Indoor Sauna...

[Brent.ff]

Have an unfinished basement and have an overly large area roughed in for a bathroom that is seperate from the main portion of the basement... thinkin could be an interesting idea to turn it into a shower/sauna combo...

Anyone have experience with that? Terrible idea? Great idea? Any contractor recommendations ?

[killramos]

We have a well sealed steam shower in the basement that. Kindof accomplishes the same thing?

Just stuck a little teak shower bench in there. Simple.

The last couple owners of the house were incapable of the most basic of home maintenance and it is still working so they can’t be that fickle?

[rage2]

I grew up with an indoor sauna. Fucking loved it. But it’s 2021, sealed steam shower is the way to go, without pouring water on rocks manually.

[ExtraSlow]

Sealed steam shower and some level 11 bathroom ventilation fans. Make the shower stall "too big" with tile bench at one end and flip down teak bench at the other end. Then there's room for the whole swingers party to get in there. Line drain too obvs.

[Brent.ff]

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Then there's room for the whole swingers party to get in there. Line drain too obvs.

It is Airdrie after all...

[ThePenIsMightier]

We put a custom* steam shower built into our basement and it's awesome. Highly recommend.
I've got lessons learned which haven't caused big issues, but I've been meaning to start a thread to get some advice on how to tune up a couple small items.

*I'm not trying to be all Aspen. I just mean it's not one of those pod kits. It's a larger, normal shower with two heads, and, a steam generator.

[vengie]

I’ll be reno’ing my master in the near term and will do a sealed steam shower.

Other option is an infrared sauna in the basement?
I use mine quite frequently

[bjstare]

Steam shower >>> Sauna

I would 11/10 do this if I was reno'ing.

[ExtraSlow]

Steam large enough for a 7 person orgy is the correct answer.

[JRSC00LUDE]

My steam shower gets unbearably hot, it's fantastic.

All about the waterproofing, don't cheap out on the tile work so expect it to be expensive.

EDIT - I still want a good infrared as well.

[vengie]

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My steam shower gets unbearably hot, it's fantastic.

All about the waterproofing, don't cheap out on the tile work so expect it to be expensive.

EDIT - I still want a good infrared as well.

I'm anticipating ~$5k for a tiled steam shower, 3'x5'x7.5'... does that seem reasonable?

[ThePenIsMightier]

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I'm anticipating ~$5k for a tiled steam shower, 3'x5'x7.5'... does that seem reasonable?

One of those pod ones is around $5k, so I don't think you'll beat that with tile. Don't forget you need 240V, as well.

[revelations]

A combination setup gives you many more options and will up the resale. Nothing better than a steam bath when its -30c outside. I probably spend a good 1 hour a week in mine in the winter. Love (wet) saunas too.

[JRSC00LUDE]

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I'm anticipating ~$5k for a tiled steam shower, 3'x5'x7.5'... does that seem reasonable?

I spent approx. double that with the glass and everything done I am pretty sure and am 3x6x9. I used fairly pricey large format tile though too. Personal opinion, make sure they use Kerdi membrane. Many guys will tell you the roll-on waterproofing is good enough and if they do - fire them and hire a better person imo. I made my guy do epoxy grout as well, and while he hated it and said it was unnecessary I didn't care. It won't stain and is impervious to water, once and done. Your tile guy doesn't have to deal with potential of issues 5 years down the road haha. Once I told him I'll pay for his tools and pay him by the hour to grout he didn't care anymore. It IS a pain in the ass to work with.

[vengie]

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I spent approx. double that with the glass and everything done I am pretty sure and am 3x6x9. I used fairly pricey large format tile though too. Personal opinion, make sure they use Kerdi membrane. Many guys will tell you the roll-on waterproofing is good enough and if they do - fire them and hire a better person imo. I made my guy do epoxy grout as well, and while he hated it and said it was unnecessary I didn't care. It won't stain and is impervious to water, once and done. Your tile guy doesn't have to deal with potential of issues 5 years down the road haha. Once I told him I'll pay for his tools and pay him by the hour to grout he didn't care anymore. It IS a pain in the ass to work with.

Great information thank you!
Honestly I will be able to do a lot of the prep/ waterproofing/ tiling myself.
The electrical and plumbing I will likely contract out.

[revelations]

Question for the experts:

tile is the default material to be used in most aspen homes - but what about heat and water resistant material like Formica? It just needs to be glued to the wall and the seams siliconed. Much much easier to work with and looks a lot like tile.

(flooring would likely need to be tile still?)

[JRSC00LUDE]

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Great information thank you!
Honestly I will be able to do a lot of the prep/ waterproofing/ tiling myself.
The electrical and plumbing I will likely contract out.

Ok, well if you tell yourself that roll-on waterproofing and non epoxy grout is good enough fire yourself!

[vengie]

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Ok, well if you tell yourself that roll-on waterproofing and non epoxy grout is good enough fire yourself!

Depends how many beers have been consumed on said day....

Great info though

[Rocket1k78]

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I'm anticipating ~$5k for a tiled steam shower, 3'x5'x7.5'... does that seem reasonable?

If you're talking about $5k with labor im sure you can squeak one out but thats gonna be tight and with some low end materials and a gamble on a tile installer. A realistic budget with a proper waterproof system, average tiles, good steam unit, glass and good installer would be more like double

[JRSC00LUDE]

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Question for the experts:

tile is the default material to be used in most aspen homes - but what about heat and water resistant material like Formica? It just needs to be glued to the wall and the seams siliconed. Much much easier to work with and looks a lot like tile.

(flooring would likely need to be tile still?)

Formica makes wet walls and shower pans for sure. I have no idea how they perform in a steam application but it could be good, I have no direct experience or knowledge of it in that application.