Steam Shower installation advice

[CherieV]

I am looking to rip out a crappy tile shower stall and install a steam shower. Is this fairly easy and should I have a plumber or a contractor do it? The steam shower seems pretty simple to put together. I have the space and the plumbing so I need the tile stall removed and this built.

Ariel Platinum DZ956F8 Steam Shower - DecorPlanet.com

Suggestions? FYI it weighs about 500lbs. I need it installed in the 3rd floor of a row. It's delivered in pieces which helps.

[longtimephilly]

I am looking to rip out a crappy tile shower stall and install a steam shower. Is this fairly easy and should I have a plumber or a contractor do it? The steam shower seems pretty simple to put together. I have the space and the plumbing so I need the tile stall removed and this built.

Ariel Platinum DZ956F8 Steam Shower - DecorPlanet.com

Suggestions? FYI it weighs about 500lbs. I need it installed in the 3rd floor of a row. It's delivered in pieces which helps.

Simply, no and yes.

No it's not easy to do (unless you've handled major plumbing events before) and yes you should get a contractor who has a licensed plumber to do it.

Outside of the obvious difficulty of putting it together, you may want to consider the new weight on the your third floor bath. When they get in there and tear the old one out, they might have to reinforce the floor just to handle that shower.

[paul100]

If your current shower is all tile then there shouldn't be much weight diffference. It might even weight less then your old one especially if your walls are thick plaster with tile over them.

[VeganDike]

The steam shower seems pretty simple to put together.

It's really easy I wouldn't expend funds on a plumber, just tear it out and hope nothing goes wrong.

[VeganDike]

It might even weight less

Huh?

[CherieV]

It's really easy I wouldn't expend funds on a plumber, just tear it out and hope nothing goes wrong.

Have you installed one of these shower enclsoures already yourself? I do need help with the demolition. There is no doubt about that. I also need to check the condition of the joists since the shower I have in there now had a leak because of poor construction. The ceiling below the shower on the 2nd floor tells the tale..! I'm gonna get a bunch of estimates and see where we are at.

[VeganDike]

Have you installed one of these shower enclsoures already yourself? I do need help with the demolition. There is no doubt about that. I also need to check the condition of the joists since the shower I have in there now had a leak because of poor construction. The ceiling below the shower on the 2nd floor tells the tale..! I'm gonna get a bunch of estimates and see where we are at.

I searched your proposed steam unit briefly for 5-10 minutes earlier after your last and it seems to be top-of-the -line,
with Ariel Platinum not to be confused with the less quality Ariel brand.
I found that Ariel Platinum is made by the widely respected EAGO firm which appears to be Japanese.

Irregardless you're correct that logistics such as demo are the greater task from your third floor. Effecting the removal of
debris down two flights of steps may be aided by free heavy duty boxes from BJ's. State Store boxes not so much.

I tried to bring up a schematic of your proposed steam unit 'DZ956F8' and found that number brings up a multitude of
models. Nevertheless you're correct a plumber hook-up is best as well as structural inspection. It sounds like an awesome
steam shower and wish you the best. If you need an experienced hand especially in regard to floor strength and demo
do not hesitate to PM me. Braveheart.

[VeganDike]

There's a few very good forums where you may find opinions for your steam shower
or pretty much anything for plumbing :

Plumbing Zone - Professional Plumbers Forum

Plumbing Forum - Forum Rules

Terry Love's Plumbing & Remodel DIY forum

[CherieV]

There's a few very good forums where you may find opinions for your steam shower
or pretty much anything for plumbing :

Plumbing Zone - Professional Plumbers Forum

Plumbing Forum - Forum Rules

Terry Love's Plumbing & Remodel DIY forum

Thanks for taking the time to shoot me some of those forums. Unfortunately I cannot find a lot of info on installation of the stand alone units. I know you that they sell the steam units separately and they can turn an exiting shower into a steam shower. So far one plumber came over and had a look. He was going to do a little research as well. The demo of the existing shower is the easy less expensive part of the job. If they rebuild the shower with upscale tile/hardware/frame-less door etc I'm looking at the same price as the stand alone if not more. I am weighing my options. Thanks again for the feedback!

[VeganDike]

Here's a steam shower thread from http://www.contractortalk.com/ that may be helpful

theshowerguy - Contractor Talk Professional Construction and Remodeling Community | Contractor Talk

Click his "all activity" and you're in the thread. This guys one post mentions Ariel Platinum.

[CherieV]

Here's a steam shower thread from Contractor Talk - Professional Construction & Remodeling Forum, News, Reviews, and Blogs | Contractor Talk that may be helpful

theshowerguy - Contractor Talk Professional Construction and Remodeling Community | Contractor Talk

Click his "all activity" and you're in the thread. This guys one post mentions Ariel Platinum.

So far no one wants this job unless it is a 12K build that they do them self. They want no parts of building this unit. So frustrating.

[PhillyBilly]

Hiring a plumber to install a modular steam shower kit is overkill. Ariel platinum is a great line of steam showers especially the F8 series. If you have a decent size bathroom it shouldn't take you more than a few hours to assemble the unit. I would recommend contracting the help of a licensed electrician for the electrical portion of the installation but if you are a DIY er you can easily plumb the unit using PEX tubing. Here is a basic walkthrough for the installation Installing a Steam Shower Kit | Modern Bathroom Design & Remodeling Blog