By Daniela Sperotto
With advances in technology, saunas and steam rooms have evolved from being a luxury at the gym to a welcomed extra within our homes. Generally used to aid in detoxifying the body, one or both of these will add tremendous value to your bathroom area.
“The latest trend towards a healthier lifestyle is also creating more demand for steam rooms and saunas.” agrees Michiel Thoolen, from Radiant Glass Concepts.
Steam rooms
Building a separate steam room does come with a few precautions, warns Roger Sutherland, from Vaja. “All electrical equipment should be tested by the relevant authority, properly installed, continuously maintained and only used as intended by the manufacturer. In steam rooms, the point of entry for the steam is very important as when pipes are incorrectly positioned, it can lead to severe burning,” he explains.
Although a completely separate room is a great extra and allows for more space if more than one person wishes to use the room, if you are limited for space, steam rooms are now conveniently combined within a shower unit. “The unit can either be used as a shower or as a deep penetrating steam spa – depending on the individual need and time availability,” explains Glenn Varrie, from Summer Place Spas and Baths.
Sauna
Unlike a steam room, a sauna is a completely dedicated room which does not require any water or drainage systems – yet it is essential to be located near a pool or shower so one can cool off easily.
Within the sauna, “it is best to use soft woods, (low density) with good insulation. The benches must be comfortable and made from even softer wood so that the user is not burnt when first sitting down,” he continues. Michiel also advises to carefully position the location of the temperature control in order to ensure easy access while in the room.
No matter what your choice, steam rooms and saunas are fantastic options to spruce up your bathroom.
