What could be more exhilarating than being outside, communing with nature in your most natural state? An outdoor glass block shower is simply the most luxurious expression of outdoor living that you can find as we move into the warmer summer months. An outdoor glass block shower won’t block the sun or star light, the sound of birds, the fresh air or the feeling of connection with the outdoors, but it will still provide privacy (in case you aren’t ready to go full wild child, ‘au naturel’ just yet).
Of course, besides the more sensuous considerations, there are practical reasons to build an outdoor glass block shower as well, including:
- To wash off the chlorine after being in the pool
- To clean off before getting in the pool
- To wash off dirt or sand, so it isn’t tracked into the house
- To wash your animals
- As a building material, glass block is durable, mildew resistant and very easy to clean.
Styles of outdoor showers
An outdoor shower can be as simple as a showerhead spurting cold water that is attached to the siding of your home, or as elaborate as a shower/changing room combo, with hot and cold water, landscaped to highlight the natural setting and fully private. An outdoor shower using glass block, potentially allows the best of both worlds — as simple as you want, but private as well. Design your outdoor shower around your needs and the experience you’re trying to create, and you’re sure to end up with something you can enjoy summer after summer.
The amenities you choose to include can make a big difference in the practicality and experience of the shower, and ultimately, in how often the shower is used and how it becomes an integral part of your outdoor, warm-weather living. Amenities, from basic to increasingly luxurious, to consider might include:
- Hooks for towels, robes and bathing suits
- Shelving for extra towels, shampoo and soap
- A large rain shower head for an ultimate outdoor feeling of luxury
- A separate changing area
- Speakers for music (sometimes disguised as natural elements)
- Low ambient lighting for night-time showering
Materials for Your Outdoor Glass Block Shower
The materials you choose to use to build your outdoor glass block shower will also add to the lifespan, style and experience of your outdoor shower. Building materials that are weather resistant are a must. Glass block, as a durable, mildew-resistant and easy-to-clean material, fits the bill for the main part of the enclosure. If you choose wood to provide the structure to hold the glass block, make sure it is weather resistant, such as a pressure-treated wood or cedar. You could also use brick or some other stone-like material, if that fits your style plans. Alternatively, you can simply build a glass block wall using mortar.
Glass block comes in a variety of sizes, colors and patterns, allowing you full creative expression when you’re designing the glass block enclosure for your shower. Your shower can be as minimalist as a Japanese screen type design, with dark wood and flat, opaque glass block such as Clarity2S or as wild as a pattern of different block sizes and/or colors set in a stone frame.
In any case, for outdoor construction, we recommend using 3 or 4 inch glass block and a mortar adhesive.
For the flooring, you could use a weather resistant wood, or a smooth and comfortable stone. Fixtures that develop a patina as they age such as bronze, copper or brass add style. However, if you live near the ocean, corrosion resistant stainless steel is a better choice.
Factors to Consider When Building an Outdoor Glass Block Shower
Permits
Before you start, you’ll need to connect with your local municipality to learn about the building codes in your area and what permits are necessary. New plumbing installations, such as running plumbing lines from inside the home to outside will almost certainly require a permit. As well, there will probably be stipulations about water drainage. Some areas may permit drainage into a gravel bed, while others might require that drainage is connected to the sewer system.
Location
Choose a location that is near existing water lines, that is firm and flat, and that receives an abundance of direct sun to help resist mildew.
Ventilation
As well ensuring your shower is built in a sunny spot, make sure your shower structure is well ventilated. Elevating the walls about a foot off the ground will allow air to circulate, helping to ensure the space dries out after each use. If you do add a roof, attach it to the corner posts with a space so air can flow through.
Privacy
Using glass block will take care of privacy from the ground level, but you must also consider the view from above if you have neighbors close by, or even if your own second story windows would accord a view into the shower stall.
Plumbing Considerations
Make sure you have a shut-off valve inside your home if you live in an area that freezes in the winter.
While it is possible to make an outdoor glass block shower yourself, if you aren’t an experienced plumber, you might want to hire one for the plumbing. If you have questions about constructing the glass block enclosure, or the materials you’ll need, give us a call, we’re happy to help.
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