Outdoor Shower Ideas for Shore Homes: Cedar, IPE, and Composite

← Back to Coastal Living

An outdoor shower is one of the most practical and most appreciated upgrades you can make to a Jersey Shore home. After 13 years and 100+ installs across Stone Harbor, Wildwood, Avalon, Cape May, Sea Isle City, and LBI, we've built just about every style imaginable. Here's what we've learned.

Why Every Shore Home Needs One

If you've ever tried to keep sand out of your shore house, you understand. An outdoor shower at the entrance keeps sand, salt, and sunscreen outside where it belongs — protecting your floors, your plumbing, and your sanity. Beyond the practical case, a well-built outdoor shower adds real value to a shore property and is one of the first things buyers look for.

Material Options

Cedar

The classic shore shower. Cedar is naturally rot-resistant, smells incredible, and gives that timeless coastal aesthetic that photos well and impresses guests. We build cedar showers with tongue-and-groove siding, framed enclosures, and optional louvered roofs.

• Beautiful natural appearance
• Naturally rot and insect resistant
• Requires sealing every 1-2 years to maintain color
• Will silver gracefully if left untreated

IPE Hardwood

For homeowners who want a premium, low-maintenance natural wood option, IPE is the answer. It's the same hardwood used on the Atlantic City Boardwalk — engineered by nature to handle coastal conditions. IPE showers have a rich, dark tone and an almost architectural quality.

• Extreme durability — outlasts cedar significantly
• Naturally resistant to rot, insects, and moisture
• Annual oiling recommended to maintain color
• Higher cost than cedar

Azek / Composite Board & Batten

Our most popular style for second-home owners who want zero maintenance. Azek trim board in a board and batten pattern gives you a clean, crisp coastal aesthetic with no sealing, painting, or rot concerns — ever. Popular with homeowners who close for the winter and don't want to come back to a weathered shower.

• Zero maintenance — never needs painting or sealing
• Won't rot, warp, or crack
• Available in multiple colors
• Clean, modern aesthetic

Popular Add-Ons

Louvered Roof

A louvered roof adds privacy, shade, and a finished look that elevates the entire installation. We build fixed and adjustable louvered roofs in cedar, Azek, and aluminum.

Trex or Travertine Floors

The floor of your outdoor shower matters more than most people realize. We use Trex decking, travertine tile, natural stone, or pebble bases depending on the look you're going for. Proper drainage underneath is critical — we install perforated drainage on every build.

Interior Bench and Shelving

A built-in cedar or Azek bench and corner shelving turns a basic rinse station into a real outdoor bathroom experience. These additions are especially popular on larger enclosures.

LED Lighting

Waterproof LED lighting in the walls and ceiling makes an outdoor shower usable after sunset and genuinely stunning. RGB options allow color changing. This is our most requested upgrade in the past two years.

Hot and Cold Water

We connect every shower directly to your home's supply lines. Hot and cold is standard — not an upgrade. We've seen "outdoor shower kits" that run cold only. Don't settle for that.

Sizing Guide

The most common sizes we build are 4'×4', 4'×6', and 4'×8'. Here's how to think about it:

• 4'×4': Compact rinse station, good for tight spaces
• 4'×6': Comfortable for one person, most popular size
• 4'×8': Full enclosure with room for a bench, suits families
• Custom: We build to any dimension — corner units, wraparound enclosures, whatever your space requires

What It Costs

Pricing varies significantly based on materials, size, and add-ons. A basic cedar enclosure starts lower than a custom IPE build with louvered roof and LED lighting. The best way to get an accurate number is a free on-site estimate — we measure your space and give you a firm quote, not a range.

Ready to get started? Request your free outdoor shower estimate here.