PSWired
join:2006-03-26
Annapolis, MD | Steam room finished Following up on this thread:
»Steam room progress
Steam room is done except for some minor details. Picking back up from where I left off in the previous thread...
I finished installing the Kerdi membrane, which provides a water and vapor barrier behind the tile. Also I tied the new floor drain into the existing plumbing from the old shower. I should've put in a new trap closer to floor level and eliminated the current one near the horizontal main drain--the current arrangement makes dripping noises under certain conditions. |
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PSWired
join:2006-03-26
Annapolis, MD | Next I started on tile. First I did the floor with 2x2 porcelain tiles. It's Marazzi Artesian Ghiberti from HD. The 2x2s come in 12x12 sections. All of the perimeter tiles had to be cut to make the drain line up, and there's a break where the floor changes angles by the door. |
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PSWired
join:2006-03-26
Annapolis, MD
1 edit | reply to PSWired
Next up was the benches and the back wall. Benches, walls, and ceiling were the same series as the floor, except 16x16. Back wall was done with 1x3 glass/stone mosaic from a different manufacturer. |
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PSWired
join:2006-03-26
Annapolis, MD | reply to PSWired
Two important things learned with this first tile job of mine: Marazzi tiles are manufactured in batches with a certain "caliber" or size class. I ended up with boxes of tile from two different batches, and the sizes were off by 1/8"! Had to return part of the order and drive around to different Home Depots until I found enough of the correct caliber tile.
Next, I used 16x16 tiles on the ceiling. This was a bad idea since the ceiling was not perfectly flat due to framing. I ended up with a fair amount of misalignment between the tiles. Fortunately, grout hid this significantly, and the lighting keeps it from being noticeable in the least. But it's not ideal.
I had to cut a few holes in the tile for lighting, controls, and speakers. After trying various carbide and dry diamond cutters, I found that the only way to effectively cut porcelain tile is with wet diamond saws. Fortunately diamond hole saws are not too expensive on ebay. |
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PSWired
join:2006-03-26
Annapolis, MD | reply to PSWired
Minor mistake on the right-side bench: messed up the 16x16 tile alignment with the wall. Fortunately there are a bunch of grout lines there due to the 12" beveled edge pieces, so it's not really obvious. |
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PSWired
join:2006-03-26
Annapolis, MD
1 edit | reply to PSWired
Time for grout. This part went really quickly. The joints were almost all 1/8", but there were a few larger ones so I used a sanded grout for everything. Seems to have worked out great. All joints where two planes meet were caulked with a sanded silicone. Unfortunately I didn't get an exact color match on the grout and caulk. |
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PSWired
join:2006-03-26
Annapolis, MD | reply to PSWired
Next up: lighting, controls, fixtures. LED lights in ceiling with a marine switch panel in the wall to control them. The switch panel also controls on/off for the steam generator and has a thermocouple to sense the room temp. Everything in the room is 12v and waterproof.
In the basement, there's an industrial temperature controller that turns the steam generator on and off to maintain 110 +- 2*F. |
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PSWired
join:2006-03-26
Annapolis, MD | reply to PSWired
Finally I caulked and cleaned up/sealed grout joints. Also added some vinyl trim around the door frame and sealed as much as possible to keep the wood from rotting. Other than some minor touch-up stuff and a new door, it's done! |
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 GooberPremium
join:2000-12-17
Naperville, IL
kudos:5 | I think it looks great. You did a very nice job.
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"You lie!" Talk about an understatement, Joe. |
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 VioletVenomLets go GatorsPremium
join:2002-01-02
Gainesville, FL | reply to PSWired
I second that, on a job well done! I don't know your experience level but tile isn't the easiest DIY project. |
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 Coma Thanks StevePremium
join:2001-12-30
NirvanaLand | reply to PSWired
said by PSWired:Finally, it's done!
I'm a local, when is the Christening ?
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January is National Oatmeal Month |
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Very nice job. I am now jealous that you have a steam room and I do not. 
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nohup rm -fr /& |
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 SnakeoilIgnore Button. The coward's feature.Premium
join:2000-08-05
Mentor, OH
kudos:1 | reply to PSWired
Nice, very nice. |
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 jjoshuaPremium
join:2001-06-01
Scotch Plains, NJ
kudos:3 | reply to PSWired
Nice job on the completed project.
I'm going to be critical of the outside corners and how the tiles are laid out.
Also, the glass tile is usually used as an accent and usually horizontal. But, if you like it, that's all that matters. |
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PSWired
join:2006-03-26
Annapolis, MD | reply to PSWired
Thanks, all. I'm satisfied with how it came out, given that this was my first time doing tile and my only training was from reading stuff on the Internet.
Jjoshua, I'd like to hear the details on the corners and layout, even though I'm hoping never to touch a tile saw ever again
And Coma, just make your way toward the cloud of steam over Annapolis when it gets cold again later this week! |
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 mattmagPremium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-04-09
NW Illinois
kudos:3 |
Actually, I wasn't fond of seeing the glass tile like that either, but with the completed project it gives it a very distinct "waterfall" effect I would say. I like it!
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 hitachi369Embrace Your RightsPremium
join:2001-10-03
Grand Rapids, MI
kudos:4
 ·AT&T U-Verse
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said by jjoshua:Also, the glass tile is usually used as an accent and usually horizontal. But, if you like it, that's all that matters.
I've been to a couple of hotels that used it for the entire shower surround. Maybe it is a regional flair? |
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 ChinaboundPremium
join:2002-12-21
Antioch, IL
kudos:3 | reply to PSWired
Very nice. I'm jealous as hell.
You've done a fantastic job, and not only with this beautiful project, but also for uploading just the right amount of clear photographs and explaining every step without replying to yourself needlessly.
Thank you. |
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jjoshuaPremium
join:2001-06-01
Scotch Plains, NJ
kudos:3 Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| reply to PSWired
I would have shifted some of the tile positions so they lined up better.
Also, I would not have used the vertical narrow tile which doesn't seem to line up with anything.
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PSWired
join:2006-03-26
Annapolis, MD | Gotcha. Yeah, I messed up the placement on that right bench. I started that bench off the front wall (closest to the door) and the rest of the room was started from the back corner. The vertical narrow tiles (only available in 12" widths) have a beveled edge cast into them, which I wanted for the corner. Is there a better way to do outside vertical corners that I missed? |
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