How to build a heated outdoor shower at a summer cottage?

Today, almost every city dweller has a summer cottage. This is a great place to relax from working days, where you can have a great vacation and weekend with family and friends. In order to provide comfortable living outside the city, it is necessary not only to beautifully decorate the landscape design of the site, but also equip it with such an important structure as a shower. The heated system is especially popular with summer residents. Unlike other types of structures, it is easy to install and allows you to refresh yourself at any time of the year.

A country shower is a unique structure with a combined type of heating, in which in warm weather the water is heated by the sun, and when it is cold outside, a special ten is put into operation. You can build such a shower on a land plot yourself, since the installation requires a minimum number of component parts. In addition, if the building is decorated in an original way, then it will harmoniously complement the design of the cottage.

Before you start installing the structure, you should correctly choose and prepare a place for it. Since in summer the water should warm up on its own under the influence of the sun's rays, it is not advisable to place the shower room in the shade. The best solution would be to build it on an open area in the garden, but at the same time, it is worthwhile to provide access to electricity, which will be needed to operate the heating elements.

A summer shower must include:

• racks;
• tank;
• tap;
• rug;
• watering can.

In order for the structure to be durable, its racks must be well strengthened. In addition, it is advisable to install the tank in a dark color, since it is he who will "attract" heat and heat the water in the warm season. Inside the building, it is necessary to lay a rubber mat, thanks to which bathing will become as comfortable as possible, and the racks can be covered with moisture-resistant material in the form of curtains or film.

Many also place a shower next to the house, in this case it acts as an extension to one of the walls of a residential building. But with such an installation, it is important to pay attention to the fact that the sun's rays hit the tank in a straight line. In addition, you will need to protect the wall from the negative effects of moisture and lay insulation, as well as tiling. Of course, such an arrangement looks beautiful in landscape design, but the water in the tank will not heat up well due to the shadow created by the house.

It is not difficult to build an outdoor heated shower, the most important thing is to first think over its layout and correctly draw up a project. Thanks to the drawings and diagrams, it will be possible to quickly calculate the material consumption and the amount of construction work. It is worth noting that to install such a structure, it is not necessary to use the most expensive materials; you can get by with a practical and affordable finish. To design a large summer shower, a jellied foundation will be required, and simple structures are usually installed on piles.

An important point when choosing a design project is the material from which the installation will be made. Recently, many owners of summer cottages have chosen brick structures. They fit perfectly into the design of the site, but they are expensive to build. It is also possible to install a wooden shower with a changing room and heating.

Polycarbonate heated garden shower projects are also very popular. The finishing material is characterized by light weight and strength, resistant to external factors and easy to install. To build such a structure with your own hands, they prepare drawings of the booth and locker rooms. Usually, the height of the booth is from 2 to 2.5 m, and its width should not be less than 1 m.It is also important to indicate in the project the depth of the shower stall, for a comfortable bathing its indicators are 1.2 m.

In addition, the sketches prescribe the material for the frame sheathing., which can be made from profiles, metal pipes, and wooden beams. In the project, you also need to display the arrangement of the upper part of the building, it is usually covered with decking and a flat tank is placed. A barrel can also be used as a container for water. In the diagrams, the installation of electrical wiring and the drainage system should be prescribed. As for the changing room, its dimensions are selected individually.

During the construction of a country shower, you need to decide on the water heating system. To comfortably cool off on hot days after working in the country, the water must be warm, otherwise you can catch a cold. Today, there are several types of installation of structures, in each of which a certain heating scheme is installed.

• Portable shower. It is a simple version of the structure in which water is poured into a special bag equipped with a watering can. The bag is hung on a rack and filled with pre-heated water. You can also place the container and wait for the contents to warm up on their own in the sun. The main advantage of such a system is efficiency, it does not require additional equipment, the water is heated without the cost of electricity, but the volume of the bag, which is 20 liters, will not allow the whole family to fully swim.

• Solar heated shower. Thanks to special equipment, you can profitably use solar energy, which will generate heat and make bathing almost free. To do this, in a summer cottage, you can install a structure from any building material and place a tank under its roof, having previously painted it black or covered with a dark film. In addition, it is recommended to additionally arrange reflectors with the tank in the form of sheet or roll foil materials; old mirrors may also be suitable for these purposes. As a result of this installation, the tank will heat up under the influence of both direct and reflected rays of the sun, the only drawback of this system is the uneven heating of the water, since warm water will be at the top of the tank. But to eliminate this problem, it is enough to attach a float inside the tank, as a result of which heated water will flow into the outlet hose.

• Titanium. In the event that it is necessary to warm up the water forcibly, without using solar energy, they build country showers with a system of coal or wood-burning titanium. In such structures, the water will always be warm, regardless of weather conditions. To increase the efficiency of heating, an expander is additionally installed in the tank or barrel, it evenly distributes the streams of cold and hot liquid, so warm water enters directly into the container, and cold water goes down into the heat exchanger. But it is worth paying attention to the fact that such equipment belongs to the category of fire hazardous, as it is equipped with an open fire. Therefore, if you do not have experience in installing titanium, then it is better to entrust the construction of a shower to specialists.

In addition, it is necessary to purchase a high quality boiler from well-established manufacturers that would meet all safety standards and safety measures. Additionally, in the summer shower, you will need to finish the walls, ceiling and flooring with thermal insulation and asbestos. This will protect the structure from possible fire. If the titanium is planned to be placed externally, then you should also worry about fencing its space, especially in areas where children can play.

• Electrically heated shower. It is considered the most popular and convenient design option in which water is heated using an electric heater. The only drawback of such a system is the high power consumption and the load on the network. Therefore, for this type of heating, you must first think over the optimization of the power grid and install powerful wiring that would meet all the requirements for safe operation. In addition, all switches, sockets and cables must be grounded and protected from moisture.

• Solar panels. The most modern type of water heating in a dacha shower is a system equipped with vacuum collectors that run on solar energy. Of course, such an installation is considered expensive, but its effectiveness, practicality and safety will pay off over time. To mount such a system, panels are attached to the roof of the structure, which consist of vacuum tubes, they store energy and heat water. At the same time, the panels do not require additional power sources, they work from the sun, converting ultraviolet radiation into thermal energy.

The construction of a country shower begins with the choice of a drainage method, since the convenience and duration of the structure's operation will depend on it. If inaccuracies are allowed at this stage of the installation, then it will be difficult to correct them in the future. Most often, a drainage system is used for a country shower, which is created on the basis of tires and a drainage pit. To do this, the top layer of soil is opened, a ditch is dug, drainage is laid and a pipeline is laid.

This is the easiest way, in which water flows from the sump into a drainage hole and is discharged into the sewer system. It is important when laying the floor covering to provide a small angle of inclination in order to ensure good drainage. The drain hole must be cleaned as it fills.

After the issue with the drain is resolved, you can perform the following stages of work.

• Create a sketch of the future structure and mark the area for construction. The project should include drawings of the frame, as well as a diagram of the installation of the foundation and additional communication systems. In the event that the foundation is filled, then you will need to dig a small pit, and for the pile foundation it is enough to level the soil and make holes.
• Prepare a place for installing a summer shower. The site is carefully leveled and cleaned of debris, in the place where the drain is planned, a layout is made of moisture-resistant material. For this, a waterproofing film, concrete or sheets of roofing material may be suitable, in addition, the angle of inclination is determined, since water flows down better with a slope. To avoid the appearance of an unpleasant odor from the sewer in the future, it is important to install a good ventilation system, lay a protective mesh over the pit and cover it with boards.

• If the shower stall will be used by more than three people, then it is advisable to make a drain pit with a depth of 2 to 3 meters, placing it at a distance of 3 meters from the structure. At the bottom of the sewer pit, it is imperative to fill in rubble or sand, and its walls can be laid out from old tires or a special sewer barrel can be installed.It is worth paying attention to the fact that the drain hole must always be closed, otherwise children or animals may fall into it.
• Carry out the installation of the frame. At the end of all the preparatory work, you can proceed to the construction of the frame. As a rule, aluminum profiles are used for its installation, they are easy to fasten and easily take the desired shape. The horizontal and vertical supports are also fixed for the upper ceiling and tank placement.

• Carry out the cladding. For external and internal finishing of the structure, you can use various building materials, while specialists most often choose polycarbonate sheets with a thickness of 8 to 16 mm for this.
• Install the water tank. Depending on the selected type of water heating, both an autonomous water heater and an ordinary barrel can be placed. If necessary, heat insulation is carried out between the roof and the tank, additional equipment, protective film and reflectors are mounted.
• Attach doors and install hooks, hangers and shelves inside the shower. The door is usually knocked down from boards with a thickness of 20 mm, after which they are sheathed with the same material that is used to decorate the walls. It is attached to the structure using hinges that are screwed onto the pillars of the doorway.

Recently, most of the owners of summer cottages prefer to install an outdoor shower on their own, since such a process is not particularly difficult. But in order for the structure to be durable and comfortable, you need to know how to properly install it.

For beginners, the following recommendations can help.

• Before building a shower, you need to choose a place to install the structure. It should harmoniously fit into the overall design and be placed where there are no drafts.
• The drain hole should be made based on the volume of the tank, it should be 2.5 times larger than it.
• Do not install septic materials and drainage directly under the cab, this must be done next to it, otherwise it will not be possible to avoid the penetration of unpleasant odors.
• It is best to cover the drain with waterproofing materials.

• During the construction of the structure, it is not recommended to use clay, as it quickly gets wet and washed out, as a result of which the drainage system can become clogged.
• It is possible to improve the water flow by installing the shower stall in an elevated place.
• The structure should be comfortable for swimming and have free space, so its height should not be less than 3 m. In addition, 1 sq. m need to be allocated for a dressing room. The optimal width for a shower stall is 190 cm.
• The base and frame of the structure must be made strong and reliable, they must withstand heavy loads, since a tank with water will be installed on top.

• The outer casing of a summer shower can be made with various building materials, but it is best to give preference to slate sheets, fiberboard, polycarbonate, moisture-resistant plywood or lining. At the same time, the finishing material should not only be reliable in operation, but harmoniously fit into the landscape design of the site. Therefore, if necessary, it can be painted or decorated with original drawings and patterns.
• It should be ensured that the doors of the structure are tightly closed and do not let cold air flows. Additionally, thermal insulation can be installed on the door and sealing elements can be fixed along its contour. This will help retain heat inside the structure and protect the doors from the negative effects of moisture.
• An outdoor shower can also be used in winter, but in this case, its structure should be well insulated. For this, expanded polystyrene, polystyrene or mineral wool is applied to the walls and ceiling of the booth. The thermal insulation is fixed with a stapler and sheathed with decorative material.

For information on how to make an outdoor shower with your own hands, see the next video.