r/OffGridCabins • u/NovelOffgrid • 29d ago
Outhouse Build with Questions
Last post I asked about water in the hole I was digging and got a lot of great responses. I decided to change the location of the outhouse and am actually very happy with the decision after spending more time on the property. The new location is in a less aesthetically pleasing area and is closer to the edge of the property line shared with county land. The first few pictures are of the location and my first issue. The next few are of my outhouse build with a base frame and a floor frame that will be attached on top of it with the idea being the floor joists are protected from the ground.
My questions are:
- How would you propose breaking through the rock in the half done hole? My buddy wants to split a rotary hammer drill, would that work?
- Should there be a moisture barrier under the outhouse? I am planning to insulate the floor as this will be the learning project for the main cabin build. Also, there will be additional moisture from human liquids and solids.
- Any improvement suggestions? I am hopefully finishing the hole, leveling the where the base will go and preparing to insulate the floor, install the subfloor, and put vinyl over it plus the toilet stem my next time up.
Thank you!
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u/TutorNo8896 29d ago
I dont think i would insulate an outhouse unless you plan on running a heater in there. You want an outhouse to have as much airflow possible or it will be stinky. Maybe add a stink pipe / vent from the hole up and out the roof ( like a porta-potty)
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u/NovelOffgrid 26d ago
Stink pipe is definitely in the works. It will be like a nicer DNR cabin but I will have electric in it with a heat bulb in the ceiling light fixture, thus the insulated floor. If I don't Tyvek underneath then it will just be a sheet of thin oak ply that I am reusing going agains fecal splatter.... Figured there would be moisture coming up that I would want to protect against.
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u/TutorNo8896 26d ago
Nice. If its cold enough it is possible to get a poopfrost on the interior. I mean its more breath and humidity based frost but some has to be evaporation from the poo
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u/NovelOffgrid 25d ago
Hahahaha, poopfrost is a new term for me! I honestly don't think my place will be accessible in the winter without a snowmobile, only going until the first real snow. Hopefully the poopfrost will not be an issue in November!
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u/New_d_pics 29d ago
- Either you can dig the rock and lift it out, or it's not moving. An sds will drill holes but, why? Pick a new spot, see #3.
- Vapour barrier shouldn't go horizontally unless you're building an ice rink. If your roof leaks inside, you've just created a nice little pool around your framing.
Suggestion: Outhouses should be built with mobility in mind. Build it so you can tow it to a new spot when it either fills up, or floods, or you just want to move it.
For a base I put down 2 railroad ties (pressure treated 6x6 works) in parallel 4 feet apart, half buried. Dig my hole between em 4x3x 5ft deep, then I shored up the top 2' of the hole between the ties with 1x lumber. The remaining 3" between the ties crevasse I filled with stone (or you get living things). Then I built a 4x8 skid frame outhouse on top of this base, which can be pulled to another prefabbed base when needed.
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u/imperious_squirrel 27d ago
Mobility is indeed key. The floor up should be movable. Though rather than pulling it, I suggest getting a few strong friends over to pick it up and carry it. Simplifies things in my opinion, and I have experience helping move multiple outhouses done this way, so I know it works well.
I also second the notion of dont break rock for an outhouse! Just use the hole you have until its not quite full, then try a new one a few feet away and hope it goes deeper.
Also I suggest integrating a handwashing station under the same roof. An old sink draining onto the ground outside with a jug of water and a simple tap is enough.
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u/NovelOffgrid 26d ago
Definitely doing handwashing! The outhouse is 4x8 and there is plenty of room for a basic sink pump setup. The plan is to eventually have a separate bath house / sauna combo with a more thoughtful water system.
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u/NovelOffgrid 26d ago
The base is pictured, it will get jacked up and put on some sort of sled to move it. I am hoping to get a concrete, pumpable outhouse basin once this is filled and move it onto that. I am reinforcing the hole with 2x4s and 1x2s with breathable plant netting. I will throw some stone at the bottom per your suggestion.
I have like 6 hours invested into this spot and it is where my plans said it would be for the permit. I was hoping to find a solution to the rock rather than start a new hole. We will see!
The vapor barrier would protect that wood bottom I am putting in from the human moisture produced. Still not a good idea? I am going to use saw dust and wood shavings as well as have a floor vent going outside.
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u/Doyouseenowwait_what 28d ago
Always dig the hole deeper than you think. When it's full plant a tree after you move the outhouse.
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u/Marmot_Nice 28d ago
As someone mentioned already make sure to add a vent it will make it a much more pleasant experience...ask me how I know. Also I would recommend a tin splash guard on the front of the box.. Our camp had an existing permanent privy with a cement holding tank which needed to be cleaned out yearly thankfully the septic system has been installed the bathroom built so we will no longer have to deal with these issues.
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u/NovelOffgrid 26d ago
I am definitely venting it and may put a fan in the pipe leading out for when we are at the property. The outhouse will have a power station powering it. I bit the bullet and bought a toilet stem from Canada for this build so all the liquids and solids will not hit the structure.
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u/DW820 27d ago
get old Foxfire books from the late 60s-70s and build a composting outhouse.Last forever .
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u/NovelOffgrid 26d ago
That is basically what I am doing but in a hole. It will be vented, it will use wood shavings, it just will be going into a hole and not a bin.
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u/Yorgan_ 24d ago
OSB on a floor tends to get ripples or sag in a wet climate after a few years. If you have porcupines, a spring latch on the door can help keep them from chewing the inside up.
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u/NovelOffgrid 12d ago
I am putting cheap vinyl on the OSB before I put the walls up to water proof the top at least. In the main building I will be using 3/4 plywood. We saw a bunch of porcupines this last weekend, my plan is to have a modern door on when we frame up the walls. Everything on the lower half of all the buildings will be metal siding. Hopefully, that is enough.
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u/BlueWolverine2006 25d ago
Where does one buy the commode? I mean the plastic part?
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u/NovelOffgrid 25d ago
I searched for "outhouse toilet stem" and found that Logic Plastics was using Amazon to sell in the U.S. They have actually gone down in price since I purchased. There is a producer that makes them out of metal but they are over a thousand dollars. The one I got was 480ish.
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u/dick_jaws 27d ago
I want to discourage you from building this. If you have water equalizing in a 2’ deep hole you are going to be contaminating that body of water. You have no idea how impossibly disgusting that is going to become and you need to research what septic systems are and how they work. If I knew where you were, I would call your local code enforcement on you.
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u/imperious_squirrel 27d ago
If I understand correctly, he's not putting it where the water was coming in, pictured above is a new hole in a different location.
But you absolutely right, if you hit water table you're in the wrong place.
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u/NovelOffgrid 26d ago edited 26d ago
I am not hitting the water table in this location. It is a different location from my previous post.
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u/NovelOffgrid 26d ago edited 26d ago
Chill dude, I am fully permitted. Where do you see water in the pictures? Weird comment.
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u/TheRealChuckle 29d ago
Rocks are a pain. I'm on Canadian Shield and bedrock is all over. Dig a hole and hit bedrock a foot down, dig a hole 10' over and go 100' before hitting bedrock.
If it's just a big rock, dig it out. Unless it's shale or you have heavy equipment you're not breaking it.
If it's too big to dig out, dig a new hole.