EASY STEPS TO YOUR OUTDOOR SHOWER

Good soil preparation can make or break a garden. For this step to be as easy and trouble-free as possible, it’s important to have the right tool for the job.

2023-03-09 -

You’ve got an outdoor living area, dining space and ‘kitchen’ (BBQ), why not add the final touch with a stylish alfresco shower?

Gather your supplies

• Landscape spray chalk

• 200 x 50mm x 3m H4 treated pine sleepers (5)

• Timber stain

• Geotextile fabric

• 0.08m3 x 10mm blue metal aggregate

• 10mm spacers (84)

• 14g x 100mm galvanised bugle-head batten screws

• 90 x 45mm x 3m H3 treated pine (3)

• 100mm external timber screws

• 42 x 18mm x 2.7m pre-oiled merbau screening (44)

• 8g x 50mm squaredrive decking screws

• 3/4 inch copper pipe

• 3/4 inch push-fit coupling (2)

• 3/4 inch push-fit tee (1)

• 3/4 inch push-fit elbow (2)

• 20mm saddle clips and 8g x 12mm screws

• Shower rose

• Garden tap top assembly

• Waterproof tape

• Dual outlet tap

• Hose connector (2)

• Towel hook

• Hose to run from garden tap to pipe

You’ll also need

Shovel; tape measure; level; carpenter’s pencil; mitre saw; electric planer; paint roller and tray; timber stain; club hammer; utility knife; drill; 3mm and 5mm drill bits; hex head and square drive bits; pipe cutter; 25mm hole saw

For you to note

• Install your shower near an outdoor tap so the hose going from your tap to the shower isn’t a trip hazard!

Here’s how

STEP 1 Against the fence, mark an area 1.3m deep x 1.9m wide with landscape chalk.

STEP 2 Use a shovel to excavate area to 100mm deep. Check base is flat and even with a level.

STEP 3 On sleepers, measure, mark, then use a mitre saw to cut five 1.5m lengths for shower platform and two 1m lengths for platform sides.

STEP 4 Use a planer to remove splinters and bevel around top edges of platform sleepers.

STEP 5 Use a roller to apply 2 coats of stain to platform sleepers, leaving to dry after each coat.

STEP 6 In excavated area, centre platform sides 1m apart and check for level.

STEP 7 Line area with geotextile fabric, cut to fit with utility knife.

STEP 8 Fill area with aggregate to 80mm deep.

STEP 9 Position platform sleepers on sides, flush with the back and with even overhang either end, using 10mm spacers for gaps. Predrill 2 holes either end with 5mm bit. Secure to sides with 100mm batten screws with hex head bit.

STEP 10 For shower frame, from 90 x 45mm pine, use mitre saw to cut two 2.2m sides, two 900mm ends and a 810mm noggin.

STEP 11 On a flat surface, butt frame ends against sides, predrill 2 holes each

with a 3mm bit to secure with 100mm timber screws. Position noggin halfway down the frame, wide face flush with the back. Predrill 2 holes each join to secure with 100mm timber screws.

STEP 12 Measure and cut 44 battens 1.5m long from merbau screening using mitre saw. Position battens across frame with even overhang on sides, using 10mm spacers for gaps.

STEP 13 Predrill through battens into frame with 3mm bit to secure with 50mm decking screws using square-drive bit.

STEP 14 On back of screen, use a carpenter’s pencil to mark tap position centred 2 battens below noggin. Mark shower rose centred 6 battens from the top. Use a 25mm hole saw to drill holes.

STEP 15 For tap connection, wrap waterproof tape around thread to connect 2 couplings to tee join, then position tee in hole. Use pipe cutter to cut pipe to fit from coupling to base of screen, adding 22mm for the join. Connect pipe to coupling.

STEP 16 Cut pipe to fit from coupling to shower rose, plus 22mm top and base for joins. Position coupling between noggin and battens to connect pipe.

STEP 17 Attach coupling to base of tap pipe for hose connection.

STEP 18 Attach elbow coupling to top of shower rose pipe, position in hole.

STEP 19 Secure pipe to screen with saddle clips, predrilling with a 3mm bit and secure with 12mm screws.

STEP 20 Attach to fence railing, above the platform, predrilling through screen to secure with three 100mm batten screws each side.

STEP 21 Seal shower and tap outlets with waterproof tape. Attach rose and tap.

STEP 22 Attach dual outlet tap, according to manufacturer’s instructions. Cut hose to length with utility knife.

STEP 23 Attach hose to coupling. Run hose to dual outlet tap and attach.

STEP 24 Attach towel hook to screen, according to manufacturer’s instructions.

STEP 25 To create garden surround, from sleepers cut one 1.4m front and two 1.2m sides. Position around excavated area and tap to ground level with hammer.

STEP 26 Plant out garden bed around shower platform; water in well. Spread mulch over area.

When it comes to crafting and maintaining your garden this autumn, there are plenty of challenges ahead. That’s why the best decision you can make at the outset is to arm yourself with the best tools and accessories for the job.

Soil preparation is an important first step and the foundation of any successful garden. Do things right at this stage, before you’ve planted a single seed, and you’ll reap the rewards later.

Cyclone’s range of digging and garden maintenance tools are here to support you. They’re made in Australia and come with a lifetime guarantee, so you know they won’t let you down.

The Post Hole Shovel and heavy-duty Garden Spade both feature boron and titanium-treated steel blades perfect for rugged work. With lacquer-sealed premium Australian hardwood handles, they have been innovated, designed and tested to get the job done.