Steam Rooms

A steam room is a wet room; at the survey, the dimensions of the space are examined alongside the water supply, the scope for drainage and the electrical infrastructure. Alcoves next to a bathroom, spa floors and areas beside a pool are the most efficient locations.

Where the generator will be concealed is settled on the first day: it needs a dry space adjoining the cabin, with service access. That decision directly affects the pipe routing and the workmanship.

• Area dimensions and ceiling height
• Water supply line
• Drainage / gully provision
• Electrical infrastructure
• Generator service space
• Target occupancy
• Use case (home / hotel / spa)
• Preliminary budget frame

The signature of steam room design is in the ceiling: so that condensing droplets do not fall on your head, the ceiling is designed domed or sloped, and the droplets run quietly down to the wall. The seating benches, the back support and the foot step are drawn around ergonomics.

Atmosphere layers such as the glass door, the position of the steam nozzle, the aromatherapy unit and the star ceiling are presented in 3D visualisation; the material and colour decisions are taken together.

• Sloped / domed ceiling arrangement
• Bench and backrest ergonomics
• Steam nozzle position
• Glass door orientation
• Aromatherapy unit
• Star ceiling / lighting plan
• 3D visualisation presentation
• Construction drawing approval

Generator output is calculated from the cabin volume, the cladding material and the proportion of glass. Cold surfaces such as stone and glass condense the steam quickly and are therefore taken into the calculation as additional load.

A correctly sized generator fills the room with dense steam in 20-30 minutes and holds the balance throughout the session; an automatic drain-down and limescale management extend the life of the unit.

• Cabin volume (m³) calculation
• Cladding material coefficient
• Additional load from glass
• kW generator selection
• Automatic drain-down feature
• Limescale management / water hardness
• Electrical supply requirements
• Generator approval and ordering

The generator's water supply and steam lines, the cabin's electrical and lighting wiring, the floor gully and the waste line are all installed at this stage. The steam pipe is run to a fall so that the condensate cannot flow back.

Because every line will sit behind the finished surface, the workmanship is photographed and added to the handover file — so that years later, when service is needed, what is where is known.

• Water supply line
• Steam pipe laid to a fall
• Floor gully and waste
• Generator electrical supply
• Residual current protection
• Lighting transformer position
• Aromatherapy line (option)
• Photographic record of the infrastructure

The floor and the walls are waterproofed with a double coat of liquid-applied membrane, together with the corner tapes and the gully detailing. Because a steam room works at 100% humidity, the waterproofing is the real insurance protecting the adjoining spaces.

Once the waterproofing is complete a flood test is carried out; no screed or cladding is started until it is signed off.

• Surface preparation and primer
• Double coat of liquid-applied membrane
• Corner and gully tapes
• Wall-to-floor junction detail
• Moisture protection to the ceiling
• Flood test
• Test record
• Screed and fall preparation

The cabin shell is built from water-resistant, thermally insulated building panels (XPS-cored). The panels are both light and good at holding the heat of the steam inside — the generator runs less and the room heats up faster.

The bench and step bodies are formed from the same panel; the sloped ceiling form is set up at this stage.

• XPS-cored panel installation
• Sloped ceiling form
• Bench bodies
• Step and footrest
• Nozzle and grille openings
• Panel joint sealing
• Form and level checks
• Framing sign-off

Glass mosaic, porcelain or natural stone are used for the cladding; on the curved surfaces of a steam room, small-format mosaic gives the cleanest result. The grouting is done with a moisture-resistant epoxy.

The bench seating surfaces are laid to a slight fall so that water cannot pool; surfaces underfoot are given a non-slip texture.

• Mosaic / porcelain selection
• Application to curved surfaces
• Epoxy grouting
• Bench fall detail
• Non-slip floor texture
• Finishes around the nozzle
• Gully level and falls
• Surface inspection and cleaning

The steam room door is toughened glass, threshold-free and sealed; it holds the steam inside while leaving nothing underfoot to trip over. For safety the door opens outwards.

Where a glass front is used, the profiles are specified to resist moisture; the seal line runs unbroken around the opening so that no steam escapes.

• Toughened glass door
• Outward opening
• Unbroken seal line
• Threshold-free transition
• Moisture-resistant profiles
• Hinge and closing adjustment
• Steam leak test
• Installation sign-off

During a session a steam room is a sealed box of steam; the real ventilation comes into play afterwards. A timed extract dries the room out and reduces the risk of odour and mould to nothing.

In hotel and spa projects the humidity is balanced by mechanical ventilation so that it does not spill into the adjoining spaces; in domestic projects, practical solutions integrated with the bathroom extract are set up.

• Timed extract fan
• Drying cycle setting
• Humidity balance with adjoining spaces
• Grille positions
• Ductwork routing
• Noise level
• Humidity sensor (option)
• Ventilation testing

The aromatherapy unit meters essences such as eucalyptus and lavender into the steam line. Chromotherapy lighting accompanies the session with colour scenarios, while a fibre-optic star ceiling turns the steam room into a stage for rest.

A touch control panel manages temperature, duration, aroma and light from a single point; in spa projects, remote control from reception can be set up.

• Aromatherapy unit
• Essence dosing adjustment
• Chromotherapy LED scenes
• Fibre-optic star ceiling (option)
• Touch control panel
• Remote management (option)
• Sound system (option)
• Scenario testing

Steam room cost is shaped by the cabin volume, the generator output, the grade of cladding (mosaic, porcelain or natural stone) and the aroma and lighting options. Whether the infrastructure is already in place also affects the budget.

After the free survey, Çilek Havuz presents every item in writing and with the reasoning behind it; no surprise costs arise as the project progresses.

• Volume and panel item
• Generator output item
• Grade of cladding selection
• Insulation and infrastructure works
• Glass door / front
• Aroma and lighting options
• Delivery and installation
• Item-by-item written quote

At commissioning the generator cycles, the steam density, the check for dripping from the ceiling and the drying scenario are tested one by one; the first session is run together and a briefing on use is given.

Maintenance is straightforward: periodic descaling of the generator, the post-session drying cycle and cleaning of the surfaces. A properly built steam room works effortlessly for years.

• Generator cycle test
• Steam density measurement
• Ceiling drip check
• Drying scenario test
• Aroma and lighting scenarios
• User briefing
• Descaling maintenance plan
• Warranty and handover record