator.

You might need a plumber and an electrician for this job. The generator needs to be connected to the water line and a 240V line voltage.

Deciding where to place your steam shower generator can potentially be one of your biggest design challenges.

You can read more about installing a steam shower generator here.


Steam showers are growing in popularity because people really enjoy the soothing relaxation that they provide.


After all, it’s a great option to be able to come home after a busy day or a tough workout and unwind in your very own steam shower.




More info for building a steam shower: