There is a continuing and rising trend all across the country for home owners to expand their outdoor living space and make the most of all the square footage their properties boast. One of the hottest of those trends right now might surprise some people. Having an outdoor shower enclosures erected is one of the requests that contractors are seeing more and more of.
An outdoor shower enclosure is not like the ones you might find at the beach or an campsite somewhere though. These shower enclosure – or in some cases entire shower rooms – are a permanent fixture with amenities that rival those of any shower installed indoors.
Why Outdoor Shower Enclosures?
Remodeling experts say that people seem to be drawn to the idea of having an outdoor shower stall built as a way to “reconnect” themselves with nature in an increasingly disconnected world. These remodelers point to the fact that outdoor shower enclosures and outdoor shower rooms are not just popping up in the states you would expect – sultry states like Florida and Arizona – but all over the country.
The cost of having an outdoor shower enclosure erected should not be too much higher than that of having a new indoor shower built but it will require a contractor who has experience in the area as the plumbing and drainage issues that are involved with an outdoor shower are rather different to those of an indoor shower.
Outdoor Shower Enclosure Design
Privacy is a big issue for most people considering having an outdoor shower enclosure built. The hottest current trend is for contractors to erect shower screens that are made from all natural bamboo or even in some cases pergola vines both of which means that the outdoor shower enclosure remains in keeping with the “back to nature” theme that appeals to so many people.
Stone and wood are popular flooring options for an outdoor shower enclosure but a sturdier ceramic tile that is graded for outdoor use can be considered as well. A good tile store will be able to help homeowners pick a tile that is strong enough to withstand being outdoors and with the newer textured ceramic tile it will be fairly easy to keep in line with the natural aesthetic with ceramic tile as well.
The actual placement of outdoor shower enclosures is also important from a privacy standpoint. Enclosing your brand new outdoor shower with screens is a wonderful and attractive idea but if your next door neighbors can look out of their bedroom window and peer directly into your outdoor shower enclosure it may be more than a little uncomfortable.
The best solution to all the design issues involved with having an outdoor shower enclosure installed is to work with an architect or a remodeling contractor who is experienced in these matters. These are just the right people to help make sure that your alfresco shower for as long into the year as you can stand. Some hardy people apparently enjoy an outdoor shower even in the winter months, although we are not sure that would be for us!
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