An outdoor shower is perfect for cooling off on hot days or washing off after a day at
the beach.
Get ready to bring a little piece of island living to your backyard!
A fun weekend
Step 1: Measure your space
After you have determined where you want to place the outdoor shower, use a tape measure to determine the height, width, and depth at the location of the shower.
Step 2: Get your lumber
You can get the wood you need from Kooyman, where we offer an extensive range of wooden planks in various shapes and sizes.
Step 3: Build the framework
Place the vertical posts against the wall, making sure they are level. You can use corner brackets to secure them, and make sure you pre-drill the holes in the wall. The middlepost should be slightly off center, as this is where the valve and shower head will be placed.
Step 4: Attach the planks to the post
You can now begin attaching the planks to the posts. We recommend placing planks at the bottom to determine the starting height of the first plank. Remember to pre-drill the holes to avoid splitting the wood, and we recommend using six screws per plank.
When attaching the planks, we recommend using screws between them to control the distance and allow the wood to expand and contract with changes in weather conditions. You can use the reverse function on the electric screwdriver to remove the screws if needed when you are done.
Step 5: Drill a hole for the valve and hose
Continue mounting planks onto the poles until you reach the desired height for installing the valve. Once you have attached the plank where you want to mount the valve, measure and mark the center of the plank and make a hole using a wood flat drill bit. In our case, since the water connection is behind the wall, we recommend using a long concrete drill to make the hole in the same location as the hole in the plank.
Step 6: Install the valve
Once you have pulled the hose through the hole, add a tube sleeve to provide it with additional support. Then, slide the bolt over the hose followed by the compression ring. Apply thread seal tape to the connector and tighten it with water pump pliers and an adjustable wrench. Finally, screw the tap onto the connector and tighten it. Then apply a second connector on the top of the valve. To connect the shower head, you will need to shorten another hose.
Step 7: Continue mounting planks
Work your way up by mounting the planks. Remember to pre-drill the holes before driving in the screws.
Step 8: Attach the back plank
When you reach the height where the shower head will be placed, mount a plank at the back. Next, use a flat head drill to make a hole through the front plank and mark the position on the back plank where the shower head will be mounted. Remove the rear plank and install the brass compression wall plate elbow at the marked point. Assemble the hose with the necessary parts and attach it to the elbow, then reattach the rear plank.
Step 9: Mount the shower head rod
Apply thread seal tape to the shower head rod and then insert it from the front. Twist it into place firmly.
Step 10: Attach the shower head and valve knob
Attach the last plank and install the shower head and valve knob.
Step 11: Connect the waterline and test the system
Depending on your water pipe, you may need to purchase a specific connector to attach it to the shower pipe. You can ask for advice at your nearest Kooyman store. Once connected, test the system for any leaks and check the water pressure.
Step 12: Choose your shower base
We chose to build a wooden platform, but you can also choose to use gravel, PVC, or stones to stand on while you shower.
Step 13: Build the platform
Use three planks at the bottom and five on top of that. If you have a sloping wall, you may need to cut the planks to size using a circular saw.
Now, mark the other side of the planks to make the platform straight and use a saw to cut along the line.
To avoid seeing the front of the planks underneath, you can choose to place one plank across the width at the front. Cut the plank to the width of the platform.
We made sure to leave some space between the platform and the wall so that the wood has room to expand and contract. Place screws between the planks to control the space between them as you assemble the planks.
Step 14: Sand the wood
To achieve a smooth end result, use a sanding machine to sand the wood. We also recommend treating the wood with a wood sealer to protect it from the weather.
There you have it!
Now you can build your own outdoor shower and enjoy the refreshing outdoors.
Have fun using your new creation!
