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After hours of working in the yard, wouldn't an
outdoor shower be an exotically, decadent treat
before retiring to your fabulous outdoor room?
What if you could?
You can! And you shall!
If you are fast deserting air-conditioned interiors for alfresco
cooking, dining, entertaining and solitude, you are
not alone.
We're all rediscovering the joys of staying home, and looking
for interesting ways to make our outdoor stays even
more enjoyable and entertaining.
Enter stage left -- fabulous outdoor showers... and the easy outdoor
decor Guide To Outdoor Showers!
Be inspired with the ingredients that make the
difference in outdoor shower design.
Whether it's
a simple showerhead, or no holds barred
master bath luxury you seek, alfresco showers are backyard
necessities.
So let's get started on the fresh-air shower of your dreams, so
you can truly experience the joys bathing alfresco...I mean
alfresco living!
Nothing compares to
fresh-air showers and alfresco tubs when it comes to washing
up and cooling off in a hurry.
And there's nothing quit like bathing under a canopy
of sky!
Make the most of your fresh-air shower by covering these
simple basics.
Choosing The Site
Any alfresco shower design needs hot water for comfort and
either 2 or 3 walls for privacy.
So, site your shower up against the house, beside the
garage, behind a potting shed or another out-building
where there is an existing hot water line in the
wall.
You can even tap a line outside of a basement window,
or near the kitchen or bathroom.
This way, you'll control the cost of plumbing and
construction by taking advantage of at least 1 existing
exterior wall and plumbing that already exists inside
it.
Equip the shower with its own hot water heater if you site
it away from a building with existing plumbing.
Insert a little breezy bathing into your daily routine.
Just site your shower so when you get home from a stressful
day, it's right there.
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Permits & Expertise
Contact your local zoning office and ask about building
codes. You'll also want to know if there are lot-line
restrictions and what types of drains are
acceptable.
Unless a simple showerhead is your ideal outdoor shower,
you'll need plumbing and construction skills.
This may be a not-so-easy outdoor decor project. So
consider hiring an expert.
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Creating Privacy
There are so many ways to get all the privacy you want with
outdoor showers.
And this privacy comes in 4 flavors:
- Completely out in the open
- Partially enclosed
- Totally enclosed
- Either partially or totally enclosed with
a lockable or latchable door
If your outdoor space is well secluded, you may
not want or need an outdoor shower enclosure at all.
Boost privacy by sequestering your shower in an alcove
behind shrubbery or walls.
For privacy overhead, cover the shower
enclosure with open beams or rafters, then let
climbing vines do the rest.
You can even pick and choose your private times by using
weatherproof awning panels connected to the top of the shower
frame.
If you're like me, sometimes you feel like a nut, and
sometimes you don't.
Feeling nutty? Just roll the panels down like a window
shade.
Not feeling all that nutty today? Simply unfurl the
panel.
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Pipes & Parts
Copper and stainless steel pipes are the
outdoor champs, but your local code may allow PVC pipes,
which cost a lot less.
If you do leverage an existing exterior wall with a hot
water line it, you won't have to wait so long for hot water to
arrive at the showerhead -- saving water and saving money.
If it's cold where you live, be sure to have a cut-off
valve installed inside the house. And drain the water lines
before winter sets in.
Choose materials that do well out in the elements by
choosing pressure-treated, painted or composite lumber,
synthetic decking, mildew resistant fabrics, and
rustproof fixtures.
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Drainage System Details
Outdoor showers need drains to catch water runoff.
They direct water away from your house and your outdoor
shower.
A French drain is a plastic pipe with holes in it that gets
buried below ground. You can easily install a French drain
yourself and it's an extremely inexpensive alternative to
tying into sewer line.
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Surface Strategies
For safety's sake choose non-skid shower flooring
materials. Brick, stone or water-resistant wood are all
fabulous choices.
Keep your shower appealingly clean and free of standing
water.
Use eco-friendly, biodegradable soaps and shampoos that are
easy on plants and wildlife, and won't clog your drain.
Use highly diluted muriatic acid (get it at the pool supply
store) if your shower floor gets slippery.
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All The Amenities
Pamper yourself with plush robes and scented
shower soaps.
Loofahs, back brushes, and sea sponges are
fresh air fabulous when arranged in a perforated storage
container and kept close at hand.
Store aloe vera gel in the storage container for
after-shower moisture treatments.
Place cushy, rolled towels in a
galvanized bucket and let the sun warm them while you
bathe.
Waterproof MP3's and CD players let you mellow
out with music.
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Shower Power
Let the showerhead match the personality.
Mimic Nature's rain with an oversize showerhead.
Get the comfort of a spa with handheld nozzles with
different spray settings.
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No Regrets
Whether your ideal outdoor shower is the primitive
charm of a simple showerhead or a fully equipped bathing
suite, you'll never regret deciding to bath alfresco!
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