Tips For Building Outhouses

How To Build An Outhouse

Outhouses are generally not hard to build since they are simple buildings and require little in the way of extensive planning. There needs to be an area set aside for the outhouse where it will not contaminate any of the property, especially any sources of water. This means that the outhouse should also be on the downgrade side of any nearby water supply, as well as being a hundred feet away from it.

Plans For Building An Outhouse

You can find or order pre-made designs for outhouses online. It is also fairly simple to design outhouse plans to fit the needs of your own area. It is important when working on the design that there is proper ventilation and light for the outhouse. Without proper ventilation or light sources, it will be easier for the outhouse to fall into disrepair. It is also important to make sure that the unit will be secure against flies and other creatures. If bugs like flies or mosquitoes breed near human waste they can carry diseases such as typhoid fever, so it is very crucial to protect against them.

Building An Outhouse

The first step to building any kind of outhouse is to dig the hole on which the outhouse sits atop. The hole needs to be fairly large and deep, typically three feet long on each of the sides and five feet deep into the ground. Depending on the plans for the outhouse, and whether the outhouse will remain in one spot or removed around the yard, it might require a concrete slab placed on top with a hole cut in the center. This helps to provide stability as well as more secure cover for the hole in the ground. According to the chosen plans, the actual privy is built at this point, usually out of wood or aluminum. Roofing can either be built with wood or with corrugated roofing material.

It is very important to include ventilation on the outhouse. This can be accomplished in the traditional way, with a design cut into the upper portion of the door. The most traditional design is that of the crescent moon. This can also be accomplished by putting screened windows on the walls of the outhouse and then putting a covering over the screens for privacy. These options for ventilation not only provide necessary airflow, but they also allow for light to enter the otherwise dark structure.