DIY Network

Outdoor Zen Spa, Part 1: Outdoor Shower A junk-laden, overgrown backyard gets turned into a seaside spa retreat. See more outdoor-room creations from DIY's Indoors Out. From "Indoors Out" episode DIND-101

The completed patio.

In this Indoors Out project, Dean Marsico and Derek Stearns transform a little-used backyard into an outdoor room for meditation and relaxation with the addition of a stone-path, seating area, sculpture and an outdoor shower.

They also install a salvaged and refinished door at the entryway to the newly transformed space. The first project: installing the outdoor shower.

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	The Boidleau's backyard, before the Indoors Out makeover
	. . .and after.

Project Overview

Russ and Delilah Boidleau live one block from the beach, but have no outdoor space to enjoy all that fresh air. And there's no shower to wash off the sand and salt water after a dip in the ocean. Now, with the help of Dean and Derek, Russ and his son are finally going to build Delilah her outdoor shower, and more.

They add natural flagging to the entire area, an abundance of plants, and stone sculptures for an artistic flair. But to make this outdoor room look and feel like a room, they refurbish an old door and hang it at the entrance. They turn a crowded tight space into a spacious room with style, elegance and art.

The Boidleaus's existing yard is small and cluttered with junk. The first thing to do is to remove the junk, clutter and overgrown bushes that have enveloped the yard. They will tuck the shower in an enclosed space formed by a high fence and the side of the house and use the rest of the yard for a stone patio and seating area. They add landscaping to create visual harmony and the perfect mix of privacy and ambience.

An outdoor shower was added in a space between the house and an existing fence.

Outdoor Shower Installation

As the first phase in this seaside cottage's backyard transformation, Dean and Derek install an outdoor shower that's perfect for washing away the sand and relaxing after a day at the beach.

Below is a summary of the basic steps as seen in this Indoors Out project, as well as a list of materials and tools used and some installation tips.

Tools and materials:

framing nail gun and galvanized nails
lag bolts
pressure treated support 8-ft posts: 4x4 posts for corners and 2x4 posts for supporting the shower panels
pressure-treated wood for framing and decking
outdoor shower hardware: shower head and handle(s)
pre-cut cedar panels (can be obtained from your local fencing company)

Note: The quantities needed for each of these materials vary with your own particular application. For your specific project, Dean and Derek suggest taking the dimensions to a local materials supplier, where they will calculate the amount of each product needed.

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

Steps:

• The first step in installing an outdoor shower is determining the most suitable location. This will be determined, to a large extent, by the existing plumbing and the source from which you can run the water. You may want to hire a licensed plumber to either connect to existing plumbing or run a new line, making certain that the new line is installed according to code. In our case, this particular shower is run off of existing plumbing and is sandwiched between the side of the house and an existing fence (figure A).

• Create the foundation. Depending on your soil condition, you may need to reinforce your foundation with poured concrete. Our project uses concrete blocks buried 8 to 12 inches in the soil.

• The shower frame is built next. This shower installation utilizes a floating frame made of pressure treated wood that's tied structurally to both the fence and the side of the house, and that rests on the concrete blocks (figure B).

• The vertical support beams for the shower's paneling go in next (figure C). The pressure treated beams are notched to fit and lagged into the pressure treated rafters. They don't touch the ground. Make sure that these beams installed so that they are perfectly plumb.

• Lay down the decking boards.

• Once the decking boards are installed, follow with the paneling. Dean and Derek use pre-constructed cedar panels and cut them to size. These can be purchased at a local fencing company.

• Install the panel that will include the shower hardware first (figure D). Because it will need to accommodate the shower fixtures, this is the trickiest panel to install. Transfer the measurements from your shower head and knob (already installed by the plumber) to your cedar panel and make any necessary cuts. Install the hardware, following the manufacturer's instructions, then bring the panel in and connect the hardware to the plumbing. For this project, Dean and Derek use a deluxe oversized showerhead that's specifically designed for outdoor applications.

• Follow up with the installation other panels, and you're ready to enjoy your new outdoor shower.