Creating an Outdoor Shower

Learn the bare necessities that define a good outdoor shower design

bury about rinsing off with the garden hose . After a daylight spend mulch and weeding under the hot sunlight , nothing beats an outdoor shower . All that clean air , warm piddle , and sunshine specify “ refreshing . ”

There are several different type of outdoor showers , but the most practical is an shut in pattern bind to the house . It ’s convenient , private , and the least expensive agency to lean live water alfresco . If you ’re thinking about building an attached rain shower in your own backyard , follow these guidepost to guarantee a smart designing .

Scout the Right Spot

Exterior wall direct outside of kitchens , john , and laundry elbow room are premier location for an outdoor shower . Having a well-defined path to interior hot- and cold-blooded - water supply lines means less work for the pipe fitter and a less expensive terms tatter for you . Plan to have an access panel , similar to those used for tub decks , on the interior paries behind the outdoor - exhibitor fixture . This removable instrument panel permit you to easily maintain the rain shower ’s plumbing and per year enfeeble its water line to prevent frigid pipes .

If the existence of windows or an air - conditioning unit makes it hard to use internal piddle argumentation , there is a 2d option . To access water lines in the basement , a accredited plumber can drill two side - by - side , 1 - inch - diameter maw through the firm ’s understructure and feed hot- and insensate - urine lines outside .

Getting Down to Basics

The minimum space required for an out-of-door shower bath is 3 feet square , but go larger if you’re able to . A cascade envelopment measure 4 feet square offers a generous amount of human elbow room . If an affiliated dressing arena is in your plans , you ’ll need a 7 - foot - long and 4 - metrical unit - wide-eyed area for the entire enclosure . create a structure with roomy dimensions is , of grade , just the first step . Smart aim also requires paying attention to privacy , drainage , and weatherproofing .

1. Create privacy

Design your shower ’s envelopment with the most demure bather in mind . Before break ground , stand in the maculation where you ’ve decide to build the cascade and take note of all sight lines , including nearby deck , tree menage , and upper - story window . Your excogitation must embarrass all of these views , and there are clever ways to do it without give the open , breezy smell of showering in the great outdoors . Here are just a few :

2. Plan for good drainage

When it come up to installing a drainage organisation for your shower water ( also known as gray piss ) , home owner have several choice :

3. Protect your siding

Because the walls inside of a shower teetotal slowly , they call for extra weather shelter . If you are build a new family and an outdoor cascade is in the plan , installing 30 - British pound ( or 30 - exercising weight ) felt paper between the wall sheathing and the exterior material of the house will produce an effectual moisture barrier . If your house is already built , however , there are less invasive weatherproofing alternative . For homes more than 20 years erstwhile , set a conditions - seal partition over the component part of the exterior wall that is inside the shower enclosure . For young homes , use at least three coating of a waterproof sealant to any stirred exterior bulwark ; there are sealants available for every type of edifice exterior .

If you live in a mood where temperatures drop below freezing , you must drain your pipe before the first Robert Frost hit . Ask your plumber to show you how this easy chore is done .

— Ethan Fierro is a designer , builder , and creative person and the author ofThe Outdoor Shower . He live on the island of Maui .

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