Residential, intermittent use steam showers provide a relaxing and therapeutic escape
within the comfort of your own home.
Steam showers tend to be challenging areas to waterproof since they present extreme conditions.
Steam showers need to be able to manage heat, steam and moisture to avoid mold growth in
wall cavities, wood framing from rotting, and damage to occur in moisture-sensitive
wall coverings on the opposite side of stud cavities.
The Schluter-Shower System is the perfect solution to address these challenges.
From the ceiling, to the walls and controls, all the way down to the shower base and beyond…Schluter
has your bathroom covered.
Always refer to the Schluter®-Shower Installation Handbook, which provides specific installation
requirements and instructions For Residential applications, Schluter® offers
2 different system options.
The Schluter®-KERDI waterproofing membrane is used over solid backing such as gypsum
board or cement board.
Or the Schluter®-KERDI-BOARD can be installed directly to the studs replacing other solid
backing materials.
Both of these options meet industry standards for vapor permeance ratings required for intermittent
use Steam Showers, where generally a permeance of 1.0 or less is required.
Commercial, or continuous use steam showers are also a possibility using Schluter® products,
however the requirements vary from that shown in this video.
Please refer to the detail K (dash) SR (K-SR) in the Schluter®-Shower Installation Handbook.
Let’s take a look at how Schluter Shower products work together and why they are so
important in a steam shower application.
Since heat rises in a steam shower, the ceiling is an important element to prepare properly.
Steam showers present a unique environment where sloped ceilings are required at a minimum
2" per foot to avoid condensation dripping on to occupants.
In our case, the ceiling is sloped towards the back wall, however, sloping the ceiling
from the center is also an option.
For the ceiling to be protected from the vapor and moisture presented from the steam, we
will use Schluter®-KERDI.
KERDI is not only waterproof , but is also a vapor-retarder—which is particularly critical
in a steam shower environment.
Suitable lights for steam showers are available.
Standard pot lights should be avoided in order to maintain proper waterproofing.
KERDI is also used on the walls in the same manner as the ceiling, making sure the solid
backing is kept safe from water and vapor.
Waterproof integrity must be maintained at all seams and corners within the assembly
with a minimum 2” overlap.
Adjacent sheets of KERDI can be overlapped or they can be abutted with KERDI-BAND waterproofing
strips centered over the joints to achieve the required 2” overlap.
This is why using Schluter® waterproofing accessories are such an integral part of completing
the waterproofing application.
A steam shower often has more penetrations and pipe protrusions within the application
than a standard shower installation.
Since moisture and vapor is accentuated from that of a standard shower, sealing these areas
is critical.
Schluter®-KERDI-SEALs are used for these areas.
The KERDI-SEALs will be applied at the shower head, mixing valve, and steam inlet.
Now with the walls and ceiling completely waterproof, let’s address the steam shower
base.
Schluter offers a variety of pre-fabricated shower trays and both point and linear drain
options.
The shower trays feature integrated waterproofing and are pre-sloped to ensure proper water
flow to the drain, which is particularly important with the condensation produced in a steam
shower.
The KERDI-DRAIN and KERDI-LINE drains connect to the trays at the top of the assembly via
a KERDI collar.
Having the connection of the drain to the shower base at the top of the assembly allows
it to dry between uses since the water and vapor are unable to permeate the KERDI, keeping
your subfloor safe from those elements.
Shower benches are the perfect spot to relax and unwind in a steam shower.
Our prefabricated, waterproof KERDI-BOARD-SB options offer a quick alternative to building
and waterproofing your own.
The benches are pre-sloped so there is proper water flow to the drain.
The pre-fabricated KERDI-BOARD-SC shower curbs are already waterproof, and are also load-bearing
to accommodate the weight of glass blocks, shower doors, and glass partitions, so any
means of closing in your steam shower is fully supported without any worry.
They can also be cut to height and width for a more minimal appearance if desired.
Both the shower benches and curbs are available in multiple sizes.
They are also easy to customize by combining sections.
KERDI-KERECK corners and KERDI-BAND seal the shower base to complete the waterproofing
connections.
The order of waterproofing installation may vary from that shown and the product configurations
can be adjusted based on preference, provided that all surfaces are covered and 2 inch overlaps
are maintained at all seams.
Now that the steam shower is completely waterproof, moisture and vapor are unable to penetrate
into the solid backing so your structure is protected from the elements of the steam shower
environment.
All of the components of the Schluter®-Shower System allow for the direct application of
tile—so as soon as your assembly is enclosed and protected, tile can be set.
It is best practice to back butter the tiles to ensure full coverage and support.
Tile choice should be such that it is suitable for wet areas.
And with a variety of grates options available for the shower drains, your grate will be
the perfect finishing touch to your steam shower design.
The drain options are the perfect mix of beauty on the surface with the ultimate functionality
underneath.
The Schluter®- Shower System family of products work together to provide superior moisture
management in steam shower applications so you can enjoy a luxurious place to escape
right in the comfort of your own home.
If you still have questions, please contact our Customer Support Specialists.
For more information on Schluter products, visit schluter.com or check out our YouTube
channel to view our videos!