Archive for the ‘Outdoor Shower’ Category
Outdoor Shower
Megan Gates is an active blogger and provides written work to the blogosphere pertaining to New York City Real Estate, Long Island Rentals, and the latest in architecture, design and fashion.
Follow her on Twitter @ MEGatesDesign.
Adding an outdoor shower to your home might seem like a luxury. In fact, an outdoor shower is surprisingly easy and inexpensive to install. An outdoor shower is sure to be a conversation piece among friends and family, and it will also add to the individuality and value of your home. Like most home improvement projects, an outdoor shower can be as simple or as extravagant as you – and your budget – will allow.
There are many benefits to installing an outdoor shower. For homeowners with a pool or spa, an outdoor shower makes it easy for guests to rinse off before jumping in, keeping harmful dirt and oils out of the pool water and prolonging the life of your chemicals. A shower also comes in handy after swimming. Immediately rinsing off the chlorine or salt from your pool helps keep your skin and hair soft and undamaged. A quick rinse also extends the life of your swimwear. If you’re lucky enough to live at the seaside or near a pond or lake, you can also use your outdoor shower to wash the sand from your feet and body after swimming or walking so it doesn’t end up tracked through the house. Even if you don’t have a pool or the ocean nearby, you can still reap the rewards of an outdoor shower. They are useful for cleaning up after working in the garden or just cooling off on hot summer days.
Outdoor showers can also be environmentally friendly. They generally use less water than standard showers and can be piped so that the used water runs off into the flowerbeds or lawn. Some solar-powered outdoor showers are made with holding tanks or bags that warm in the sun. Other cistern-type showers collect rainwater and recycle it.
Outdoor showers are a fairly simple do-it-yourself project. When preparing to install a conventional outdoor shower, the first thing to do is to pinpoint the location of the water line. If you already have a swimming pool or spa, you probably have a visible outdoor water line used to fill it. It’s simple to tap into the line and install a valve to divert the water to your shower. Just make sure to turn off the main water line first! Run a pipe and attach a showerhead and spigot. The shower platform should be elevated off the ground by at least a few inches. Make sure that the water drains freely away from the house and the foundation.
After you’ve got the basics set up, you can get as creative as you like. For added privacy, you may want to install walls. Some outdoor shower stalls are made simply of two panels fitted together like an open triangle with the showerhead at the apex. Others are completely enclosed backyard oases. When building walls you’ll want to consider the local climate. In balmy, tropical or temperate climes simple bamboo or water-treated wooden walls should suffice. More extreme climates may require something more substantial and weatherproof, such as glass, Plexiglas, tiled concrete or stone. Have fun with it. Design your outdoor shower to complement your personality or decor.
Practical yet exotic, an outdoor shower is a simple and inexpensive
upgrade that’s sure to make a splash.