How to Shop for an Outdoor Shower

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Ahhh, an outdoor shower! Getting nekkid in nature! There's just something alluring about showering outdoors. It can be a wonderful, spa-like experience or it can be an invigorating, chilly one that wakes you out of the duldrums. The type of shower you can have depends on your plumbing situation, and how much work you want done.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Step1

Check out your plumbing situation. Do you have any valves already set up for an outdoor shower? Look around the outside of your house. If you do, it will look like two holes with pipes inside. If not, you have a few choices. You can either call a plumber to plumb in a shower line, or buy a stand-alone shower.

Step2

Consider a stand-alone shower. Stand alones can be single-hose line, or may offer hookups to two supply lines--for hot and cold water. But most are single-hose, cold water only. The good news is they are the least expensive, easiest to install and are portable. These usually consist of a single simple pipe leading to the showerhead. Fancier models may feature a wooden platform, and a wooden stake behind the pipe just for design's sake.

Step3

Pedestal showers can confuse shoppers. You do need an outdoor plumbing line for these, but they are also a bit portable. These are usually sold in a kit, but that doesn't mean all you need is a hose; you need pipes plumbed in and ready to go. Many offer hot and cold water. Usually, these showers are simple in design, but slightly nicer than the budget stand-alone. Some will also feature two water handles (hot and cold) instead of one.

Step4

Wall-mounted units are exactly what they sound like; they attach to plumbed openings. They offer hot and cold water, and best of all the opportunity to design an entire shower-scape. Wall-mounted units allow you to create an enclosure around it. You can pave the ground with river rocks or other natural stones for a serene, spa-like shower experience.

Tips & Warnings

If you don't buy a kit, you'll need to purchase the shower bodies (shower head, knobs, etc). Make sure you choose stainless steel, or even better, brass. This will allow the shower to withstand the elements.
Don't be afraid to call a plumber in. The actual plumbing for a wall-mounted shower should be well between $500-$1000. The rest of the cost depends on you. How upscale do you want to go with your fixtures and enclosure?
Look through magazines for design ideas. You'll be amazed at all your options.