Assigning space to the different areas of a tiny house can be a headache. While it is obvious that you’ll need a kitchen and a place to put your bed, whatever form that may take, assigning space to a shower is negotiable… or is it?
Do Tiny Houses Have Showers?
Yes, tiny houses can have a shower. Although it is typically small given the limited space, the exact size and design depends on the owner’s taste, financial ability, and the overall size of the house.
If you are not planning to include a tiny bathtub, or do the traditional bath with a bucket, a shower is no doubt one of the essentials you’ll need in a tiny house bathroom.
This article covers all you need to know about having a shower in a tiny house, including the size of the shower, some interesting ideas on design and materials for tiny house showers as well as some things you’ll need to bear in mind when making a shower in your tiny house.
How Big Should a Shower be in a Tiny House?
Most of us choose to live in a tiny house to enable a minimalist lifestyle as opposed to an extravagant one however, opting to survive in a small space does not exclude the fact that we will struggle with assigning space to the different living areas when we construct our tiny house. It also doesn’t imply that we will deny ourselves the refreshing experience of a cool shower in the dehydrating summer heat.
As such, including a shower in your tiny house is a necessity. And even though you might decide that your shower space will be just enough to let you stand under the water, some basic standards need to be adhered to.
To meet the International Residential Code (IRC) 2015, a shower in a tiny house should have the minimum size of 30ʺ x 30ʺ and 24ʺ clearance for the shower door in a bathroom space that could go up to 18 sq.ft (216ʺ). Most national and local construction codes refer to the IRC guidelines.
Depending on the size of your tiny house, you can either increase the size of your shower to meet your comfort needs or go by your constructor’s standards. For example, the Tumbleweed tiny house company fits their tiny houses with a typical 32ʺ x 32ʺ fiberglass shower.
Juggling with space to stick to recommended shower dimensions might become less challenging if you have several designs and materials to choose from. Read on to learn about 4 excellent ideas for showers in tiny houses.
4 Tiny Shower Ideas for Tiny Houses
While space may limit your shower preferences in a tiny house, design and material can add character to it. Here are four possibilities you can use to spruce up your tiny home’s shower.
All-wood tiny showers
Wood is used in other spaces in a tiny house, such as the kitchen and living space. As such, you might decide to extend the “wood theme” to the bathroom and shower. If you do, go for water-resistant wood like cedar and teak. You can also coat the wood with a sealant to be on the safer side.
Strong wood reclaimed from wine barrels can be used to create the shower basin or tub, which not only provides a less messy shower experience but gives your shower an additional aesthetic detail.
Galvanized metal showers
Metal showers are popular in tiny houses because they are cheap and waterproof. You can easily purchase galvanized metal at your local hardware store and use it to create your 30ʺ x 30ʺ shower in your tiny house. You may opt for flattened metal to give your tiny house shower a neater finish.
The metal can also be used to cover the walls inside your bathroom, where moisture can reach. If you opt for DIY, you’ll need a Silicone sealant to close the seams and make them waterproof. A drain basin or tub will be needed at the bottom as well.
Shiplap and child-size tub showers
Shiplap is a type of wooden board that is used to construct sheds and rustic buildings as well as bathroom walls. Typical shiplap has a groove at the top and bottom that lets the pieces fit together in a tight seal.
These can be used to make the wall of the bathroom while a child-size tub serves as a base to drain the water and keep it off the floor. The shiplap could be coated with a marine-grade wood sealant to keep it from the water.
Fiberglass corner shower
Fiberglass is a common shower construction material in ordinary homes. It can be used in tiny homes for its lightweight and affordability, and it also has a neat finish on the wall.
You can use fiberglass to cover the walls and make a corner shower. Corners tend to amplify space and will allow you easier movement than would a rectangular or square shape shower of the same size. A shower curtain can be used to close the shower space and keep water from the rest of the walls.
Other options, like tiles, may be considered. But bear in mind that these will add a lot of extra weight to your tiny house. They also tend to crack or become loose with the frequent bumping on the road.
Things to Consider When Making a Shower in a Tiny House
Thinking shower space in a tiny house cannot be separated from other essential factors that will make your tiny shower functional. Your shower will not be complete if you don’t have a water source and a drainage option.
Water source
If you are parked at an RV park, it is easy to connect your tiny house to the park’s water system and have your shower water running. But if you are off-grid, you will need to include a storage tank for all your water needs.
Freshwater tanks should be fitted with a bump to be able to deliver your shower water with enough pressure. Otherwise, you’ll only get a drop at a time. Alternatively, you can fit your water tank directly above the shower so that it runs by gravity.
If you like your shower hot, you will need to include a water heater. The heated water is plumbed to the shower and other areas like the kitchen. Instant shower heating systems may be used in place of a heater and a hot water plumbing system
Drainage option
The soapy water from your shower is classified as greywater. This means that it is not toxic as would be black water (from the toilet), but it still needs to be disposed of properly. Usually, your tiny house will be fitted with a grey water tank and a black water tank.
Some people may opt to use one tank for both functions. If you opt for this last option, your black water or gray water tank will need to be disposed of at a dump station (waste receiving station) for free or for a small fee depending on your local regulations.
If you use a grey water tank for your shower water, you can either dispose of the water at a dump station or dump it on the ground if you are out of the city. However, there may be laws prohibiting you from dumping on the ground so it is important to check your local laws and regulations before dumping grey water outside your tiny house.
Conclusion
Tiny houses have tiny showers that may vary in size and design, depending on the owner’s taste, finances, and available space.
International standards often apply in national and local tiny house construction codes. The IRC code indicates that a shower in a tiny house should not be smaller than 30 inches x 30 inches. Tiny house homeowners can make bigger showers if their space allows it.
The limit in space is no reason to forego your daily shower. Designs and materials can compensate for space. You can choose from wood, metal, shiplap, and fiberglass.
In order to make your tiny house shower functional, a freshwater tank is required if you are off-grid and cannot be hooked to the main water source. A grey water tank is also required for disposing of the soapy water from the shower.
Here’s the takeaway: you do not need to sacrifice the luxury of a daily shower because of space. If you’re creative and willing to put in a bit of work, that should be more than enough.