We’re not talking about those freestanding outdoor showers, the kind you have probably used at the beach, but instead we’re talking the alfresco shower as a permanent outdoor extension of your indoor bathroom.
According to industry experts people seem to be drawn to the idea of building an outdoor shower room as a way to “reconnect with nature” in an increasingly disconnected world. And they are not just popping up in sultry states like Arizona and Florida either; they are being commissioned all around the country.
The cost of installing an outdoor shower is really no higher than that of installing one indoors. However, there will probably be extra drainage issues to consider and possibly local building codes as well. Working with an experienced contractor then is an absolute must, to ensure that all that hot water and soap will drain away nicely without damaging the landscape around it or causing problems with an existing septic tank.
Privacy is of course an issue for most people and the trend is to use screens made of bamboo or even pergola vines to remain in keeping with the whole “back to nature” theme. Stone and wood are popular flooring options but a sturdier ceramic tile can be considered as well (as long of course they have a nice, natural color and texture).
Placement is also important from a privacy point of view. Enclosing your outdoor shower with screens is great but if your next door neighbor can see straight into it from their bedroom window then you have a bit of a problem. Working with a good architect and/or remodeling contractor will ensure that everything is in the right place and in good working order, allowing you to enjoy an alfresco shower for as long into the year as you can stand it – some people apparently still enjoy an outdoor shower well into the winter, taking a hot outdoor shower in chilly weather then crawling immediately into a warm bed.
