Outside wall plumbing

15 years ago

I'm not sure if it's going to be possible to avoid putting one of our shower faucets on an outside wall. What should I consider in this case? Is it possible to run the line on an inside wall but then mount the shower on the outside wall if you are using a slide bar/handheld unit? Does anyone have pictures of such a set up? I'm afraid it might look weird.

Also the dumb in me has to ask this question: Why is it so important to avoid putting your shower head on an outside wall when I often see toilets and quite a few kitchen sinks and most certainly the laundry connections on outside walls?

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Comments (6)

bh401
15 years ago
On our current build we expanded the shower and now DH has his shower head(original on plan) and I have my shower head(on an outside wall) GC has been building highend homes for several decades. I asked him if adding my shower head on an exterior wall would be a problem. He said no. I specifically asked about freezing.(Our whole house has spray foam insulation. Not sure if you use batts-not as good an insulator)

Good point about sinks and toilets-maybe it's because drywall lets heat through better than tile? Could be totally wrong though.

Bridge
don92
15 years ago
Mixing valves take up much of the space in a standard 3 1/2" wall so you need to make sure it is well insulated. It can be hard to get enough insulation behind it. If you can fir out the wall an inch or two it would give you more insulating space. Some ridged insulation toward the outside would help. Another option would be to put the mixing valve on an inside wall and the shower head on the outside wall. The shower head and piping would be simple to insulate.
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ncamy
Original Author
15 years ago
Actually I would prefer the mixing valve to be on the inside wall. That way it would be an easy reach from the entrance. The walls will already be 2 x 6 construction if that helps. We can put whatever kind of insulation is needed there.
don92
15 years ago
So then where's the issue? Looks like you can do whatever you want.
ncamy
Original Author
15 years ago
Well I didn't know that it was only the mixing valves that couldn't be on the outside. I thought you weren't supposed to put the shower head on an outside wall until you suggested it above. I also didn't know if having 2 x 6 walls would negate the "rule" and that's why I brought it up. I thought that if I had to I could put the outlet of the hose to the hand held on the inside wall and stretch it over to the outside wall to mount it on a slide bar there. However aesthetically that really wouldn't be my first choice.
don92
15 years ago
There is no "rule" about an exterior wall it is just harder to insulate but since you have 2x6 walls thats not an issue and its up to you as to what you put where. The shower slide bar idea is just bad on many levels including aesthetically. It would look very DIY and would not be a good selling point. The slide bars can be very handi but should be incorporated with the shower head. Together on the same wall.