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Steam Shower Prefab vs Tile
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Posted by johne62 (My Page) on Fri, Nov 20, 09 at 16:54
| Hi,
I am looking to replace my existing shower stall with a steam shower. Is there any advantage going with a prefab unit. I like the look of tile but I'm not sure how well it will hold up over time. It would also be nice to hear from folks who have steam showers about things I should look out for. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Steam Shower Prefab vs Tile
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| If it's put together properly, a tile steam shower will last every bit as long as a prefab unit, and it SURE'S hell looks alot nicer. Where the prefab unit shines is in the cost. |
RE: Steam Shower Prefab vs Tile
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| Thanks Bill, You have confirmed my gut feeling. Is there a type of tile you recommend. I was thinking ceramic due to the amount of moisture but wanted to know if I was limited. Also besides sloping the ceiling are there other items I should look out for when talking to my contractor? |
RE: Steam Shower Prefab vs Tile
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| This is one time when I'll specifiy using a good porcelain tile, due to its almost total lack of absorbsion. Other than sloping the ceiling, the biggest thing to look out for is that they give you a completely watertight envelope that encompasses the entire shower. Anything less is not good enough, And don't let them talk you out of that. All it takes is a small outlet for the steam to escape. |
RE: Steam Shower Prefab vs Tile
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| Thanks - just 2 more questions. In doing a bit of research on the forum I see rectified porcelain gets good marks since the grout lines can be smaller. Are their any brands that you like? The same question would apply for steam generators. Having access to this type of information is fantastic! |
RE: Steam Shower Prefab vs Tile
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| For normal run of the mill rectified porcelain (if there is such a thing), I'd look to one of three manufacturers-- Crossville, Daltile, or American Olean. They'll be the most reasonably priced, and Crossville is probably the best domestic porcelain manufacturer. If price really isn't a consideration, look into something like Graniti Fiandre, Porcelanosa or Cerdomus. There are others, but those are some of the world's best. |
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