DIY an Outdoor Shower
Whether you live near an ocean, have a pool, or simply want to enjoy the outdoors as much as possible, this article will offer a DIY tutorial on how one can actually make a DIY outdoor shower in their very own yard.
Where to Put It
When installing an outdoor shower, there are a number of factors to consider. First is the logistics of where to place a stall, which requires running water and actually being able to get water to that location. Therefore, it's most prudent to place this DIY adjacent to the home along the outside wall of a room with running water. A bathroom or kitchen is most common, as are basements with glass windows that are easy to manipulate when running piping directly outside.
Should you want the shower anywhere beyond the realm of a home's perimeter, an additional heating and cooling system may have to be installed to ensure the comfort of potential bathers.
An additional thing to consider before building this project is the modesty of those who will be using it. Though a shower sharing the wall of a house’s bathroom may make logistical sense, should there be windows or transparent decorative elements that hinder the privacy of a bather, one should reconsider using that locale. Further, for a poolside stall, one should beware of nearby windows or balconies.
Find Your Piping
To install a shower alongside a home's exterior, use a reciprocating saw to carefully remove all siding and wood layers, exposing interior pipes. Though it can be messy (and is always advised to be done by a professional), one must manipulate existing hardware to allow for hot and cold water to be accessed. This usually requires slicing into the plumbing and adding new pipes and joints to direct the flow of water to a new location. When finished, cover the hole with your cement board allowing holes for a faucet and hot and cold water handles. Screw the board into place.
Form a Structure
After covering the seams of the cement board with mesh tape and mortar, continue its spread until the whole of the board is covered. Many times owners then add decorative stones or wall tiles to create an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere.
With the wall now finished, the second part of the shower structure can begin. Using 1 x 8 boards, mark the outline of the stall's floor and fill it with stone gravel, working it until level. Next, pour your mixed concrete and level it using a trowel. Let it sit for several hours according the directions on the concrete's packaging.
More Décor
Although I find plain concrete to be beautiful and rustic, many people will like to make this DIY their own by adding tiles and stones as embellishment. Following the same procedure mentioned above, lay a thin layer of mortar until the surface is completely covered and place tiles or stones as desired. Unlike the previous step, one may need to add grout between the stones or tiles, letting it dry as directed before use.
Hardware
Finally, the grand finale! After all other desired details are in place, simply install the shower head and faucet.
