Outdoor showers: Are they refreshing or weird? | Canada Voices

These days, outdoor showers seem to be everywhere – popping up in backyards, both rural and urban, like the 2020s equivalent of the Slip ’N Slide. But do these backyard water fixtures make sense in our cold Canadian climate? And what about privacy? We talked to experts to find out the good, the bad and whether outdoor showers are worth the plunge.

What are outdoor showers?

As the term implies, outdoor showers are places to bathe al fresco. According to architect Laura Killam – an outdoor-shower evangelist who includes them in nearly all her projects – they’re much more than a way to rinse off.

“They make the simple, everyday act of showering very special,” she says.

Killam, who lives in Vancouver but mainly designs for rural sites along the B.C. coast, grew up using an outdoor shower at her family cottage. “Rather than just cleaning dirt off your body, they offer a deep connection to nature. The fresh air, the scenery, the views of the sky and trees, birds singing – they are invigorating, a beautiful experience.”

Beyond birdsong, are there other benefits?

Toronto architect Michael Amantea has designed at least half a dozen outdoor showers in both urban and rural settings. To him, their appeal lies partly in their versatility. They can be used simply to bathe, to rinse off after a dip in the pool or be incorporated into a full therapeutic wellness circuit – the kind of muscle-melting, nerve-soothing ritual popular in chic Scandinavian spas.

“I often pair an outdoor shower with other elements such as a sauna and a hot tub,” he says.

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The idea is that someone might spend 15 minutes in a steam room, then cool off quickly with a not-so-hot shower. This process is said to release endorphins and raise cortisol levels. For this reason, Rob Leduc, a senior registered massage therapist at Ste. Anne’s Spa in Grafton, Ont., says such showers are therapeutic.

“They’re good for our mental health, including reducing stress and anxiety,” he says.

Sounds great, but what if you’re anxious about privacy?

Privacy can be a concern, even in remote settings. A cabin in the woods might still have friends, family and neighbours nearby – and not everyone wants an audience.

“It all depends on the comfort level of the homeowner,” says Killam. “I usually try to build in layers of privacy with an outdoor shower.” That might involve orienting the shower toward a dense forest and surrounding it with a slatted or louvered wall – the kind of screen that allows views out, not in. In urban settings, roof overhangs can help prevent prying eyes from above.

And the all-important price tag?

According to Amantea, outdoor showers can cost a little or a lot.

“On the more affordable end, there are nice outdoor showers that hook up to a garden hose and cost a few hundred dollars,” he says. “You can also build something permanent, with in-ground plumbing and beautiful German or Italian fixtures. That could run into the thousands. But really, these things don’t have to break the bank.”

So all you need is a garden hose?

Maybe – but there’s a catch.

“It often costs a premium to have a hot water hookup outside,” says Amantea. “Many garden hoses only connect to a cold water tap.” That means cold showers only.

Cold showers have their place. Leduc notes that they “can boost the immune system by increasing the number of white blood cells and help with inflammation.”

Still, having warm water is a plus. “Warm showers can soothe sore muscles and joints and increase blood flow throughout the body,” says Leduc.

Outdoor showers sound great. Are there any drawbacks?

“This is Canada, not California,” says Vlad Berezovskiy, founder of Desar, a contracting firm focused on contemporary architectural homes. He’s built outdoor showers for others – including one in downtown Toronto, designed by architect Kfir Gluzberg of Kilogram Studio, which sits under a patio for privacy. And he is currently adding one to his own home.

“I want to use it after I use the sauna,” Berezovskiy says. “That’s the only reason I would use an outdoor shower in the winter – to cool off after being in a 200-degree room.”

But colder months pose challenges for plumbing.

“For the winter, you have to insulate the pipes,” he says. “You also have to make sure the pipes can drain properly when the shower isn’t in use, so the water doesn’t freeze and damage the plumbing.”

Berezovskiy says outdoor showers often involve a device called a bleeder valve.

“It’s a little valve that shuts off the water and drains the lines,” he says. Berezovskiy notes that bleeder valves aren’t necessarily pretty – but neither is a burst pipe.

So there is some maintenance involved?

Absolutely. Architects Amantea and Killam both agree that outdoor showers require upkeep.

“Sometimes people experience an amazing outdoor shower in Jamaica and want the same thing here,” says Amantea. “They haven’t always considered what’s involved – like flushing out the water to prevent freezing.”

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Killam often designs outdoor showers for seasonal properties. Her clients usually remove the showerheads completely in winter.

“Some of the components are just delicate,” she says. “It’s better to store them than risk damage during the winter.”

Are there any other considerations?

Amantea says it’s important to think about drainage.

“You don’t need a full shower drain like you would indoors,” he says. “But you do have to make sure the water slopes away from the house so it doesn’t pool near the foundation.”

Noted, no flooded basements. So over all, what’s the verdict?

Do it if you really want to hear the birds sing in spring while using Irish Spring.

Don’t do it if your idea of relaxation doesn’t involve the phrase bleeder valve.