Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoor living

How to build an outdoor shower enclosure

Niko Vercelletto
By

Spring is here, and summer is right around the corner. There is still time to do some DIY projects and build something that can greatly enhance your outdoor life — like an outdoor shower. It may seem like a luxury, but outdoor showers can be fairly inexpensive to build if you stick with cold water, which will feel great in the hot summer sun!

If you’re an avid runner, swimmer, gardener, or anyone who enjoys breaking a sweat in the summer, an outdoor shower can improve your life dramatically. A simple shower can cost you less than $1,000, and we’re going to show you how to build one step by step.

Outdoor shower made from wood
Papin Lab

How to build an outdoor shower enclosure

Plan the shower drainage

First things first, check with your local regulations to make sure you can build an outdoor shower. Some communities require you to install a drain that connects to your home’s waste system, which needs to be done first. The base will also need to have a drain strainer and be sloped so water flows into the drain. If this is required, a concrete base is your best bet; it will be easy to mold and will last a long time. You can even tile the concrete base if you want to go the extra mile.

Related

If you don’t need to regulate water runoff, then the easiest thing to do is allow the water to flow into a garden.

Construct a shower base

Unless you are lucky enough to have a flat piece of ground that drains well or you have a deck, you will need to construct a shower base. A flat, stable base is required for functionality and safety. The dimensions should be, at a minimum, 30×30 inches because this is the most common floor space required by code; however, it is usually a good idea to make it bigger.

As we said before, create the base from concrete or another nonporous material if your shower needs a drain. If no drain is needed, then you have two options that allow water to soak into the ground: cement pavers or wood decking. In addition, some freestanding shower kits are available with a platform so you can skip this step and save some time.

Build the enclosure

If you want to enclose your shower for privacy, now is the best time to create it, specifically the back wall where you will mount the showerhead and valve. Construct the back wall out of wood, vinyl, or any material that is strong enough to support a showerhead and heating unit if you are going with hot water. Alternatively, if you are building your shower next to a  fence or similar structure, you can simply mount the shower head on an existing fence post.

The enclosure is really where your creativity can shine. Enclosures can be made with almost anything, as long as you use a waterproof sealer, including bamboo, corrugated metal, sliding door, or simply a curtain.

Install the shower head and valve

This step will be the easiest or hardest, depending on whether you’re using a freestanding shower. If you are, then all you have to do is position it wherever you want. Stabilize it by pounding a 6-foot metal stake or rebar at least a couple of feet into the ground, then tie the shower riser to it.

If you are using a propane shower instead, which usually comes equipped with a handheld showerhead, make sure to mount it high enough so you can stand underneath it when the handheld showerhead is not in use. Remember to create a place for the propane tank. When installing an outdoor shower valve and head, secure everything to the wall with copper pipe clamps.

Hook up the water

Finally, you are ready to hook up the most essential part: the water. When installing a freestanding shower — solar or propane — all you need to do is take a garden hose and screw it into a hose bib. Turn the water on and leave it to control water flow from the shower. If you went with a solar shower, then the heating reservoir needs to remain in complete sunlight for a few hours before the water will be warm enough to use.

Double showerhead outdoor shower
Ozymandian/Shutterstock

Protect your shower in the winter

Not many people remember this, but your outdoor shower will be exposed to the winter months when not in use. This means you will need to protect it from cold temperatures, depending on your location. The most important thing to do is make sure your shower is completely drained of water to prevent freezing and cracking to the supply hoses and shower fixtures. If you bought a freestanding shower, things are easy for you. Simply remove the garden hose and put away the shower for the winter.

If your shower valve is installed on the wall and connected to a heater, turn off the water supply, put away the hose, and open the shower valves and leave them open. Also, make sure to remove the showerhead and valve from the faucet so that any residual moisture can escape.

The actual shower enclosure will also need to be protected during the winter. When you are ready to close the shower for the season, thoroughly dry the inside and cover the enclosure with a tarp, making sure the tarp is tied securely. If you did not build an enclosure, then cover the shower pipes.

Final thoughts

Outdoor showers may have seemed like a luxury for the wealthy, but anyone can create their own unique shower to enjoy during the summer. Whether you go with a simple freestanding shower with only cold water or go all out with a bamboo enclosure and propane heater, building one only requires some planning, patience, and the willingness to learn.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
5 outdoor living trends that will totally improve your 2022
Rebecca Wolken
By Rebecca Wolken
January 2, 2022
women outside sitting

After being stuck in our homes the last two years, we've started to realize that making our homes into a lovely place to be is very important. However, we can only stay inside for so long before we ache for sunshine and nature. Turning your outdoor space into a haven where you can escape the indoors and enjoy some fresh air will improve your 2022 no matter what it throws at us. So here are some ways to spruce up your outdoor living space so you can enjoy the spring when it finally comes back around.

Bring indoor luxuries to an outdoor space
The best way to encourage yourself to go outside more often is to make it as comfortable as possible. So often, we choose indoor seating instead of going outside simply because that huge sectional is way more comfortable to lounge on. So instead, invest in comfortable seating, plenty of surfaces for drinks and electronics, and maybe even purchase some umbrellas or awnings so you can sit outside even if it's lightly raining. Making an easy transition from indoors to outdoors will encourage everyone in the home to come out more often and enjoy the space.
Vertical gardening
Not everyone has the luxury of having an expansive backyard. If you're struggling to know what to do with your smaller space, but you know you want more plants and gardening opportunities, try vertical gardening! This is where you take a wall of your deck or fence and grow plants one on top of the other. You might have seen these as living walls or those DIY projects with pallets and herbs. Either way, growing flowers or veggies vertically allows you to garden without taking up precious space in your smaller yard.
Outdoor office
Many of us spend a lot of time inside at our desks. If you were lucky enough to work from home the last few years, you might have a pretty decent setup for your home office. However, spending all day inside when the weather is excellent can be depressing, and if you're home, why not take advantage of the opportunity and create an outdoor office space? This allows you to keep working while enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. Endless studies are proving that getting outside more often improves mental and physical health!

Read more
5 outdoor lighting tips we learned from experience so you didn’t have to
Kiera Baron
By Kiera Baron
December 21, 2021
Hanging outdoor lights

One of the most exciting parts about setting up an outdoor space is designing the lighting in a way that makes it not only beautiful to look at but enjoyable to spend time in. The types of lights and where you place them will depend on what your space looks like. Even in an urban apartment or home, you can accentuate balconies and patios with lights that make summer evenings feel a bit more magical — but how do you know what to choose? It’s natural to make mistakes the first time around, like buying bulbs that are too large or a lamp with a cord when you don’t have an outlet. Luckily, we’ve got a few outdoor lighting tips up our sleeve to help you forgo some of those initial hiccups.

Different types of lights you can use
First thing’s first: it’s important to assess your space and consider the different types of lighting you can use for it. If you’ve got a deck with stairs, you can utilize things like lights placed under the steps to illuminate them or rail lights to keep the night extra safe. These lights are usually subtle, so you don’t have to worry about them overpowering the area.

Read more
Good, better, best: The best warm, stylish outdoor fire pits for your patio
Mark Wolfe
By Mark Wolfe
November 15, 2021
best outdoor fire pits bowl

When the seasons change, the air becomes crisp, and the mercury starts to fall, certain cravings start to well up. For some it’s football, or cozy clothes, or pumpkin spice. But let’s talk a minute about fire. Nothing else has the ability to bring people together and capture attention quite the way that a cheerful flame does. If you’re not so sure, try this experiment. Set up a fire pit on your driveway and, right around sunset, fire it up. Chances are, you’ll have visitors before long. As long as it’s not the fire department or your HOA authorities, it should make for some good conversation.

Whether you’re a long time believer in the power of a fire pit and need to replace one after years of faithful service, or you’re just looking for a good reason to be outdoors in the pleasant fall evenings, we’ve got a few suggestions. You could go with an easy to use gas burner, and forgo the smoke and ash, but then you would also miss out on the smell. We believe that a little bit of seasoned hickory, oak, or maple aroma is an essential part of the deeper fire pit experience. So, we’ve assembled this list of outstanding wood-burning fire pits based on durability, ease of use, styling, and price point.

Read more