Building a shower to give yourself: the main stages of work

You will lose a lot if you do not want to build a summer shower in the country, especially with heated water. It will help not only to wash off the dirt and sweat after the field work, but also will serve as a place of relaxation and restoration of the body. Rest assured, fatigue and spleen after taking water treatments will pass almost instantly. If there is a desire to automate the process, a good solution would be to give a shower with a pump, just take care of the constant supply of electricity for it.

Today, our task is to talk about how to create a shower stall with your own hands at the dacha. We will try to consider ready-made structures as much as possible, to make our own construction scheme, and also to make installation works on it.

Main works

Before proceeding with the production of our design, it is necessary to determine the stages of work:

Below we will consider all the above points in more detail.

Project development

Do not rush to choose a place for the shower box until you can find answers to some nuances:

• how far the structure will be located from the water source - the well, the well or the water supply system; the length of the hose supplying it will depend on it;
• where the runoff of dirty water will be organized - into a septic tank, soil or ditch. In the last two cases, will it fall into the aquifer that feeds yours or the neighbor’s well ?;
• If you want the accumulative capacity to be well warmed by the sun in summer, then look for the lightest spot on the plot;
• try to find a compromise between the normal illumination of the soul and its hidden installation so that it is not covered by wind or bystander.

Tip: look for a site that will be as flat as possible and with loose soil. The best option - a shower on a hill. Even if it is impossible to organize a normal flow of water, under it it will not stagnate.

Additional recommendations:

• drain with ordinary rubble;
• you should not have the structure close to the neighbor's plot, as the land around it will always be damp, which can cause conflict;
• You can organize a joint drain from the sink of the summer kitchen, if you install a shower stall next to it. It is enough to use metal pipes and fittings for them. Such a design may exist for decades;
• Having thought over the details and making a drawing, make a list of materials that will be useful to you in the first and second turn.

Tip: immediately decide - a summer shower will be collapsible or stationary.

If you buy ready

In this case, only money or your understanding of the structure can be a limitation. Most often acquire the design, the frame of which is made of metal corners or shaped tube. The walls here can be cellular polycarbonate or dense polyethylene. Sometimes a wooden frame is offered, but during installation it should be properly treated from rotting.

When choosing a model should pay attention:

• on its hygienic characteristics;
• is there a conclusion of the SES;
• whether the ready-made shower meets the fire safety requirements;
• Whether the instruction manual is offered and whether the design passport is included in the package.

Shower base

It is best to give maximum stability to the frame with the help of the correctly chosen foundation for it. In this case, you should first plan the drainage pipe to the sewer or septic tank.

The frame does not have a large mass, but it will have to maintain a container with water, which can weigh up to 500 kg.

Therefore, it is usually sufficient to make a pile or column foundation:

• take a garden auger and make pits 1.5 m deep;
• after installing piles or posts in them, make sure that 300 mm is left outside. We recommend using asbestos-cement pipes O 100 mm for such work, although metal pipes of the same size are also suitable;

Tip: a wooden frame should be made of a cross-section of 100 to 100 mm of timber so that it can securely hold the water tank.

• install hewn timber on the foundation;
• start dressing the pillars on top - assemble the frame on the ground, and then attach it to the base with bolts;
• bandage the bars - you get lags for the floor in the shower stall. Improve this method will help bought in the store shower tray, where there is already a drain, which must then be connected to the sewage system.

The second option:

• make 6 holes 200 by 200 mm in size and half a meter deep;
• prepare for each a wooden formwork with a height of 200 mm;
• take the building level and align the horizontal of the base;

Tip: to improve strength, insert three rods of metal reinforcement into each pit and secure them with wire.

• at the bottom of each pit, put a piece of roofing material, protecting the foundation from moisture;
• fill wells with cement-sand mortar;
• align all the formwork;
• place one metal stud in the center of each structure to a depth of at least 120 mm;
• as soon as the concrete has hardened, disassemble the formwork and proceed to the installation of the frame, connecting it with the studs.

The third method is a tape base, which is not so popular and, the price of which is much higher:

• mark up the future foundation;
• measure the diagonals to match their length;
• dig trenches 300 mm wide and deep;
• install the formwork around the edges;
• fill all with concrete;
• check the horizontal position after the base has hardened and level everything with a cement-sand mortar;
• set the frame.

Frame Mounting

1. Determine the dimensions of the structure.
2. Consider that you have a normal pressure from the tank, it should be raised by at least 2.5 m.
3. Inside the cabin should have enough space for the adoption of water procedures, the best option - 1 m by 1 m.
4. We recommend to provide a dressing room - 1.6 per 1 m.
5. As a result, the optimal dimensions of the shower for the suburban area can be 2 m by 1.5 m, but, everything will depend on your desire. These dimensions will allow to use boards of standard sizes without a waste.
6. For the manufacture of metal frame required welding machine and skills to work with him.

Tip: to reinforce the structure, concrete the foundation for a canopy in the foundation.

Assemble the wooden frame on the ground, and then, drilling holes for reinforcement, install it on the base. For better stability, make spacers diagonally in the side frames.

Any material, such as polyethylene, will be suitable for covering walls, but it is short-lived, although inexpensive.

Want a more reliable option - use:

• plexiglass;
• slate;
• asbestos cement slabs;
• metal sheets;
• plastic panels;
• OSB or DSP.

The most economical option is a waterproof curtain, more aesthetic - with a door made of material that sheathes the frame. The roof will serve as a flat water tank or you should first make jumpers on its base, and then close it with a covering. Only then can you install the tank.

Tank mounting

We recommend not to consider a barrel as a reservoir, it is better to use a flat container. In the latter case, the water in it warms up much faster, and the weight is distributed more evenly throughout the structure.

Yes, and fix the flat tank on the roof easier.

1. Install a tap with a watering can into the tank and seal each thread with silicone.
2. Install a level meter or a special valve in the tank that allows shutting off the water supply during its filling, if the automatic method is chosen.
3. Lock the tank on the roof of the shower structure.

Tip: buy a black tank or paint it then black, so that the sun's rays are better “stuck” to it.

1. Around the tank make a kind of greenhouse, which will reduce heat transfer.

Warming shower

The weather may not always make us happy, even in summer, not to mention spring and autumn. However, this is not a reason not to use the shower at the dacha, you only need to protect it. Do not know what to warm the shower in the country?

Best with polystyrene foam or foam.

1. Fill the frame with insulating material.
2. Cover it with plastic film, which fasten with brackets.
3. Wrap the same and the timber next to the foundation to protect it from moisture.
4. Install a warmer on the door, then the wind will not be able to get into the cabin.
5. Take a strong PVC film and make the inner trim. You can also use linoleum instead.
6. Perform external cladding work.
7. Supply electricity to the heating elements inside the storage tank, not forgetting to follow the safety rules. Be sure to ground the electrical equipment.

Conclusion

Having made a compact shower for giving independently, using the offered instructions, you can considerably save your budget. The main thing is to properly prepare for future work.

The video in this article will provide an opportunity to find additional information on the above topic.