Understanding a Steam Shower Sealed Slip Joint: Photo's, Sketches and Video Tutorial

JohnfrWhipple · Dec 7, 2013

Sealed Slip Joint

A steam shower's Sealed Slip Joints is the most vague specification I know of in the steam shower vapour proofing process.

I get the bulk of the install. It's the corners that are tricky.

JW

JohnfrWhipple · Dec 7, 2013

First things first - Blocking requirements for framing needs of a sealed slip joint

I recommend solid blocking at all wall intersections and between all sheets of WonderBoard Lite.

Sponsor · 2022-01-29T12:20:58-0800

JohnfrWhipple · Dec 7, 2013

Noble Company has a great cross section here. This is the benchmark to follow.

JohnfrWhipple · Dec 14, 2013

The long runs are fine John - What about the corners?

I like NobleSealant 150 in the corners. Full coverage inside corners out 2-3". Then I switch to clear silicone for the rest. Often I'll add the 150 into the corner before the fold into the gap.

You want the sealed slip joint filled (with flexible silicone) so mortar does not enter and block the forgiveness the work so far has granted the ceiling to wall junction.

JohnfrWhipple · Dec 17, 2013

Noble Seal CIS and TS are both excellent options for steam shower builds. My top two recommendations

JohnfrWhipple · Dec 17, 2013

Preparing your Durock Shower Walls for a Sealed Slip Joint

Given the choice between Durock and WonderBoard Lite - I would choose wonder board lite every time.

JohnfrWhipple · Jan 2, 2014

Illustration of slip joint detail.

s blyth · Jan 22, 2014

Sealed Slip Joint question

John, how much of a gap should you leave with this method between the ceiling and wall??
Obviously installing the ceiling board is the first thing done. Is there also a gap when you install the ceiling board, leaving it away from where the wall is? or just when you install the wall board up to the ceiling board? or is there a gap for both the ceiling board install AND the Wall board? Hope I explained that properly. Thx John

johnfrwhipple said:
Photo: Steam Shower - Source

Building Steam Showers is much tricker than most people think and much more detailed than most installers have ever imagined. One of the most asked questions of me by my online clients on the subject of steam shower construction (other than what the best membrane) is "How the Hell do you build a sealed slip joint?". This is a good question and one that is very hard to explain. When discussing this detail so much confusion over the detail starts to arise. Look at the steam shower above I build a year back. Look at the volume of steam and steam rises. The most heat and steam concentrated at the ceiling.

So how do you make a sealed slip joint? I'm working on a simple approach on my current steam shower project here in Vancouver and thought I would share a few of the photo's and the process here in the hopes of helping out more people.

So first. Lets look at a few photos of a Sealed Slip Joint.

Photo: Sealed Slip Joint Detail - Source - Page

Photo: Slip Joint - Source - Page

Now finding out how to make this sealed slip joint will drive you crazy. I love John Bridge's explanation here on this page. He says "I think it's a normal joint where one plane of tile goes behind the other. More TCA jibberish. Sometimes those guys sit around the table and create new words and terms." - now that makes it all clearer doesn't it... lol

I have asked many men about this detail. Even the men at Noble Company who's cross section is my standard and never once has the detail been explained properly to me. The closest I have gotten is the detail is designed to allow a little movement. The fold (not really shown in the two images above) creates slack I think and this helps with the overall design and function of the steam shower. BUT - how the hell do the corners work out.

Lets look at Noble Company's Steam Shower Specification. This is the best diagram online and here it is.

Photo: Noble Company's Steam Shower Specification - Source - Page

Notice the Sealed Slip Joint. Notice the roll in the corner. Notice that the backer boards do not meet nor are they sealed together. All details that make you wonder how to achieve this with out screwing up your shower and making this wall to ceiling point a weak link in your vapour armour.

So - I hope everyone has not falling to sleep because my little detail below is my version of a sealed slip joint.

JohnfrWhipple · Jan 23, 2014

I like to see about a 1/4" to 3/8" Steve.

can you notice the solid blocking on both the wall and ceiling? This is what I like to see. No gaps larger than your fist.

JohnfrWhipple · Aug 17, 2014

Minneapolis St.Paul Steam Showers:

Here is a great installation picture from a builder who wanted a little extra steam shower design help.

Sealed+slip+joint+steam+shower+tundra+finish+works.JPG

Tundra Finish Works - Minneapolis St.Paul

Looks great. - Of course when design a steam shower material selection is key. This steam shower meets high use requirements and offers up the work crew, designer, builder and home owners the choice of any setting material for the tile.

This is why I refer to NobleSeal TS as the king of the sheet membranes.

Shower+flood+test+Tundra+finish+works.JPG

Here you see the shower under flood test and a stack of coins used for measuring the water level. A true Pro in my eyes. If your building a steam shower these are the steps that need to be taken.

ShowerDude · Nov 29, 2014

today i was reading periodicals.......came across this tottally WRONG printed article in finehomebuilding magazine.!!!!!!

so much misminformation out there. Printed in magazines and spouted out by so many times someone whos never built a steam shower.

how many naive' homeowners read and believed this article?

it takes a LOT more detail to build steam showers people.

JohnfrWhipple · Nov 30, 2014

Nice one RSCB. So easy.

And the author forgot about any Vapour Proofing for the walls and ceiling. She forgot to mention the window tie in detail for that project.

I don't slope the ceilings in most of my projects - rather I lower them for easier cleaning.

I do not know of one steam unit that can make a 60' run. ThermaSol does 50'. Most times we place them less than 20' away.

Standard ventilation is OK with a well place fan and a shower transom.

Author was close..... I bet she interviewed the builder and then wrote the story.

I find it funny the mention about the loss of steam from the door gap. This can be huge and cause all sorts of wall sweating issues.

I guess steam showers act different in Canada. Maybe are water is finer....

lol

Eurob · Nov 30, 2014

Good catch RSCB . When '' easy '' is sold out loud , there is nothing more you can do but look them fail .

You would expect with such '' fine '' magazines to get them right -- advices -- ........ but selling an idea proves to be more important . Find hard to digest the use of '' wood protectors '' or wood accessories in such environments and in direct contact with the exposed skin . Do you think the steam shower is considered an extreme heat environment ?

ShowerDude · Nov 30, 2014

this magazine article simply misleads people, then more people get mislead just like lemmings.

Someone is an editor at finehomebuilding and approved it for print?

JohnfrWhipple · Nov 30, 2014

RedShoecounterbalance said:
....someone is an editor at finehomebuilding and approved it for print?

I used to love Fine Home Building Magazine. I read it from the age of 17-35 roughly. Like Mike Holmes the magazine now is a sales platform for a few key advertisers....... Gone down hill in my eyes.

ShowerDude · Nov 30, 2014

LOL i was flipping the pages looking for an orange ad.

nope.

hj · Nov 30, 2014

I am not sure I would want to put my reputation on the line by using a two piece floor flashing with the Noblesealant 120 between them around the drain fitting.

ShowerDude · Nov 30, 2014

very revealing reply there HJ!

clearly you dont like noble products!

what is youre reasoning and specific experience?

JohnfrWhipple · Nov 30, 2014

NobleSealant 150 not 120.

And you can tie NobleSeal TS or CIS directly to the clamping drain. I'd bet on either of the two just listed over any other system.

ShowerDude · Dec 1, 2014

johnfrwhipple said:
NobleSealant 150 not 120.

And you can tie NobleSeal TS or CIS directly to the clamping drain. I'd bet on either of the two just listed over any other system.

Rodger that cap'n .

its proven time and again with flood tests. It works for me.

Understanding a Steam Shower Sealed Slip Joint: Photo's, Sketches and Video Tutorial

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