How To Build An Outdoor Shower With Hot Water –

Conclusion

Making an outdoor shower is very simple, not unless you need a more complex structure. Purchasing a simple hose-fed shower is, however, cost-effective. Professionals will be recommendable for complicated set-ups or hiring contractors to run the project.

Tapping your resting area with a hot water shower is the most enjoyable thing ever. If you have never had one before, try installing one with the help of these simple procedures.

Video

13 14. Shower Curtain enclosures

Let’s get artistic! Shower curtains or outdoor fabrics come in all kinds of colors and patterns. Use with a  Bendable or Half Oval Shower Curtain Rod  or a bendable metal rod to wrap around as a simple outdoor shower enclosure.  ( Source: 13 | 14 )

How do I prepare the ground for an outdoor shower?

Local building codes vary about the disposal of gray water. But for the most part, outdoor showers simply drain into the ground. A drywell consisting of an earthen pit lined with landscape fabric and filled with gravel can be placed underneath the shower floor to help disperse the flow. via

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How do you add plumbing for outdoor showers?

Outdoor showers can be plumbed with a garden hose or with fixed pipes. Here are three options, from simple to more complex. Be sure to check with your contractor or jurisdiction about permits and gray-water runoff requirements.

Cold-Water Hose Plumbing: The easiest setup involves running a simple garden hose between a faucet and a shower fixture. Yes, this means cold showers only. But that may be all you need if you’re using the shower only in hot summer months or to rinse off dogs or sandy feet.

Hot and Cold Outdoor Faucets: You can tap into your home’s hot-water supply for an outdoor shower. The easiest way is to have a plumber install a hot-water faucet next to your existing (and cold water only) garden faucet. Then you can attach two hoses easily and quickly to the outdoor fixture. Make sure to use heavy-duty hoses. For more durability, consider stainless steel washing-machine hoses. Installation is a breeze with this option, and it’s less costly than permanent water lines. It also avoids frozen pipes in the winter, as you can just detach the hoses and store them.

Fixed Plumbing Pipes: Hooking up to the permanent water lines in your home is another option. Pipes can be run a short distance up the side of the house to be attached to a shower fixture that’s mounted onto the siding. Plumbing also can be installed to supply water to a shower positioned away from the house via pipes that exit the house and are buried underground. While buried permanent lines are more aesthetically pleasing than hoses, they’re susceptible to freezing and cracking in cold climates and must be drained in the winter.

How high should an outdoor shower be?

I borrowed Bob Vila’s handy diagram to show how simple a basic outdoor shower can be. It also suggests the overall shower height of 7-feet with a breakdown of component measurement, valve height and bracing for the main pipe. via

Points To Remember While Installing Outdoor Shower 

Installing an outdoor shower is becoming more popular in backyards, patios, and decks. Luxurious bathing zones are the most popular choices by outdoor enthusiasts. 

Are you thinking about installing one at your own house? Then check these pointers before you move ahead with the installation procedure.

Plumbing

There are numerous things to look after while choosing the perfect accessory for your outdoor shower. Here are a few handy tips to select the suitable shower for your outdoors. 

Apart from these, consulting a professional about costings and installation will benefit you to understand each of these requirements.

Extending Indoor Plumbing

If your outdoor shower is close to your house, a simple hose pipe extension will deliver hot water for your outdoor bath. But you will need one more thing: drainage as you will need to get rid of the shower wastewater.

Garden Hose

Connecting your existing garden hose to your outdoor shower is an easy, cost-effective and flexible option. You can choose a place where you want your outdoor shower and can just extend your garden hose till the point and your outdoor shower is ready to use. 

Fixed Plumbing

Installing a permanent water line for your outdoor shower is expensive but is the most efficient way to have a rigid outdoor shower. But if you want something luxurious, away from home amidst your garden. Then fixed plumbing is the best option. A luxury outdoor shower can turn an ordinary deck into a fabulous space to relax. The process of installing new pipes requires some extra work and money, but it will pay off with a whole unique luxurious experience.

Drainage

Outdoor showers can bring ambiance to your pool or garden. Outdoor showers are a great way to add something different to an existing garden, deck, or patio. But while installing a shower outdoors, you need to look after the drainage system. They do not need to be complex drainage systems, but having simple drainage is of utmost importance. Because frequently draining your bath or showering wastewater into your garden can cause problems and health hazards. Choose the drainage option that works for you. 

There are multiple simple ways to drain out shower water from your outdoor shower area. A few of them are Shower Pan, Dry Well, French Drain, etc.

Location

Choosing a proper location at your convenience is crucial. There are various locations you choose from to install the shower system at your home.

Close To Nature

Outdoor bathing is the simple idea to experience a fresh breeze and leafy greens outside and connect to nature. Look around your outdoor garden and find a spot that offers privacy and a great connection to nature.

Next To Your House Wall

There’s nothing like a hot outdoor shower after a long day. If you need a hot shower within your budget, choosing a shower location next to your house will be a good option. 

With little expense, you can extend your internal hot and cold water system to the outdoor spaces and can have the comfort of having a hot water bath even on cold and breezy days. 

Making Use Of Existing Floor

Having a clean, flat, comfortable, and non slippery shower base is essential. You can either use the existing patio, deck, or a concrete floor as a shower base or install a new one. But using existing floors as a shower base is a cost-effective and easy way.  

Be Realistic About Plumbing

A simple plumbing install could run “about $1,500,” says Dan DiClerico of Home​Adviser. But it varies greatly depending on your needs and what your home is already equipped with. The rule of thumb seems to be that the closer the shower is to the house, the easier it will be to set up proper plumbing. Indeed, each designer and landscaper we spoke to highly recommends putting your shower on the side of the house since this offers easy access to existing hot and cold water lines.

PHOTO: Tessa Neustadt; DESIGN: Alexander DB

And don’t forget drainage. “Every shower needs a drain!” says Clark—or else you’ll have a flood­ing problem." Each region has slightly different regulations regarding plumbing for outdoor showers, so Clark says you’ll want to "con­sult local codes to determine whether you need to dig a proper one or if you can just divert runoff into the garden."

Another pro tip? "We have a plastic cap directly over the drain that keeps the larger debris out but that requires occasional attention," adds Weiss. This is a good idea for indoor showers, too.

8. Wood slats DIY Outdoor Shower Enclosure

A shower enclosure can be as simple as a wooden panel. Pallets are great options! ( Source: 8 )

If you are wondering where to find pallets, or how to take them apart, here’s an info-packed article all about pallets!

Plumbing for Outdoor Showers

Hook up an outdoor shower much like you would an indoor one. If you want both cold and hot running water, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey recommends adding a pressure-balance valve to prevent scalding.

“And for those who live in four-season climates, by far the biggest concern is having the ability to drain pipes when the temperature drops,” cautions Richard. Water trapped inside can freeze and crack the pipes.

Shutoff valves should be located in the house with pipes traveling on a downward slope. An exposed riser and a shower head that both unscrew ensure that every drop is eliminated.

Drainage is also an issue when the shower is in use. Local building codes vary about the disposal of gray water. But for the most part, outdoor showers simply drain into the ground. A drywell consisting of an earthen pit lined with landscape fabric and filled with gravel can be placed underneath the shower floor to help disperse the flow. More complicated, but required in some locales, is routing wastewater into the sewer system.

Tips for Building an Outdoor Shower

• Leave the cedar boards unsealed for a silvery, natural-wood look or stain and seal them for a more finished look that adds to the durability of the wood.
• Composite wood deck boards are ideal for outdoor shower floors because they are smooth, splinter-free, and never rot.
• As with other outdoor faucets, an outdoor shower is subject to freezing, which can cause the pipes to burst and flood your home. Adding a shut-off valve indoors will allow you to turn off the water to the shower during freezing winter months.

Additional Drainage Requirements

Shower Drainage Pans: Similar to the shower pans on indoor showers, drainage pans connected to a hose can collect, direct, and drain water away from the house and into the garden or an existing drain.

Consider Privacy and Comfort

Once you’ve got the nitty-gritty stuff out of the way, it’s time to think about the fun part: Style. For added privacy, you could build a classic solid enclosure. Hollander suggests building walls that reach up to about five feet above the ground. Slatted wood screens and reed walls are other good options Alexander loves.

PHOTO: Charles Mayer; DESIGN: Hollander Landscape Design

Or, you could get creative and create a natural illusion of privacy with a wall of florals. Flowering shrubs like hydrangeas (or plants that don’t mind moisture) can act like a living shower wall (and tend to be cheaper).Clark recommends pruning branches so warm sunlight can pour in. And then consider things like benches a built-in shelves for storage and seating, plus wall hooks for your towels to dry off after.

Step 5

Add the water. Attach the hose to the coupler in the back of the shower. You may want to purchase a Y-splitter for your outdoor spigot so that you can run an additional hose for lawn and gardening tasks. Test the water, and enjoy!

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