How Do I Build a Solar Bath House?

According to a news release on October 5, 2010, the White House will be getting a solar upgrade in the spring of 2011. President Obama will soon be taking hot showers powered by the sun. However, you don't have to be the president to take a solar-powered shower. Building a solar bath house in your back yard is an exotic way to get clean and save money.

• 1

  Select a location that receives full sun all day and has good drainage. Test the drainage by spraying down the area with a garden hose. If the water puddles instead of running off or soaking into the ground, select another location.

• 2

  Measure the distance from the center of each privacy fence panel post to the next. Use this distance to mark off the placement of your posts, placing a stake where you will dig each post hole.

• 3

  Use the post-hole digger to dig holes at the staked location. Make the holes 2 inches wider than the width of the post and at least a foot deep. Add at least 6 inches of gravel to the bottom of the hole.

• 4

  Place the posts for one section of fence in its designated holes and pour the quick-setting cement around them. You will need help to keep the privacy fence pieces straight while the cement dries. Install all three pieces in this manner.

• 5

  Attach the privacy fence gate to the privacy panels. Drill the holes for the gate hinges using the hinge plate as a guide. Screw the hinges onto the post, and then screw the gate to the hinges. This step will take two people.

• 6

  Spread river rocks inside the enclosure to provide drainage and a dirt-free floor.

• 7

  Install a hose-operated solar shower. The solar shower consists of two pieces: the black water bag and a hose with shower head at the end. Hang the bag on the outside of the shower stall in full sun. Run the hose over the top of the privacy fence and into the shower stall.