Just looking for some thoughts, pitfalls, pointers etc.
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I've been looking in to them myself.
My two main questions are-
The best way to drain the grey water, and is there a self draining frost protected fixture on the market?
Seams like after that it's just cosmetic.
I put an outdoor shower on the back of the house about 8 yrs ago. I used a standard shower mixing valve, nothing fancy, but on the bottom of the valve that is supposed to feed a bath faucet, I plumbed in a ball valve. When I close it down for the season, I drain the valve by opening that valve. Also, I ditched the fixed shower head and attached a long hand-held sprayer head so I can wash the dog when he tangles with skunks (have had to do that at least once a year for the past 3 yrs.)
For the shower "pan", I dug a trench about 3'x6' by about 7 inches deep. Laid in two PT 6x6 rails on the edges of the trench and backfilled between them with 3/4" stone. Then laid 5/4 PT decking across the rails. Never had any drainage issues, although the soil is gravely sand and is actually the upgradient edge of my leach field. I'm sure it's not code compliant for grey water, and thus, I probably wouldn't do this for a client.
I used PT privacy lattice (the holes are only about 3/4" square) on three sides, the fourth side is the house. I plant scarlet runner bean vines on the lattice every year and by mid-July, it's like taking a shower in a jungle. There's a small shelf for soap and stuff made from some scraps of Azek.
In fact, I'm heading out there right now for a shower under the stars. I think the lightning bugs are finally out as well. Can't beat it.
I like the bean idea, sounds nice.
I was thinking of a dry well for the drainage. After all a couple of
showers a day isn't that much water.
Thanks for the input, I do hope to get this job. Clients home is an 75yr. old tudor on 14acres, good people, good taste, wonderful site.
Low end Southeast here. We used a hose next to the back door so we wouldn't moon the neighbours.
Sorry, couldn't resist. :)
More seriously, if it's to be used to shower off detritus and salt from a beach trip, without soap, I'd think you could get by with a bed of coarse rock topped with granite dust, fine river rock or sand and some pavers set about an inch apart for drainage, sloping away from the foundation. I'd use concrete pavers instead of something like a slick stone surfaced material to reduce the chances of a fall, tie it together with a border of un-mortared brick to hold the gravel/sand bed in.
Soap, I've no idea. Might consider either connecting it to the sewer/septic line or putting in a small drain field. Either of those are going to add beaucoup bucks to the bill.
I'm curious as to what you come up with for a design and the resulting job, can you post photos, please?
Some good thoughts, if I get the job I will post the whole process.
Have you seen the recent TV ad for Baskin-Robbins soft serve ice cream?
:-)
No, but now I'll look for it.
IIRC FHB has show a couple in an article(s) and I think that they have had them in Finishing Touches section.
But I don't know how well you can search for that.
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
I have a few ideas from some back issues of FHB but was looking for more, thx's for the input.
I've built several on Nantucket and some in Maine. Never any special drainage considerations, just let the water flow down through deck boards. Not that it wouldn't be a good idea, but it's not strictly necessary.
There are high-end shower valve assemblies available, but my favorite system is just a cheap Moen or Kohler valve screwed together instead of soldered. When shutting down for winter, unscrew the valve and store it inside.
A cedar enclosure is nice, nothing like morning showers taken outside, but if it's just for rinsing off after a swim you don't necessarily need walls or a door.
Don't use them in the winter.
I am confused here - an outdoor shower is never high end, IMO
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I feel every house needs an outdoor shower. I use mine mostly year round. I remember an article that a person said there is nothing quite like taking a shower outside in the rain at night, I have to agree. prefer just 1/2 copper pipe with gate valves, it just looks "outdoors".Plus it's a great way to prevent all the dirt going into the house shower. Also I have no choice right now, I tore my bathroom up a month ago. Here's a great book I recommend.http://www.amazon.com
Thanks, exactly what I was looking for, in my original post maybe I should have said more on the elegant side of life. I've used them from Malibu to The Vineyard some basic and some indoor quality. All the ones I've been in though drain into sandy surfaces.
Last year I checked out a $20M house my brother was doing the cabinetry for. It had a great outdoor shower.
What don't you like about them?
sorry it came thru that way. I don't dislike them, just don't conceive of them as high end. I have done two here, but they are what they are.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Some truly are.......
Inspire mepost some pictures
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
We've done several. Gardners and dog lovers mostly. My preference is to use a conventional Tub and shower set and install a boiler drain on the tub outlet so you can use it to drain the fixture in the winter. I use a pretty deep set Delta unit and foam it with great stuff between the valve and the back of the escutcheon. Some shower heads will hold water that can freeze and do damage in the winter so I recommend that my clients remove them for the winter in addition to opening the boiler drain. They mostly don't and it's mostly not an issue but at least I warned them. On one house the client wanted a fancy exposed valve chrome deal. we had to do an involved shut off and drain system on that one. PITA.
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"You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."
Love my outdoor shower.
I put hot and cold frostproof sillcocks near the shower location and use stainless braided hoses to connect to the shower valve. The valve and showerhead are mounted on a vertical board which is part of the walls of the shower enclosure. In the fall I just unscrew that one board, unscrew the hoses from the sillcocks and bring the board with the valve, head, and hoses attached into the basement. My shower pan is under the deck boards. The pan is piped to a drywell located well away from the foundation. I don't like the idea of that water close to the foundation. If it doesn't drain well it'll start to smell.
Thanks for the input, I like the ideas.