How to Make a Temporary Basement Shower With a Tarp

Cut four 2-by-4 boards to a length of 4 feet.

Lay the boards on their edges on a flat level surface in the shape of a square. Position the boards so that one end of each board lies flat against the side and at the end of another board.

Hammer three size #5 galvanized nails through the side of one board into the end of another board. Move on to the next board and repeat the process until you have completed the building of a box which serves as the frame for the tarp.

Measure 3 inches from the outside edge of the board at each corner that has nails driven through it lengthwise and make a mark in the center of the board connected to it. Use this mark as a guide to drill a 3/8-by-3-inch hole down through the edge of the 2-by-4 board. Continue this process until all corners are drilled.

Screw a 1/4-by-3-inch stainless steel hook into each of the holes you drilled. Do so slowly and carefully so you don’t split the board.

Measure the distance between each hook. Place marks on the ceiling -- under the showerhead and over the floor drain -- that correspond to these measurements.

Drill 1/8-by-3-inch pilot holes at these marks and screw in a 1/4-by-3-inch stainless steel hook into each hole.

Loop one end of a heavy, 4-foot long chain over each of the hooks in the ceiling. You now have a chain hanging down 4 feet toward the floor from each of the hooks . Hold the 2-by-4-inch board frame 6 feet above the floor and hook one of the open links in one chain to one of the hooks on a corner of the 2-by-4 board frame. Continue this process until the frame is suspended 6 feet above the floor by the chains.

Hold up one edge of a 14-by-16-foot grommet-lined tarp around the frame. Hook a rubber bungee cord through one of the grommets in the tarp. Lay the bungee cord over the top side of the frame and stretch it across the open space and over the top of the frame on the other side. Hook the open end of the bungee to the grommet directly across, on the other side. Continue this process until all available grommets have been engaged by the bungee cords to support the tarp over the frame. Different tarps have varying numbers of grommets. Use every grommet available for maximum support.

Fold up the extra length of the tarp lying on the floor and position it around the edges of the shower enclosure. The shower is only for temporary use -- by leaving the tarp rolled up instead of cutting it off at floor level -- it is reusable after the shower is dismantled.