An outdoor shower is a convenient means for rinsing off after a swim or a trip to the beach, or if you have no swimming pool, it provides a wonderful low cost alternative to cooling off during the hot summer months. Outdoor showers that have access to hot water can also offer a most enjoyable, nature-filled alternative to a traditional shower.
Anyone who has a garden, no matter what size can benefit from an outdoor shower. The advantages of installing an outdoor shower compared to a swimming pool are numerous. Once installed, it seldom has to be cleaned and regularly maintained. If your budget allows, you can get a professional plumber in to do the fitting and you can have the outdoor shower connected to your geyser for access to hot water. However, if you don’t mind only having access to cold water, it is a great DIY project that you can do yourself. The cost of running the shower is minimal and it is possible to warm the water up without using any power at all.
Where to place the shower
First of all, you will need to select an area that is slightly elevated so that the water from the shower runs away from you and your home, and it does not form a pool under the shower where you stand.
If at all possible, try to erect the shower in a position that is slightly elevated above a flowerbed or lawn, so that all the water from the shower can also run into the bed, and in the process, irrigate it every time you shower. A good place to erect an outdoor shower is also under a tree or against the wall of the house under the eaves of the roof. For a more permanent fixture, you can install a purpose-built L-shaped enclosure for the shower, which can be made from stone, corrugated sheeting or even wood.
Piping
Make sure the shower position is not too far away from the garden tap.
Connect the hosepipe to black plastic piping that will run to your shower head. You can get the correct connectors from any garden shop. By using black piping, you will warm up the water because the black pipe will heat up in the sun, which will in turn, heat up the water running through it. Should you want to get the water a lot hotter, you need to have a lot more black tubing for the water to run through. If your shower is against the wall of the house you can use a lot of black piping and get it to run up and down the roof a number of times before it finally reaches the shower head. Running the water through all this black piping will considerably increase the temperature of the water. Alternatively, you can commission a plumber to install the shower in a more permanent and professional manner.
Shower base
The base under the shower must be covered with bricks, stones or a mini concrete base that will allow the water to flow away underneath.
If you just leave grass or sand there, it will become a mud bath. Once you have laid the bricks, stones or a small concrete slab, dig a shallow trough around the shower base so the water can run away easily. For added convenience, make sure that somewhere near to the shower, you have a hook or a table where you can hang up your towel, clothes or costume. It is also wise to include a shower basket or some shelves where you would be able to store some toiletries if required.
The showerhead
Decide on what height you would like the showerhead to be and then connect it to the wall, tree or wherever you have decided to place the shower – you can do this using a purpose-built bracket and some screws. If you are installing it against the house wall and under the eaves, you can attach the shower head to one of the overhanging roof trusses overhead. Installing it in a high location such as this will create a warm rain effect when you turn the water on.
A surrounding fence
Most people will use an outdoor shower in their swimming costumes, so a wall or fence around the shower is not really necessary. However, if you intend to use your outdoor shower like a conventional shower, which is especially nice if it is hooked up to the hot water, then it would be wise to make sure it is surrounded by a fence for privacy. For this kind of application, it would also be wise to ensure that the floor area surrounding the shower base is also paved, tiled or formed out of concrete, to ensure that your feet don’t get dirty once you have finished your shower.– Antonella Dési
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