Building an Outdoor Shower: A Comprehensive Guide

Setting up an outdoor shower involves a blend of creativity, practicality, and a touch of DIY skills. Whether you're aiming for a functional rinse-off or a full-standing enclosure, we'll walk you through the steps to create your own outdoor oasis. This guide focuses on building a working showerhead using a garden hose and an outdoor water source, a simpler and more accessible method for most homeowners.

Method 1 of 2: Building a Working Showerhead

1. Planning Your Outdoor Shower

Before you dive into the construction, sketch out the rough design of your finished shower. This helps in visualizing the final structure and ensures all components fit together seamlessly. It's crucial to gather the right supplies, which include a garden hose, various lengths of piping, fittings, and a rain-shower head.

2. Attaching Your Garden Hose to the Water Source

The most common method is to screw the hose into an outdoor spigot, allowing for easy on and off. If you're sourcing water from a lake or pond, you'll need an inline utility pump and a battery for its operation. A 12V self-priming pump is the ideal choice.

3. Building the Shower Plumbing

Assemble the shower plumbing using joints to screw the piping together into one length, with a ball valve or gate faucet in the center for easy control. Place elbow joints and seal each fitting with nylon plumber's tape to prevent leakage. Avoid attaching the hose or shower head until the plumbing is complete and the rods are in place.

4. Constructing the Shower Post

If you're building a free-standing shower, you'll need a post for support. Use pressure-treated wood, 8 feet tall, to ensure durability. Dig a hole at least 1.5 feet deep and three times as wide as your post, then firmly implant it. Pour 5 lb of fast-setting concrete into the hole to set the post. Allow 24 hours for the concrete to dry before attaching the piping.

5. Securing the Piping to the Post

Attach piping to the post using C-shaped pipe hangers or 4-6 straps, ensuring the elbow joints are correctly oriented. Attach the garden hose to the bottom of the post using a 1/2-inch hole and an appropriate adapter.

6. Installing the Showerhead and Shower Arm

Once all connections are made, install the shower head by attaching the shower arm to the top of the pipe and screwing in the head. Test the shower by turning on the water at the faucet to ensure everything is secure and functional.

7. Alternative Methods of Support

Explore DIY shower ideas for a less conventional setup. Options include attaching the shower head to a wooden fence, tree, overhang, or wall with simple brackets or decorative boards. Unique ideas can also involve attaching the head to an old surfboard for a distinctive look.

Method 2 of 2: Building Floors and Walls

1. Planning Drainage

Consider your drainage requirements depending on whether you're using cold or hot water. Gravel is the simplest and most cost-effective flooring material, providing ease and natural drainage. Prepare a thick layer of gravel, smooth it out, and use half-buried 2x4s to create a simple enclosure if desired.

2. Building a Wood Floor

Create a professional-looking wooden floor by framing an 8-foot 4x4 post into four even pieces, cutting a 1x4 board, and screwing the floorboards onto the frame with 1/4-inch spaces between each board.

3. Constructing a Wall

Set up four posts identical to the one supporting the shower and nail plywood sheets to them as walls. You can decorate the plywood or add a door/curtain for customization. Alternatively, use corrugated metal sheets or purchase pre-built outdoor shower walls for a quick and professional finish.

4. Using a Curved Shower Curtain

If your shower is attached to a wall, a simple curved shower rod can define the area, covering the other three sides and providing an easy outdoor shower experience.

5. Protecting Your Outdoor Shower

Finalize your outdoor shower by applying an outdoor sealant and finisher to protect the wood from the elements and ensure longevity.