the outdoor shower: creative design ideas for backyard living, from the functional to the fantastic
TRANSCRIPT
TheOutdoorShower
TheOutdoorShowerCreativeDesignIdeasforBackyardLiving,fromtheFunctional
totheFantastic
EthanFierro
ThemissionofStoreyPublishingistoserveourcustomersbypublishingpracticalinformationthatencouragespersonalindependenceinharmonywith
theenvironment.
EditedbyDeborahBalmuthandCarleenMadiganPerkinsArtdirectionbyKentLewandVickyVaughnCoverdesignbyKarenSchoberandKentLewTextdesignbyKarenSchoberTextproductionbyKristyMacWilliamsCoverandinteriorphotographs©EthanFierroIllustrations©RobertLaPointeIndexedbyChristineR.Lindemer,BostonRoadCommunicationsCopyright©2006byEthanFierroAllrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereproducedwithoutwrittenpermissionfromthepublisher,exceptbyareviewerwhomayquotebriefpassagesorreproduceillustrationsinareviewwithappropriatecredits;normayanypartofthisbookbereproduced,storedinaretrievalsystem,ortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans—electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recording,orother—withoutwrittenpermissionfromthepublisher.
Theinformationinthisbookistrueandcompletetothebestofourknowledge.AllrecommendationsaremadewithoutguaranteeonthepartoftheauthororStoreyPublishing.Theauthorandpublisherdisclaimanyliabilityinconnectionwiththeuseofthisinformation.ForadditionalinformationpleasecontactStoreyPublishing,210MASSMoCAWay,NorthAdams,MA01247.
Storeybooksareavailableforspecialpremiumandpromotionalusesandforcustomizededitions.Forfurtherinformation,pleasecall1-800-793-9396.PrintedintheChinabyR.R.Donnelley10987654321
LIBRARYOFCONGRESSCATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATIONDATA
Fierro,Ethan.Theoutdoorshower/byEthanFierro.p.cm.Includesindex.ISBN-13:978-1-58017-552-4;ISBN-10:1-58017-552-x(pbk.:alk.paper)ISBN-13:978-1-58017-606-4;ISBN-10:1-58017-606-2(hardcover:alk.paper)1.Showers(Plumbingfixtures)I.Title:Outdoorshower.II.Title.
TH6492.F542006696′.182—dc22
2005034731
Coolsummereveningilluminedfirefliesbecomelighthousesinsteam
TothebelovedMoosiandallwhoappreciatedeeplyresidinginhotwater.
Contents
Introduction
CHAPTER1ShowerBasics
FindingtheRightSpotWaterSupplyHotWaterPlumbingConsiderationsWaterDrainageTheShowerFloorWallsandEnclosuresFixturesLightingtheShower
CHAPTER2ChoosingBuildingMaterials
WoodStoneTileBrickGlassConcreteMetalStuccoandPlasterBamboo
CHAPTER3PermanentOutdoorShowers
TheMinimalistShower
TheEnclosed/AttachedShowerTheSemi-DetachedShowerTheFullyDetachedShowerTheIndoor-OutdoorShower
CHAPTER4TemporaryShowers
TheSolarShowerTheFixed-LocationCampShowerTheEntomoShowerTheOpportunisticShower
CHAPTER5PlanningandDesign
BudgetandScheduleFindingaGoodContractorDesignIdeas
Resources
Acknowledgments
Index
Introduction
SHOWERINGOUTDOORSisoneofthegreatestwaystoconnectwiththewonderandbeautyofthenaturalworld.Standingoutside,washingawaythestressesofalongday,whileenjoyingyournaturalsurroundingscreatespeaceofmindandanewlevelofrelaxation.Thisdelightfulmomentmaybeonethatyou’lllookforwardtorepeatingeveryday,yearafteryear.
Inadditiontotheirpracticalnature—washingoffsandanddirtoutsidehelpskeeptheinteriorofyourhouseclean—showeringoutdoorsalsocreatesasenseoffreedomthatcomeswithbathinginaplacesetawayfromthepaceofdailylife.Addtothatfeelingadegreeofpersonalsatisfactionfromhavingcreatedthissanctuaryyourself,utilizingyourfavoritematerials,andyouhavethemakingsofamemorableshoweringexperience.
IgrewupinthewoodsofMartha’sVineyardusinganoutdoorshowermyfatherbuilt.Itwasasemicircularenclosurehehadcreatedbydrivingpostsintothegroundinalargecurveandbendingsoakedcedarboardsaroundtheface.Overtime,Englishivygrewupthewallandovertheopenlatticeworkontop,givingalushappearancetotheenclosure.
Ilovedusingthatshower.Theopenskyabove,wherethesteamroseanddissipated,andthefinelycarvedwoodendoorlatchthatmadeasoftyetdistinct“shah-thunk”soundeverytimethedoorclosed:allarebelovedmemoriesthathavestayedwithmethroughtheyears.Thatoutdoorshoweropenedmyeyestoanewwayofworkingwithmyenvironment,andmyfather’sartisticexamplehasinspiredmeinmyownarchitecturaldesigns.
Ihopethat,inadditiontogivingyouabasicunderstandingofhowoutdoorshowerswork,thedifferentoptionsformaterialsandconstruction,andhowtogoaboutcreatingyourowndesign,thisbookwillalsoinspireyoutothinkdifferentlyabouttheenvironmentaroundyou.Youroutdoorshowerprojectiswaitingtobegin.
CHAPTER1ShowerBasics
Thelastdropsofwaterfallfromacurvedshowerheadpipesimplyaffixedtoawoodenboardpedestal.
ESSENTIALLY,THEOUTDOORSHOWER,likeitsindoorcounterpart,isasimpleplumbingsystemwithcommoncomponents—watersupply,waterdrainage,plumbing,andfixtures.Mostpeopleliketoshowerwithhotwater,sowaterheatingshouldalsobeconsidered.Andbecauseofitslocationoutdoors,propersiting,enclosures,andlightingareadditionalvariablesthatwillaffecthowenjoyableyouroutdoorshoweristoactuallyuse.
Thereareotherpracticalelementstoconsiderwhileyouaredesigningyourshowerthatwillhelpyoudeterminewhatkindofstructuretobuildandwheretolocateit.Willitbeinoperationseasonallyoryear-round?Ifseasonally,isitinaregionthatfreezesinthewinter?Ifitis,theplumbingwillrequiredrainagevalvestobeinstalled,andyou’llneedtodrainthepipesbeforewintertokeepthemfrombursting.Howmuchprivacyshouldtheshoweroffer?Somepeopleprefertohaveacompletevisualbarrierbetweenthemselvesandpotentialonlookers,whileotherswouldrathernotblocktheviewofthesurroundinglandscape.It’softenprudenttobuildforthemostmodestpersonalityinthecrowd,toalloweveryonetoenjoytheoutdoorshoweringexperience.
ThisoceanfrontshoweronMartha’sVineyard,Massachusetts,isconstructedof
weatheredwhitecedarstakesattachedtoacurvedmetalframe.
Materialqualityisakeyfactorinthelongevityofyourshower.Themoredurablethebuildingmaterialsare,thelongerthelifespanyourshowerwillhave.Forexample,usingcement,metal,orwoodenproductsthatthriveinallclimaticconditionswillallowfordecadesofenjoyment.Theaestheticqualitiesofthematerialsyouchoosealsoshouldnotbeoverlooked;you’llwantyourshowertobeattractiveaswellasdurable.Intheend,thequalityoftheshoweringexperiencewillbeenhancedbythequalityofthematerialsusedinbuildingtheshower—andyoushouldaimforthebestshoweringexperienceyourbudgetwillallow.
FindingtheRightSpot
Choosingthelocationforyouroutdoorshowerisadecisionthatwillhavefar-reachingimpactonalltheotherstagesofdesign,construction,anduse.Youroutdoorshower’splacementintheenvironmentwillaffecttheamountofprivacyyou’llhavewhenyou’reusingit,howyourshoweraccentuatesthesurroundingarchitectureandlandscaping(and,conversely,howthesurroundingarchitectureandlandscapingaffectyourshoweringexperience),whatdegreeoftechnologyisrequiredtooperatethemechanicalsystems,andthematerialsthatwillbemostdesirableformeetingtheneedsofallofyourshower’sfunctionalandaestheticconsiderations.
Whenchoosingthelocationforyourshower(showerstylesarecoveredindetailinchapter3)youneedtopredeterminewhatkindofshoweryouwanttobuildinordertothenfindalocationthatwillbesuitableforyourdesign.Whenbuildingapermanentshoweraroundyourhome,greatcarewillberequiredtomakesurethatthelocationissuitableforyourneeds,asyouwilllivewiththischoicewellintothefuture.However,ifyouwanttoerectatemporaryshowerinyouryardjustforaseason,thenbyallmeans,tryonelocationthefirstseason,andanotherthenextyear.
Theshoulder-highDouglasfirenclosureofthisshowergivesbatherssome
privacy,whilestillaffordingthemaviewoftheoceaninthedistance.
Hereareafewpointstoconsiderinyourquesttoidentifytheidealoutdoorshowersite:
Doyouwanttheshowerinanout-of-the-waylocation,offeringprivacynotonlybydesignbutalsofromremoteness?
Isaccessibilityanimportantfactor?Ifso,considerlocatingtheshowernexttoanexteriordoororoften-usedpathwayforthesakeofconvenience.
Doyouwanttomakeuseofanypre-existingstructuralsupportsuchasexteriorwalls,decks,overhangingeaves,trellises,stairways,paths,oralcoves?Ifso,thenenvisionhowyoucanseamlesslyincorporateyourshowerintotheseareas.Takingadvantageofexistingstructuresisawaytoconservematerialsandmakethemostofwhatyoualreadyhave.
Anoldadageforthehomeownerwhensitingahouseistolocateitinthemostunappealingspaceonthelandsothatyouendupviewingthebeautifulareasfromthislocation.Thesamecouldholdtrueforthelocationofyourshower—placeitinaspotthatisrelativelyunappealingtolookat,butwhichhasanattractiveview.
Gatherallofthepeople(family,presumably)whowillbelivingwithandusingtheshower.Haveeveryonegooutsideandseparatelywalkaroundandwritedownhisorhertopthreelocationsofchoice.Thenreconveneanddiscusswhytheymadethechoicestheydid.Focusontheoverlapofareas(iftherewereany),andbegintonarrowyoursearchthroughaconsensualdecision-makingprocess.
Youmustalsoconsiderthechallengesyourpotentialshowersitewillofferforconstruction.You’llneedtoassessthebestwaytoaccesstheareaforimportingbuildingmaterials.Isthereadequateroomforatrucktodelivermaterialstothesite?Ifnot,wherewillthosematerialsbedelivered,andhowwillyougetthemtothesite?Willyouoryourcontractorhaveroomtonavigatethesitewithtoolsandmachinery?Ifspaceistightoraccessawkward,youmayneedtobrainstormwaystomakemovementaroundthesiteeasierandsafer.
WaterSupply
Wateristheelementthatmakestheshowerashower;withoutityouarehighanddry.Dependingonthegeographicalregionwhereyou’rebuildingyourshower,watercanbeaccessedfrommanydifferentsources,includingprivatewells,municipalwatersupplies,raincatchments(especiallyinaridregionswithdwindlingwatersupplies,orincertaintropicalenvironmentswherethereisbountifulrainandapoorwatertable),pondsorlakes,rivers,thermalhotsprings,andevendesalinizationplants(suchasinocean-borderingdesertregions).Thetrickisingettingthatwatertoyourshower.
Ifyouroutdoorshowerisgoingtobelocatednearyourhome,thebestsourceofwaterforitisyourhome’splumbingsystem.Theplumbingcansimplybeextendedtotheexteriorofthebuildingatthelocationwhereitpassesclosesttoyourshower’sintendedlocation.Incolderregions,however,theexteriorextensionoftheplumbingwillneedtobewinterized(seepage21).
AVermontstreamisfunneledthroughancientwater-wornstone,creatingtheperfectnaturaloutdoorshower.Ifyou’reluckyenoughtoliveinsuchasetting,thestreammayalsoprovidewaterforyourconstructedoutdoorshower.
Outdoorshowersaremostoftenconnectedtothehouseholdplumbingsystem.
Inthisscenario,waterentersthesysteminthebasement,fromawellpumpormunicipalsupplyline.Thelinethensplitsintwo:onelinefeedsintoahotwaterheater(andthensuppliesthehouseandoutdoorshowerwithhotwater)andtheotherlinedeliverscoldwater.
CisternsArooftopstoragetankorcisterncanalsobeusedtosupplywatertoanoutdoorshower.Oftenthecisternsystemisanecessityofthelocation;itmaybetheonlyoptionforacquiringfreshwaterinadryenvironmentwhereadeepwellwouldotherwiseberequired.Somehouseholdsintropicallocalesstorerooftopraincatchmentwater,whichisplentiful,incisterns.Rooftopcisternsarealsousedonislandswherethewatertableisunreliableorisinfiltratedbyseawater,makinggroundwaternonpotable.High-riseurbanhousingenvironmentsalsoutilizerooftopcisterntechnology,asthegravitationalforceofacistern-operatedsystemprovidesplentyofnaturalpressureforthebuilding’splumbingsystem.(Thiswater,however,isnotfromraincatchmentbutispumpeduptotherooffromadistantreservoir.)
Cisternstypicallyholdaverylargevolumeofwater,anywherefrom1,000to25,000gallons(3.8to94.6kL).Consideringthephysicalforcesatworkwhenlargevolumesofwaterarebeingcollectedinacontainer,cisternsarecomplextoengineerandconstruct.Thebuildershouldbewellversedwithallstructuralandengineeringrequirementsforthesitelocation,intendedvolumeofstorage,andconstructionmaterials.
HotWater
Thoughyoumusthavewatertohaveashower,youdon’tnecessarilyneedhotwater.Acaseinpointisthecampshower,whereyoumaybewashing“ontherun,”anddon’treallycareifthewaterishotornot.Orifthereisnosuntoheataportablesolarshower(seepage104)andyoudon’twanttoheatwateronastoveandmixupacomfortablebathforyourself,thenyouwillhavetosettlefortheambient-temperaturewateronhand.Similarly,inmosttropicalsituations,theaverageambienttemperatureissomildthatshoweringwithonlytheunheatedwateronhandisfine.
However,ifyouwanttheoptionofahotshower,thentheremustbeasysteminplaceforcreatinganddeliveringthisheatedwatertoyourshower.Thereareafewdifferentoptionsforheatingthewaterusingvariouskindsofenergyand
technology.
HouseholdTankHeatersAsthemainwatersupplylineentersabuilding,thecoldwaterlinesplitsoff,sendingamainleadintoaheatertoexitashotwater,whiletheotherlineremainscoldandwillrunparallelthroughoutthebuildingwiththehotlinetoprovidethehot/coldoptionforallofthewater-basedappliances.Thefirsttypeofwaterheateristhetankstyle.Thisisacylindricaltankwithanelectricorfuel-burningelementunderneaththatheatsthewatertoapredeterminedtemperature.Ananti-scalddeviceisincluded,sothatatnoplaceinthebuildingwillthewatercomeoutsohotthatitburnstheunawareuser.Thewaterdoeshavetostartoffhotenough,though,toremainhotwhenitissupplyingthemostdistantfaucetfromthetank.Awell-insulatedhot-waterpipewillhaveaminimallossofheatoverthecourseofthewater’sjourneyfromtanktotap.
Ifyoudecidetohookupyouroutdoorshowertoyourhouseholdplumbing,itcanbecomejustonemoreofthefixturesthatdrawfromthehouseholdhotandcoldwaterlines.
WHILEYOUWEREGONE
Second-homeownerstakespecialnote:Whentheplumbinginahousegoesunusedformonthsatatime,thewatersittinginatankhot-waterheaterwillbecome“cooked”asitbuildsuphighlevelsofhydrogensulfide,leavingyourhousesmellingofrotteneggs.Toavoidthisproblem,turnoffthehot-waterheaterifthebuildingisgoingtobeemptyforanextendedperiod.Also,ifthebuildingisgoingtobeemptyatatimewhentemperaturestypicallydropbelowfreezing,thentheentireplumbingsystemshouldbedrainedandthetoiletsfilledwithantifreezetopreventpipesfrombursting.
On-DemandHeatersSincethetraditionaltank-stylewaterheaterconsumescopiousamountsoffuel(becauseitmaintainsavolumeofwateratahightemperaturecontinuously),someenergy-conscioushomeownersarechoosingtoinstallon-demandwaterheaters.Anon-demandheaterflash-heatsthewateryouneedonlywhenthehot
waterfaucetisopened.Therestofthetime,thewaterisheldatroomtemperature.Thisisanefficientapproachtowaterheatingbecauseextraenergyisnotneedlesslyconsumedforhotwaterstorage.Inaddition,theon-demandheatersaresmallcomparedtotraditionalwaterheatersandthusrequirelessstoragespace.Theyalsotendtorequirelessmaintenanceandcostlesstooperate.On-demandheatersmayalsobepreferableforsecond-homeowners(see“WhileYouWereGone,”thispage).
On-demandheatersflash-heatwateronlywhenneeded,savingonenergycosts.Thecoldlinebifurcatesbeforeenteringtheunit,sendingwaterthroughtheheaterforaslongastheshowerison.Theheaterimmediatelyshutsdownswhentheshoweristurnedoff.
SolarHeatersAlow-impactoptionforheatingwatertosupplyyouroutdoorshowerisasolar-poweredsystem.Thesolarsystemworksbyharnessingenergyfromthesunand
convertingittoheatandelectricity.Solarcollectorsintheformofphotovoltaicpanelsconvertthesun’senergyintoelectricitythatcanpowerawatercirculationpump.Thispumpmovescoldwaterthroughasolarheater,whichcollectsenergyfromthesuntosignificantlyraisethewater’stemperature.Onceheated,thehotwaterispumpedintoastoragetank,whereitcanlaterbeaccessedandmixedwithcoldwaterasnecessaryintheshower.Ifyouarebuildingasolar-heatedoutdoorshower,thenyouneedtorunonlyacold-watersupplylineouttotheshowerlocation.Attheshowerlocation,thesupplylineshouldsplit,withonelineenteringthesolarheatingcoilsandtheotherfeedingcoldwaterdirectlyintotheshower.
Asolarwater-heatingsystemcirculateswaterthroughaseriesofblack-painted
copperpipescontainedinsideasolarpanel.Thewateristhenpumpedtoastoragetank,whereit’sstoreduntilneeded.
Thiskindofsolarsystemisan“active”system,usingmechanicalcomponentstowarmthewater.A“passive”systemsimplyabsorbstheheatofthesun,withnomechanicsinvolved;thesolarshowerdescribedinchapter4,whichemploysablackplasticbagtoabsorbheatfromthesun,isapassivesolarsystem.Bothtypesofsolarheatingmakeuseofafreeandunlimitedresource.Solartechnologyisviableforthosepeoplewholiveoffthepowergridandhaveconsistentsunlighttoworkwith;italsocanbeusedtosupplementafuel-burningsystem,forexamplebyusingtheenergyofthesuntodotheinitialworkofturningcoldwaterintowarmwater,andusingapropaneorelectricunittomakethewarmedwaterhotenoughforuse.Thismethod,inwhichsolarandpetroleum-orelectricity-basedtechnologiesworkinconjunctionwitheachother,isa“middle-of-the-road”compromisethatmakesuseofthebestofbothworlds.
PlumbingConsiderations
Thehouseholdplumbingsystemisaseriesofinterconnectedpipes,valves,faucets,heaters,pumps,andreservoirtanksthatdeliverbothhotandcoldwatertothevariousoutletsinahomeorsecondarybuildingsoperatingoffthesameplumbingsystem.Wheninstallinganoutdoorshower,anadditionalsectionofplumbingwillhavetobeaddedtothepre-existingsysteminordertosupplywaterforexteriorusage.Inordertoaccomplishthis,asectionofthemainhouseholdplumbingsystemwillhavetobeshutdown,depressurized,anddrainedsothattheplumbercanhaveemptyplumbingtoworkwithwhensplicinginthenewpipes.Oncetheshowerisinstalled,thezoneisrepressurizedandturnedbackon.
Thistaskispotentiallywithinthecapabilitiesofawell-informedpersonarmedwithasmallcollectionofspecializedtools.However,dependingonthecomplexityoftheplumbingsystemofthemainstructure,you’llwanttocarefullyassessthesituationtojudgewhetheryoufeelcapableoftakingonthisstageoftheconstructionprocess.You’llalsowanttocheckwithyourlocalbuildingcodesandmakesurealicensedplumberinspectsyourwork.
SHUTTINGDOWNFORTHEWINTER
Ifyouroutdoorshowerisinaregionthatfreezesduring
thewinter,theplumbingwillrequireaseasonaldraining.Ifyourshowerisconnectedtoahouseholdplumbingsystemandthehousewillbevacantfortheseason,thenthewholeplumbingsystem(includingtheshower)shouldbedrained.Ifthehousewillbeinuseduringthewinter,you’llneedtoinstallshut-offvalvesanddrainsinthefeedlinesthatsupplytheshower.
Todrainthepipes,beginbyshuttingoffthewatersupplybyclosingtheshut-offvalves.Intheshower,turntheshowercontrolhandlestotheopenposition;mostofthewaterwillflowout.Gobacktothesupplypipesandfindthescrewcapsofthedrains,whicharelocatedonthebottomofthepipesontheshowersideoftheshut-offvalves.Unscrewthecaps;anyremainingwaterinthepipeswillbereleased.Youmightalsoblowoutthepipeswithanaircompressorjusttomakesurethatthereisn’tanytrappedwaterthatwillruptureyourplumbing.
Thissimplepedestalshowerisconstructedfrom3-inchgalvanizedpipe.Bracketssupporttwo½-inchcoppershowerheadsthathavebeenfashionedfrom
simpleend-capfittings.Allofthesematerialsareeasilyfoundatmosthardwareorplumbing-supplystores.
Whenplanningtheplumbingforyouroutdoorshower,carefullyconsiderhowfarhotwaterwillhavetotravelfromitssource.Ideally,ashowershouldnotbemorethan100to125feet(30to38m)fromtheheatingunit,sothatthewaterwillnothavecooledoffbythetimeitarrivesattheshowerhead.Ifashowerisgoingtobe125feet(38m)ormorefromthehotwatersupply,itshouldhaveitsownhotwaterheater(suchastheon-demandstyledescribedonpage18).
PlumbingMaterialOptionsTherearebasicallytwopipeoptionstochoosefromfortheplumbingofyouroutdoorshower:copperorchlorinatedpolyvinylchloride(CPVC).
Copper.Thisistheindustrystandardforpermanence,quality,andlong-lastingreliableuse.Rigidcopperistheoptimalmaterialforwater-supplypipesbecauseofitssmoothinterior,whichprovidesafriction-freewaterflow,anditsinherentabilitytoresistcorrosion.Equallydurablewithhotorcoldtemperatures,rigidcoppertubingistypicallyusedin½-inch(12mm)and¾-inch(19mm)dimensions.One-inch(25mm)copperpipeisavailableforlargerfeedlinesinsituationswheretheshowerisfarawayfromthewaterstoragesource.Copperfittingsareusedtoconnectlengthsofstraightpipeandcreateangledturns.Alljointsaresoldered,creatingastrongbondthatwillprovidedecadesoftrouble-freeoperation.
CPVC.Thisplasticproductislessexpensivethancopperandisnotthefirstchoiceforcustom-designedandcustom-builtoutdoorshowers.Rather,CPVCisbestusedfortemporary,portable,ortransientshowerapplications,suchasforcamping,festivals,hunting,low-impacteco-tourism,andsoon.Yougetthepicture.CPVCischeap,lightweight,andeasytoconnectanddetach.Itwon’tcostalottooutfityourcampwithaneasy-to-buildshowerusingCPVC.
Besuretohaveonhandextrapipes,fittings,primer,andsomeepoxywhenassemblingaCPVC-plumbedshoweronlocation,asadjustmentsandrepairsmayberequired.Comparedtocopper,thismaterialcanbedamagedeasily.Sometimes,aquickfixisallthat’sneededtokeeptheshowerinoperation.
ALWAYSTHERIGHTTEMPERATURE
Intropicalenvironments,someshowersofferonlyonewatertemperature—ambient.Thepleasureofusinganambient-temperatureshowercanvarydependingonyourcomfortlevelthroughouttheday(ornight),butwatersuppliedinthesesituationsisgenerallyintherealmof60to75°F(16to24°C).
WaterDrainage
Showerwastewater,knownasgraywater,needstobechanneledtoasafeplacewhereitwillbecomecontained,purified,andeventuallyreturnedtoitsactiveroleinmaintainingahealthywatertable.Dependingonyourlocalbuildingcodesandthefrequencywithwhichyourshowerwillbeused,youmaybeabletocreateasimplegraywaterpercolationsystem.Ifyou’rebuildinganoutdoorshowerinthecityoranotherareawherethere’slittleornosoiltofilterthegraywater,it’slikelyyou’llwanttheshowertodrainintoamunicipalsewagesystem.Thebasicoptionsareasfollows.
LetItFallDrainagecanbeassimpleasallowingthegraywatertofallontotheground,whereitwillbecomeabsorbedandfilteredbackintotheearth.Thisisacommonapproachoftenemployedwherethesoilisverysandyorpercolateswell;solongasthewaterhasnowheretobuildupandcollect(causingstagnationissuesandcreatinganenvironmentinwhichinsectswillbreed),itisgenerallysafe.However,youshouldcheckonlocalbuildingcodestomakesurethatyourshowerdrainagecomplieswiththem,asthissurfacerunoffoptionisnotlegalinsomeareas.
Insiteswherethesoilissandyandhasahighpercolationrate,noadditionalconstructionmaybeneededforwaterdrainage.
DigaDryWellIfyouwanttodrainthegraywaterfromyourshowerintothegroundbutthesoilisnotsandyenoughtoabsorbthewaterdirectly,youwillhavetoinstalladrywell.Thisissimplyalayerofgravelbeneaththeshowerthatallowsthegraywatertopercolatedownintotheearth,whereiteventuallyseepsintothesoil,becomingpurifiedasitfiltersthroughthelayersofdirt,sand,andstone.Thewaterhasnochancetopoolorbuildup,thuscreatingacleaner,safer,andmoreappealingenvironmentinwhichtobathe.
You’llwanttodigthedrywellbeforeyoubeginconstructionoftheshowerenclosure.Beginbymarkingouttheintendedperimeteroftheshower.Addanextra16inches(41cm)allaround;thisnewperimetermarkstheedgesoftheholeyouwilldig.Findaconvenientlocationtodumpallthesoilthatwillcomeoutofthishole—therewillbealotofit.Thenstartdigging,downtoadepthof3to4feet(0.9to1.2m).Oncetheholeisdug,fillitwith¾-inch(19mm)crushedgravel.
Adrywell—essentiallyanexcavatedareafilledwithgravel—isasimplewaytodealwithwastewaterinsitesthathaveheavysoil.
RINSEFEETBEFORESHOWERING
Ifyouroutdoorshowerisinabeachorlakesideareaandyouhaveconnectedtheshowerdraintoyoursepticormunicipalline,letmeofferawordofcaution.Keepatrayoffreshwaterbytheentrancetotheshowerandaskbatherstorinsetheirfeetinitbeforeenteringtheshower.Thiswillpreventexcesssandfrombeingtrackedinandrinseddownthedrain,potentiallyclogginguptheseptictankorplumbing.
InstallaShowerPanAthirdoptionistoinstallashowerpanunderneaththeshowerstallarea.Asisthecaseforanindoorshower,aplastic,fiberglass,metal,orrubber-linedshowerpanbeneathanoutdoorshowercontainsthegraywateranddirectsittoadrain.Thepancouldconnecttothesystemthatmanagestherestofyourhouseholdwastewater,whetherthatisamunicipallineoraprivateseptictankwithanattachedleachfield.
Thewaterfromashowerpancanalsobeusedtoirrigateornamentalgardens(however,itisnotsafetodrainunfilteredgraywaterfromtheshowerintoareasnearfood-producingplants).Simplyrunalengthofflexible2-inch(5cm)hosefromthedraininthepan,andusethatwatertoirrigatetrees,shrubs,andflowergardens.
TheShowerFloor
Themostimportantcharacteristicsoftheshowerfloorarethatitbenonslipperyandabletodirecttheusedwatertothedrainagesystem,whetherthatisasand-basedsoilsurroundingtheshower,thedrywell,oradirectconnectionwiththehouseholdwastewatersystem.
Iftheshowerisinstalledonadeck,youmaychoosetousethedeckingitselffortheflooroftheshower(aslongasit’smadefromnon-splinteringwood).Forthisarrangementtowork,thedeckmustbesuspendedabovetheground,withspacebelowforairtocirculateanddrythedeckingboardsaftertheshowerhasbeenused.Also,thedeckingboardsmusthaveatleasta¼-inchspacebetweenthemtoallowthewatertofallthroughtothedrainagesystembelow.
Ashowerpaninstalledunderthebathingplatformcollectswastewaterandchannelsitintothehouseholdsepticsystem.Alternatively,watercollectedinthepancanberedirectedandusedtoirrigatelandscapeplantings.
Ifyouwanttheshowerongroundlevel,youcouldpouraconcreteslabwithacenterdrainthatevacuatesthegraywater.Youmaywanttosetstoneswithaslightlyroughsurfaceintotheconcreteslabtocreateacomfortableandsafesurfacetostandon.Anotheroptionistoinstalladrywellandseatstonesontopofthewell’sgraveltoensurecomfortablefootingforbathers.
Yetanotheroptionforashowerfloorisacombinationofadrywellfordrainageandanelevatedwoodenplatformforcomfortablefooting.Afterdiggingthedrywellandfillingitwithgravel(asdescribedonpage25),you’llalsoneedtomakesurethegraveliscompactedwithajumpingjackorothergas-poweredcompactingdevice.Compactingpreventsfuturesettlingofthegravel,whichisimportantbecausethegravelwillnotonlybeevacuatingwaterfromtheshower,itwillalsoserveasthebaseforconcretefootingsandfoundationpoststosupporttheplatform.Thisdesignisveryresilientincoldclimates,asitpreventsmoisturefrombecomingtrappedbelowthefootingsandheavingthemoutofthegroundduringfreezingweather.
Cedardeckingprovidesforcomfortablefootinginthisoutdoorshowercabana.
Graywaterfromtheshoweriscollectedinapanunderthedeck.
WallsandEnclosures
Inordertodecideonthetypeofenclosure(orlackthereof)yourshowerwillhave,you’llwanttoreviewthevastrangeofoptions.Partitioningcanbecreatedoutofliterallyanything.Youcanhaveanimpenetrablescreenaroundtheshower—suchasasolidwoodenwall—sothatnolightpassesthrough.Slats,eitherhorizontalorvertical,canbeaffixedtoastructuralframeworkwithanoverlappingdesigntoensurecompleteprivacy.Suchslatscouldalsobeaffixedatspacedintervalssothatacalibratedamountoflightandaircanpassthrough.Anothersolidpartitioningmaterialcommonlyemployedinoutdoorshowersisstone,whetherasfieldstonesinawalloraslarge,flatslabscreatingavisualbarrier.Again,spacescanbeleftbetweenthestonestoallowlightandairtopassthrough.
Othermaterialsthatperforminasimilarfashiontocreateasolidorsemisolidenclosureincludebamboopolesorculms,rattanorsimilargrasslikestalks,glassblocks,wiremeshwithstuccoappliedtothesurface,corrugatedmetalpanels,thickgrapevineswoventogether,andbeadedcurtains.Thinkofthislistasabeginning,notanend.Thereareasmanymaterialsavailableforuseasthereareopenmindsdiscoveringtheiruses,sokeepyoureyesopen.
Vegetativescreeningislargelysemisolid,allowingforthefreeflowoflightandairinandoutofyourshowerwhileretaininganominaldegreeofprivacy.Asimpleformofvegetativescreeningisawiremeshframethathasfloweringvinesgrowingoverit.Ofcourse,inclimateswherevegetationdiesbackonaseasonalbasis,suchascreenismorevisuallyopenatcertaintimesoftheyear.Alongthesesameaestheticlines,metalpolescouldbeinstalledinarelativelytightconfiguration,with2to4inches(3to5cm)betweenthem,inafoundationofconcrete.Theyalonecouldactasasemisolidscreeningdevice,orsomekindofvegetativemattercouldbeplantedatthebase,allowingforallofthesestrong,verticallinestobecomesoftened.Ornamentalgrassescanbeplantedsidebysidetoformanenclosurearoundtheshower,creatingawonderfullysoftandbushyenvironmentinwhichtobathe.Manygrassesthriveonthemoistureandsomewillgrowlongstalkswithpuffyplumesatthetopthatlookgorgeousduringthecoldseason.Ascreenoffast-growingwhitepinetreesorbambooisalsoaprimechoiceforprovidingadelightfulshoweringenclosure.Thesesuggestionsmayormaynotworkforyourparticularregion,butmostlikelyyouwillbeabletofindcomparableplantingsforyourarea.
ThisrentalcabinatTheAppleFarminPhilo,California,makescreativeuseofcorrugatedgalvanizedmetalpanels.Thespiraled½-inchcopperpipelendsanartisticflourishtothestronghorizontalandverticallines.
Lastly,youcanchoosetohavenoenclosureatall.Thistypeofshoweroffersthewide-openfeelingofpurelybeinginnatureonnature’sterms…noseparation.Itisawonderfulfeelingtobatheandcleanseuninhibitedly,byyourselforwithlike-mindedfriendsorfamily.Thoughnotforeveryone,thisapproachfindsitshomewherepeoplearecomfortablebeingphysicallyexposedandsharinginthebeautyofthenaturalworld.
Fixtures
Temperature-controlhandlesandshowerheadscomeinadizzyingarrayofshapes,sizes,styles,andfinishes.Youmayfindyourselfdrawntomodernstyles,reproductionfittingsthataestheticallyhearkenbacktodaysofold,orperhapsreconditionedantiquesthatbeartheauthenticlookoftimeandage.Anotheroptionistoretrofitanobjectthatisdesignedforsomeotherpurposebutworksperfectlywellasafittingforyouroutdoorshower;standardgarden-faucetlevercontrols,forexample,workwellastemperature-controlhandles.Exploreyouroptions,anddiscovertheunexpectedpossibilitiesthatpresentthemselves.
Thescopeofaccessoriesthatarecontainedinthecategoryof“fittings”alsoincludefloorgrills,draincovers,mirrors,soapdishes,towelracks,shelving,clothinghooks,andanyotheraccoutrementthatmakesyourshowermoreuser-friendly.Theseelementsarebothfunctionalanddecorative,settingthetoneforyourpersonalaesthetic.Alwayskeepaneyeoutforwaystoaccessorizeyourshower.Thesimplestdetailscanmakeabigdifference.
Doorhandlesandlatchesarealwaysanopportunitytorevealhiddenelementsofdelight,whethertheyarepurchasedfromastreetsidevendorinNepal,ornature-agedpiecesofwoodfoundintheforestoronthebeach.Itdoesn’ttakemuchtousherforthasenseofgaietyandfunthateveryoneusingtheshowerwillappreciate.
ShowerheadHeightTheheightoftheshowershouldallowforcomfortableheadroom.Theplumbingindustrystandardistoinstalltheshowerheadataheightof6½feet(1.98m).Thisheightallowsbathersofalmostanyheighttousetheshowercomfortably.
However,ifverytallbatherswillroutinelyusetheshower,youmaywanttosettheshowerheadevenhigher.
Thecreative,viningcopperplumbingandsheet-metalfoliageofthisshoweron
CumberlandIsland,Georgia,addanaesthetictouchtothemostfunctionalpartoftheshower.
FIXTURES
Showerheads
Thehingedplumbingofthisbroad,polished-chromeshowerheadgivestheoptionforcustomizedpositioningofthewaterflow.
Thishand-carvedwoodenfixtureintheformofPeterPanchannelswaterforanimpromptushowerwhenitrains.
Twinshowerheads,attachedtoweatheredcedarboards,offerside-by-sideshoweringforfriends.
AspeciallydesignedsunflowershowerheadlendsasenseofplayfulnesstothisTucson,Arizona,shower.
FIXTURES
HandlesandHooks
ThisdecorativedragonhandlewaspurchasedfromastreetsidevendorinNepal.
Ahandmadewoodenhandlehasbeenattachedtothediagonalsupportofthisdoor,ratherthanattheedgeofit.
Usingnaturalmaterials,likethistowelhookmadefromamountainlaurelbranch,addsanorganicflairtooutdoorshowers.
Acast-bronzedragonflyclotheshookadornsamottledpineboard.
LightingtheShower
Lightingcanplayakeyrole,bothaestheticallyandfunctionally,inyouroutdoorshower.Nightisoneofthemostwonderfultimestoenjoythepleasuresofbathingoutside.Withproperlighting,yourshowercantakeonanentirelynewpersonality.Dependingonthetypeoflightingunityouchoose,whereyouplaceit,andhowyoudirectitslight,thisaddedelementcangreatlyaccentuatethebeautyofyourshower.
Nautical-gradedecklightscanbeinstalledinthefloorofyourshower,illuminatingtheentireroomfromgroundlevel.Theseunitsaredesignedtowithstandtherigorousconditionsoftheyachtingenvironmentandaretheoptimalchoiceforlightsinthe“wetzone.”
Down-washlampsprovideamellow,warmglowfrombeneaththelamphousing,offeringasoftambientlightandagenerallysoothingatmospherethatisperfectforwallsandpathways.
Floodlightsareusedtodirectawidebeamoflightoveranareatoilluminatewalls,trees,andotherspecialfeaturesofthestructureorlandscape.
Spotlightsprojectafocusedbeamoflight,pinpointingasingledominantpointofvisualinterest.
Notethatlightsthatwillbemountedoutdoorshavetobeofexterior-grade
quality,offeringawaterproofgaskettoweatherthenormaldegreeofmoistureassociatedwithbeingintherain.
Controllingyourlightingsystemthrougharheostatdimmerswitchwillgiveyoutheoptionofadjustingtheamountoflightemittedfromyourlightingsystematanygiventime.Afterinvestingsomuchtimeandenergyintheconstructionofyouroutdoorshower,whylimitthepossibilitiesofambience?Withasimpledimmerswitch,youcanfine-tunethedegreeofatmospheresothatitperfectlysuitsthetenorofanyparticularevening.Choreographingtheambiencetothemoodofyourguestsastheyenjoyaneveningbathisaspecialtreattheywon’tsoonforget.
Specialtylightingdesigncompaniesoffercomputer-controlledsystemsthatcanbepreprogrammedformodesforillumination.Youcansetthemtocreatedifferentlightingscenariostomatchthetimeofeveningornight,weatherconditions,andareasofyouryardthatmaybenefitfromspecialhighlightingatvarioustimesoftheseason.Thisdegreeoftechnicalsophisticationwouldrequiretheexpertiseofanelectricianandpotentiallyadesignconsultant.However,evenwithjustacacheoflow-voltagelightingfixturesandanelectricaltimer,youcancreateastunningenvironmentfornighttimeshowerenjoyment.
LightingtheShowerPathAlongwithlightingintheshower,lightingalongthewalkwaywillbenefitthenighttimebathergreatly.Thewalkwaylighting,liketheshoweritself,canbeunderstatedorovertinitsappearance.Lightingfeaturescanstandoutaloneasindividualilluminatedguidepostsortheycanrecedeunobtrusivelyintothelandscapealongthesideofthepath.
Asetoflow-keydown-washlightsfollowingthecourseofthepathisperfectforthispurpose.Thelightscanbewiredtoanelectricalsystemthatiscontrolledfromwithinthemainbuilding,ortheycanbeindividuallypoweredbyalittlesolarpanelinthetopofeachlamp’shousing.Therearemanytypesoftheseproductsonthemarket;seetheappendixonpage138.
Acopperlanternilluminatesthewalkwaynearastep.Aseriesoftheselookgorgeousliningapathduringthedayandprovideforsafepassageafterthesungoesdown.
Thisstonelantern,illuminatedwithfiber-opticcable,lightsthewaytoafully
detachedshower.
Anotheroptionforlightingthepathisfixedorhangingcopperlamps.Thesedurable,weather-resilientproductsarerelativelyinexpensive.Theyarepoweredbyanelectricallinethatiscontrolledfromthemainbuilding,andtheirbrightnesscanbeadjustedwitharheostatdimmer.Likecopperplumbing,copperlampsweathertoalowlusteranddevelopapatinaofverdigris.Delicatelyplacedamongvariousplantsandshrubsliningyourwalkway,theselampsareashoo-inforunderstatedutilitarianbeauty.Placethemcloseenoughtogetherthatthecirclesoflightcastdownonthegroundintersectwitheachother,leavingnofootfallinthedark.
Thereare,ofcourse,inexpensiveplasticversionsofthesecopperlampsthatprovideasimilarservice.Inevitablytheycostlessbutarenotasdurable,beingsubjecttoultravioletdegradation.Justrememberthatyougetwhatyoupayfor.
THEBALANCEDLANTERN
Inmyownwork,Ihavedevelopedbalancedstonelanternstolightclients’pathways.Theselanternsareacombinationofvariouselements,andeachisunique.Firstisthebeautyfoundinthenaturalshapeofthestoneitself;twoorthreestonesbalancedandpinnedtogethercreateastrikingsculpturalexpression.Thisstackcanrangeinheightfrom2to8feet(0.6to2.4m).Intherightsetting,theselargeorsmalllanternscanaccentuatevariousfocalpointsoftheterrain.
Thefeaturedaspectoftheselanternsisthebalancedshapeoftheform.Whenagravity-defyingpostureisattained,“stoneliberation”occurs.Theeyesseethatthestonesarestanding,yetthemindthinks,“Thesethingsshouldfallover.”Thisisthemomentwhenmagichappens.Weareaccustomedtoseeingstonebelowusorrestinginastationaryposition,sowhenwearepresentedwithstones(sometimesverylargeones)standinguprightintheair,theytakeonstrongpersonalities.
Thelightisprovidedbyarectangularsocketormortiseinthelanternthatreceivesalightfeature.Thiscouldbeafluorescent,incandescent,fiber-optic,orLED(light-emittingdiode)lightorsimplyacandlesetbehindapaneoffrostedglassframedwithcopperorbronze.Thecombinationofastatueofstoneswithaglowinglightpanelcreatesanamazingsilhouetteagainstadarkeningsky.Theeffectofseeingalineof
thesebalancedlanternsleadingyoumeanderinglydownthegardenpathisextraordinary.
TheKahuaHawaiianInstitute
Maui,Hawaii
THISHAWAIIANRETREATCENTERISHOSTtoseveralextraordinaryoutdoorshowers.Thefirstisasemi-detachedglass-blockenclosurebuiltintothedeckofaguestcottageoverlookingthePacificOcean,simultaneouslyofferingasuperbshowerandanextraordinaryfocalelement.Glassblockoffersastableandefficientwaytoframeinandcreatean“illuminated”showeringstall,whetherusingnaturallightduringthedayorglowingwithnautical-gradelampsatnight.
Anothersemi-detachedKahuaHawaiianInstitutecreationisthemermaidshower,whichistrulyauniquevariationonthetheme.Completewithadolphinfoot-cleaningspigot,theshoweroffersbathersalltheyneedforanentertainingshoweringexperience.Basaltmakesupthestructuralbodyoftherearwall,whilestuccoandtilefinishofftheinteriorface.
AthirdKahuaHawaiianInstituteshowerisamixofSouthwestern-stylestuccoconstructionandHawaiianiconography.Mixedtogether,theyproduceawonderfulenclosureinwhichbathersfeeltheorganiccurvatureofastructurethatseemstohaverisenoutofthelanditself.Thecarefullychosenstatuesanddevotionalobjectsplacedinalcovesandrecesseslendasenseofpeaceandquietude.
Afreeformstuccoshowerfeaturesalcovesfordevotionalobjects.
Thisglass-blockenclosureilluminatesabatheronthedeckofaguestcottage.
CHAPTER2ChoosingBuildingMaterials
Thisshowerbrilliantlymakesuseoftheexteriorsurfaceofachimney.
ASISTHECASEWITHALLCREATIVEPROJECTS,thebestoutdoorshowersresultwhendesignandmaterialsworkinconjunctionwithoneanother.Thequalityofmaterialsatyourdisposalissometimeslessimportantthanwhatiscreatedwiththem.Ifthedesignisstrongandwellgrounded,andworksinharmonywiththelocation,thenthebeautyofthestructurewillfollowsuit.Goodarchitecturefollowsdesign,notyourabilitytopurchaseexpensivematerials.Rawmaterialsareallaroundusandcansupplyeventhemostambitiousofprojects.
Forexample,ahouse,garage,andoutdoorshowerdesignedandbuiltbyaSouthernCaliforniacouplemakesbrilliantuseofblocksofconcretesidewalksdestroyedbyearthquake.Ahugepileofrubbleblockswastruckedtothehousesite,andwithsledgehammersthecouplereducedtheslabsintobrick-sizepieces.Thevisionwastobuilda2,000-square-foot(186sqm)houseentirelywithreclaimed/recycledmaterials.Theconcreteblocksbecamewalls,reclaimedDouglas-firbridgetrestlesbecamethemassivepostandbeamframing,andtheelegantoutdoorshower(composedsimplyofashowerheadandcontrolknobs)residesonasouth-facingstuccowall.
Illuminatedatdusk,thisshowerhasnautical-gradelightsinstalledflushintothe
mahoganydecking.Thisexceptionalshoweralsofeaturesstylizedoverheadcopperplumbingandbronzesupportrods,forminganasymmetricalwebtocontrastwiththestronghorizontallinesoftheshoweringenclosure.
Strippedoftheirbark,theseblacklocusttimbersformapost-and-beamarborforanoutdoorshower.
Dependingonwhatkindsofbuildingmaterialsyou’llbeusing,therearemanywaystolocateandacquiresupplies.Thereisalwaysthemainstreamapproachofpurchasingbrand-nameproductsatretailpricesfromhomecentersandlumberyards.Findingalternativemethodsforlocatingandacquiringmaterialscanbebeneficialtobothyourdesignandyourbudget.Reclaimedmaterials,ifstillsoundofstructure,canaddqualityanddurabilitytoyourprojectwhilerequiringonlyafractionoftheinvestmentyoumightmakeinnewmaterials.Theyalsolendasenseofageandcharacter.Byvisitingsalvageyards,localstonequarries,andcontractors’surplusstores,andbyscouringyourpropertyfornaturalbuildingsupplies,youcanbringtoyourshowerprojecta
broadscopeofmaterialsthatwilladdastrongartisticflare.
Wood
Woodisamongthemostcommonlyusedandversatilematerials.Dependingontheirstrength,durability,andappearance,sometypesofwoodarebestusedinthestructuralframingofanoutdoorshower;otherscanbeusedforhandrails,floorgrills,trellises,anddoorhandles.
Woodisrelativelyeasytoworkwith.Youcancut,drill,screw,bolt,sand,polish,glue,andbendit.Youcanconnectittoahostofotherbuildingmaterials.Youcanjointogethercomplementaryspecies.Andaslongasallareashavefree-flowingairaroundthemandareabletodryout,woodwillendureafairamountofexposurewhiledevelopingabeautifulpatinawithuse.
Therearemanytypesofwood,eachwithitsowndistinctcharacteristics.Formoistoutsideenvironments(suchasinyouroutdoorshower),thetypeofwoodthatwillactasyourbestallywillbefromtreesthathavegrowninornearwater.Whenwet,thesewoodsremainstableandretaintheirstructuralintegrity,andtheywillnotshift,shrink,orwarpastheydry.Thebestexamplesofthiskindofwoodareblacklocust,cedar,andcypress.Mahogany,teak,andothertypesofextremelydurablewoodsimportedfromplaceslikeHonduras,thePhilippines,andvariousAfricanandSoutheastAsiancountrieswouldalsofitthebill.Butunlessyouarerecyclingorreusingthem,theirfinancialcostmaybeprohibitive,andtheenvironmentaltollofharvestingthesewoodsonthoseregionscanbecatastrophic.
BlackLocustThistreegrowswildandinprofusionontheEastCoast.Ityieldsatremendouslystablewoodhistoricallyrenownedforitsrot-resistantcharacteristics.Farmersusedtosinkuntreatedlocustfencepostsinthegroundandclaimthattheywould“outlasttheirchildren’schildren.”Youmighttakethatwithagrainofsalt,butIseen80-year-oldlocustpoststhat,despiteatouchofrotrightatgroundlevel,wererocksolidthroughandthrough.
Weatheredwhitecedarboardsandframehighlightthisshowerattachedtothe
exteriorofaclassicCapeCod–stylehouse.Thesmallwindowisawhimsicaltouch,andallowsthebathertoenjoytheviewwhileshowering.
Blacklocustwoodagesbeautifullywhenstrippedofitsbark.Peelafreshblacklocustpoleandwithinayeartheweatheringprocesswillmakeitlooklikeanoldsun-bleacheddinosaurbone.I’veusedblacklocustforthecornerpostsofteahouses,arbors,trellises,andmassivebridgehandrails.Thegrainisrathersquirrelly,sounlessyouhappenuponararepileofboardsatasawmillyouwillmostlikelyfindblacklocustwoodbylookingforthetreegrowingbythesidesofroadsorontheborderoffieldsandaskingthelandownerifyoucanbarterforsome.
WesternRedCedarWesternredcedargrowsinthePacificNorthwestandisadark,reddish,softwoodusedprimarilyforshingles(wallorroof),clapboards,interiororexteriorpanelingortrim,andlargepostandbeamframing.Itisonthesofterendofthesoftwoodspectrum,andassuch,itdentsandmarseasily.Itwilllastindefinitelyoutside(ifithasfree-flowingairaroundsoitcandryout)andispleasanttoworkwithifyourtoolsareverysharp.Thesawdusthasasweetishscent,butIwouldcautionagainstbreathingitin;theparticlesaresharpandoncelodgedinyourlungswon’treadilycomeout.
Thisspeciesisafinechoiceforbenches,slatsonanarborortrellis,shelving,trimboardsonadoororaroundothertypesofopenings,andahostofotherlocationswhereitwon’tsufferfromfrequentwear.
WesternredcedarisusedmostoftenontheWestCoast,asitsavailabilityisgreaterclosertothesource.Thisisafinechoiceifyoucanaffordtouseit.
CypressVariousspeciesofcypressgrowintheUnitedStatesinregionswherewaterisplentiful.Cypress,likecedar,maintainsitsstructuralintegrityfordecadeswheninstalledinexteriorconditions.Whetherfreshlymilledorprocuredthroughsalvage,cypressisatthetopofthelistforbuildingenclosures,benches,decking,doors,andanynumberofotherarchitecturaldetails.Itwouldbewasteful,however,unlessyouhaveaccesstovastquantitiesofcypress,touseitforanykindofhiddenframing,asthisbeautifulwoodshouldbeusedfordecorativepurposesasmuchaspossible.
DouglasFirDouglasfirgrowsprimarilyinthePacificNorthwest.Itswoodhasawarmreddishhueandisveryresinous,whichgivesitaninherentabilitytowithstandabusefromtheelements.It’sfrequentlyusedfordecking,exteriortrim,andunpaintedfinishwork.Thiswouldbeanoptimalchoiceforthefloororgrillofyouroutdoorshower.Douglasfiralsomakesfinehandrailsand,whensandedsmoothandsealedwithawoodpreservative,willremainpleasanttothetouch.Thiswoodisrelativelyeasytofindatmostlumberyards,butcontactingaspecialtysupplierwillputyouintouchwithtop-gradetimbers.
CONSCIENTIOUSBUILDING
Conservingnaturalresourcesisimportanttome,soIalwaysrecommendusingwoodthatisfarmed,recycled,salvaged,reused,orinsomewayconsciouslymanagedasaresource.Yourapproachtoaprojectisasimportantasthefinalproduct,andbringingyourawarenesstothesourceofyourmaterialswilladdintegritytoyourcreation,whichinturncangiveyouadeeperfeelingofsatisfaction.
Ioncegreatlyenjoyedusingsalvagedredwoodandcypresslumberthatwasharvestedoverahundredyearsago.Originallythiswoodwasusedtomakemassivebeer,wine,andpicklebarrels,andasIcutopentheseboards,theage-oldessenceswerereleasedandfilledtheairwithricharomasoffermentation.Theboardsweremadefromtreesharvestedfromvirginforests,whichwasmadeapparentbythefactthattheyhad80to100growthringstotheinch–theringswerepackedsotightthatIhadtouseamagnifyingglasstocountthem.IwasfilledwithaweasIusedthiswood,broughtonbytheknowledgeoftheancientnessofthesetrees.Torealizethatmyentirelifewasbutthree-eighthsofaninchofoneoftheboardsIwascuttingputsomethingunspeakableintoperspective.
Salvagedmaterialslendcharactertothisoutdoorshowerenclosure,constructed
ofreclaimedboards.
SouthernYellowPineThistreegrowsintheforestsoftheSouth.Becauseitgrowsveryquickly,ityieldsalow-gradewoodwhenfarmed,producingwidegrowthringswithhugevariationinthesapdepositsinthewoodandleavingthefinishedboardswithaquirkygrainthatisunstableandpronetowarping.Thepressure-treatedwoodthat’swidelysoldutilizesfarmedSouthernyellowpinethatundergoesachemicalimpregnationprocesstomakeitveryrotresistant.Althoughpressure-treatedwoodnolongercontainsarsenic,itstillhasalowleveloftoxicityandisbestusedinhiddenstructuralframingthatisawayfromhumantouch(andsight).
Thisshowerenclosureisverysimplyconstructedofwoodenlatticeandacolorfulbeadedcurtain.
First-growthSouthernyellowpineisaveryresinous,densewoodwithanextremelystablegrain.ItispossibletofindsalvagedSouthernyellowpineflooringthatisveryoldandstillhasatremendousamountoflifeleftinit.AnyoldSouthernyellowpineyoucanlocateandcleanupwouldbeafineadditiontoashowerproject.Twopiecesofadvice,though:putsomeclearpreservativeonthewoodwhenyouaredone,andbewaryofsplinters,becausethegrainisverysharpandfibrous.
WoodsNotRecommendedPine(white,red,orpitch),spruce,andhemlockallgrowwidelythroughoutthecountryinmanydifferentregionsandclimates.Thesewoodsareverysoftandroteasilywhenusedinexteriorlocations.Peopleoftenusethesewoodsfortrimontheoutsideofhomes,slatheringonanampleamountofpaintforprotectionandaestheticappeal.Thiscreatesatwo-foldpotentialproblem:firstisthemaintenanceissueofhavingtorepainteveryfewyears;theupkeepcanbeexpensive.Ifthewoodisnotrepainted,thepaintwillchip,peel,orgetdestroyedbyultravioletdegradationandthewoodwillrot.Second,evenifthewoodisrepaintedregularly,therestillisthepossibilityofmoisturebeingtrappedunderthepaint,whichalsowillcausethewoodtorot.Quitefrankly,Irecommendthatyousteerawayfromusingthesewoodsforanythinghavingtodowithyourshower.
TIPSFORBUYINGWOOD
Whenyou’reoutshoppingforwood,whetheratalocallumberyardoraspecialtywoodsupplier,allowyourselfplentyoftimetoexaminethematerialbeforepurchasinganything.Beginbyexaminingtheendgrain,whichcangiveyousomecluestothequalityinthelengthoftheboard.Tightgrowthringsindicateaslower-growingtree,andthusamorestablegrain.Afterinspectingtheendoftheboard,pullouteachpieceandlookitovercarefullyforstraightnessofgrain,aswellasforknotsandotherdefects.Investextratimeupfronttoselectthefinestboardsyoucanfind.Youreffortswillberewardedbymakingallstagesofthebuildingprocesseasierandmoreefficient,aswellasleavinglessroomforerror.
MATERIALS
WoodandTile
AgedDouglasfirboardsareoff-setoneithersideoftheframingtoallowforbetteraircirculation.
Greenslatetilesandgroutcreateaverdantbackgroundinanindoor-outdoorshower.
Blue-glazedceramictilecreatesacolorfulandwaterproofsurfaceforwarm-climateshowers.
Mahoganyboardsspacedsidewaysmakeupthiscomfortable,well-aeratedspacefortowellingoffanddressing.
MATERIALS
StoneandBrick
Multicoloredslateformsacolorfulpatchworkwalkway.
Acombinationofbrickandstonecreateaninterestingpathtoaremoteoutdoorshower.
Stonepaverscanbelaidforpathsorusedforbuildingshowerenclosures.
Lichen-coveredgraniteandmortarformthefoundationofanoldoutdoorshower.
Stone
Stoneisanamazingmaterialandcomesinanextremelywiderangeofchoices.Optionsrangefromthetypeofstone(thatis,granite,slate,basalt,sandstone,marble,alabaster,andsoon)tothevariousformsitcomesin(naturallyweathered,machinepolished,invaryingshapes,cutintodimensionedpieces,thermallytreatedwithastonetorchtogivearoughishnonslipperysurface,andsoon).
BluestoneBluestone,asitsnameimplies,bearsabluishcast,anditisusedextensivelyforpatios,walkways,andpooldeckingbecauseofitsnaturalnonskidsurface.Itisarelativelysoftstonethatiseasytocutandshapewithafewrudimentarytools,suchasadiamond-bladedsawandstonechisels(handorairpowered).Bluestoneiswidelystockedbyconstructionsupplycompanies.
SlateRelativelysoftincomposition,slatecomesinvariousshadesofgray,green,andblack.Thisstoneissmoothtothetouchinanaturalandunpolishedcondition,hasanattractivematteorsatin-likesurfaceandispleasurabletostandandsiton.Thefineattributesthatslateoffersforoutdoorshowerconstructioncanbeputtouseinwallpaneling,walkwaypads,benchandbasincomponents,anddeckingtonamebutafew.Slatecanbecutandshapedeasilywithadiamond-bladed
saw,makingitpossibletocontouraroundotherstone,wood,orpermanentdesignmaterials.
MarbleThisclassicstonecreatesanairofelegancewhereveritisapplied.Softandmalleableinnature,marbleisfoundinblack,white,green,orgrayandvariouslystreakedincolor.Usedforfountains,sculptures,basins,stairs,tiling,decking,fixtures,andaccessories,thisstoneaddsbeautyandformalitywhenincorporatedintoanoutdoorshowerenvironment.
BasaltIntheHawaiianIslandsandothervolcanicenvironments,basalt,alsoknownaslavastone,isthepreferredchoiceofstonebecauseofitsplentitude.Beingdarkgrayorblackandveryhard,itiselegantwhenusedforwalls,stairs,benches,andpillars.Whenslicedintotile-thickwafers,basaltmakesforanamazingfloororpatiothatshedsbothwaterandsand.Inyourarea,youmaybeabletofindpreviouslyquarriedpiecesthatwereimportedinthepastcentury,whenmorequarrieswereactivelyminingbasalt.Therearecompaniesthatimportbasaltfromothercountriesandcansupplyyouwithvariousshapesandsizesdependingonyourrequirements.
TheenclosureforthisTucson,Arizona,showerisaspiraloflocalfieldstone.Occasionalslabsprojectoutfromthewall,creatingshelvesforsittingandholdingbathproducts.Avarietyofsun-lovingvineshavebeenplanteddirectlyintothetopofthewall.
GraniteComposingmajorareasofthebedrockintheUnitedStates,graniteisadensestonewithalargeproportionofquartzinitsmakeup.Thefieldstonessooften
foundintheoldstonewallsofNewEnglandaregranite.Thisstoneisquarriedintoblocksofanyshapeandsizeandisgreatforfoundations,exposedfinishwork,anddecorativeapplications.Anythingfrompathsandstepstobenches,structuralsupports,andplanterscouldeasilybemadefromthisversatilestone.
Graniteisoftenusedasabuildingmaterial,indoorsandout.Itcanbefoundininhundredsofdifferentcolorvariations,dependingonwhereit’squarried.
LocatingStoneQuarriesarecommonthroughoutthecountry,specializinginwhatevertypeofstoneisindigenoustotheirparticularlocation.Atmostquarriesyoucanorderjustaboutanyconfigurationofstoneimaginabletofityourneeds.Anotherapproachistoasktoseeaquarry’s“grout”pile.Thisistheplacewherehundredsoftonsofexcessstonescraparedumped,andataminimalcostyoucanprocuresomefantasticmaterial.Therearealsosalvageyardsthatspecializeinstoneproductsaswellasstonesupplyhouses,whichsometimesoperatein
conjunctionwithaquarryandatothertimesindependently.Theselectionsandproductsavailablearenothingshortofstaggering.
Ifyourdesigncallsforstone,Isuggestusingresourcesthatarecloseathandandthemostcost-effective.Collectingstonesfromthebeach,combingsalvageyards,siftingthroughgroutpilesatquarries,digginguprocksoutoftheground,orcallinglandscapingcontractorstofindoutwhetheryoucanbuyfromtheirpersonalstash—theseapproacheswillultimatelysaveonmaterialcostsandlenda“natural”looktoyouroutdoorshowerenvironment.
Tile
Thereisanenormousselectionoftileonthemarketinawidearrayofmaterialsrangingfromceramictonaturalstone,porcelain,glass,cement,ormetal.Becauseofitsdurability,tilecanbeusedonthefloor,walls,andceilingofinteriorandexteriorspaces.Ifyouhappentoliveinanareathatexperiencesbelow-freezingtemperaturesinwinter,lookforspecialtilescreatedtowithstandthefreeze/thawconditions.
Tilecanberoughorsmooth,shinyormatteinluster,andovertormutedincolor.Itdoesn’tbreakdownfromultravioletdegradationandcancompletelyrepelmoisture.Thismaterialissoversatilethatthereisanappropriatestyleandqualityforanyenvironment,fromkitchenandmudroomtoshowerstall.
Tilefallsintotwokeygroups:floortileandwall(andceiling)tile.Floortileisrelativelythickerthanwalltilebecauseithastowithstandtheabusiveconditionsthatfloorsaresubjectto.Floortilestypicallyhaveacastsurfacethatkeepsthefloorfrombecomingslipperywhenwet.Thoughthicker,floortilecanbeusedonthewallsofyourshowerifthesurfaceordesignisappealing.Let’sexplorethechoicesoftileyouhavetoworkwithwhendesigningyourshower.
PLACESTOFINDSTONE
Localmonumentcompanies.Thesebusinessesspecializeinfabricatingorfinishingheadstones.Askabouttheirwillingnesstodetailstoneforyou,suchascutting,drilling,sandblasting,andpolishingdesignsorlettering.Localstoneshops.Lookforthosespecializinginkitchencountertops,tabletops,andotherarchitecturaldetails.Thesebusinessesarealsogood
resourcesforhavingdetailworkdone.Theymayalsohaveremnantsofstoneleftoverfrompreviousjobsthattheywouldbewillingtoselltoyouinexpensively.Stonequarries.Lookintheyellowpagesforalocalorpossiblyregionallocation.Youmightalsoasklocalstoneormonumentshopsaboutwheretheygettheirstone.Yourlocallumberyardorbuildingsupplycentercouldpossiblypointyouintherightdirectionforlocatinganystonequarriesinyourarea.
NaturalStoneTilesaremadefromgranite,slate,soapstone,marble,schist,alabaster,andadizzyingarrayofexoticstoneimportedfromaroundtheworld.Theycomeindimensionedsizes,justastheirmanufacturedcounterpartsdo.Becausestoneisanaturalmaterial,color,texture,grainpatterns,andothervisualeffectsvaryfrompiecetopiece.Thesevariationsareoftenconsidereddesirablequalities,creatingauniquevisualeffect.Stonetilecanbeveryporous.Ifitdoesn’tcomepresealed,youshouldapplyasealanttoitafterinstallation.Also,checkintogettingatilethatisspeciallymilledtohaveanonskidsurfaceforaslip-freeenvironment.
PorcelainPorcelainishighlyrefinedwhiteclaythatisstampedinamoldtoadesiredshapeandfiredatanextremelyhightemperature.Thisprocesscreatesaveryhard,durable,nonporous,easy-to-cleantile.Porcelaintilecomesinvirtuallyeverycolor,design,andsurfacetexture.Itcanevenmimicthelookofmanynaturalstonetiles,andit’slessexpensivethannaturalstone.Insteadofhavingaglazedfinishbakedontothesurfaceofthetile,asisthecasewithglazedceramictiles,porcelainisdyedwithapigmentthatcarriesthecolorthroughandthrough.Shouldthetilechipfromabuse,therewon’tbeanywhiteinteriorblemishshowingthrough.Whenpurchasingaporcelaintile,stipulatetothedistributorthatyouwantthrough-and-throughpigmentedtile.
GlazedCeramicTileThisisamanufacturedclaytilethathasbeenmachinestamped,paintedwithaglaze,andthenfiredinakiln.Themanufacturingprocessisextremelyversatile,andsoawiderangeoftextures,designs,andcolorsareavailabletochoosefrom.
Thesurfaceishard,potentiallyshiny,andeasytoclean.Certaintypesofglazedceramictilearemanufacturedwithanonskidsurfacethatisdesirableforanoutdoorshower.
ThemosaicofglazedceramictileinthisMauishowerwascreatedbytheowner
anddepictsimagesinspiredbythelocalundersealife.
Beautifuldetailworkofsmooth,blackbeachstonesandblue-glazedtilessurroundtheoxidizedbronzehandlesinthisMauishower.
Terra-CottaTileTypicallyarustic,naturallyreddishearthentile,terracottaismanufacturedfromanunrefinedclaythatisstampedintoshapeinsideamoldandbakedatarelativelylowtemperature.Likenaturalstone,terracottaisporousandrequiresasealantinordertoprotectthetilefrommoisture.Terracottaisbeautifullyrustic,butawetenvironmentisnotthefirstchoiceforitsapplication.
QuarryTileManufacturedfromredclay,quarrytilehasamoldedsurfacethatresemblesstoneandaridgedbacktoaidinadhesion.Similartoterracottainporosity,quarrytilerequiresasealantinordertobeprotectedfrommildewstains.
MosaicTile
Composedofmanysmallpiecesofcoloredterra-cotta,stone,ceramic,orporcelaintile,mosaicscanbeanamazingaccentinanytiledenvironment.Literallyanyimagecanbedepictedinamosaic,andabriefinvestigationintotraditionalmosaicdesignuncoversawealthofhistoricinspiration.Evenasmallmosaicflourishhereandtherecanenhancethebeautyofyouroutdoorshower.Giventheplentitudeofgroutlines,slipperinessisusuallynotanissueformosaics,thoughporosityis.Asealantshouldbeappliedoverthem.
CementTileCementisaverylow-costandhighlyeffectivealternativetoothertilechoices.Ithasmanyoftheattributesofclayandceramictile,anditcanbeformedinvirtuallyanyshape,design,andcolor(includingbeingpigmentedthroughouttheentirethicknessofthetile,likeporcelain).However,itisextremelyporous,andmoisturethatseepsincouldleadtocracksunderfreezingconditions.Needlesstosay,acementsealantisoptimalifyourshowerisinacoldclimate.
GOINGSALVAGE
Locatingsalvagedmaterialscanborderonasleuthingprocessattimes.MylocalsalvageguyisRodneyBeauchesne.Rodneypracticestheage-oldartofdismantlingoldbuildings,dwellings,andotherstructures,salvagingthegood(sometimesgreat)materials,andsellingthemoff.HehaswokenmeupearlyonaSundaymorningwithanenthusiasticcalltorundownthelistofthecomingweek’son-sale“specials.”ThoughIamlessthanenthusiasticatthatmoment,hehassuppliedmewithhugequantitiesofglassblock,rigidinsulation,industrialwindows,and,themostpreciousofall,over3,000boardfeet(914m)ofoldcedar,cypress,Douglasfir,andredwood.RodneyhasplayedanimportantroleinmybusinessbygrantingmeaccesstomaterialsInevercouldhavefoundotherwise.
Brick
Brickisafiredceramicproductthatcanbeusedstructurallyoraestheticallyforitssimple,solid,andnoblelook.Brickcanworkverynicelyinconjunctionwithstoneandtile.Brickisrathercommononthesalvagemarket.Somanyindustrialbuildingswerebuiltusingtheclassicredbrickthatitisrelativelyeasytolocate
pilesof“spent”block.Sometimestheoldmortarisstillattachedtothebrickandyouhavetospendsometimechippingitoff.Ifyou’relookingaroundforbrick,alsoconsidercallingcontractorswhospecializeinrenovations.Thesepeopledealwithmassiveamountsofthistypeofmaterial.Sometimesthebricktheyteardownendsupinthetrash,butothertimesaconscientiouscontractorwillsaveitforreuse.
Glass
Glassisagreatmaterialtoincorporateintoanenvironmentwherelightisakeyelement.I’mreferringspecificallytostainedglass,wherebacklightingofapanelcastsmagnificentcolorsintoanenclosure.Stainedglasscanbeaverypersonalchoice,however,becauseoftherangeofcolorsanddesigns.Ifyou’dliketoincorporatestained-glasspanelsbutdon’thaveanyinyourpossession,trylookinginantiqueshops.Youmightalsovisitacraftsupplystoretolookfordo-it-yourselfbooksthatcaninstructyouinmakingyourownartisticstained-glassworks.
Anotheroptionisglassblock,whichisgenerallyavailableintwoforms.Glassblockwithaninternalwavypatternallowslighttopassthroughunimpededbutisimpossibletoseethroughclearly,thuscreatingprivacyforthebather.Clearglassblocksdonotvisuallyscreenthebatherbutcouldbeusedasa“window”ofsortstoframeaviewthatyouwantbatherstoseewhenthey’reintheshower.
Glassblocksareaconstruction-gradebuildingmaterialthatoffersafastandefficientwaytocreateabeautifulshoweringenclosure.Thoughresilientasamaterial,theyareglassandrequireacertaindegreeofprotectiononcetheyareintheirfinishedapplication.Typicallytheseblocksaredouble-walled,hollow“bricks”manufacturedinvarioussquaresizes,traditionally4and6inches(10and13cm).Bystackingthemontopofoneanother,usingadhesivemasticsuchasmortarorsiliconecaulking,youcancreateapermanentandwaterproofstructure.
Builtbytheauthor,thisglassblockshowerenclosureisespeciallybeautifulwhenilluminatedatnight.Theblocksareaffixedintothe4x4Douglasfirframe
withacement-basedproduct.
AdobeiswidelyusedasabuildingmaterialintheSouthwest,andcreatesawonderfullyroundedfreeformshowerenclosure.
I’velocatedglassblockthroughsalvageandhomesupplycentersataverylowcost,butthisisonecasewheresalvagedmaterialsmaynotbebetter.Salvagedglassblockscouldhavesmallfracturesthataren’treadilyapparent,creatingapotentialsafetyissueforthepersonhandlingthem.Oncethefracturedblockismortaredinplace,thenmoisturecanweepintotheinterioroftheblockascondensation,slowlyfillingtheblockenoughtoshatteritinafreezingclimate.
FramingtheGlassWhenincorporatedintoawall,bothglassblocksandstained-glasspanelshavetobesecuredsothattheyreceivenopressurefromanydirectionthatcouldcausefracturingordamagetothestructuralintegrityoftheindividualpieces.Thesimplestsolutionistoconstructawoodenframethatholdstheglassfronttoback,aswellasprotectingtheperimeterfromstress.Thewoodenframecanbescrewedintoplace,sothattheoptionexistsforeasyremovalshouldaproblemoccur.
Concrete
Thisversatilematerialisgainingareputationforbeingacost-effectivewaytocreatelargeareasoffinishedsurface.Colorfulpigmentscanbeaddedtotheconcretemix,towarmupthistraditionallyutilitarianmaterialandgiveitabeautifulcast.Italsocanbebuffedsmoothasitissettingup,creatingasoftmattefinishandeventuallyasilky-lookingsurfacethatisapleasuretoviewandfeel.Youcanevenaddtothemixornamentalaggregatessuchasbitsofglass,quartzcrystals,andothertypesofstonesthat,oncethesurfaceissmoothedandpolished,arequitedecorative.Anotherinexpensiveoptionistousecementandrammedearth,mixedandpouredintoaformwithsteelrebar.Thefinishedlookofthiscombinationofmaterialsisbeautifullyrustic.
Concretecanbepouredintoanyshape,size,orformtocreatestairs,benches,walls,tables,counters,tubs,basins—quiteliterallyanythingyoucanimagine.Youwouldbehardpressedtoexhaustthecreativepotentialoftheworkabilityofconcrete.Itisalsooneofthebestdealsgoing,asitisultimatelystructuralandaestheticallypleasingatthesametime.Concretecanmimicasurfacetextureof
stone,tile,orstucco.Youcanalsoinstallradiantheatthatwillwarmthestructuralmass,makingforaninvitingenvironment.
Metal
Metalisatraditionalbuildingmaterialinindustrialsettingsbutisrapidlyfindingitswayintotheheartofmanydomesticenvironments.Whetherthemetalisbrass,bronze,copper,stainlesssteel,corrugatedtin,oriron,anaestheticapplicationcanbefoundthatmakesuseofitsuniquequalities.Metalisoftenusedincutting-edgearchitecturaldesigns,oftenintandemwithmonolithicconcreteshapes,stone,water,andplantings.Itlendsalookofsolidity,refinementoftaste,andboldnessofpurposeandanunequivocalfeelingthatyouareinafortifiedstructure.
Metalcanbeafantasticmaterialtopurchaseonthesalvagemarket,becauseitisultimatelystrongandveryaffordablewhensoldperpound.Whetherneworold,ittendstoretainitsstructuralintegrity(withtheexceptionofiron,whichcanrusttothepointofuselessness).Italsodoesn’ttakemuchtocreateapowerfulvisualimpact.AnI-beamhere,acoupleofsquareboxpoststhere,andyounowhaveanoutdoorshowerthatisaneventinandofitself.
Youalsocanlocatevarioustypesofmetalthroughsteeldistributorsandwarehouses.Steelfabricatorsmayalsobeabletosupplyyouwiththevariousmetalsyourequire,andmaybeabletocustom-cutshapesandsizesforyou.
StuccoandPlaster
Thereareentireregionsofourcountry(andtheworld,forthatmatter)inwhichpeopleusestuccoandplastertobuildallthestructurestheyneed.These“earthen”materialseffortlesslylendthemselvestocreatingorganicallyshaped,“human-friendly”environments.TheadobestyleofarchitecturepopularintheAmericanSouthwest,forexample,iswonderfullysoft,rounded,smooth,andfreeforminappearance.
Stuccoandplasterareamixtureofaggregate,bindingagent,andcement.Traditionallytheyaresurfacematerialsappliedoverastructuralcore,suchascementblocks,rammedearth,wirelathe,sandbags,oroldtires,tonamebutafew.Stuccoistypicallyusedontheinteriororexteriorofastructure,whereasplasterisusedonlyontheinterior.Stuccousuallyleavesaroughersurface,moretexturedandanimatedtoview,whereasplasterissmoother,morepolished,and
cleanoffeatures.Bothstuccoandplasterareeasilytinted,yieldingawonderfullysubtle
coloringwithoutanykindofgauchepainted-oneffect.Theycanworkverynicelyinconjunctionwithstone,brick,tile,andjustabouteveryothermaterialIhavementionedhere.Theyworkwellasbridgingortransitionmaterialsandyetcaneasilystandontheirownoverlargeexpanses.
Therearemanyvariationsoftheseproductsonthemarket,includingsomelow-costproductsthatactjustlikehigh-endstuccoyetcostafractionoftheprice.Iwouldsuggestacarefulexaminationofthechoicesbeforeyoumakeyourpurchase.
Asun-filledminimalistshoweronahilltopinSonoma,California,utilizestheblondestuccoofthehouseandwidecedartrellisestoframethedistantviewsoforchardsandvineyards.
ThisAsian-styleshowerstructureisbuiltofwovenbamboobranchesattachedtoawoodenframe.Ontheoutside,a1-inch-diameterbambooframeworkformsatrellisforvinestogrowup.
Bamboo
Bambooisoneofthemostversatilematerialsknowntohumans.Ithasanamazingstrengthforitsweight,yetitremainsflexibleevenunderextremeconditions.Itcangrowupto4feet(1.2m)adayinsometropicalenvironmentsandhascountlessuses.InAsiaitistiedtogethertocreatescaffoldingagainstthe
sidesofthehighestskyscrapers.It’susedforbuildinghouses,utensils,tools,thefinesttea-servingimplements,furniture,fencing,walls,gates,gutters,andonandon.
Bamboocanbesetinconcretetogivethemixtureastructuralintegrity,muchassteelrebarisused.Italsocanbeerectedasalathewalloverwhichstuccoorplasterisapplied,givingabeautiful,rusticaesthetictoyourshowerwhilenevercompromisingdurability.Usebamboostavestocreateatrellisaboveyourshower,tightlylashedtogetherasapartitionwallordoor,orspacedapartinanopenverticalframetogiveatropicalfeelingtoadistantviewasyougazeoutatthescenery.
Mostbuildingsuppliersstockbambooorwillorderitforyou.Workingwiththismaterialisnotonlyeasybutalsofun,anditgivesawonderful“tropical”flavortoanoutdoorshower.Betteryet,plantsomebambooasagrove(seeboxbelow)andenjoythesoundsofthepolesclackingtogetherinthewind.
PLANTINGBAMBOO
Bambooisabeautiful,lush,hardyreedthatgrowsthroughouttheworldinawiderangeofclimates.Growingupto100feet(31m)talland9inches(23cm)indiameterthroughouttropicalregions,somespeciescanthriveinweatherascoldas–20°F(–28°C).Bamboocreatesasoft,bushyscreen,givingprivacyandapoeticmoodtoanyenvironmentitinhabits.
Therearetwotypesofbamboo:runningandclumping.Amajorwordofcautionaboutrunningvarieties:theycanspreadveryquickly.Inayearortwo,yourlittlepatchcouldbemovingontoclaimyourentireyard.Incontrasttorunningvarieties,noninvasiveclumpingspeciesofbamboohaveculmsthatgrowclosetogetherandremaininthegeneralareainwhichthey’replanted,growingonlyafewinchesperyear.Theycreatediscrete“bushes”thataccentuatethebeautyandsoftnessofyouryard.
ThecastconcreteshowerattheEsalenInstituteoffersastunningviewoftheCaliforniacoastline.Intimesofinclementweather,batherscanclosetheheavyglassdoors.
TheEsalenInstitute
BigSur,California
THEESALENINSTITUTEISANONPROFITEDUCATIONALFOUNDATIONandretreatcenterfoundedonthesiteofageothermalsulfurhotsprings.Theinstitute’sinternationalclientelecometobathe,relax,attendseminarsonpersonalgrowthandsocialchange,andeatincrediblefoodgrownon-siteinorganicgardens.
Theinstitute’scliffsideshowerroomistrulyextraordinary:itharnessesthesulfurwaterforbatherstoenjoyundermultipleshowerheads,andslidingopenthethickglassdoorsrevealsthekelp-filledpoundingsurfbelow.Thegorgeous,craggy,cliff-facedcoastlinerunsineitherdirectionfromtheshowerroom,settingthesceneforthishealingspa.
TheshowersatEsalenaremadeofcastconcrete;theconstructionteamneededsixmonthsmerelytostabilizethecliffwallwithlongsteelrodstosupportthestructure.Theshower-roomwallsbeartherusticallyrefinedaestheticofconcrete,freshfromthewoodenformsthatwereusedtoholditasitcured,whilethepigmentedfloorstrikesacloseresemblancetooversizetile.Theelementsinplayarequitedynamicand,shortofthecrashingsurfbelow,couldberecreatedinasimilarfashioninadomesticsetting.
CHAPTER3PermanentOutdoorShowers
Oxidizedcopperplumbinghasarusticappealinthisseasideshower.
THEREISANINFINITENUMBEROFSTRUCTURESandsystemsbearingthetitleofoutdoorshower.Onewaytocategorizethemisbyhowthey’llbeused.Somearebuiltinapermanentlocationandareintendedtobeuseddaily;othersaresetupseasonally,whilestillothersareportableandeasilycarriedalongonacampingtrip.Thekeyaspectforyoutodecideishowyouaregoingtouseyourshower,howpermanentitwillbe,andhowmuchenergyyouwanttoputintobuildingit.Onceyou’vedeterminedthat,youcanproceedwiththedetailsofdesignandconstruction.
Ingeneral,permanentoutdoorshowersfitintoseveralcategoriesbasedontheirproximitytoamaindwellingandtheamountofenclosuretheyhave:theminimalistshower,theenclosed/attachedshower,thesemidetachedshower,andthefullydetachedshower.Alltheseshowersarebuiltinconjunctionwithalargerstructure,suchasahouse.Eitherthey’reattachedtothelargerstructureinsomeway,makinguseofanexteriorwallaspartoftheirownstructure,ortheyresideinrelativelycloseproximitytoit—within150feet(45.7m).Theseshowersrelyontheplumbingsystemofthelargerstructuretoprovideatleastcoldwaterbutmostoftenhotaswell.
Weatheredwhite-cedarshingles,arrangedinintricatepatterns,adorntheexteriorofthisoutdoorshoweronMartha’sVineyard.
Amulti-head,minimalistbeachsideshoweroffersbeachgoersaquick,one-temperaturerinse.
Anyoftheseshowerstylescouldbeincorporatedintotheaestheticofthelocalarchitecturalvernacular,lendinganaccentofitsown.Apermanentoutdoorshowercarefullyenvisionedandbuiltintoyourlivingenvironmentcancompletelychangethewayyourelatetoandinteractwithyourhome.
TheMinimalistShower
Thisunderstatedshowerdesignismainlyconcernedwithfunctionoverform,thoughincludingeventhebarestessentialofdesignelementscanmakeitaestheticallypleasing,aswell.Suchashowertypicallyhasjusttwocontrolhandlesonthesideofawall(oraspartofafreestandingdesign)withashowerheadprojectingoutoverthem.Noenclosureseparatesthebathingareafromthesurroundingenvironment.
Minimalistshowersareoftenlocatedonasecludedbackwallorsectionofabuilding,lendingprivacythroughlocation,withnostructuralscreening.Thewide-opendesignallowsbatherstohaveasenseofbeingcompletelyfreetomoveaboutastheylike,whileenjoyinganunobstructedviewoftheirsurroundings.Simpleshowerslikethesecanalsobesituatedinremotelocations,withtheplumbingandhardwaremountedonapedestalofwood,bamboo,concrete,orthelike.Thepermanentremoteminimalistshowercanbesuppliedfromburiedwaterlinesor,insimplersituations,merelytwogardenhosesthatgetdrainedandstoredforthewinter.
Thebeautyoftheseshowersisinthesimplicityoftheirdesign.Theunderstatementofformoftenmeansthattheplumbingandfixturesbeartheweightoftheaestheticfocus.Someofthemostcommonexamplesofminimalistshowers,however,aremorefunctionalthanaesthetic.Oftenfoundonpublicbeaches,thesefacilitiesaredesignedforpublicuseandgivesunworshippersandbatherspush-buttonaccesstoanambient-temperaturefreshwatershower.Rinsingoffafterswimmingisanassettoanywaterfrontcommunity,andtheshoweringareacanbecomeanaturalgatheringplaceforpeopletosocialize.
Thesepublicshowersarebuiltandmaintainedbylocalandstateauthorities,yetthedesignscaneasilybereplicatedinyourownyard.Asimplepoolsideshower,forexample,willallowswimmerstorinsechlorine,bromine,andanyotherpoolchemicalsfromyourskin,aswellassimplybeingarefreshingplacetocooldowninthesun.
Ofallthepermanentlyinstalledoutdoorshowerdesigns,theminimalistshowerisbyfartheleastcomplexandleastexpensivetobuild.Thebasiccomponentsaretheplumbing(apipedsourceofwater,oneortwotemperature-controlhandles,ashowerhead,andadrainagesystem),astructuretosupporttheplumbing,andastablesurfaceforbatherstostandonwhileshowering.
MinimalistShowers
Whatmakesashower?Atitsbareminimum,onlythesimplestelementsarerequired:ashowerheadandawaytoturnonthewater.Becauseofitssimplicity,theminimalistshowercanbebuiltinanynumberofdifferentsettings,usingavarietyofmaterials.
Aminimalistshowercanbesimplyattachedtothesideofahouse.
Twohandlesandawater-savingshowerheadprojectoutofastuccowall.Distantviewsoftheoceancompletethescenebeautifully.
AlonebatherissilhouettedagainstaMauisunset.
ThispondsidecottagelocatedonMartha’sVineyardfeaturesaprivateshoweronthebacksideofthehouse.
ThemermaidshowerattheKahuaHawaiianInstituteshowsthatsimplecanalsobewhimsical.
MassivestoneslabsandhugewoodentimberscomprisethisNewHampshiremountaintopshower.
Asurfertakesadvantageofthisbeachsideshowertorinsehimself(andhissurfboard).
Asimplesemipermanentshowerisattachedtoatree.Seasonalplumbingissuppliedbytwogardenhosesrundirectlyoutofanearbybasementwindow.
FreestandingTheplumbingforaminimalistshoweriseasilyinstalledonafreestandingpedestal,tree,largeboulder,orquiteliterallyanythingthatoffersafirmenoughfoundation.Thereareanumberoffinecommercialpedestalproductstochoosefrominarangeofmaterials,includingwood,chrome,andstainlesssteel.(Manyareavailablethroughspecialtysuppliers;seetheresources.)Youalsocouldbuildanoutdoorshowerreminiscentofthosefoundatpublicbeaches,castingconcreteinaformofyourowndesignorusingacombinationofotherbuildingmaterials.Apedestalwithtwo,three,orfourshowerheadsforhigh-volumeuseisgreatifyourpoolisthesiteoffrequentgrouppartiesorswimmingfunctions.
AttachedIftheshowerissitedonthewallofabuilding,theplumbingcanberunthroughtheinteriorofthestructure,hidingitcompletely,orcanbesurfacemounted,thusmakinguseofthecopperpipedecoratively.I’veseenexamplesofbothapproaches,andtheyworkequallywellfunctionallyandaesthetically.
Althoughitwillhavebetteraircirculationandwilldryfasterthananenclosed/attachedshower,theexteriorareaofabuildingthathostsaminimalistoutdoorshowershouldalsohavesomedegreeofmoistureprotectionincludedinthedesignandconstruction(seepage79).Therewillstillbeaconsiderableamountofwatercomingincontactwiththeexteriorsurfaceofthebuilding,withthepotentialformoisturebuild-upandrot.
Copper,bronze,andwhitecedarshinglesalldevelopacharacteristicpatinaastheyage.
TheEnclosed/AttachedShower
Simplyput,anenclosed/attachedshowerisaminimalistshowerinstalledagainstthesideofabuildinginsideanenclosure.Theenclosuresetsthestageforprivacy,thusallowingyoutolocatethisshoweranywhereyoudesire—evennexttothefrontdoorofthehouse!Thisdesignstylealsoopensuptheoptionsforincludingadressingroomandotherancillaryspaces.
Theenclosed/attachedshowerlendsitselftoeveryconceivabledesignandmaterialcombination.Itcanbeanaestheticstatementandstandoutincontrasttothebuildingitisadjacentto,oritcanblendinseamlesslywithitssurroundings.Therangeofmaterialsyoucanusetoconstructtheenclosureisvast,includingallthepossibilitiesweexploredinchapter2(seepage40).
Oftentheshower’ssurroundingsinfluencethedesignoftheenclosure.Forinstance,manyshowersincoastalNewEnglandfollowthestyleofCapeCodvernacular—white-cedarshinglesthathaveweatheredtoasoftgray,withbareorpaintedwoodentrim.InmuchoftheSouthwest,stuccoandadobearepreferredbuildingmaterialsforbothhomeandshower.Adeliciouslypigmentedstuccosurfaceappliedoveramasonrycoreallowsthedesigntoincorporatethesoftundulationsoflineandformthattypifythisstyleofbuilding.Thevast,openskyaboveandtherollingearthbelowinspiretheuseofthismaterial.Itbringsthehome—andshower—intocontextwiththeenvironment.
ProtectingAgainstMoistureDamageRegardlessofthematerialyouchoose,therearesomekeyconstructiondetailstobearinmindwhenbuildinganenclosed/attachedshower,topreventpotentialwater-relatedproblems.
ProtectingYourHome’sExteriorFirstistheissueofwaterproofingthewallofthehousetowhichtheshowerwillbeattached.Houseexteriorsarenormallybuilttoshedwater,butifanoutdoorshowerenclosesasectionofwall,moisturecanbuildupthereovertheyears,andextrameasuresmustbetakentokeeptheareafromrotting.Ifyouarebuildinganewhomeandhavetheluxuryofincorporatingtheshowerintoyouroverallplan,thenincludingallthenecessarylayersofstructuralwaterproofingwillbeconvenient.Iftheshowerisanadd-ontoapreexistingbuilding,otheroptionsforwaterproofingexist.
Beneaththeirexteriorsiding(whetherthatiswoodenshinglesorclapboards,vinyl,orbrick),mosthomesarewrappedinavaporbarrierthatallowsmoistureinsidethestructuretoworkitswayoutbutdoesn’tallowexteriormoisturetoenter.ThebarriermightbetarpaperinolderbuildingsorTyvekpaperinnewerones.Thevaporbarrieralsohelpskeepdraftsfrompenetratingthewallsandroof.Belowthisvaporbarrierisanunderlayment(typicallysomekindofplywood)thatprovidessupportforthefinishsidingontheexteriorofthebuilding.Ifyoucanaccessthislayer,installmarine-gradeorpressure-treatedplywoodastheunderlaymentwheretheshowerwillbesited,toensureagainstwaterdamage.
Toprotectyourhousefromwaterdamage,thewallwhereanoutdoorshowerwillbeinstalledshouldbebuilt(orretrofitted)withalayerofmarine-gradeplywoodunderavaporbarrierbeforesidingisinstalled.
Ifyouaren’tabletoaccesstheunderlayment,you’llhavetorelyonthehouse’ssidingtopreventwaterfrompenetratingtheexteriorwallandcausingrot.Ifyourshowerisonthesouthsideofthebuilding,theissueofmoistureretentionmaynotposeaproblem,asitwillbeexposedtoagooddealofsunlight.Showersfacingotherdirections,especiallythenorth,maybemoreproblematic.Oneoptiontoreducetheconstantbarrageofmoistureistoconstructapartitionbetweentheshowerandtheexteriorwall,toshedthemajorityofthewater.Thepartitioncouldbemadeofthesamematerialastherestoftheshowerwalls.
EvacuatingGraywaterSecondistheissueofkeepingthewastewaterfromyourshowerawayfromthefoundationofyourhouse.You’llneedtotakestepstoensurethattheflooriswelldrainedandthatgraywaterischanneledawayfromthehouse.Manyoutdoorshowershavenodrainagesystemtospeakofandsimplyallowthegraywatertofalltotheearthandeventuallyseepinortrickleaway.Forwaterdrainageinenclosed/attachedshowers,however,Irecommendinstallingeitheradrywellorashowerpanthatdirectsthegraywatertoyourhouseholdwastewatersystem.Thisway,thegraywaterwillspendnotimeonthesoilsurface,whereitcanserveasabreedinggroundforinsectsorcauserotatgroundlevel.Seechapter1formoredetails.
EnsuringPrivacyDependingonthedegreeofprivacyyouwantforyourshower,keepinmindwhendesigningyourenclosed/attachedshowerthatsecond-storywindowscouldpotentiallyhaveabird’s-eyeviewintoashowerthatispositionedagainstthesideofyourhouse.Soeitherplacetheshowersothatit’snotinthelineofsightorinstallsomekindofoverheadarbor.Thiscouldevensupportsomefloweringvinesthat,inadditiontoprovidingprivacy,wouldcontributetotheambienceoftheshower.
Asforprivacyfromotherareasofthesurroundingenvironment,checkontheanglesofviewandsightlinesfromboththeinterioroftheshowerfacingoutandtheexteriorlookingin.Alsoavoidsitingtheshowerinareasofunobstructedviewthatmaymakemodestbathersself-conscious.
Enclosed/AttachedShowersBecauseoftheconvenienceofconnectinganoutdoorshowerintothehouseholdplumbingsystem,manyhomeownersarelikelytobuildanenclosed/attachedshower.Thisissimplyaminimalistshoweragainstthesideofabuilding,withtheprivacyofanenclosureadded.
Mahoganygrillworkandanoverheadarborprovidesupportforaprivacyscreenoffloweringvinesduringthesummer.Simplepolishedchromepipesandaceramicshowerheadcompletethisattractivealcove.
Anautilus-shapedenclosureoffersplentyofprivacyfromgroundlevel,butbeawareofthesightlinesfromthesecondstoryofahouse.
Thisdeck-sideshoweroffersamodicumofprivacyfromanarrow,shingledpartition.
TheshoweratthisguestcabininPhilo,California,isconstructedofcorrugatedgalvanized-metalpanelsandpressure-treatedframing.
Thissimpleshowerhastwodoorsforcompleteprivacyandagenerousshowerhead.
Locatednexttoagraniteslabwithacarvedfoot-rinsingbasin,thisMartha’s
Vineyardshowerfeaturesapyramid-shapedarborabove.
TheSemiDetachedShower
Thesemidetachedoutdoorshowerisaself-containedshowerroomsitedawayfromthemainbuildingbutconnectedtoitbyabreezeway,trellis,fence,freestandingwall,orsectionofroofordeck.Buildingyourshowerinthisfashionwillgiveitanelementofspaciousnessandindependenceofformfromitssurroundingarchitecture.Theshowerstandsonitsown,offeringyouauniquevantagepointfromwhichtoexperienceyoursurroundings,aswellasasenseofgoingonanadventure.
Thedesignofthesemidetachedshowerbridgestheattributesoftheenclosed/attachedandthefullydetachedshowers.It’sacompromiseofmovingtheshowerawayfromastructurallysupportivewall,yetnotentirelylettinggointoanindependentlocation;itcreatesahuman-scalespacewithadistinctpersonality.Itcanalsoaccentuateanaspectofthesurroundingenvironment,whileblendinginwiththeoverallarchitecturaldesignofyourhouseandoutbuildings.
Thiscombinationofrelationshipsbetweenstructuresopensupaplethoraofdesignpossibilities.I’vecomeacrossanumberofsemidetachedshowersthatuseavarietyofmaterialsinveryimaginativeways.Thematerialschosenfortheshowerdon’thavetobethesameasthoseusedonthemainbuildinginordertoachieveanarchitecturallyharmoniousdesign.Thecircularsemidetachedshowerontheoppositepagefitsinwellwithitssurroundings,bothbecauseofthebuildingmaterialandbecauseofitsuseasagradualtransitionbetweenthedrivewayandtheentrancetothehouse.
Structurally,thesemidetachedshowerissimplyanenclosedshowersetawayfromthemainbuilding.Theplumbingforthisstyleofshowerissimilartothatoftheenclosed/attachedshower.Insteadofconnectingtotheshowerthroughanexteriorwallofthemainbuilding,however,thehotandcoldlinesaretypicallyrunfromthehousetotheshowerunderthedeck,throughalowpartition,orinanoverheadstructuralcanopy.
Drainageishandledinthesamewayasfortheenclosed/attachedshower.Adrywellcanbedugandfilledwithgraveltoinstantlydispersethegraywaterintotheground.Alternatively,ashowerpancanbeinstalledbeneaththeshowerfloortoevacuatethewatertothesurroundinglandscapeortothehouseholdsepticline.
Acircularsemidetachedshowerprovidesplentyofprivacy,despiteitslocation
bythefrontentranceofthishome.
SemiDetachedShowersSemidetachedshowersbearsomestructuralrelationshiptothehousebutarenotconstructeddirectlyagainstit.Oftentheyareconnectedtoadwellingbyadeck,overheadtrellis,orbreezeway.Theshower’sstyleandbuildingmaterialsmayormaynotrelatetothoseofthehouse.
Thecurvedfaceofthisshoweroffersagradualtransitionfromthedrivewaytothehouse.
Anoverheadtrellisandmultipleshowerheadscreateanopenandaccessiblebackyardshower.
Theuseofstoneandwoodinthisshowercomplementsthebuildingstyleofthemainhouse.
Madeofdurablebamboo,plexiglasspanels,andathatchedroof,thisMaui
showeroffersarelaxingbathingareaevenduringtumultuouswinterstorms.
TheFullyDetachedShower
Themonarchoftheoutdoorshowerfamilyexistsawayfromanyphysicaloraestheticconnectiontosurroundingstructures,becomingsomethingofadestinationintheyard,thesiteofadailyshoweringpilgrimage.Thisdesignallowsthebatherprivacyandseclusionandpromotesacontemplativeattitudetowardlife.Dependingonyourintention,yourshowercanbevirtuallyhiddenwithanaturalscreenoflivingcamouflage,oritcanmakeastrongaestheticstatementbydrawingattentiontoitsdesign.
Bycapitalizingontheelementofseclusion,yourfullydetachedoutdoorshowercanalsoprovideyouwithanincrediblyrareexperience:thesensationofbeinginaforeignandexoticland,farfromtheday-to-dayworldyou’reusedto.Thefeelingisakintothatofthecreativechildwhobuildshiddenfortsandmagicalsecretplayhouses.Ameanderingpathwaycanleadtoyourprivatesanctuary,setagainstanaturalbackdropofyourfavoriteplantings.
Thisstyleofshowerleavestheoptionswideopenforexploringjusthowcreativeyoucanbe.SomeofthedetachedshowersI’veseenwereintendedtomakethemostofgorgeoussurroundingdaytimeviews,whileothers—particularlythosewithwell-placedambientlighting—arebestusedindarkness,luringabatheroutforarefreshingnighttimerinse.
WalkwaytotheShowerAkeyelementofthedetachedoutdoorshoweristhepathwayleadingouttoit.Irecommendcarefullymappingoutthebestroutetoyourdetachedshowerandlayingdownapathwayofadurable,levelmaterial.Thesubtlyunevenfootinginayardcanbecometenuousatbestwhenyouarewrappedinatowel,barefoot,walkinginthedark,andcarryinganarmfuloftoiletries.Havingstable,evenfootingwhileyounavigatetheroutetoanoutdoorshowercreatesaseamlesstransitionintoyourbathingenvironment.
Awell-laidbrickpathmakesthewalkwaytoandfromtheshowerasafeandpleasantexperience,dayornight.
FullyDetachedShowersForthetrueoutdoorshowerenthusiast,thefullydetachedshower,setawayfromanyotherstructure,offersthebathertheexperienceofgoingonanadventure.Theseshowersarebestwhentheylooklikeapartoftheirsiteandtakeadvantageofsurroundingviews.
Largebasaltstonesaresetintoabedofmortartoformthepathwaytothisfullydetachedshower.
Perennialsandsmallshrubshelpthisgardenshowerblendintotherestofthelandscape.
LongconcreteslabsguidethebathertothissecludedshowerinBenson,Arizona.
Insomecases,agrassypathmaybeallyouneed(althoughitcanbeannoyingtohaveyourfeetgetcoveredwithfreshlymownclippingsonyourwaybacktothehouse).Slateslabs,flatblocksofcutgranite,orbricksfitted
tightlytogetheralsofitthebillnicely.Stonepaverscreatearustic,cobbledeffectandoffertheopportunitytoplantmossinthespacesbetweentheblocks.Stonesandbrickscanshiftandheave,however,ifthey’renotbeddedinalayerofpulverizedpeastoneorgravel.
Woodenplankingisalsoappropriateundercertaincircumstances.However,don’tjustsetthewoodontheearth,becauseeventuallyeventhemostrot-resistantwoodswillabsorbwaterandrot.Instead,usecementblocksorstonestocreateelevatedplatformsonwhichyoucansetthewoodenplanking.
Splinters,though,arearealandnastythreattotenderfeet.Ifwoodisyourpreferredchoiceforawalkway,Isuggestyouuseadense,tight-grainedsoftwoodlikePortOrfordcedarorDouglasfir.Thesewoodsareoftenusedasdecking,andifsandedsmoothandcoatedwithaclearpreservative,theywillremainsplinterfree.
Bluestonepaverssetintograssmakeacomfortable,nonslipperypathtoandfromafullydetachedshower.
Fallenplantmaterialcanalsogivethebatheranuncomfortablewalkingexperience.Afriendofminehasashowerlocatednearahollytree,andonmore
thanoneunfortunateoccasionIhavebeenimpaledonspikyhollyleaveslyinginthegrass.Myassociationwiththatshowercarrieswithitmemoriesofpain.Aslightlyraisedwalkwaythatiseasilysweptoffwoulddoawaywithanyoftheseunpleasantconditions.
Ifyourdetachedshowerwillbeusedprimarilyatnight,besuretoalsogivesomethoughttolightingtheway.Creatingawell-lightedpathwayisanessentialaspectforeveryone’ssafetyandcomfort.Seechapter1formoreinformationonlighting.
PlumbingConsiderationsPracticallyspeaking,theplumbingelementsofthisshowerarethesameasthoseofattachedandsemidetachedshowers;thepipessimplyrunagreaterdistance.Ifyourdetachedshowerismorethan75feet(23m)fromapreexistinghotwatersupply(suchasthatofyourhouse),it’swisetoinstallanon-demandhotwaterheaternearyourshower.You’llneedtobuildasmallenclosureneartheshowersitetohousetheheater,andyou’llneedtomakeaccommodationsforpoweringit.Iftheheateriselectric,you’llneedtorunelectricityouttotheshowersite.Ifitburnspropane,you’llneedtorunapropanelinefromyourhouseorinstallapropanetanknexttoyourshower.
Togetthewaterouttoaremotedetachedshower,¾-inch(19mm)copperpipeistherule.Itshouldbeburiedatleast12inches(31cm)belowgradeinabedofcleansand,withnorocks.Ifyouliveinaregionthatfreezesduringthewinter,thewatersupplylineswillneedtohaveanextensionthatispitchedtoanaccessholeandterminatesinaremovableplug,sothatyoucandrainthepipesbeforefreezingtemperaturessetin.
Fullydetachedoutdoorshowersusuallydrainintotheirowndrywell.However,youmaywanttomakethemostoftheresultinggraywaterfromyourshowerbyusingittoirrigatesurroundinglandscapeplants.Thiscanbeaccomplishedverysimplybyinstallingashowerpanthatdirectswatertonearbygardens.Alternatively,youcouldcreateashowerfloorofpouredconcretethat’spitchedslightlyoutward,sothatthegraywatercanrunoffdirectlyintothesurroundingsoil.
TheIndoor-OutdoorShower
Technicallyspeaking,thesearenottrueoutdoorshowers,inthesenseofbeingsitedoutsidethehouse.Instead,theseshowersaretobefoundinside,usually
attachedtoamasterbedroom;ifthey’renearanoutsidewall,adoorcloseathandmayofferbatherstheabilitytostrolloutsideafterarelaxingshower.
Thoughnotsitedentirelyoutdoors,theindoor-outdoorshowercontainscertainqualitiesthatsetitapartfromthestandardindoorshower.Typicallythistypeofshowerisnotcontainedinanenclosure,andifitis,thespaceallocatedtoshoweringisvoluminous.Oftentheshowerispartofanopenbathroomfloorplanthatutilizesacentraldraintoevacuatethewater.Keepingthebathroomdryisnotnecessarilythefocusinthistypeofsituation.Thefloorandwallsareoftenfinishedwithtile,andtheceilingisfinishedwithmoretileorwithmarine-gradepaint.Becausetheenvironmentiscapableofwithstandingafreeflowofwater,thebatherisabletomovearoundinthisspacewithoutgivingathoughttowater-damageissues.
Indoor-outdoorshowersoffermanydesignoptions.Thebathingareacanbeatthesamefloorlevelastherestoftheroom,withtheflooroftheentireroomgentlyslopingdowntoadrain.Alternatively,itcouldstepdownsignificantlyintoashortenclosure,sortofanopenwalk-intubforshowering,withitsowndrain.Anotheroptionistosettheshoweratfloorlevelbutencloseitwithaslightlyraisedperimeter,perhapsa6-inch(15cm)wall,whichcontainsmostofthewateronthefloorimmediatelyaroundthebather.Theshowerisopenandallowsplentyofroomforbatherstomovearound,yetitissetwithinclearlydefinedboundaries.
Incaseswhereprivacyisaconsideration,apartitionseparatingtheshowerfromtherestofthebathroommaybenecessary.Semitransparentmaterialslikeglassblockareidealinthisscenario.Outdoorsorin,glassblockisafantasticmaterialforcreatingwalls,partitions,andenclosures.Clearenoughtoallowlighttopassthroughunimpeded,yetobscuredenoughtopreventanyonefromseeingthroughthem,glassblocksallowbatherstofeelnaturallyilluminatedwhileremaininginprivacy.
Thelargesouth-facingwindowsofthissecond-storyshowergiveitthefeeling
ofasolariumandmakethesurroundinglandscapepartofthebathingexperience,eveninwinter.
Indoor-OutdoorShowersAlthoughnotsitedoutdoors,thisstyleofshowerusuallyhassomekindofeasyaccesstotheoutside.Theindoor-outdoorshoweralsooffersthebatheranopportunitytoshowerinanunenclosedinteriorenvironment—typicallyinalarge,openspacefinishedwithmaterialsthatcanbeexposedtowater.
Thesetranslucentglassblockssimultaneouslyprovidebatherswithlightandprivacy.
Foliagefromindoorplantsprovidesthebatherwithadditionalprivacyinthisindoor-outdoorshower.
ThisJapanese-stylesoakingtubandshower,builtbytheauthor,combineAlaskanyellowcedar,westernredcedar,andslate.
StuccoandgreenslatecoverthewallsofthispoolshowerinTucson,Arizona.
TheWhiteLotusRetreatCenter
SantaBarbara,California
THISYOGAANDSPIRITUALRETREATCENTER,locatedintheSanMarcosPass,eastofSantaBarbara,featuresthequintessentialminimalistoutdoorshower.Utilizingtwoenormousside-by-sidebouldersthatwerealreadyonsite,theownersinstalledcopperwaterlinesthatrununderneathandthenupandoverthetoptoabasinbetweenthestones.Thewatercomescascadingdowninawaterfallontotherevelingbatherbelow.Twotemperature-
controlhandlesareconvenientlylocatedatwaistheight,andthetemperatureofthewaterfallcanbemicro-adjustedtosuitindividualtaste.Tocompletethisastoundingshowerfeature,theownerslaidamosaictilefloorcompletewithacenterdrain.TheshowerhasastunningviewoutovertheCoastRangeandPacificOcean.
Thewaterfallshowercombinesthecomfortofahotshowerwiththebeautyof
bathinginnature.
CHAPTER4TemporaryShowers
Aplastictrashcanharvestsrainwaterforagravity-fedshower.
HEREISWHEREWEPARTWAYSWITHTHEWORLDofpermanentshowerinstallation.Temporaryshowersaremotivatedbyadifferentsetofbathingrequirements(usuallyeaseofassemblyanduse)andthusrequireadifferentapproachtoconstruction.Thekindoftemporaryshoweryoucreateisdependentonhowandwhereyou’llbeusingit,aswellashowportableitmustbe.Forinstance,acampshowerthatneedstobetakenapartandpackedupeverydayortwowillrequireadifferentsetupthanashowerthatwillbeusedbyagroupofpeopleataweeklongmusicfestival.
Outdoorshowersneednotbecomplicatedtosetup.Thisone,attachedtoa
whiteoak,issuppliedwithbothhotandcoldwaterfromtwogardenhosesthataredisconnectedattheendoftheseason.
TheSolarShower
Ifyou’rehikingandwanttohaveameansofwashingwithhotwatersomewhatconsistently,you’llmostlikelywantasolarshower.Thisisareinforcedblackplasticbagthatholdsupto5gallons(19L)ofwaterandisfittedwitha“wateringcan”styleofnozzle.Youhangtheblackbagfromanearbytreebranch,whereitabsorbstheheatofthesun,warmingthewaterinside.Whenyou’rereadytoshower,yousimplyopenavalveneartheshowerhead,andoutcomesthewater.Suchashowerfeelsextravagantinrusticconditions.Whenemptyandrolledupfortraveling,theentireapparatusweighsnomorethanafewounces.
Atypicalsolarshowersetup.Theblackplasticbagisfilledwithwaterandheatsupinthesunwhilehangingfromtheapexofatripod(whichcanbewrappedwithatarpforprivacy).Thepalletkeepsthebatheroffthegroundandoutofwetsoilormud.
Therearemanysolarshowerproductsonthemarkettochoosefrom(seetheresources).Thedrawbackisthatifthereisn’tanysun,youdon’tgetahotshower.Therearewaystoovercomethatobstacle,however,suchasheatingwateronacampstoveorfireandmixinginenoughcoldwatertocreatethedesiredtemperatureforyoursolarshower.(Alwaysputthecoldwaterinyourbagfirst,andthenaddthehot.Ifyoudoittheotherwayaround,thebagmaymelt.)
Whatevertheconditionsyou’refacedwithwhilehikingorcamping,thesolarshowermaywellbeyoursalvation,consideringthebulkandweightofothershowersystems.
TheFixed-LocationCampShower
Hereisahorseofadifferentcolor.Withtheabilitytodriveinallthesuppliesyouneedcomesgreaterflexibilityincreatingyouroutdoorshower.Materialweightisnolongerofconsequence,sothetypeoftemporaryshoweryoubuildisdictatedonlybyyourneedsandthedegreeofimaginationyouwanttobringtothedesign.
Therequiredcomponentsforthisshowerareastructuralframeworkthatprovidessupportfortheplumbingandanyenclosureyoumightwant,asystemforheatingthewater,apump(eitherelectricormanual)thatdeliversthewatertotheshowerhead,aplatformforthebathertostandon,ashowerheadandtemperature-controlhandles,andagraywaterdrainagesystem.
StructureCampshowersusuallyemployarelativelysolidstructureforanongoingperiodoftime.Typicallythey’reusedforaweekortwo,thoughanextendedcampingsojourncouldeasilykeeptheminoperationformonthsatatime.TheuseofasemipermanentplumbingmaterialsuchasCPVCtubing(seechapter1)guaranteesthatsmoothoperationwillcontinueindefinitelyaslongasyouhavetakencaretoassembleallthejointsandfixturessecurely.
Thephysicalframeworkofthecampshowercanbeassembledwithavarietyofmaterialsthateasilyaffixtooneanotherandjustaseasilydisassemble—2x4woodframingstockorplywoodsecuredwithscrewsorcarriagebolts,treesaplingsboundtogetherwithrope,metalconduitwithanglebrackets,andinevitablyahostofothermaterials.
Apropane-heatedshowerensuresthatevenonacloudydaytherewillbehot
wateravailable.
Presizethematerialsathometomakesurethateverythingfitstogetherwellandisreadyforefficienton-siteassembly.Youcanlabelallthepartssothatyoucansetuptheshowerwithoutahitchwhenyourreachyourdestination.Theinitialinvestmentyoumakeindesigningandprefabricatingyourshowerwillmakethereassemblyeasytoperformwithafewhandtools,suchasahammer,cordlessscrewgun,andpliers.
WaterSupplyWhereyourwatercomesfromwilldepend,insomepart,onhowfarawayfromcivilizationyou’reconstructingyourshower.Youmightneedtopumporhaulwaterfromanearbypond,lake,orstream.Inareasthatreceiverainreliably,youmightconsidersettinguparaincatchment.Purchasingwaterfromalocaltankertruckissometimesapossibility.Ifyou’renearenoughawaterspigot,youmightjusthookupyourshowertoitwithagardenhose.
HeatingtheWaterThetemporaryshower,likeanyothershower,worksbydrawingheatedwateroverheadandcontrollingthevolumeasitdescendsoverthebather’sbody.Ifyouwanttotakeadvantageofmechanizingyourshower,youcanuseapropaneburnertoflash-heatyourwaterinametalcontainer.Manuallymixincoldwatertobalanceit,anduseasmallelectricmotortosiphonthis“shower-ready”mixtotheshowerheadwiththeflickofaswitch.
Ifyoudon’twanttheresponsibilityofelectricmotors,youcanuseastandardmarinefootpumptotransferthewaterfromthemixingcontaineruptoahangingreservoirabovethebather.Oncethewaterisinplace,openingareleasevalvewillallowittoexitthecontainerviaanattachedshowerhead.
DealingwithGraywaterYoucanconstructasimpleplatformbyattachingaseriesofboardssidebysidetotwocrosspiecesbeneaththem.Theboardsontopoftheplatformshouldhavespacesbetweenthemtoallowwatertodrainthrough.Theplatformgetsthebatherofftheground,providesastablesurfacetostandon,andallowsthegraywatertodrainfromthebathingplatform.Ifthesoilbeneaththeplatformhasasufficientpercolationrate,youcanallowthegraywatertosimplyfalltothegroundandbeabsorbedintotheearth.Otherwise,installawatertightpanunder
theplatformtocollectthegraywater,andpipeittoabetterspot(downhill)forabsorptionintotheearth.
Diggingadrywellandfillingitwithgravelismostlikelyunrealisticfortheconditionsunderwhichthisstyleofshowerisimplemented.Irecommendtakingthetimetofigureouthowtodisposeofthegraywaterresponsibly,though,becauseaconcentrationofsoaps,shampoos,andothercomplexchemicalcompoundscanhaveadamagingeffectontheenvironmentiftheydraindirectlyintoopenbodiesofwaterorareallowedtobecomeconcentratedinonespot.
Inadditiontoitsuniqueshape,theEntomoshowerhasasophisticatedgraywaterfilteringsystem.Itcollectsallthewastewaterfromtheshowerandsendsitthroughaseriesoffivefilterstoremoveimpuritiesbeforereturningittothesurroundingsoil.
TheEntomoShower
Agoodexampleofatemporaryshowerthat’sbothimaginativeandenvironmentallysensitiveistheEntomoshower,designedandbuiltbymechanicalengineerJonathanWest.Truetoitsentomologicalname,theshowerisshapedlikeagiantwasp,andeachbodyparthasadifferentfunction.
Thewaterforthisshowerispurchasedfromatankersupplytruckandstoredina55-gallon(208L)barrel.Mountedinsidethebarrelisanelectricpumpthatsendsthewateruptheinteriorofalegandintotheabdomenofthisfabricatedmetalinsectshower.Thepumpisactivatedbyaspring-loadedswitchinthehingemechanismofawoodengrillplatformsuspendedoverthegraywatercontainmentpool.Asbathersstepontotheplatformandstandunderthethorax,waterautomaticallycascadesoverthemandiscollectedbeneaththewoodengrillforrecycling.
Thegraywaterispumpedfromthecontainmentpoolthroughaseriesoffourfilters.Thefirstfilterisafinemeshthattrapsrelativelylargesolids.Followingisasandtrapandthenaheavy-dutyfilterthatremovesparticlesdownto20micronsinsize.Finally,acarbonfiltercollectsparticlesdownto5micronsinsize.Westusesthecleanedandfilteredgraywatertohosedowntheareaaroundthecamp.Hetakesthecollectedsludgeanddumpsitinalandfillinanearbytown.Thefilterscanstoreupto25pounds(11.3kg)ofsiltandneedcleaningonlyafteraboutaweekofcontinuoususe.
TheEntomosystemcostsabout$1,500tobuild.Thefiltersneedtobereplacedonayearlybasis,atacostofapproximately$80.Westsaysthathecouldcontinuetofilterthegraywaterevenfurtherwithinfraredfilterstocreatepotablewater,butitwasahardselltohisfriends.
MANUALORELECTRIC?
Dependingonyoursituation,outdoorshowerscanbeeithermanuallyoperatedorpoweredbyelectricity.Ashowerrunpurelyonmusclepowerissimpletobuildandeasytomaintainorrepair,especiallywhenjustafewpeoplewillbeusingit.However,withtheutilizationofelectricorgas-powereddevices,someoperationsbecomemoreefficient.Largevolumesofwaterformanypeoplecanbepumpedandprocessedinafractionofthetimeneededtoworkbyhand.
Thereisadownsidetothiskindofhigh-techapproach,though.Machineswithcomplexmovingpartsrequiremaintenanceandareliabletobreakdown.Ifyou’renotmechanicallyinclined,orifyou’rebuildingashoweroutinthewilderness(wheresparemachinepartsoramechanicarenighonimpossibletofind),youmaywanttooptforamanualsystem.Fewerworkingpartstobreakdownmeanlesstofix.
Alsoconsidertheenvironmentalimpactofwhicheversystemyouchoose.Gas-poweredpumps,forinstance,dischargecarbonmonoxideasexhaust,notonlypollutingtheair,butalsodetractingconsiderablyfromtheambienceofyouroutdoorshower.
THELOW-IMPACT,MANUALLYOPERATEDSHOWER
Thisdesigniseasytoassembleandrequiresonlyminimalmaterials.Theflowofwateriscontrolledbythebatherasrequired.
Asourceforheatingthewater,suchaspropaneburnerandtank
A5-gallon(19liter)metalpotforheatingandmixingwater
Afoot-operatednauticalbilgepump
Atripodmadeoutofthree8-foot(2.4m)lengthsof2-inch(5cm)schedule40PVCor2-inch(5cm)aluminumpipejoinedatthetopbycarriagebolts
16feet(4.9m)ofI-inch(19mm)heat-resistant,flexible,nautical-gradehose
A3-footby3-foot(91cmby91cm)woodengrillworkplatform,suchasapallet
Ashowerhead
Beginbyerectingthetripod;thebasesofthelegsshouldbe4to5feetfromeachother.Placethewoodenplatformonthegroundbelowtheapexofthetripod.Forprivacy,wrapatarparoundtheoutsideofthetripod,coveringthefirst6verticalfeetorso(remembertoleaveanentry/exitflap).
Attachtheshowerheadwithwiretotheapexofthetripodandrunthefeedtubedownoneofthelegs,windingitaroundthelegseveraltimestokeepitoutofthebathingspace.Inserttheendofthefeedtubeintothefoot-operatedpump,andsetthepumpontheplatform.
Placethepropanetankandburnerneartheplatform,withinreachofthepump.Openthevalveonthepropanetankandlighttheburner.Fillthemetalpotwith3gallonsofwaterandsetitontheburnertoheat.Whenthewaterisfullyheated,mixinenoughcoldwatertoreachasuitabletemperatureforshowering.
Runalengthofhosefromtheintakeofthefoot-operatedpumptothepotontopoftheburner,andinserttheendofthehoseintotheheatedwater(youmayneedtotieorclampittotheedgeofthepotsothatitwon’tfallout).Stepontotheplatform,andstartpumping.Thewaterwillbesiphonedintothehoseanduptotheshowerhead.Fivegallonsofwater,ifusedjudiciously,willprovideaveryadequateshower.
TheOpportunisticShower
Thislastoutdoorshowercategoryincludesinfinitepossibilitiesforwashingup,rinsingoff,coolingdown,bathing,orjustgettingwet.Theseshowersexistineveryclimate,environment,andlocale.Sometimestheyareobvious,suchasafirehydrantinthemiddleofacityneighborhoodonaswelteringsummerday.Thistypeofshowerbringstremendousjoyandrelieftothepeoplenearit.
Opportunisticshowerscanbehuman-madedevices,butmostoften
showeringwasnottheirintendeduse.Theseshowersmayalsobecreationsofnaturejustwaitingtobediscoveredandappreciatedbysomeone.Eitherway,theresponsibilityfallsonyourshoulders,sotospeak,tosearchoutandlocateoneofyourown.Thatistheopportunisticpart.
TheScoopBathAverycommonstyleofbathinginSoutheastAsiaaswellasinmanyothersubtropicalandtropicalregionsoftheworldisthescoopbath.Thissimplebathismerelyalargevessel,filledfromasourceofrunningorstandingwater,andahandheldcontainerusedtopourthewateroverthebody.Menandwomencanbeseenbathinginpublicinthisfashion,whilewearingasarongorsimplepieceofclothtoretainadegreeofmodesty.Theambient-temperaturewaterisusedtogetwet,latherup,andrinseoff.
Thissystemofbathingisquiteeffectiveinenvironmentswhereprivatebathroomsandsepticsystemssimplydon’texist.Friendsprovideassistanceforeachotherbytakingturnsbeingthe“waterpourer,”freeingupbothhandsofthebathertoattendtotheprocessofwashing.
TheBlackHoseOneultimatelysimpleshowerforuseinawarmclimateonasunnydayistheblackhoseshower.Purchasea50-foot(15.2m)lengthofblackhosefromyourlocalgardensupplier,andattachapressurenozzletotheend.Fillthehosewithwaterandleaveitinthesun.Whentheneedarises,simplysqueezethenozzletoproduceahotshower(thedurationofwhichwillbedeterminedbythelengthofthehoseandthespeedwithwhichyouusethewater).Exercisecautionwhenyoufirstturnonthehose,however,becausethewatermaybeextremelyhot.
Twobatherstakeadvantageofthenaturalshowerofferedbyawaterfall.
TheBurningManFestival
BlackRock,Nevada
EXQUISITEEXAMPLESOFTEMPORARYSHOWERScanbefoundinprofusionattheBurningManFestival,anartisticcollaborationthattakesplaceannuallyintheBlackRockDesertinnorthernNevada.Morethan35,000participantsdescendonthedesert,wherestreetsandavenuesaresetup,andpeoplebuildthemecampsfeaturingavastarrayofcreativeinstallations.
Showersmakeupalargepartoftheskylineatthisfestival.Becausetheideaistoleavenotraceofhumanpresenceoncethefestivalisover,showercreatorsmustemploycreativemeanstomakesurethatnobodypaint,soap,orshampooremains.Thesolutionthatmostrevelersuseistheevaporationpool.Thisconsistsofawide,shallowpoolinwhichgraywateriscollectedandevaporatedinthescorchingdesertsun.Thisisarelativelysuccessfulsystem—whencloudyweatherdoesn’tpreventevaporationanddustdoesn’tturnthepoolintoamuddymess.Thetypicalevaporationpoolconsistsofa10-foot-square(0.9sqm)sheetofclear-orblack-plastictarplaidonthegroundwithasquareframeofPVCtubingraisingtheperimeteredgesothatitwillholdwater.Oncethewaterhasevaporated,theplasticandremainingresidueisdisposedofinalandfill.
Apickle-shapedshowerheadattheBurningManFestival.
Blackplasticisawaytocollectanddisposeofsoapresidueoncethegraywater
fromashowerhasevaporated.
CHAPTER5PlanningandDesign
GrinningliketheCheshireCat,thiswoodlanddeitywatchesoverallwhopasshisstonewallonthewaytotheshower.
INORDERTOSUCCESSFULLYREALIZEYOURDREAMofcreatinganoutdoorshower,youmustbeginwithanoverallplanthatwillguideyouthroughthedifferentstagesoftheproject.You’relikelytofindthatyourinitialprojectionsaboutlocation,design,andbudget,tonamebutafew,arenotentirelyaccurateorpractical.Thisistypicalofmostconstructionprojectsandshouldnotbeacauseforconcern.Itisimportanttomaintainflexibilitythroughouttheplanningandbuildingprocess;yourworkmayunveilunexpectedopportunities,allowingforfreshinspirationthatcanbenefitallaspectsoftheproject.
Insteadofhavingacontractordesignyourshower,youmaydecidethatyouwanttodoityourself.Hopefully,byreadingthefirstpartofthisbook,you’vebecomefamiliarwiththewidevarietyofstyleanddesignoptionsthatcanbeusedasinspiration.Possiblyyoualreadyhaveaclearideaofwhatyouwantandareprimedtoimplementtheconstructionphaserightoff.Orperhapsyou’restillinthepre-designstage.Whateveryourpresentsituationis,bringwhatyouhavetotheprocessandexplorethemyriadelementsthatwillseeyourshowerthroughtocompletion.
Thisformalenclosedshowerensuresprivacyamidanenclaveofbuildings.
Thesouth-facingdeckofthiscabinonMartha’sVineyardofferstheperfectspot
foranoutdoorshowertobeinstalled.
BudgetandSchedule
Averyimportantfirststepistodeterminewhatyou’rewillingtospendonyourshower,andthentocontemplatewhat,ifany,leewayyouhaveinamendingthisnumber.Theactualcostsofprojectscommonlyrunoverwhatinitialprojectionsestablish,andvastoverrunscanturnaprojectintoanextremelyunsavorysituation.Socloselyexaminewhatyourbudgetparametersare,andkeeptheminmindwhenmakingdecisionsaboutyouroutdoorshowerproject.
Anotherkeyelementintheinitialplanningstage,butonethatcanbedifficulttorealisticallypindown,isthetimeline.Ifyou’reworkingwithacontractor,heorsheshouldbeabletogiveyouaroughestimate.Evenafter20yearsofbuilding,however,Isometimesunderestimatetheamountoftimeeachdetailwillrequire.WhentheprojectsI’mcontractedforinvolvenewmechanicalandaestheticchallenges,I’mnotabletotakeadvantageoftheefficiencyofmotionandexperientialknowledgethatcomesfromrepetitivepractice.Inthesecases,doubling,tripling,orevenquadruplingwhatseemstobethemostreasonableinitialscheduleprojectionbringsitclosertothefinalreality.Oncetheelementsofyourdesignandyourchoiceofmaterialsstarttogel,itbecomeseasiertoprojecthowlongtheproject“should”take.
CreatingaBudgetJustlikeanyconstructionproject,thebudgetforyouroutdoorshowerwillcomprisethreecosts:design,materials,andlabor.Estimatingyourfinancialoutlaywilldependonhowmuchoftheprojectyouwanttodoyourself.Ifyou’rehiringsomeoneforeitherthedesignorconstructionportionsoftheproject(see,“FindingaGoodContractor,”page120),heorshewillberesponsibleforcalculatingcostsandshouldpresentyouwithanestimatebeforetheprojectgetsunderway.
Ifyou’retakingonthedesigningand/orbuildingyourself,thefollowingaresomeguidelinestohelpyoumakeabudgetformaterials.Beginbydividingyourprojectintophases,andmakealistofallofthematerialsandtoolsyouimaginewillbenecessarytocarryouteachphase.Thekeytomakingacompletematerialslististhinkingabouteachphaseasifyou’reactuallybuildingit.Forexample,considerthesitepreparationasonephase.Whatwillthatinvolve?Willyouhavetorentabackhoetodigthefoundation,orisitsmallenoughtodigby
hand?Ifyou’rediggingadrywell,howmanyyardsofgravelwillyouneedtohavedelivered?
Youcanthenestimatethecostsofindividualmaterialsbyresearchingonline,orsimplybycallingaroundtovarioussuppliers.It’simportanttogetquotesfromanumberofdifferentsources,aspricescanvarywidely.
FindingaGoodContractor
Ifyouwanttohireaprofessionalcontractortooverseetheconstructionofyouroutdoorshower,therearecertainguidelinesyoushouldfollowforlocating,hiring,andworkingwiththisperson.Contractorsaretrainedandlicensedtocarryoutallfacetsofconstruction.Theyusuallydosomeofthehands-onworkthemselvesandfarmoutcertaintaskstosubcontractors,eithertospeeduptheprojectorbecausethetaskinvolvesworkoutsidethescopeoftheirexpertise(forexample,abuildingcontractormightsubcontractwithaplumbertoinstallthewatersupplyanddrainagesystem).Astheclient,youshouldatleastfeelcomfortablewithandtrustingof,ifnotdownrightexcitedandenthusiasticabout,yourchoiceofcontractor.
Locatingacontractorcanbearealchallengeifyouarestartingoffcold.Oneofthebestwaystofindafair,reliable,hardworkingcontractorwhoproduceshigh-qualityworkisbywordofmouth.Thetestimonyofatrustedfriendwhohadagoodexperiencewithaparticularcontractoristremendouslyvaluable.Thetimeyouspendupfrontmakingsurethatthepersonyou’rehiringisworthyofyourinvestmentoftime,energy,resources,andpeaceofmindisoftheutmostimportance.Hiringsomeonewithoutsufficientreferences,backgroundchecks,previousclienttestimonials,andportfoliosubmissionsmaynotonlygetyourprojectoffonthewrongfootbutmayputitonacrash-coursetrajectorywithadisastrousconclusion.Ultimately,thereisnoreasontothinkyoucansavetimeorexpensebyrushingthroughtheprocessoffindingtherightpartnerforyourproject.Sobecareful,anddoyourhomework.
Douglasfirtimberscreateaframeforthe6-by-6-inchglassblocksthatwill
enclosethisshower.
Ifyouhavenopersonalrecommendationsfromfriends,findatleastthreecontractorsinyourareatointerview.Haveaninitialmeetingwitheachofthemtogooveryourprojectedrequirements(suchasdesign,budget,andtimeline),andaskeachforrecommendationsfrompreviousclientscompletewithcontactinformation,imagesofcompletedprojects,acopyoftheirliabilityinsurancepolicy,andtheirvalidcontractorlicensenumber.Contractorsshouldbewillingtofurnishallofthistoyou,andthenitisuptoyoutoresearchallofthisinformation.
Dependingonhowmuchoftheshoweryou’dliketobuildyourself,youmayonlyneedtofindagoodplumbertoinstalltheplumbing.Mostprofessionalplumbersshouldbecomfortablesettingupthebasicfixturesforashower,butit’scertainlyadvantageoustohiresomeonewhohasspecificexperienceinstallingoutdoorshowers.
Afloweringdogwoodisthebackdropforthisenclosed/attachedshower.Theownerschoseawest-facingsite,andthesunnyshowerisawelcomerespiteattheendoftheday.
DREAMSHOWERS
ThesedesignsaretheresultofbrainstormingsessionsIhavehadwithfriendsandfamily.Weworkedwithvariousenvironmentsandphysicalchallengestoseewhatkindofcreativeshoweringscenarioswecouldcomeupwith.Theymayofferyouanideaorsetyourowncreativejuicesflowing.Asyougoaboutyourownbrainstormingforshowerideas,remembertostayopentotheunexpected.
TheTeahouseShower
WithitsJapaneseteahouse–inspireddesign,thismeditationhutandoutdoorshowerusherinasenseofrelaxationandcalmness.Builtonasmallscale,theteahousecouldservesimplyasachangingareafortheshower.Onalargerscale,itcouldbetheperfectsettingforaweekendhideaway.
WhattoExpectThisinitialmeetingisusuallyfreeofcost,asitisjustapreliminaryconsultation.Thecontractorswillwanttotakeasetofyourworkingbuildingplanswiththeminordertoprepareabidormakeanestimateforthejob.Ifyoudon’thaveasetofplansatthistime,youcanhireanarchitecttodrawsome(thecriteriaforhiringanarchitectaresimilartothoseforhiringacontractor),workwithyourcontractortodesignitwithyou,ordesignityourself(see“DesignIdeas,”page126).Withgoodworkingplans,youshouldbeabletogetbackfromyourprospectivecontractorsanaccurateestimateofthepricetheywillchargeyoufor
theconstruction.Comparetheestimatesyougetbackfromthecontractors,butalsoconsider
yourfuturerelationshipwiththem.Youmayenduphiringsomeonewhodoesn’thavethelowestbidbutseemstobethebestoveralltoworkwith.
Onceyouhaveadesign,acontractor,andaworkableprice,youandyourcontractorcanworkoutatimelinethatisacceptableforbothofyou.Besuretodiscussthedegreeofflexibilityyouhavefortheproject’sstretchingbeyondtheanticipatedcompletiondate.Acommonmistakeinhomebuilding,forexample,istoplanahousewarmingpartyormoving-indayforadatesoonaftertheprojectedcompletionofthehouse.Asthearbitrarilychosenenddateapproachesandtimegetsshort,massivepressuretofinishontimecanresult.Intheend,theremaybesomeslipshodworkasworkerscutcornerstryingtoreacharapidlyapproachinggoal.Whileit’sgoodtoknowwhatyourpreferredenddateis,it’salsohelpfultoallowthecontractorsomeflexibilityforwhenaschedulerunsbehind.
Yourcontractorwillworkwithyoutowriteupacontractoutliningallthekeyinformationpertainingtotheservicestoberendered,designexpectations,paymentschedulestiedtocertainstepsoftheprojects,andthedatesbywhichthesestagesaretobecompleted.Bothyouandyourcontractorshouldsignanddatethecontract,andeachofyoushouldretainacopyofitforyourrecords.
Attheendoftheprojectisthepunchlist,alistofthelastofthedetailsthatneedtobetakencareof,includingallthoselittlelooseendsthatmakeyourshoweracompletedprocess.Thelistismerelywhateverissofarleftundoneorfullycompletedonanyproject.Sometimesdesigndetailsgetchangedandareputoffuntiltheendoftheprojecttowrapup,orsomethingbreaksandneedsrepair,ortherearescratchesinthesurfaceofafinishedmaterialthatneedtobefixed.Completionofthepunchlistdetailscanmakeorbreakaproject.Ifyourcontractorseesalloftheseitemsthrough(asheorsheisundercontracttodo),thengreat!Jobwelldone.Ifnot—andsomepeoplejustsomehowmissfinishingallthedetails—thenmakesuretobringthemtoyourcontractor’sattention.Finalpaymentshouldnotbemadeuntilthejobiscompletelyfinished.
Thearborabovethisoutdoorshowerhelpstovisuallyconnectthehousetothe
garage,andprovidesforawelcomingentrance.
DesignIdeas
Whetherornotyoudecidetobuildyourownoutdoorshower,youmaybeinspiredtodesignoneonyourown.Ifyouhaveaworkingknowledgeofdesignandconstruction,youwon’tbelimitedbytheneedtohireprofessionalstocreateashowerdesignforyou.Therewillalwaysbeaneedforskilledcraftspeopletosupplyspecializedserviceswhentheyarerequired.Butlearningabitaboutdesigncanhelppersonalizeyourproject.
Presentedherearesuggestionsforwaystoapproachthedesignprocessforyouroutdoorshower.Dependingonthestyleyoufindmostcomfortabletoworkwith,takewithyouwhatevertipsareusefulandallowthemtoguideyourcreativeprocess.
Theminimalistshoweratthebaseofthistieredsundeckisperfectforrinsingoffbeachsandbeforeenteringthehottub.
KeepaJournalIkeepacollectionofimages(frombooks,magazinearticles,newspaperclippings,andphotosI’veshot)toremindmyselfoftheinspiringideasofothers.Anoldstonefoundationdeepinthewoods,atrellisattachedtoathree-seasonlakesidepavilion,oraBalinesetree-househotel—allsuchideasshouldbeexploitedfortheirabilitytoeducatetheeye.Usetheseaestheticfeaturestosparkyourowncreativedrive.
Yourjournalshouldcontainalltheinformationpertinenttoyourdesignandconceptualizationstage,contactinformationforvarioussourcesofmaterials,directionsforlocatingmaterialsyoucomeacrossonyourinvestigativeadventures,pricinginformation,andalltherandomideas,brainstorms,andsuggestionsthatotherpeoplegiveyou.Allthisinformationisimportanttokeeptrackofbecauseeachandeverystepalongthewayisgoingtoproducehelpfulinformationthatwilldeepenandenrichyourshowerproject.
AnothergoodsourceofinformationanddesignideasistheInternet.Doasearchusingkeywordslikeoutdoorshower,poolsidestructure,pavilion,trellis,stonebuildingandsculpture,woodenplaystructures,andInevitablyyouwillfindmoreinformationthanyoucouldpossiblywant,sonarrowitdowntowhatisthemostrelevanttoyourpersonaltaste,whetherit’sastonesculpturebyIsamuNoguchioraredwoodtrellisfromacompanyinnorthernCalifornia.
Thisstageoftheprocessmayextendbeyondyourjournaltoincludespecialbuildingmaterialsorotherobjectsyou’vecollectedalongtheway.Throughtheyears,I’vecollectedmaterialsthathadnoimmediateuseatthetimebutweresofullofpromiseforalaterprojectthatIpurchased(orbarteredfor)themorsimplyspentthetimeandenergytohaulthemoffthebeachoroutofthewoods.Istoretheminagarageorthebasement,waitinguntiltherightbuildingprojectcomesalong.You,too,mayhaveasecretstashofmaterialsyou’llwanttoconsiderforyourproject.
DesignInSituSeasoneddesignersspendplentyoftimeintheenvironmentthey’rebeinghiredtoworkwith.Somewilltakeanentireyeartotracktheseasonalchanges,familiarizingthemselveswiththesubtletransitionsthataffecttheenvironmentthroughlightandtemperature.Theenddesignshouldbeareflectionofthelocation,lookingasifitgrewoutoftheenvironmentasnaturallyasatree.
Yourowndesignwillbenefitfromthetimeyouspendinthespacewhereyouroutdoorshowerwillbebuilt.Therewillcertainlybeatimewhenyou’ll
needtorefineyourideasandthinkaboutthepracticalaspectsoftheshower,butforatime,allowyourcreativitytoflowunobstructedfromyourrationalmind.
Startbycollectingsomematerialstodrawwith,suchasasketchpad,pencils,pens,oilpastelsticks,charcoal,fingerpaints,orwhateveryoufindtheeasiestandmostfuntoworkwith.Gatheryourdesignmaterialsandgotothelocationwhereyouwanttobuildyouroutdoorshower(ifyouarecontemplatingmorethanonesiteanddon’tyetknowwhichispreferable,thisexercisemayhelpyoudecide).Whileyouarewalking,imaginewhatkindofpathyouwouldliketohaveleadingtotheshoweringenvironment.Doyoualreadyhavestoneorbrickwalkwaysonyourland?Maybeyouwanttoaddanewelementtoyouryard,somethingspecialjustfortheshower.Visualizethetypeofmaterialaswellasthefeelofitunderyourfeet.Carefullyplacedcobblestones?Pigmentedconcretepadswithaggregateinthem?Brickslaidinaherringbonemotif?
Next,standinthelocationwhereyouexpecttheshowerheadtocastitswater.Lookaroundandexperiencetheshowerstructureofyourdreams.Isthereastructureatall?Maybeitisenoughjusttohaveasimplearrangementcomposedofjusttheplumbing,withouttheadditionofanyenclosure.Orpossiblyyouseeinyourmind’seyeasimpleroomofsorts.Gothroughthescenariosofthedifferentmaterialsandoptionsyouareconsidering.Doestheenclosurehavebothwallsandadoor?Whatisthematerialused—stone,wood,brick,orstucco?Isthereanopeningtolookoutofsoyoucangazeatabeautifulfeatureofyouryardordistantview?Whatisoveryourhead—atrellisofstrongtimbersdefiningthesky,possiblywithavinegrowinginapleasinglyserpentinefashionthroughit?Oristheskyviewuninterrupted?
Useyourimaginationandreallyfeelwhatitwillbeliketoinhabitthisspace.Doyouwantroomfortwopeopletoshowersimultaneously?Howwillthisfactoraffecttheplacementoftheshowerheads?Willtherebeanykindoflightinginstalledsothatyoucansafelyandconvenientlyshoweratnight?
Asyouaskyourselfthesequestions,beopentothesilentanswersthatcometoyouintheformofimagesorideas.Drawwhatfirstcomestomindwithoutthinkingaboutit.Nomatterhowwildorridiculousanimagemaybe,justletitcomeoutandleadyouontothenextone.Youareworkingwiththeinfluenceofthespacehere,andinevitablyithasalottooffer.Youmaysuddenlyunderstandsomethingaboutthelocationthatneverdawnedonyoubefore.Oryoumightrealizethatitisbettertoslightlychangethelocationtoaspotthatisbettersuitedtoyourtaste.Ormaybecarefullychangingtheorientationtoadifferentdirectionwouldmakeallthedifference.
Aframedwindowwithoutglassprovidesthebatherwithaviewofthe
surroundingenvironment.
Thefinalstructuremayenduplookingnothingliketheimagesyou’redreaminguphere,butthisisaveryimportantstepintheprocess.Allotherdesignswillfollowthesefirstloose,wild,inspiredsketches.
Thecreatorsofthissimpleoutdoorshowerhaveusedablacklocustbranchtoaddanorganicflairandgivethemorninggloriessomethingtoclimb.
Thetree-houseshowerofferstheopportunitytobathehighintheverdantboughsandfoliageofyourfavoritetree.Thisparticulardesignisamagnetforchildrenlovingtheadventurousopportunityofescapingskyward,muchinthefashionofthecharactersofTheSwissFamilyRobinson.Thetree-house
showercanbeasimpleplatform,oryoucangotogreatlengthstocreateanentiretreetopapartmentfeaturingabedroom,deck,andshoweringenclosure.Graywatercanbecollectedinatraybeneaththeshowerplatformandplumbeddowntotheground,whereitcouldemptyintoadrywellorbeusedtowaterthetreeitself.
ReflectonYourDesignSo,doesyourdesignincludefanciful,freeformshapesorisitangular,clean,andmeticulousinadifferentway?Areyoudrawntocurvesortostraightlinesandplanes?Haveyouincorporatedobjectsyoucouldfindinnature,suchastreetrunksorboulders?Perhapsyouknowofanold,rustywagonwheelthatyoupassedwhilehikingonedaythatwouldmakeforanincredibledesignelement?Doplantsplayaroleinyourmind’simageoftheshower—perhapssomegorgeousfloweringvinesattachedtothemainstructure?Isyourdreamshowerattachedtoamainbuildingcompletelyorpartly,orisitentirelyseparateandonitsowninasecludedgladeorcopseoftrees?
Lookcarefullyoveryournotepad.Arethereanyelementsinyoursketchesthatreallyspeaktoyou?Arethereparts,nomatterhowsmallorseeminglyinsignificant,thatcallbackyoureyeagainandagain?
Keeplookingoveryourdrawings.Didyouincludeadoor?Howdoesyourdoorrelatetothewalls?Isitmadefromthesamematerialsorsomethingentirelydifferent?Ifyouusedcolors,whatmaterialsdothecolorssignify?Haveyoubeenstoringinyourgarageforthepast10yearsaboxofterra-cottatilethatyoupurchasedwhilevacationinginMexico?Maybethosetilesweresoextraordinaryyoujustcouldn’tpassthemup,soyouhaggledoverapricewiththeshopowneranddrovethemhome,andtheretheyhavelivedeversince,waitinguntilthismomenttobeused.Suddenly,whileyouweremadlysketching,youdecidedtouseburntsienna,andnowyourealizethatthosetilesareexactlythatcolorandtheywerewhatyouwerethinkingofallalong.
RefineYourDesignNowtherefinementbegins.Choosetheareasthatstandouttoyou.Allowthesedetailstoguideyournextdrawings.Thistimestartwiththecomponentsyouknowyouwanttoretain,andlettherestofthedesignevolveinrelationtothem.Maybetheareasthatinitiallyworkedcanbethestartingpointofamotif(arepeateddesign,shape,orpattern)thatcarriesthroughtherestofthestructure.
Theintricatewoodenjoineryandcedargrillworkofthisshowerrequiresmoredetailedplanningthanasimpleminimalistbackyardshowerwould.
Apreexistingbuildingmayalreadyhaveastrongmotifthatyouwanttoextendtotheshower,orperhapsyouwanttocreatecontrastandstylizedtensionwithanotheraestheticentirely.Eitherway,keepwiththeelementsthatworkforyou,andsetasidetheextraneous.Youarepanningforaestheticgold,andeventuallyyouwillhaveacompleteandperfectdesign.
Bygivingampletimeandenergytothispartofthedesignprocess,youwillmaximizeyourefficiency.Itisfareasiertoredrawadesignthanitistorebuildone.Saveyourpreciousresourcesoftime,energy,andmaterialsforbuildingexactlywhatyouwant.Butrefineandre-refineyourdesignuntilyouarecompletelysureofwhatyouwant.
Yourshowerdesignwillcontinuetomatureandchangeastheconstructionprocessmovesforwardwitheachaddedmaterialandvisittothebuildingsite.Yourshowerwillnotbefullycompleteuntiltheplumbingsolderhascooled,themortarhasdriedbetweenthestones,andthewateriscoursingdownoveryourwork-wearymuscles.
Theideahereistoretainenoughintentionandforwardmovementwiththeprojectthatdiligentworkcontinues,whileremainingopenandflexiblefornew
ideasandinspirations.
CreateaScaledRenderingOnceyouhavedeterminedwhereyouwantyourshowertobelocated,howitwillbeconstructed,andwhatitwilllooklike,youarereadytorender(ordrawtoscale)thedesign(orshareyourideaswithaprofessionaldesigner,whowillcreateascaledrenderingforyou).Drawingtoscalemeansthatyouwilldrawanexactminiatureofyourstructureinwhichafractionofaninchonyourdrawingisequalto1footattheactualshowersite.Standardscaleddrawingsuse¼inchand½inchtothefoot.Forexample,ifyouaredrawingawallthatis8feethighin½-inchscale,thewallwillbe4incheshighonpaper.Orifatrellisis6feetwide,in¼-inchscaleitwouldbe1½inchesonpaper.(Inthemetricsystem,scaledrawingsarepreparedusingratios,suchas1:25or1:125,inwhateverunitsthedesignerconsidersappropriate.)
Youcanusewhateverincrementiscomfortabletoworkwith,keepinginmindthatthetranslationfromfoottoinchmustbeconsistentandnottooconfusingtocomputeinyourhead(especiallywhendealingwithfractionsofthescale),anditmustresultinascaled-downdrawingthatwillfitonyourpaper.Graphpaperhelpsconsiderablywiththisprocessbecauseitisalreadylaidoutinagrid.Youcanpurchasethefewessentialdraftingtoolsfromalocaldesign,office,orartsupplystore.Youwillneedthefollowing:pencils,aneraser,graphordraftingpaper,adraftingruler(whichistriangularandhasscaledmeasurementsalongeachedge),aplasticright-angle“square,”anyassortmentofcurvedformsyoumaywanttouse,andarolloftracingpaper.
Ashowercreatedentirelyoutofstainedglasswillilluminateyouwithrefracted,coloredsunlight.Somepeopleevenbelievethatcertainpartsofthecolor
spectrumaffectyourmoodindifferentways.Focusonanareaofthespectrumyoufeeldrawnto.
Therearetwobasicwaystodepictastructureinarchitecturaldrawing:theplanview,lookingdownonthestructurefromabove,showingoveralldimensionsandthelayoutofthespace,includingrelationshipsbetweendifferentroomsandsurroundingstructures;andtheelevationview,showingboththeinteriorandtheexteriorofthestructure,onewallorsideatatime.Elevationdrawingsareverydetailedindepictingallthearchitecturalelementsofthestructure,includingsiding,trim,andhardware.
First,drawtheplanviewtoscale,includingthethicknessofthewalls,thedirectioninwhichthedoorwillopen,thebenches,thetowelrack,andsoon,beingsuretoincludeallthefixed-in-placeorbuilt-inelementsofyourshower.Remembertoincludetheoveralllengthandwidthmeasurementsofallsuchstructuresandfixtures.
Second,drawexteriorviewsofeachsideoftheshower,includingtheheightandlengthmeasurementsofallthespecialfeaturesyouwanttoinstall,suchasfoundobjects,trellises,steps,windows,andwoodenbeams.Labeleachelevationdrawingaccordingtothedirectionalsideofthestructureitshows(east,west,north,south),whichwillkeeptheorientationclear.
Oncethesedrawingsarecomplete,youcancontinuetorefineyourideasbylayingtracingpaperoverthescaledrenderingsandsketchingoutrevisionsontop.Whenyouthinkthatyouhavefinallyreachedthepointwhereyouaresatisfiedwithyourdrawingsandthereisnomoretoadd,thenmakeafinalrenderingofyourdrawingsandletthesebeyourworkingplans.Remembertokeepallthesketches,scribbleddrawings,anddraftsofyourplansfiledinyourconstructionjournalforfuturereference.
TheUltimateOpportunisticShower
Maui,Hawaii
ONENEWYEAR’SMORNING,eightofusdrovedownanarrowandwindingcliffsideroadontheremoteHanacoastofMaui.Fiftyfeetbelowwasariverthatisoftenfloodedbytheheavystormsthatpoundthesouthernfaceofthe10,000-foot-highHaleakalaCrater.Thesefloodspourintosteepravinesandcreatewallsofwaterthatdevourtrees,animals,andtheoccasionalunsuspectingtourist.
Onthatday,weparkedthetrucksupthebeachfromthecrushingsurfbreakandwalkedsinglefileintotheenvelopingjunglevegetation.Shaftsofblazingsunlightandthesoundsofdistantandexoticmynahbirdsfiltereddownthroughtheverdantgleam.Wemadeourwayhandoverfootacrossriver-slickboulders,beingmindfulofthetreacherousalgae-coveredsurfaces.
SoonIcouldmakeoutthedistantsoundofapowerfultorrentofwater,andmypacequickenedasIlookedaheadtocatchaglimpseofwhatIwashearing.Inmoments,awaveofmisthitmeasIstaredindisbeliefatthisparagonofnature—an80-footwaterfallcascadingdownintoacrystallinepool.Withexaltationsofglee,weplungedintothepool.Idoveunderwaterandswamasfarasonebreathwouldcarryme,emergingbeneaththedirectimpactofthistorrentofpower.
Thewaterfallpoundedmyheadandshoulders.Allmystrengthwasrequiredtoremainafloatandbreathingwhilebeingstationedintheimpactzoneofthisliquidfreefall.Itfeltlikemarblesfallingfromthesky.Ihadneverexperiencedthisbefore;Iwantedtomoveaway,yetthemomentfeltalltooprecious.
Finally,Iswamawayandgazedatthisincrediblesight,averitableEden.Lushtropicalvegetationgrewenthusiasticallyonthesurroundingcavernouswalls.Amongdelightedfriendscavortingandplayinglikechildren,IfeltallwaswellonthatNewYear’smorn.
Resources
ARCHITECTSBlackbirdArchitectsSantaBarbara,CA805-957-1315Venice,CA310-392-3150
HorstBuchananArchitectsJamaicaPlain,MA617-524-6429www.horstbuchanan.com
LanceJ.Brown,[email protected](fax)MacNellyCohenWestTisbury,MAwww.macnellycohen.com508-693-4043
LANDSCAPEARCHITECTSJaneMacLeishLandscapesWashington,DC202-966-8279www.janes-garden.com
StephenStimsonAssociatesFalmouth,MA508-548-8119www.stephenstimson.com
DESIGNERSChanceAndersonCanterbury,NH603-783-4490
BlacklineDesignBuildOakland,CA510-663-8868www.blacklinedb.com
AlexiaBrueBrooklyn,[email protected],HI808-874-1239www.ethanfierro.com
GaryHarcourtAgainsttheGrainOakBluffs,MA508-693-7414
JayLagemannChilmark,MAwww.gowildisland.com
SteveLohmanWestTisbury,MA508-693-4869www.lineartgallery.com
PaulTullerDublin,NH603-563-8884ww.barndoorvideo.com
SUPPLIERSRodneyBeauchesneMontague,MA413-367-2482
GovGolemanMetalUrgesConway,MA413-369-4451
Sticks&StonesCampbell,CA
408-378-1950
Tony’sT-House805-646-6385www.tonysthouse.com
GinnyYannsNewYork,NY212-989-1185
MANUFACTURERSChicagoFaucetwww.chicagofaucet.com
Eljerwww.eljer.com
HaloLightingwww.halolighting.com
Kohlerwww.kohler.com
Moenwww.moen.com
OTHERREADINGBathrooms:InspiringIdeasandPracticalSolutionsforCreatingaBeautifulBathroombyChrisCassonMaddenClarksonPotter,1996
CathedralsoftheFlesh:MySearchforthePerfectBathbyAlexiaBrueBloomsburyUSA,2003
Acknowledgments
ItwasthestaffatStoreyPublishingthatfirstcameupwiththeconceptofabookonoutdoorshowers.IespeciallywanttothankeditorialdirectorDeborahBalmuth,whoguidedtheprocessthroughitsearlystageswithsuchenthusiasmandsupport,aswellasDanReynoldsandPamArtfortheirsupportandreceptivityofthisproject.
Iamgratefultomyeditor,CarleenPerkins,forhercreativity,professionalism,andebullience,consideringthedauntingtaskofsiftingoutthegrainfromthechaffoftheoriginalmanuscript.
Also,adeepbowofappreciationforandacknowledgmentthatthisbookwouldnotexistwithouttheloveandsupportofsomanyfriends,family,andkindredspiritswhoagreedtoletmeincludeimagesofthemand/ortheirshowersandsurroundings.Theysharedtheirknowledgeandwisdomaboutaestheticsandtechnicalchallengesandemergedasaseamlesswebofinterconnectedvoices,allsharingwiththisauthorhisloveofshoweringoutofdoors.
Tothecenterofthe“sixdegreesofseparation”anddearestfriend,PamelaPutney,whohasprovidedsanctuary,creativeguidance,encouragement,andtirelessnurturing.
Ispecificallywanttothankmymentor,ChanceAnderson,woodandstoneworkerextraordinaire,whoseaffectionateparticipationwiththenaturalworldhasbeenabeaconandaninspiration.
Andanotherbowtomywoodworkingsensei,PaulTuller,whohaslostsleepoverfindingcreativesolutionstomymechanicalhurdles.
IwanttoalsothankMichaelSinger,friendanddesigngenius,andmygodfather,DickNewick,whoseworld-classmulti-hullssetthebarforexcellenceinphysicalmanifestationwhenIwasateenagerunderhistutelage.
ItwasmymotherLeeandmyfatherBerniewhokinestheticallyboreanadorationfortheartisticapproachtolifeandcreatedtheoutdoorshowerofmychildhood,whettingmyappetiteforbathingoutdoors.
Andlastly,tomylifelongfellowadventurerandbelovedwife,Phyllis,whosecommitment,devotion,andboundlessspirithasinfusedthisentireprocess.
Underwetstarlightdelicatelymassaging
rejuvenation
Index
Pagenumbersinitalicsindicatephotographsorillustrations.
A
accessibility,14
accessories,30
activesolarsystem,20
adobe,62,63.Seealsostuccoandplasteraesthetics,37,63,72,127.Seealsodesignalcove,38
ambient-temperatureshower,23
AppleFarm,The,29
arbor,42,81,82,85,125
architect,124
architecturaldrawing,135
architecture,12,40,72,86,88
Arizona,93,99
Asia,67,112
attachedminimalistshower,78
B
balancedstonelanterns,37
bamboo,66,67,90
beachsideshower,72,73,76
Beauchesne,Rodney,59
BigSur,California,68–69
blackplastictarp,114,115
BlackRock,Nevada,114–15
brick,50,51,60,91
bronzehardware,41,78
budgetandschedule,119–20
buildingcodes,21,24
buildingcontractor,120,122,124,126
buildingmaterials,40–43
quality,12
semitransparent,96
siteaccessfor,14
wallsandenclosures,28
Seealsospecificmaterial
BurningManFestival,The,114–15
C
cabana,27
California,65,68–69,84,100–101
campshower,105–8
CapeCod-stylehouse,44
ceilingtile,55
centerdrain,100
chimney,40
chlorinatedpolyvinylchloride(CPVC),23,105
cistern,17
climate
coldweather,55,59,63,95
tropical,23
Seealsowinterizationcollectionpan.
Seeshowerpancomputer-controlledlightingsystems,34–35
concrete,27,42,63,68,93,95
contractor,120,122,124,126
copper,23
hanginglamps,37
lantern,35
plumbing,31,41,70,95
verdigrispatina,37,78
corrugatedgalvanizedmetalpanels,29,84
CPVC(chlorinatedpolyvinylchloride)tubing,23,105
D
deck,26,41
deck-sideshower,83
depressurization,21
design,36,76,132,133.Seealsoplanninganddesigndimmerswitch,34,37
down-washlamps,34,35
drainage.Seewaterdrainage
dreamshowerdesigns
stainedglassnautilusshower,134
teahouseshower,123
tree-houseshower,131
drywell,25,27,81
E
electrician,35
electricity,95,109
elevationdrawing,135
enclosed/attachedshower,79,117
fieldstoneconstruction,53
graywaterevacuation,81
moisturedamageprotection,79–81
privacy,81
styles,82–85
end-capfittings,22
Entomoshower,108,109
EsalenInstitute,The,68–69
evaporationpool,114,115
expansiontank,20
F
feedlines,21
fiber-opticcable,37
fittings,30
fixedlocationcampshower,105–8
fixtures,30,100
flash-heatingwater,18
floodlights,34
floor.Seeshowerfloor
footings,27
footpump,111
footrinsing,25,38,85
framing,42,84
freeformshowerenclosure,62
freestandingpedestalshower,78
freezingweather.Seewinterizationfullydetachedshower,91,92
glassblock,39
glazedceramictile,57
styles,91,92–93
walkway,91,94–95
whitecedar,11
G
galvanizedmetalpanels,29,84
galvanizedpipe,22
gardenhoses,77,103
gas-poweredpumps,109
geothermalsulfurhotsprings,69
glass
block,39,60,61,63,96,98
framingfor,63
plexiglass,91
stainedglass,60,63
graveldrywell,25
graywater,86
drainage,24–26
evacuation,81
filtering,Entomoshower,108,109
forirrigation,95
unfiltered,26
“groutpile,”55
H
handlesandhooks,33
hardware.Seefixtures
Hawaii,38–39,57,136–37
headroom,30
hooksandhandles,33
hotsprings,69
hottub,126
hotwater,17–20
householdtankheaters,18
on-demandheaters,18
solarheaters,19–20
Seealsoplumbing
householdwastewatersystem,81
hydrogensulfide,18
I
illumination.Seelighting
indoor-outdoorshower,96,97–99
insectbreedingground,81
inspection,21
J
Japanese-stylesoakingtub,99
K
KahuaHawaiianInstitute,The,38–39,76
L
landscaping,12
floweringtreebackdrop,122
ornamentalgrasses,28
perennialsandshrubs,92
vegetativescreening,28,82,91
vines,53,130
lathewall,67
leachfield,26
LED(light-emittingdiode),37
liabilityinsurancepolicy,122
licensedcontractor,21,120,121
light-emittingdiode(LED),37
lighting
pathway,95
shower,34–35,60,95,128
localbuildingcodes,21,24
location,12–14
low-impact,manuallyoperatedshower,110,111
lumber.Seewood
lumberyard,56
M
manuallyoperatedshower,109,110,111
Martha’sVineyard,Massachusetts,9,71,75,85
materials.Seebuildingmaterials;specificmaterial
Maui,Hawaii,38–39,57,58,75,90,136–37
mermaidshower,76
metal,29,64,84
mildew,58
minimalistshower,65,73,74–77,78,126
modesty.Seeprivacy
moisturedamageprotection,79–81
monumentcompanies,56
mountaintopshower,76
multi-headshower,72
N
Naguchi,Isamu,127
naturalwatersources,15,113
nauticalfootpump,111
nautical-gradedecklights,34,41
nautilus-shapedenclosure,83
Nevada,114–15
NewEngland,54,79
NewHampshiremountaintopshower,76
O
on-demandheaters,95
opportunisticshower,15,112,113,136,137
blackhose,112
scoopbath,112
ornamentalaggregates,63
P
PacificNorthwest,45,46
partition,28,81,96
passivesolarsystem,20
path.Seewalkway
pedestalshower,10,22,77,103
percolationofsoil,24,25
permanentshowers,70–72.Seealsospecificshowertypephotovoltaicpanels,19
pipes.Seeplumbing
planninganddesign,116–35,131
budgetandschedule,119–20
contractorselection,120,122,124,126
ideagathering,126–28,130
refinementofdesign,132–33
scaledrendering,133,135
planview,135
plexiglass,91
plumber,122
plumbing,21–22
drainingforwinter,21,95
extensiontoshower,15
fullydetachedshower,95
gardenhoses,77,103
householdsystem,16,82
materialoptions,23
overhead,41
polishedchrome,82
seasonal,77
semi-detachedshower,86
Seealsocopper;hotwater
poolsideshower,73,99
postandbeamframing,42
privacy,12,14,81
beadedcurtain,48
glassblock,60,61
indoorplants,98
lineofsight,81,83
partition,96
twodoors,84
propane,95,111
publicshower,73
punchlist,124
Q
qualityofmaterials,12
quarry,55,56
R
radiantheat,63
raincatchments,15,17
rammedearth,63,64
rebar,63,67
reclaimed/recycledmaterials,40,42–43,46,59
boards,enclosure,47
brick,60
glassblock,63
metal,64
stone,55
renovationcontractors,60
repressurization,21
rheostatdimmerswitch,34,37
rooftopcisterns,17
S
salvagedmaterials.Seereclaimed/recycledmaterials
SantaBarbara,California,100–101
screeningdevice,28
sealant,58,59
seasonaldraining,21
second-homeowners,18
second-storyshower,97
semi-detachedshower,86,87–89
septicsystem,25,26,86
sewagesystem,24
showerfloor
concrete,27,95
floortile,55
nonslippery,26,58
showerhead(s),32
ceramic,82
generous,84
height,30
ideallocation,128
multiple,88,128
pickle-shaped,114
pipe,10,70
water-saving,74
showerpan,26,81,86,95
shut-offvalves,21
slats,28
soakingtubandshower,99
soil,24,25,27,81
solarheaters,19–20
solarpanel,20,35
solarshower,104–5
Southwest,63
spigot,38
spotlights,34
steelrebar,63,67
steelsources,64
stone,50
basalt,52,92
bluestone,52,94
choices,52,54,56
fieldstone,28,52,89
granite,51,85
lantern,36,37
marble,52
pavers,51
quarry,55,56
seatstones,27
slabs,massive,76,85
slate,51,52,99
sources,55,56
storagetank.Seecistern
stuccoandplaster,38,64–65,67,79,99
T
temporaryshowers,102–15
Entomoshower,108,109
fixed-locationcampshower,105–8
gardenhosesfor,103
gravity-fed,102
propane-heated,106
solarshower,104–5
thatchedroof,90
tile
cement,59
ceramic,50,56,57,58
mosaic,57,59,100
porcelain,56
quarry,58
slate,50,99
terra-cotta,58
twokeygroups,55
trellis,88
tripod,110,111
tropicalenvironments,23
Tyvekpaper,80
U
ultravioletdegradation,37
underlayment,81
V
vaporbarrier,80
viewfromshower,14,81,129
W
walkway,91,94–95
considerations,128
lighting,35–37,95
materials,51,94
nonslippery,94
wallsandenclosures,28–29
warm-climateshowers,50
wastewater.Seegraywater
waterdrainage,100
drainagevalves,10
drywell,25,86,95
surfacerunoff,24
waterfall,15,101,113,137
waterpressure,21
waterproofing,79–81
watersupply,15,95
West,Jonathan,109
WhiteLotusRetreatCenter,The,100–101
winterization,15,21,27,95
wood,43
Alaskanyellowcedar,99
blacklocust,42,43,45
cypress,45
Douglasfir,13,42,46,50,94,121
grillwork,82,132
lattice,48
mahogany,50,82
marine-gradeplywood,80
non-splintering,26,94
planking,94
PortOrfordcedar,94
pressure-treated,48,80,84
shoppingtips,49
siding,80,81
Southernyellowpine,48–49
typestoavoid,49
westernredcedar,45,99
whitecedar,10,44,71,78
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