TH7 Noosa
Sauna · Steam · Infrared · Commercial
Steam rooms, engineered to last.
Custom steam rooms for homes and commercial facilities — designed, supplied and built as one complete system.
Our approach
Beautiful tile is the last layer, not the first.
A steam room holds saturated air for the length of every session. Water condenses on every surface and runs to the drain; vapour is driven outward into the walls and ceiling. Whether the room lasts depends on what sits behind the tiles: the vapour-control system, the ceiling shape, the falls, the generator and its plant space.
We design, supply and construct steam rooms as one coordinated system, working with homeowners, architects and builders from the earliest drawings.
Explore
Steam rooms for every setting.
- Custom steam roomsVaulted ceilings, mosaic, stone and glass, designed as one system
- Residential steam roomsSteam rooms within bathrooms, ensuites and home wellness spaces
- Commercial steam roomsContinuous-use rooms for hotels, gyms and wellness facilities
- Design and constructionVapour control, ceiling slope, drainage and coordination
- Steam generatorsSizing, location, water quality and maintenance
The essentials
Four decisions made before framing.
Most of what makes a steam room work is fixed in the structure, long before the finishes are chosen. Resolving these four decisions early is what separates a room that performs for decades from one that drips, struggles to heat or quietly damages the building around it.
- A full enclosure and continuous vapour control on walls, ceiling and floor
- A sloped or curved ceiling that sheds condensation to the walls
- Finishes chosen knowing how they heat, with the generator sized to suit
- A cool, drained, ventilated plant space with room to service the generator
The system
What a steam room is made of.
Every part is chosen with the others in mind. The generator manufacturer's instructions and the licensed trades (electrician, plumber and waterproofer) govern their parts of the work; we coordinate the whole. As the Queensland agent for Harvia, we specify the steam generator and controls for each room.
- 01
Generator
Sized from the room volume, the finishes and whether the room is ventilated. Stone and tile on masonry soak up heat as the room warms, so they need more output than light, insulated construction.
- 02
Enclosure and door
A fully enclosed room, so steam and condensation stay where they were designed to go. The door either seals or has a deliberate gap for supply air, to match the generator maker’s ventilation approach.
- 03
Vapour control
A continuous low-permeance system across walls, ceiling and floor, with every penetration sealed, installed by a licensed waterproofer.
- 04
Ceiling
Sloped or curved so condensation runs to the walls instead of dripping onto people below. The slope follows the selected system.
- 05
Steam outlet
Low in the room, pointing down, out of reach and shielded where needed, so steam mixes with room air before it reaches anyone.
- 06
Sensor and controls
A sensor high in the room, away from the outlet, door and vents, so it reads the air bathers breathe. Harvia mounts its control panel outside the steam room.
- 07
Seating and drainage
Benches that fall forward and a floor that falls to a waste. The generator’s hot discharge goes to a separate drain outside the room.
- 08
Plant and service access
A cool, dry, drained and ventilated space close to the room, so the generator runs within its limits and is easy to service.
How a steam room project runs
Who decides what, and when.
Every steam room passes through the same stages. Timing depends on the build programme and equipment availability.
- 01
Consult
The room, how it will be used, the finish you have in mind and where the project is up to. Steam rooms are best discussed before framing.
From youPlans or dimensions, the intended finish (tile, stone or glass), and whether it is for a home or a commercial facility.
- 02
Design
The room’s volume and materials set the generator size. The ceiling profile, door, glazing and generator location are resolved with the structure.
From youYour architect’s or builder’s drawings, and where a ventilated plant space could go.
- 03
Specify
Generator, controls, sensor and steam-outlet positions, with the power, water and drainage information your electrician and plumber need and the waterproofing interfaces marked.
From youContact details for your builder, so the trades receive this before rough-in.
- 04
Supply
Generator, controls and steam-room components, scheduled to suit the build programme.
- 05
Construct
The room is built in sequence by the waterproofer, plumber, electrician and tiler. We coordinate the steam system through each stage.
- 06
Commission
Generator, flushing and drying settings are commissioned, and the manuals and care instructions are handed over, including water quality and descaling.
Projects
Steam room projects
Questions
Common questions
How hot is a steam room?
Steam rooms generally run at about 40–50 °C with humidity at or near 100 %. That is far cooler than a sauna, but the saturated air makes it feel very warm. Operating limits are set by the generator manufacturer.
Is a steam room just a shower with steam added?
No. Shower waterproofing is designed to stop liquid water, and many shower membranes let water vapour through. A steam room needs a full enclosure, a continuous low-permeance vapour-control system across walls, ceiling and floor, a sloped ceiling, insulation and sealed penetrations.
Why a steam room is a different buildDo tile, stone, glass or acrylic change how a steam room performs?
Yes. Steam condenses on every surface until it warms through. Stone and tile on masonry absorb a lot of heat, so the room warms more slowly and needs a larger generator. Glass keeps losing heat outward. Light, insulated shells warm fastest. Each manufacturer sizes for this differently, so the generator is chosen from the selected brand’s own tables.
Finishes and how they performCan a steam room be finished in natural stone?
It needs care. Harvia advises avoiding porous natural stone in steam rooms, and stone can stain or deteriorate under constant vapour. Dense, heavy finishes also need a considerably larger generator. Stone should be confirmed in writing with the waterproofing system manufacturer and the stone supplier first.
Should a steam room door seal tightly or have a gap?
It depends on the generator system. Harvia uses an insulated door with a gap of about 15 mm underneath and planned ventilation. Some other manufacturers specify a gasketed, sealed door. The generator is sized differently for each, so the door follows the selected system.
Enclosure, door and ventilationWhere does the steam generator go?
Outside the steam room, in a dry, drained, ventilated and accessible space close by, usually a plant cupboard or room. Harvia limits the air temperature around its generators to 30 °C, and Queensland roof spaces can run hotter, so a dedicated plant space is the safer plan.
Generator location and service accessFurther reading
- Steam room design and constructionHow a steam room is built — enclosure and door, vapour control, finishes and heat-up, ceiling slope, outlet and sensor, drainage, lighting and ventilation.
- Sauna and steam room design checklist for architects and buildersA design-stage checklist for saunas and steam rooms covering dimensions, build-ups, structure, services, plant space and who does what on site.
- Commercial saunas and steam rooms: what operators and designers need to knowWhat changes when a sauna or steam room goes commercial — duty ratings, controls, maintenance, hygiene, safety and handover for operators and designers.
Planning a steam room?
A steam room is decided in the structure long before the tiles go on. Talk to us while the drawings are still flexible.