Outdoor Showers

By: Nancy Beiles, This Old House magazine (Page 5 of 5)

Photograph by Julian Wass

Space to Spare
This extra-large, 8-by-12-foot shower in Bridgehampton, N.Y., has mahogany walls, built-in teak benches, and stainless-steel fixtures. Perfect for a post-surfing rinse, it features a foot wash, hand-held spray, and oversized showerhead. The floor is hand-cut Indian stone with river-rock gravel.

Photograph by Courtesy of Lindal Cedar Homes

Unobstructed Views
Stripped of their bark, eastern red cedar trunks are used as the posts for the enclosure of this shower in central Virginia. The white pine door and walls are elevated off the ground to promote airflow at the bottom, and stop at about 5 feet at the top so the homeowners can take in views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains.

Photograph by Julian Wass

Foot Bath
The lever for the foot shower outside this Sag Harbor, N.Y., home is low to the ground so the homeowners' two young daughters can reach it. A sailing rope tied to the lever and looped through a pulley placed high on the wall lets adults easily turn on the water, too.

Photograph by Courtesy of Rohl Corporation

Spa Treatment
The built-in shower panel from Rohl can be used indoors or out. It has a glass face and stainless-steel shelves behind for shampoo and soap. An 8-inch rain-style head, hand shower, and three body sprays rinse every bit of you. (About $4,731, ROHL)

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How to Install an Outdoor Shower

In this how-to video, TOH's John Taylor comes clean on his outdoor shower installation.

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Shower-in-a-Box
All-in-one systems make it simpler than ever to get wet in the wild

Spa Treatment The built-in shower panel (see Image 5) from Rohl can be used indoors or out. It has a glass face and stainless-steel shelves behind for shampoo and soap. An 8-inch rain-style head, hand shower, and three body sprays rinse every bit of you. (About $4,731, Rohl)

Simple Spray The portable outdoor shower from Orvis has an oversized stainless-steel head that rises from a tower made of nyatoh, a weather-resistant wood. The unit, which hooks up to a garden hose, also has a built-in soap dish and towel hook. (About $279, Orvis)

Sun Fueled The lacquered steel Solar Shower tower relies on the sun to warm cold water from your garden hose. A built-in combination energy collector panel and storage tank can heat 5 ½ gallons of water in less than two hours. (About $379, SPP)

Mostly Modern The VIZA wall-mount shower from Calazzo adds a stylized look to your outdoor bathing area. It has a sleek one-piece stainless steel body and teak handles. The shower can be plumbed or hooked up to a garden hose with an adapter. (About $899, Calazzo)

Do-It-All The Water Valet from Rittenhouse has a sink for washing hands, tools, and vegetables; a hand-crank reel for coiling the garden hose; and a shower. Made of stainless steel with brass fittings. (About $2,251, Rittenhouse)