With the rise in reputation of chilly plunges, dwelling saunas and scorching tubs, it is clear that backyard wellness is having fairly the second. Out of doors showers are the newest addition to the wishlist, with Google searches hitting an all-time excessive in 2026, and an rising variety of bold householders factoring them into their backyard design plans from the outset.
The enchantment is easy: out of doors showers look lovely, come into their very own throughout summer season, and convey a contact of boutique-hotel glamour to even the drizzliest of British gardens.
However there’s extra concerned than merely crewing a showerhead to a fence put up and hoping for one of the best. From plumbing and drainage, to planning guidelines and winterising, this is the whole lot you should know earlier than putting in an out of doors bathe.
When is it greatest to put in one?
The concept an out of doors bathe solely works someplace scorching is one thing of a delusion, that means you needn’t watch for a couple of years of excellent summers prior to installing one. John Pearce, co-director at Oltco, sees the demand for these backyard options rising steadily.
“Out of doors showers have gotten more and more common in UK properties as extra householders look to create spa-inspired out of doors areas that mix practicality with design,” he says. “Whether or not positioned alongside scorching tubs, swimming swimming pools or just as a part of a luxurious backyard scheme, out of doors showers can work extremely effectively within the British local weather when the appropriate supplies and drainage options are thought-about from the outset.”
The important thing phrase right here is from the outset. An out of doors bathe that is been correctly deliberate, with thought given to shelter, drainage, pipework, and floor supplies, will carry out very in another way to 1 that is been bolted on as an afterthought.
Get these fundamentals proper, and the good British climate turns into a manageable inconvenience somewhat than a deal-breaker.
Store out of doors showers
ABI Interiors
Sola Freestanding Out of doors Bathe Set
For a genuinely luxurious end, this chrome steel bathe column delivers. Obtainable in a number of colourways, it gives each overhead and handheld features
Vidaxl
Moveable Out of doors Bathe
This out of doors bathe can simply be related to any backyard hose, the seamless integration makes it good for a fast rinse after swimming or throughout heat summer season days
Bay Isle House Design
Free Standing Bathe and Footwash Spout
This Bay Isle House design strikes the stability between fashionable and rustic, with a freestanding construction wrapped in poly-rattan and completed with silver particulars
John Pearce is the co-director of Oltco, a number one sustainable resin-bound enterprise.
Find out how to get the plumbing and water provide proper
Earlier than the rest, when putting in an out of doors bathe, you should determine how you are going to use your out of doors bathe, as a result of that call will form the whole lot that follows.
Lee Saunders, Head of Design at Drench, places it merely. “For lots of people, a easy cold-water rinse is all they want. These fundamental setups can usually join on to an current out of doors faucet utilizing a normal backyard hose, making them an extremely straightforward and reasonably priced possibility for cooling down through the summer season months.”
However, for a extra everlasting set up with dependable scorching water, the image adjustments. “The plumbing turns into way more concerned,” Lee explains, “usually requiring insulated cold and hot water pipework to be prolonged externally from the home.”
Andy Ellis, Managing Director of Vidalux, agrees {that a} cold and hot stability is achievable for many UK householders, however the execution wants thought. “For a bathe that is going to be satisfying you want a secure water strain between 1.5 bar and three.0 bar, but when you are going to be connecting to an out of doors faucet, strain will drop considerably the additional down the backyard you go.”
There’s additionally a much less apparent security threat to pay attention to. “A typical and harmful mistake folks usually make is leaving uncovered plastic water provide pipes throughout the backyard,” Andy warns. “On scorching summer season days the solar bakes the stagnant water inside these pipes and raises the temperature to harmful ranges. This creates the proper breeding floor for micro organism, however may also trigger scalding when the bathe is turned on. Provide strains should be shielded or buried to keep away from this.”
On the pipework itself, Andy recommends MDPE (Medium Density Polyethylene) blue piping for underground runs. “It is robust, handles excessive strain, and may deal with soil shifting. You’ll be able to run MDPE pipes as much as 50 metres or extra throughout a backyard with out main strain loss, offered your beginning mains strain is wholesome and you employ a constant pipe diameter, akin to 20mm or 25mm,” he says.
On the query of DIY versus skilled set up, Andy is direct about the place the road sits.
“Competent DIYers ought to be capable to comfortably deal with digging trenches, laying the MDPE pipe, and assembling compression joints, however tapping into the property’s primary inside water system, putting in obligatory non-return verify valves to stop backyard water backflowing into the ingesting provide, or including any electrical pumps requires a professional skilled,” he says.
Lee Saunders is Head of Commerce and Design on the Past Retail household of manufacturers which incorporates toilet retailer Drench and heating and radiator retailer, Toasty, alongside Faucet Warehouse. With over 20 years within the sector, Lee has a wealth of expertise with merchandise starting from easy radiators to high-tech Japanese bathrooms.
Andy Ellis is founder & MD of Vidalux, a number one UK bathe, steam-shower and walk-in bathtub specialist. He has over 20 years’ expertise in toilet design, moisture management and product innovation.
What about drainage?
If plumbing is the choice most householders take into consideration first, drainage is the one factor they most frequently want they’d thought of sooner. “In my expertise, drainage is likely one of the most ignored elements of putting in an out of doors bathe,” says Lee Saunders.
“You can’t often depend on water merely draining freely onto your garden or patio, particularly with common use. Repeated water publicity will finally result in points with floor water, akin to waterlogging and slippery surfaces, in addition to potential injury to your surrounding landscaping.”
The precise resolution is dependent upon how the bathe will probably be used – and, crucially, what you will be utilizing it for. UK constructing laws state that water can solely drain into the bottom if it is fully pure, so if you happen to plan to make use of soaps or shampoos, that water is legally categorised as greywater, and can’t be allowed to run into pure watercourses.
Andy Ellis is evident on what which means in follow: it must be related on to the family foul water sewer system. For these utilizing the bathe purely for a fast rinse after a swim or sauna, a gravel soakaway is completely advantageous, however Andy advises siting it not less than 5 metres from the principle constructing,or any outbuildings to stop localised flooding or structural subsidence over time.
The floor across the bathe can also be value contemplating. John Pearce makes the case for permeable resin-bound surfacing, which permits water to empty naturally by means of the floor somewhat than pooling beneath. “This helps minimise standing water, reduces slip dangers and retains the world cleaner and extra purposeful all year long,” he explains.
What supplies work greatest for an out of doors bathe?
The UK local weather is tough on out of doors fixtures, and out of doors showers aren’t any exception. Rain, frost, UV publicity and fluctuating temperatures imply that materials decisions matter extra right here than nearly anyplace else within the dwelling. Lee Saunders is evident on what holds up greatest. “Marine-grade metals, handled timber and weather-resistant fittings are often your best option, as cheaper supplies can corrode or deteriorate shortly in British climate situations,” he advises.
Out of doors tiles are one of the crucial common decisions for ending a backyard bathe, however earlier than you get carried away with mood-boards, Grazzie Wilson, head of artistic at Ca’ Pietra, says it is necessary to get the spec proper.
“Search for one thing with correct grip, ideally an out of doors tile with an R11 slip score underfoot, and ensure the fabric is appropriate for exterior use, akin to frost-resistant porcelain or a suitably completed pure stone.” On fashion, Grazzie says tiles with tonal variation or a barely imperfect end have a tendency to take a seat extra naturally outdoors, echoing the textures already within the backyard. Something too polished or uniform can really feel misplaced.
Lesley Taylor, founding father of Baked Tiles, flags the much less seen particulars. “You want merchandise that may deal with common water publicity and won’t panic the primary time the temperature drops. A versatile, frost-resistant adhesive can also be key,” she provides, “as a result of out of doors surfaces increase and contract way over indoor ones.”
Grazzie Wilson is head of artistic at tile firm Ca’Pietra and is understood for her artistic and classy method. Providing constantly trendy and revolutionary options to tile and loo design has made her one of the crucial well-known names within the business.
Lesley Taylor is an designer with greater than 25 years’ expertise throughout each residential and business property. A registered member of BIID – the British Institute of Inside Design – Lesley has authored 10 books on inside design.
Find out how to winterise and preserve an out of doors bathe
An out of doors bathe left unprepared for winter can shortly change into an costly headache, and frozen pipes are one of the crucial widespread and expensive culprits. Andy Ellis says the error most individuals make is pondering a easy shut-off is sufficient.
“Most householders assume that shutting off the indoor isolation valve and leaving the out of doors bathe head open is sufficient to clear the road nevertheless it’s not,” he warns. “Horizontal pipe runs naturally retain water, and when the water freezes it expands with immense power and may trigger injury.”
Fortunately, defending your setup would not need to be sophisticated. Andy recommends putting in a devoted low-point drain valve contained in the property, positioned on the lowest level of the pipe run earlier than it exits the constructing.
Come autumn, the method is easy: shut the isolation valve, open the out of doors bathe faucets to launch strain, then open the inner drain valve. “This breaks the vacuum, permitting gravity to fully empty each drop of water out of the system,” Andy explains.
For setups that may’t be totally drained, wrapping pipework in mineral wool lagging and housing it inside a weatherproof conduit duct will supply strong safety, although Andy is evident {that a} gravity drain is all the time the most secure possibility.
A bit end-of-season care goes a great distance too. Past winterising, common cleansing and inspection will maintain your bathe wanting good and dealing effectively for years to return. As Lesley Taylor places it: “Get the main points proper and the tiles can do their factor with out you worrying about cracks, staining or something lifting after a moist winter.”
FAQs
How a lot does an out of doors bathe price?
On the most simple finish, a fundamental cold-water setup connecting to an current out of doors faucet will be achieved for a couple of hundred kilos, together with the unit and minor plumbing work. Out of doors bathe set up prices sometimes vary from round £500 for a fundamental setup to £2,500 or extra for one thing extra elaborate.
Plumbing work can add £200 to £500, and electrical parts akin to lighting or a pump an additional £150 to £400. Tiling, screening, and premium fixtures will add additional nonetheless. As a rule of thumb, get not less than two or three quotes from certified plumbers earlier than committing.
The place do you have to place an out of doors bathe?
Positioning deserves as a lot thought as some other a part of the set up. Lee Saunders recommends sheltered spots close to partitions, pergolas, courtyards or tall planting, which assist with each privateness and wind safety. Proximity to the home can also be value contemplating, as a result of the nearer the bathe is to an current water provide, the less complicated and less expensive the plumbing will probably be.
There’s additionally a seasonal consideration that catches many householders out. “Gardens that really feel secluded in summer season can change into way more uncovered as soon as vegetation lose their leaves in autumn and winter,” Lee warns. It is value strolling the area at totally different occasions of yr earlier than committing to a place, and enthusiastic about everlasting backyard screening concepts akin to timber panels, rendered partitions or a constructed enclosure if year-round privateness is a precedence.
Do you want planning permission for an out of doors bathe?
For most householders, no. A easy wall-mounted or freestanding out of doors bathe is unlikely to require planning permission. The place issues get extra sophisticated is if you happen to’re constructing a everlasting enclosure across the bathe, which can be handled as an outbuilding and topic to permitted growth guidelines. When unsure, all the time verify along with your native planning authority earlier than beginning any work, particularly in case your property is a listed constructing or sits inside a conservation space.
An out of doors bathe is only the start. In the event you’re constructing a backyard wellness area, our information to backyard saunas is value a learn, and discover out what different backyard developments are gracing our outdoor this yr.
