Steam shower installation and conversion in Sydney
Nu-Trend builds steam showers in Sydney homes by designing the steam enclosure into a complete bathroom renovation, whether that means turning the shower you already have into a steam room or building a new one from scratch. We are licensed plumbers and licensed renovators, which means the enclosure, the waterproofing, the drainage, the generator installation and the finished room are the responsibility of one company. Every quote is a fixed written price after a site visit.
NSW Licence 217859C | In business since 2009, 20 years in the trade | 270 Google reviews | $20 million public liability cover | Directors on site every job
What a steam shower costs in Sydney
People often expect a steam shower to be an add on, something that screws onto the wall of the shower they already have. It is not, and we would rather say so here than on site. Converting an existing shower means stripping back at least half the bathroom to run the plumbing and the electrical, re-detailing the waterproofing for vapour, closing the enclosure to the ceiling and matching tiles that may no longer exist. Done as a patch job it compromises the waterproofing and leaves a visible join. So we quote steam showers as part of a full bathroom renovation, and the figures below include both the hardware and the building work.
| Path | What is included | Typical total |
|---|---|---|
| PathSteam shower within a full bathroom renovation | What is includedComplete strip out, new layout designed around the steam enclosure, tiled ceiling inside the enclosure, waterproofing detailed for steam, all fixtures, floor to ceiling glass, generator, controller and steam head | Typical total$40,000 to $60,000 |
| PathLuxury steam shower upgrade within a full bathroom renovation | What is includedAs above with premium tiling and stone, integrated seating, lighting control, in wall audio, aromatherapy and a higher specification generator and controls | Typical total$60,000 to $90,000 |
The steam equipment itself typically accounts for $7,000 to $12,000 of those totals depending on the extras chosen. Figures are confirmed with a fixed written quote after a site visit, which is free.
What we cannot do is give an accurate figure without seeing the room, because the two things that move the price most are the ceiling and the enclosure, and neither can be assessed from a photograph. Our guide to bathroom renovation costs in Sydney sets out what a complete room comes to without the steam equipment.
Converting the shower you already have, or building new
Converting the shower you already have
A conversion suits a bathroom where the existing shower has at least three solid walls and reasonable ceiling height, and where you are prepared for the room to be renovated around it. The work involves closing the gap between the top of the shower and the ceiling so that steam is contained, installing the generator where it can be serviced, running the pipework and wiring to the steam head and controller, and rebuilding the waterproofing and tiling that is disturbed along the way, which in practice is most of the room.
The honest limitation of a conversion is that the equipment cannot always be fully concealed inside an existing wall cavity, because the cavity is only as deep as it is and there may be nowhere to put a service access panel where you would ideally want one. We will tell you at the quoting stage exactly where the equipment will sit and what will be visible, because that is the compromise people are most often unhappy about afterwards when nobody discussed it beforehand. Our Dural job shows how we solved it with an external cabinet.
Building a new steam shower as part of a renovation
Designing the steam shower into the renovation from the start removes those compromises. The enclosure, the ceiling height and construction, the position of the generator and its service access, the falls in the floor, the seating and the ventilation are all designed together rather than worked around. It is the better result, and for most people the decision comes down to whether the bathroom is due for renovation anyway. Apartment bathroom renovations carry their own constraints again, because the generator and the drainage have to work with the building.
| Choose a standard steam shower renovation if | Choose the luxury build if |
|---|---|
| Choose a standard steam shower renovation ifThe existing layout works and the shower has three solid walls | Choose the luxury build ifThe shower is open, low, or in the wrong part of the room and the layout should change |
| Choose a standard steam shower renovation ifYou want steam without changing how the room is used | Choose the luxury build ifYou want seating, a tiled ceiling throughout, integrated lighting, audio and aromatherapy |
| Choose a standard steam shower renovation ifYou accept that the equipment may be partly visible or housed outside the room | Choose the luxury build ifYou want the equipment fully concealed with proper service access designed in |
| Choose a standard steam shower renovation ifBudget is the deciding factor | Choose the luxury build ifThe bathroom is a feature of the home and the finish matters as much as the function |
What decides the price
Five things account for most of the variation between one steam shower quote and another.
- The ceiling. A steam shower performs best with a tiled ceiling, which means the ceiling framing has to be able to carry the additional weight and the plasterboard has to be replaced with a suitable substrate. Where the ceiling also needs to be raised or lowered to suit the enclosure, this becomes one of the larger line items.
- The enclosure. Steam has to be contained, which usually means a floor to ceiling glass screen and a door rather than an open walk in shower. The size and configuration of that glass, and whether the opening is square enough to take a standard panel, changes the price meaningfully.
- The generator and where it goes. The unit itself is straightforward. Finding a location for it that is close enough to the shower, accessible for service, and able to take the plumbing and the electrical supply is what takes the time.
- Waterproofing and ventilation. A steam shower puts far more moisture into a room than a standard shower, so both the membrane detailing and the mechanical ventilation have to be specified for that. This is not an area to economise in, because the failure mode is mould inside the wall.
- Finishes and extras. Seating, niches, lighting control, in wall speakers and aromatherapy are each genuine additions to the scope rather than options that come free with the unit.
Steam showers we have built in Sydney
Converting an existing shower into a steam room in Dural
A ground floor bathroom where the walk in shower was sound but could not hold steam. This is the job documented at converting a shower into a steam room in Dural. We enclosed it to the ceiling, replaced the waterproofing, and built a custom external cabinet with louvred lockable doors to house the steam generator where it can still be serviced. Four weeks on site.
A steam shower installed in an office in Hurstville
A client running his business out of an industrial unit in South Hurstville wanted the factory bathroom to double as a personal space with a small gym and sauna. The room had to take a shower, a toilet, a sink, a washing machine and dryer, and a steam unit, so we stripped it completely, wet saw cut and excavated the concrete slab to move the drainage and water points, and rebuilt it around the new layout.
The steam component needed four things built in specifically. There was plenty of space in the ceiling cavity, so the generator was housed there behind a removable clip in vent cover that ventilates the unit and doubles as a large maintenance access point. The shower ceiling was sheeted in fibre cement so it could be waterproofed and tiled, so that rising steam meets a tiled ceiling rather than plasterboard. A floor to ceiling shower screen was fitted with gaps sized so that steam is contained while in use but can escape slowly. And the electrical supply was upgraded to three phase to run the generator. Grey tiles and stainless sinks kept it looking industrial, so the room still works for the business, for leisure, and as part of the factory. See the steam shower installed in an office in Hurstville, which is also our commercial bathroom renovations example of this work.
How a steam shower is built
The enclosure
For a steam room to work, the space has to be sealed. That means glass to the ceiling rather than to shoulder height, a door rather than an open entry, and attention to the junctions where the glass meets the tiling. In most Sydney bathrooms this is achieved with a custom made screen, because standard panels rarely suit the height and the openings are seldom perfectly square in an existing home.
The ceiling
A tiled ceiling inside the steam enclosure is what we recommend, because plasterboard will not tolerate that volume of moisture over time and because a tiled ceiling reflects heat back into the space instead of absorbing it. Tiles are heavier than plasterboard, so the ceiling framing has to be checked and usually reinforced before the substrate goes up. A slight fall across the ceiling also stops condensation dripping straight down onto the person using the shower, which is a detail that separates a well built steam room from an uncomfortable one.
The generator
The generator converts water into steam using industrial grade heating elements and is sized to the volume of the enclosure. Undersizing it is the most common specification error, because the unit then runs continuously and never reaches the temperature the user expects. The unit needs a water supply, a drain, an electrical circuit and an accessible location, and we plan its position before the walls are closed rather than looking for somewhere to put it afterwards. We like working with Geyser Steam generators, because they deliver fast, consistent steam and have a long record of reliability, and we will stand behind them.
The controller and steam head
The controller sits inside the shower and must be rated for the environment, so a high ingress protection rating matters. The steam head releases the steam and, on better units, aromatherapy oils, and it is positioned low on the wall away from where anyone would sit or stand, because steam leaves the head hot. Both can be flush mounted into the tiling for a cleaner finish if that is decided early enough.
Ventilation and waterproofing
Waterproofing for a steam shower is detailed differently from a standard shower because the vapour load is far higher and it reaches surfaces that ordinary showers never wet. Mechanical ventilation is sized to clear that moisture from the room afterwards. Getting either of these wrong does not show up for a year or two, and then it shows up as mould inside the wall cavity, which is why this is the part of the job we will not compromise on. All of our work is carried out to AS 3740 for waterproofing of domestic wet areas and AS/NZS 3500 for plumbing and drainage.
Seating, lighting and sound
A steam shower is used sitting down, so seating is worth planning rather than adding later. We frame, sheet, waterproof and tile the seat so that it reads as part of the room rather than as a fixture bolted to the wall, and it can be any shape that suits the space. Lighting inside a steam enclosure has to be rated for the environment, and dimmable or colour changing systems are a common request. In wall speakers can be installed where the wall build up allows it, and they need to be specified before the waterproofing goes on rather than afterwards.
Is a steam shower good for you?
Steam bathing has been part of daily life in many cultures for a very long time and most people who install one describe it in terms of relaxation, warmth and the quality of sleep afterwards. It is worth being careful about the stronger health claims commonly made for steam rooms, because the evidence behind them varies a great deal and some of them are not supported at all.
What is reasonably well supported is modest. Warm humid air is widely reported to ease the sensation of nasal and sinus congestion and to help people relax, and a warm environment eases tight muscles for a while. Steam does not remove toxins from the body, despite that claim being common in marketing. Anyone with a heart condition, low blood pressure or a respiratory illness, and anyone who is pregnant, should speak to their doctor before using a steam room.
What our clients say
They undertook their work with care and were keen to make sure everything was done to our satisfaction.
Very neat and tidy too. Overall a great experience and we would definitely use the guys again!
I can’t recommend the team strongly enough, they are professional, tidy, prompt and polite, and above all excellent craftsman.
Rick is very, very responsive and I felt comfortable discussing any concerns that I had with him - he and his team did everything that they could possibly do to keep me happy
You can read all 270 of our Google reviews, which we do not edit or select.
Licensed, insured and local
Nu-Trend has provided plumbing and bathroom renovation services in Sydney since 2009, and the directors, Rob and Rick, have 20 years in the trade and are on site rather than managing from an office. We hold NSW contractor licence 217859C covering plumbing, drainage, gasfitting and kitchen, bathroom and laundry renovation, we carry twenty million dollars of public liability cover, we are members of the Housing Industry Association, and our work complies with AS/NZS 3500:2018. Our licence and our ABN can both be verified through the links at the foot of this page.
Local, licensed & insured
Plumber | Renovator | Drainer | Gas fitter
Nu-Trend is a company in Sydney that has provided plumber and bathroom renovation services since 2009. The Directors Rob and Rick are hands-on, providing a personal service.
Sydney Water
PLUMBER
We work closely with Sydney Water for all plumbing requirements.
STANDARDS AUSTRALIA AS/NZS3500:2018 Compliant
A renovation business that builds new bathrooms to meet Australian Standards.
Common questions about steam showers
How much does it cost to install a steam shower in Sydney?
A steam shower built into a full bathroom renovation costs between $40,000 and $60,000, and a luxury build with premium finishes, seating, lighting and audio between $60,000 and $90,000. The steam equipment accounts for $7,000 to $12,000 of that. We give a fixed written price after a free site visit.
Can a steam shower be used as an ordinary shower every day?
Yes. Every steam shower we build includes a normal shower head, taps, drainage and screen, so it functions as a standard shower whenever the generator is switched off. Most clients use theirs as an ordinary shower daily and run the steam a few times a week.
How much space do you need for a steam shower?
We recommend a minimum of about 1.5 metres by 1.5 metres, which gives enough room to sit comfortably and stretch out while remaining small enough for the steam to build properly. Larger enclosures work well but require a correspondingly larger generator, which is a cost consideration rather than an obstacle.
Can any existing shower be converted?
Not every one, and none as a quick add on. The shower needs at least three solid walls, sufficient ceiling height, and somewhere within reach to house the generator with service access, and the room around it has to be renovated for the waterproofing to be sound. Open walk in showers with a single glass panel, and showers where the ceiling cannot be modified, are the two cases where we recommend changing the layout as part of the renovation. We will tell you which category yours falls into during the site visit.
How long does the work take?
A bathroom renovation built around a steam shower typically takes four to five weeks on site, including the drying periods required for the screed and the waterproofing membrane, which cannot be shortened.
Do steam showers cause mould?
A properly built one does not, and a poorly built one certainly can. The difference lies in the waterproofing detail, the substrate used on the ceiling and walls, and mechanical ventilation sized for the moisture the room will actually produce. This is the main reason we recommend against treating a steam shower as a straightforward add on to an existing bathroom.
Get a fixed price for your steam shower
We will visit your home, look at the room, tell you honestly what it will take to hold steam properly, and give you a fixed written price. There is no charge for the visit and we can attend outside normal working hours.
Call Rick on 0401 165 779 or request a site visit.