Outdoor Showers: Bathing Au Naturale

Right now it’s still a bit of a chilly thought but many Hamptonites who swear by the regenerative qualities of their outdoor showers are sweeping out the oak leaves, polishing up the handles and stocking up on their favorite summer creme rinses.

East Hampton-based designer Mark Schryver recently enthused, “I shut my outdoor shower down just after Thanksgiving and open it up when taxes are due on April 15th. Taking a shower in the great outdoors is one of life’s great pleasures.”

In fact, Mr. Schryver, an avid gardener, has customized his outdoor shower such that he can view his entire garden while soaping up.

“I work so hard in my garden, why deprive myself of the view when taking a shower?” he asked.

His privacy walls stand only 60 inches tall, with a demure see-through lattice that rises to 72 inches—permitting his vision to see through the lattice and prying eyes to be halted by the lattice screen.

East Hampton’s Bob Mannes, an experienced contractor who claims to have built well over 50 outdoor showers, reported that showers aren’t typically part of the original house plan. He added that planning is still paramount when adding an

au naturel

place to clean up.

“These showers are generally an afterthought, something added on well after construction has been completed,” he reported. “Drainage away from the foundation and the structure of the house is paramount.”

Mr. Mannes said that he prefers pouring a slab, tapered toward the center, with a good drain “up to 3 inches in diameter.” Then he pipes it away from the house, either into the septic or a dry well.

“If not used too often, the shower can be inexpensively laid with a heavy vinyl pan pitched and graded away from the house,” he said.

For such a shower, he advised filling the bottom with gravel and creating a form of French drain. As many soils on the East End are sandy, drainage of “grey water” can be easily dispensed and quite replenishing to the garden.

On top of this gravel, Mr. Mannes recommended using removable teak, mahogany or cedar decking with spacing in between the slabs so that the water will run through it. Or, some might prefer to use Ipe wood decking, which is extremely expensive but almost rot-resistant. And of course Trex, a composite of recycled rubber tires, is totally rot-resistant, though a bit slippery.

Mr. Schryver wisely pointed out that attention must be paid to the floor design since you are always looking down.

“I found these wonderful teak floor mats from Smith & Hawken and assembled them in a cat’s eye design,” he said.

Mr. Mannes said that he enjoys embedding slip-resistant olive stone mosaic in his concrete slab floors.

To prevent rot, CCA-treated wood posts clad in cedar, mahogany or teak are advised, Mr. Mannes said. Particularly, “making sure they are strong enough with good quality hinges attached to support a heavy, frequently swung door.” He added that setting the posts outside the slab, versus on the slab, also helps prevent rot.

Mr. Schryver also recommended linking your outdoor shower aesthetically to your home, picking up architectural cues from your house.

“For instance, I clad the exterior of my shower with shingles, which lined up perfectly with the shingle rows on my house. I bordered it in white to match my home’s trim and then took the top trellis detail from my fencing,” he said.

And Mr. Mannes said that he enjoys using readily available tongue-and-groove cedar bead board stained a color to match his client’s siding. He stands it vertically, always allowing six to eight inches of open space on the bottom for water to splash out, and for water to be able to overflow from the pan.

“This also prevents rot and allows a nice breeze to cool your toes,” he said.

Both men recommended sturdy copper piping with a good showerhead.

“Don’t skimp,” laughed Mr. Schryver. “Just because it’s outdoors doesn’t mean you should go cheap here. A heavy-duty adjustable head only enhances the experience.”

Mr. Mannes reported that he frequently installs galvanized outdoor shower bridges—which are available at East Hampton Plumbing & Heating Supply, where an entire wall is devoted to displaying outdoor shower plumbing selections. He also said that he installs cross handles versus levers (which can create a drip) and he frequently upgrades the entire assemblage with nickel fittings for an uptown style or south-of-the-highway savoir faire.

The interior experience is equally important as the exterior impression, according to Mr. Schryver. He extolled the virtue of cladding the interior with vertical cedar, hiding the unsightly structural timbers.

Conversely, Mr. Mannes said he likes the look, but is concerned about internal rot, given the exterior application.

We’ll let them duke it out.

Both can agree, though, that the outdoor shower plumbing must be able to be drained for winter. Mr. Mannes turns off his clients’ outdoor showers and releases their drain plugs. Mr. Schryver cleverly asks his irrigation contractor to blow out the shower pipes when he blows out his irrigation system.

According to Mr. Schryver, a lack of space need not deter one from building an outdoor shower. He said that “36 inches by 36 inches is all the interior space you need to be comfortable.”

Mr. Mannes said he prefers a bit more room. He enjoys adding a dressing area with a bench for sitting, disrobing and taking off shoes away from the wet area.

Other tips? Well, Mr. Schryver adds a spigot at foot level to rinse beach sand off. And he adds a small shaving mirror and ample hooks.

My good friends Susan and Joe provide their guests with a large chrome wall-mounted basket stocked with a lavish supply of Costco’s giant containers of shampoo and creme rinse. One of the greatest charms of their outdoor shower comes in late May when the Montana rubens clematis they have twined atop their shower blooms, sprinkling profuse pink petals and a faint scent of vanilla all over.

Some showers sport a summer stretch of canvas for walls. I have contemplated walls of lush espaliered crab apples around mine. And I’ve seen one totally constructed with mirror inside and out.

Ooh la la!

But Mr. Schryver warns that frosted glass can expose an intriguing silhouette so one might steer clear of that concept.

My client, Marion, asked for her shower door to open such that no one could see in. She likes to leave the shower door open so she can gaze over a pearlescent August ocean while sudsing herself into Nirvana.

I can’t wait to complete my own shower. I long to gaze out at my own garden and at my own East End firmament above, no matter the chill, wind or rain. What a delight it will be!