These steam baths are different in design. The steam bath will be enclosed in a cubicle. This cubicle will resemble a normal shower excepting instead of a shower space there will be a shelf or a bench as in a sauna. You will find multiple shelves on the walls of the steam bath. You will be able to place your various toiletries and aromatherapy oils on these shelves.
The steam bath will have an enclosed fiber glass door that is designed so that it fits flush against the doorway. As a result of this you will not find any steam from the steam bath escaping into the cold air of the bathroom. This design feature also ensures that there is an even flow of hot steam enveloping the cubicle.
The effects of being in a steam bath are felt as you are slowly enveloped by the steam arising all around you. Since the steam that is generated from the steam fittings is trapped inside of the steam bath cubicle you will feel this mist slowly pouring into your body. The result of this is in many ways similar to the sauna in that you begin to sweat.
Unlike the sauna your body doesn't get overheated as the mist is also cooling. The other effects of a steam bath include your body flushing out any environmental toxins. You will feel your muscles become loose.
The tense and painful feeling that you may experience in your head and shoulder muscles will be unraveled by your soothing steam bath. Even though a steam bath is very relaxing you should make sure that you don't stay in the steam bath for more than 15 to 20 minutes.
After a suitable period of time you can experience that heat and relaxation of the steam bath. To make sure that you will not experience any ill effects of the steam bath you should make sure that you drink plenty of water right throughout your steam bath time sessions.
To get the ultimate experience in a steam bath you should add some healing aromatic aromatherapy oils into a container or dispenser so that the oils will mix with the steam from your steam bath. This will provide you with a great relaxing end to your day.
How To Steam Bath
There are two basic choices when installing a steam bath in your home. You can convert your existing bathtub or shower or you can install a modular steam bath. There are several steam bath designs which are self-contained and simply need appropriate plumbing and electrical connections.
Converting an existing bathtub is also fairly easy. A steam proof door must be installed and a steam generator must be connected to the bathtub enclosure.
Preparation
Steam is a highly penetrating form of moisture, so any room that has a steam bath must be properly prepared to prevent moisture damage. If steam gets into the infrastructure of your house it can cause serious structural damage.
If you are in the process of constructing a new house, it is a simple matter to have the builders use the proper materials to steam proof your bathroom. If you are installing a steam bath in an existing house, you must verify that the bathroom can withstand steam.
The basic principals in safe steam bath installation are to 1) prevent the steam from escaping, 2) collect the condensed water without dripping on the bathers, and 3) allow the water to drain. To achieve these three goals, the steam room must be completely sealed and insulated, it must have a sloping ceiling, and it must have proper drains.
To prevent steam from escaping beyond the steam bath, the structural materials should be waterproof and have an underlying vapor barrier of thick plastic. Sheetrock or plaster must be designed to withstand moisture or covered with a waterproof finish.
The walls and ceilings of the steam room must be covered in a impervious material like ceramic tile or glass. All the joints and connections must be sealed with silicone to prevent any moisture from escaping.
Once the underlying structure has been prepared, the next thing to consider is the height of the ceilings. In order to maximize steam build-up and prevent cold spots, the ceiling should be lower than 8 feet high. It should also be slanted to allow condensation to slide down the ceiling rather than drip on the bathers. A slope of 2 inches per foot is appropriate for a steam bath.
If you are converting a bathtub into a steam bath, you need to enclose it with a suitable door. Small steam areas (the size of the bathtub) should have a narrow gap at the bottom of the door to allow for airflow. Larger steam rooms can be made airtight.
The bathroom should still be constructed to contain steam even if you are installing a modular steam shower. These units contain steam pretty well but still release moisture into the surrounding bathroom area. Modular steam showers have the advantage of having extra features such as multiple shower heads, built-in seating, lighting, and even CD players and telephones.
But no matter whether you are installing a modular steam shower or converting an existing bathtub into a steam shower, you still need to select and install a steam generator and all the connectors and make sure that everything is working correctly. That is the topic of our next article.
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