How to Build a PVC Shower Chair

Unlike traditional chairs, shower chairs cannot be made from wood or metal, since wood will mildew and metal will rust in the moisture of the shower. The preferred material for a shower chair is polyvinyl chloride, or PVC.

1. Cut two pieces of woven mesh measuring 28 by 28 inches. Cut a 3-by-3-inch square out of each corner of both pieces of fabric. Wrap all four sides of both squares around a 2-by-22-inch PVC pipe. Overlap the fabric 1 inch and secure it with straight pins. Remove the pipes and sew along the straight pins with a sewing machine set on a straight stitch. Remove the straight pins.

2. Reinsert the PVC pipes into the four pockets on one of the mesh squares. Connect the four pipes together using two four-way PVC pipe fittings and two three-way PVC pipe fittings to create the chair’s seat.

3. Reinsert three PVC pipes into three of the pockets on the second mesh square. Use two 90-degree angle pipe fittings to connect the three pipes together, creating the back of the chair. Connect the back of the chair with the seat you created in Step 2 by inserting the open ends of the two back pipes into the open ends of the four-way pipe fittings of the seat.

4. Create a square out of four 22-by-2-inch PVC pipes. Connect the four pipes together using four three-way pipe fittings. Insert an 18-by-2-inch PVC pipe into each of the open ends of the three-way connectors, creating a chair base and four legs.

5. Place the seat of the chair onto the legs by inserting the 18-inch pipes into the open joints on the seat.

Tip

For a more secure connection, use PVC glue on the ends of each pipe before connecting them. If you choose to use PVC glue, let the glue dry a minimum of 24 hours before using the chair. Adjust the height and seat width as necessary for your specific needs.