If, however, you are Finnish you would most likely have a completely different perspective.

The documentary “Steam of Life” is a Finnish-produced effort recently released in America that illustrates a decidedly different side of sauna. Joonas Berghall and Mika Hotakainen have created a poignant look at the role sauna bathing plays in the lives of Finnish men, young and old. While women also regularly engage in this ritual, the movie chiefly features short conversations and narrations by a variety of husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, and buddies as they experience the cleansing and rejuvenating effects of sauna bathing.

“Steam of Life” opens immediately with a group of four shiny, sweaty, naked men sitting in a sauna talking about their families, children, hopes and dreams, failures and disappointments, and in short… life. One young man tells of the birth of his son and the moment he was placed in his arms. After a short pause, “Now one dream has come true and maybe, God will give us a little princess later.”

The sauna is what provides the forum for these cathartic experiences, a place where it is understood that inhibitions can be shed along with the clothes. Nakedness is the great equalizer, leaving no regard for social class, age, occupation or life story. Two coworkers sit in a trailer fitted with a wood-burning stove, passing a bottle of liquor between them. One talks of childhood trauma and the other of the loss of a daughter. Tears flow. No doubt at least a small burden has been lifted as they leave the sauna and enter their regular lives once again.

A muscled and tattooed man sits alone in his backyard sauna, narrating the story of his criminal past, epiphanies and redemption, and eventual return from prison. Embarking on a new life, he looks out the sauna window at his three young sons. In the next scene the father washes his sons, splashing water on each, with the bond of love very evident. He concludes, “I’ve always had empty pockets. Now I have a family and empty pockets.” But this man is rich indeed.

While “Steam of Life” shares an intimate portrait of sauna bathing in Finnish culture, the thought passes that Americans are somehow missing out on the full experience. However, with the rising popularity of home bathing environments that feature sauna rooms the whole family can use, and public facilities that offer communal experiences, sauna bathing is slowly but surely being understood and appreciated in a new light. While sauna can be a wonderful solitary experience, incredibly good for body and soul, it can also be a special atmosphere for sharing our lives with each other.

Virtually all tile types will work in steam room applications. However, most applications include permeable products which allow vapor to pass through. In these circumstances, it may be necessary to insulate the wall cavity using a waterproof membrane. This is a specialty membrane which bonds to the substrate and to which tile can be bonded.

A waterproof membrane should be used where ceramic tile is specified, as cement-based grout easily transmits water and vapor. This can be installed on top of, or behind, the cement board. A surface application of the membrane prevents the cement board fasteners from puncturing it. Some manufacturers may require both a waterproof membrane on the front and a vapor barrier on the back – refer to the manufacturer’s application procedures for details.

When using ceramic tile, refer to the Tile Council of North America Installation Guidelines.

Nearly any stone may be used in your steam shower applications, typically in 3/4” thickness. However, over time steam can permanently change the elements in the stone creating various reactions including “bleeding (red streaks), color changes, and surface dulling. Using a dense, resistant stone with a low absorption coefficient such as granite or compact marble will provide optimal results. Refer to the manufacturer’s application procedures and warranties for specific details about the product you select.

A ceiling mounted light constructed of solid metal, with a glass or polycarbonate lens operating on low-voltage electric and rated for a wet environment is always recommended. Lighting is simply the easiest and most practical way to begin altering the mood of a steam shower. If possible, consider installing your steam shower fixture or fixtures on a dimmer switch located outside the bathing environment to dial in on the desired mood.

For those who desire the mood-altering effects that light variation affords, consider vapor proof mood lighting or chromotherapy to transcend the steam bathing experience.

Chromotherapy is a type of light therapy that uses color for wellbeing/holistic healing and is one of the newest trends featured in bathing environments.  Color psychology, the study of combining colors for effect, teaches us that through exposure to certain lighting, we can achieve better focus, feel more relaxed, or even rejuvenate our mind and body.

Depending on your budget or steam enclosure size, consider the addition of wall mounted, colored, or multiple light fixtures. The visual affect lighting affords a steam shower environment is simply unknown by most. Yet every individual who has driven in fog realizes the unique perspective offered by high beam, low beam and fog lights. Steam bathing is about warm soothing mist, but is also about the pleasant atmosphere, feeling, and aura lighting provides.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Every creature was steaming, even the mouse.
The bathrobes were draped on the towel warmer with care,
In hopes that our new sauna room soon would be there.

The children were wrapped in towels of red,
While visions of sauna boards danced in my head.
Hubby talking upgrades and I doing the math,
Had just settled ourselves for a long soothing bath.

When down in the basement there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bench to see what was the matter.
Away to the stairway I flew like a flash,
Tore open the door and hit the light in a dash.

The bulb overhead radiated a soft glow
Giving a luminous view of the objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But Dave and his Service Techs loaded with gear.

With their hefty hammers, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be Accurate.
More rapid than builders his helpers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now Steve,! Now Marc! Now Marty and Wanda!
On, Lisa! On Dean! On Myra and Lynda!
To the top of the studs! To the top of the wall!
Now Steam ahead! Steam ahead! Steam ahead all!

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So off to the weight room the helpers they flew,
With a cart full of boards and Dave Sadowski too.

And then, in a twinkling, I thought this must be a spoof
But the pounding and nailing provided me proof.
As I stepped up the stairs and was turning around,
Through the door Dave Sadowski came with a bound.

He was dressed all in denim, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with sawdust and soot.
A bundle of tools he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes, how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
But his words channeled Henry David Thoreau.

The stump of a pencil he held tight in his teeth,
While viewing plans for the room being built underneath.
He ran to his truck, parked out in the alley,
Then returning, pronounced “This will be better than Bally!”

He was detailed and helpful, a right jolly young elf,
And I relaxed when I heard him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke no more and went straight to his work,
He hung the bath brushes, then turned with a jerk.
And laying a finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the stairs his team rose!

He sprang to his truck, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight,
“Wonderful Bathing to all, and to all a good night!”

(The original poem attributed to Clement C. Moore)

Benching – Overwhelmingly the most important structure in the sauna and available in several styles, well-constructed benches must be appealing and inviting with a smooth surface and unexposed hardware.

Skirting – Bench skirting spans the gap between the upper and lower benches acting as a backrest for the lower bench bather and eliminating the view of the sauna room floor/back corner.

Backrests – Wall-mounted backrests mount over sauna room upper benching, preserving the sauna wood and adding a wonderful design appeal to any sauna environment.

Flooring – Sauna flooring must be able to withstand repeated exposure to splashing heater water, be aesthetically appealing, comfortable to walk on, and non-slippery when wet. The flooring liner must also be removable for easy cleaning when necessary.

Door - Sauna doors are available in several wood styles or a stunning and clean all-glass appearance with the bathing comfort of tinted glass for privacy.  All sauna doors must be installed to open outside the sauna room.

Windows – Glass panels allow for the ultimate in sauna room design!  Consider incorporating one or more glass panels to create that upscale look to match any decor. Available in various sizes, glass window panels are easy to install for the “picture perfect” look!

Lights – Sauna room lighting can alter moods and enhance room appeal.  Select either valance lighting which runs across the wall or a heat-resistant ceiling fixture that utilizes a flush-mounted glass diffuser with metal trim assembly.

Vent – Sauna rooms require an intake (fresh air) and at least one exhaust vent for good air circulation. The intake vent provides oxygen for a comfortable atmosphere and should be located 4” to 6” from the floor and closest to the sauna heater.  The exhaust vent can be most anywhere in the environment.

Sound – Any area dedicated to nourishment needs the soothing benefits of sound. Couple the enjoyment of music with the relaxation a sauna room affords, and the recipe spells REJUVENATION!

Safety – Knowing and following the guidelines of proper sauna bathing and implementing additional safety features such as support bars, temperature gauges, and heater guards will ensure safe, pleasurable bathing.

Gauges – Precise, high-quality sauna room thermometers should be installed for convenient viewing inside and outside the environment.

Accessories -Headrests, backrests, buckets, ladles, thermometers and hygrometers offer the personal touch that leaves a lasting impression of the bathing experience!

Aromas – Simply mist a favorite fragrance and relax for a refreshing and invigorating sauna bathing experience.

Once these features are reviewed and understood, selecting the desired features and styles makes for a simple installation and a luxurious finished environment.

At the end of each year, we find ourselves overburdened with hosting and attending holiday gatherings and all the preparation that goes along with it.  We do more shopping, spending, traveling, cooking, and eating during the holiday season than any other time of the year.  All of this stress affects the efficiency of body functions such as the immune and digestive systems.

Sweat bathing is a proven stress reliever with many health benefits.  One of those health benefits is improved circulation.   Proper circulation aids in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fat, and protein which are abundantly consumed throughout the holiday season.   Without good circulation the foods you eat and the nutrients you absorb from them do not get to your cells at which point all those holiday delights become nothing more than a burden on your body.  With proper circulation, you assist the body in effectively processing these nutrients and fighting these additional stressors, all the while providing a luxurious escape.  Read more about the health benefits of sweat bathing.

This season, think of sweat bathing as a holiday stress buster.  For gift giving or as a sanity saver, popular purchases this time of year include health club memberships and spa gifts certificates.  Even better, consider installing these amenities in the home to share with loved ones and enjoy personally.  What could be better than a gift that keeps on giving?

Steam bathing is one of the “hottest” ways to fight the flu.  Steam bathing causes the body temperature to rise, helping the immune system fight infection.  It can also help fight germs before the infection begins.  Forget about pills, spray disinfectants, bacterial wipes, neti pots, and nasal vaporizers, think of the steam room as a full-body disinfectant and a natural decongestant.  Steam bathing offers the distinct advantage of ’steam cleaning’ the entire body inside and out, in addition to the many other health benefits.

Adding essential oils, such as Eucalyptus, to the steam bath can increase the decongesting and antibacterial benefits.  Eucalyptus also has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body which aides in relaxation and can help promote restful, rejuvenating sleep.  Getting enough quality sleep is also a very important part of maintaining health.  When steam bathing with Eucalyptus, you give the body many of the critical tools it needs to stay healthy.

To learn more, read the Health Benefits of Steam Bathing.

The potential for losing customer referrals or getting negative customer feedback from a steam install that leaves a customer feeling manipulated or unhappy is far greater than losing business outright. Negative feedback can have long lasting effects, especially in this electronic age.  More and more people are looking to websites for information on their prospective contractor and customer feedback is being held at an all time high.

Today’s customer has done countless hours of product research on the web.  When your customer has decided that they want to install “brand A’s” steam generator in their shower but you push them toward the brand you are familiar with, you run the risk of leaving them with the feeling that you A) are not fully experienced; B) don’t trust their research; or C) have your own agenda.  None of these is going to get you a glowing referral.  So how do you deal with a customer who wants something that you are unfamiliar with or wants a steam room that is not your idea of optimal?

The easy answer is to call Accurate Industries who will help you with the requested equipment, size it for you, educate you on the differences, and provide support from the initial inquiry to the completion of your project.  When you can knowingly discuss the pros and cons of their choice, your customer gets the satisfaction of making an informed product choice even if you need to change the brand. This tells the customer that you are able and willing to build the room that they envision and that you have their best interests in mind. They will view you as an expert and will be sure to tell all their friends when they show off their new steam shower environment.

Virtually every bathroom contractor installs the tubs, body sprays, rain heads, and other features that are so popular today.  So how can you stand out from the competition?  Install steam!  Follow these easy steps to get started.

•Take a steam bath – once you have tried this amazing experience, it is much easier to convey the appeal to your customers.  You will also be better equipped to answer their questions.

•Learn the benefits to your customer - in addition to the health benefits, the convenience of having this at home also offers financial advantages.

•Get familiar with the basics of installation – this isn’t much different than installing a hot water heater with a few extra components.  Once you know the process, your knowledge will create opportunities.

•Get a reliable source to handle all your steam bath needs- find one source for products, questions, and all levels of support. 

Personal steam showers continue to grow in popularity.  Aside from being more intimate and convenient than a public steam room, home steam showers are also a significant investment in personal health care.  Health is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as being “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. 

Consider this:  The average return on remodeling projects nationally typically ranges from 65% to 75%, with bathroom and kitchen projects at the high end.  By installing steam showers, you are helping your customer invest in themselves and their homes while adding value to your business.  Call Accurate Industries to learn more and get started today.

Today, the desire for water in the sauna remains the same. A properly functioning sauna should be operated at 180-200 degrees Fahrenheit. But operating at these temperatures can be uncomfortable without some humidity in the air. Traditional sauna bathers using the heated rock system often prefer an occasional dipper of water to be thrown on the rocks. This causes a burst of steam into the sauna environment and while the temperature does not change dramatically, the humidity does. 20-30 percent humidity in a sauna to create a comfort zone is what many traditionalists prefer.

If you are considering a home sauna and you wish to bath the old fashioned way, you should have a small wooden bucket and ladle in your room near the heater. Once your room is up to temperature it is okay to put a dipper or two of water on the hot rocks to bring the humidity up a bit

Keep in mind, its not the heat that makes you sweat, it’s the humidity.