A Complete Guide to Build A DIY Home Steam Room

A home steam room has become the latest vogue among homeowners across the country. That's because people are increasingly realizing the impact steam sauna sessions have on their physical and mental health. 
But it's not just about the personal well-being that you tap into every day with a residential steam sauna bath. You see, a steam room also creates a luxury oasis in your home, increasing your property's resale value. 
When we talk about residential steam saunas, there are two popular options in the market, i.e., prefabricated and custom-built. 
If you are only looking to reap the health benefits of steam, a prefabricated steam bath will do well. However, we always suggest a tailor-made steam shower for your home, as it will include your tastes and preferences. And what better way to do that than DIY your steam room.

Why exactly should you DIY your home steam room?
Like many other homeowners, a home steam sauna might be your pet project. And you want it to reflect your sauna ideas, don't you?
DIY, as such, is your go-to solution since it offers you unmatched control and flexibility over your steam bath project. For instance, you get to do everything from designing the shower interiors as per your liking to installing your favorite music system. 
Not to forget, the pleasure of doing it by yourself is something you'll surely miss in professional installation projects. DIY building projects are when family and friends come together to help you out, making it more of a social event. 
There's more to it. 
According to HomeAdvisor, labor costs for building a regular steam room can range between $700 and $3000. So you clearly stand to save big by Doing It Yourself!
That's interesting for sure, isn't it? 

Things to consider while building your home steam room:
A DIY steam room is undoubtedly a lucrative project and a worthwhile investment of your time and money. 
However, a home steam bath installation without proper expertise and technical know-how can be quite tricky. That's because building a steam sauna is a highly complex exercise that requires you to size your shower right and pick the steam generator accordingly, among others. 
So there are certain things you should consider before you start assembling your steam room parts. 
Wondering what these important steam bath prerequisites are? 
Let's have a look at them. 

#1. The size and location of your steam sauna
The first thing you should figure out while planning your home steam room is the size of your bath enclosure. 
The area you're building your steam sauna in should be large enough for you to comfortably sit back and unwind. That's because the very purpose of residential steam showers is to make you feel relaxed, which isn't possible in a cramped space. 
But here's a catch. 
You shouldn't build your steam sauna in a super large area. 
Even as a large empty basement or garage may look like an ideal space for a home steam sauna, heating such spaces is usually a challenge. So you might end up buying a high-capacity steam generator, which will result in inflated energy bills. 
Next up is the location of your residential steam shower, which you should carefully choose to have an optimum experience. For instance, consider an area away from the outer walls of your home, especially if the outdoor climate is colder. A cold temperature outside will affect the heating of your steam room and increase the drag on your steam generator. 

#2. The shower door in your home steam room 
The shower door is something you shouldn't miss when building your DIY steam room. And while choosing one for your home steam sauna, go for a door with maximum insulating properties. 
You see, the regular shower doors aren't good at insulation, so most of the heat and steam escape. 
Thankfully, high-quality steam shower doors are readily available. So you can install them and soak in the soothing soft steam.
However, the spaces around your steam shower door should be well sealed, as no matter the built quality of your door; steam will still percolate out of open spaces.

#3. Skylights and windows in the steam shower
A skylight is quite lucrative for bathrooms and for good; after all, it creates an aesthetically appealing interior space. And not to forget the tons of natural light it brings into your shower space throughout the day. 
But, when building your home steam room, it's better to avoid a skylight. That's because it exposes your steam sauna to outdoor temperature and makes it difficult to maintain ambient steam room heat. 
If you are converting your existing shower that already has a skylight, consider building a roof above the steam enclosure. That way, you can still enjoy a shower with a skylight while also easily maintaining the right steam room temperature. 
The same applies to shower windows, which you should avoid in a steam room. And if you do install one, go for those with the highest insulating properties. 

#4. The location of the steam shower generator
In terms of installation, a steam shower generator offers unmatched flexibility since you can install it up to 25 feet away from the shower enclosure. 
Nevertheless, it's better to have it as close to the steam shower as possible. For example, you can repurpose a spare closet close to the steam sauna to install your steam bath generator. 
You see, a steam generator close enough to the shower area makes service access very easy.
When you're building a DIY home steam room, a generator within your reach will make the entire process simpler. That's because you need to install a dedicated power line and a water line to run your steam shower generator. And it's quite complex for DIYers and hobbyists to build one, especially if the generator is far off the shower.  
Also, you should install the steam generator indoors and keep it safe from extreme temperature conditions. 
A steam room generator installed at the right location, and you can enjoy your home spa sessions worry-free. 

Starting with a DIY home steam room:
After you've considered the vital steam room factors, you can start designing and building your home steam sauna bath. 
It's important that your steam shower is quality-built since you want to retain most of the steam and heat generated. That's precisely why you should pick the top-notch materials and look at the minutest details of steam room construction. 
Here are some basic steps that you can follow to design and build your DIY steam sauna. 

#1. Design your steam shower 
​The seating area is the first thing you should consider while designing your home steam sauna.
As you've seen, the very purpose of a steam shower is to have maximum comfort and relaxation. So you should install seats where you can sit back comfortably and enjoy your steam bath session. 
If you have a large shower space, built-in bench seats are the go-to option; as they're comfortable and create traditional steam sauna aesthetics. Similarly, foldable seats are ideal seating options for a compact shower enclosure since they maximize shower space. 
Next up comes the shower head, which you should design and install away from both the entrance and the seating space. That's because sitting or standing directly under the steam shower head can be extremely uncomfortable and lead to skin burns. 
The shower head installation is followed by steam room control units, something you should install close enough to the seats. You see, with easily accessible steam bath controls, you can regulate the temperature, steam levels, etc., much more conveniently. 
Finally, you've got to design your ceiling in a way that optimizes your steam sauna bath. You can do so by keeping the ceiling low and sloping it a bit. While low ceilings reduce the drag on steam generators, sloped ceilings let water drop at a corner and drain. 
However, sloping can significantly increase the ceiling height in a large-sized steam room. So it's better to have sloping only above the seating area. 

Bonus Tip:
You shouldn't design or install the control panel above the shower head, as it won't be able to read or regulate the temperature.

Home steam room: FAQs

#1. How to choose between a steam room and a steam shower?
Steam rooms are dedicated spaces meant only for steam bath sessions; on the other hand, steam showers are built into a shower enclosure and are also used for regular showers. 
You can choose between a steam room and a shower depending on your budget and preferences. 
According to current market estimates, a prefabricated or custom-built steam room can cost you $5000 and $10,000. 
A steam shower is much more cost-effective, as you can convert and repurpose your shower for as low as $3000. Also, steam showers are a DIY-friendly alternative to dedicated steam rooms, so you need not be a sauna professional.  
However, if you are looking to create a home spa where you can spend your evenings, steam rooms are ideal.  

#2. Where to build your DIY steam room? 
You can build a steam room just about anywhere in your home; all you need is ample space with running water and electricity. 
These are some locations that are apt for your home steam sauna:

• Shower enclosure
• Spare bathroom
• Walk-in closet
• Basement 
• Outdoors in the backyard

In fact, you can also build a room from scratch specifically for a steam sauna. That will allow you to custom design your wellness retreat the best way. Even as such projects are expensive, they will add more value to your property and increase its resale value. 

Wrapping it up
A home steam room is more than a health and wellness center. It is a place where you'll spend your evenings unwinding or socializing with your loved ones. So why not build it by yourself the way you love most. 
At Steam and Sauna Experts, we are South Florida's most seasoned steam room professionals. And we can help you build your ideal DIY home steam room by delivering top-of-the-line steam sauna accessories. Also, our team is available 24X7 to provide you with technical assistance so that you can build your steam bath hassle-free.