An outhouse, also known as a privy, is a simple toilet building without plumbing that relies on natural decomposition to eliminate waste and minimize unpleasant odors.
Before beginning construction, first locate all utility lines. Once your hole is dug, build your walls using strong materials for both frames and sheets of plywood.
Basics
An outhouse is a simple structure designed to house a toilet without plumbing. Relying on natural decomposition to break down waste and maintain control of odor, it is maintained through aerobic bacteria which convert organic matter to simpler substances like carbon dioxide and water for recycling purposes. Outhouses should preferably be located far from wells to reduce groundwater contamination risks.
Before beginning construction of your outhouse, locate all utility lines and dig a hole large enough for it. Also decide what kind of outhouse you wish to build; many kits offer plans and instructions on how to proceed with its specific build.
If you are unfamiliar with outhouses, you might be surprised to know they remain popular today in rural areas of the US and other countries. Used as an affordable and less-maintenance toilet system alternative, outhouses provide cost-effective waste removal for their users while being easier than septic systems to maintain.
Historians and archaeologists alike delight in discovering outhouses at historic sites, as these can provide important clues into the lifestyles and health of previous users through bottles and other artifacts left inside the toilets. Fossilized excrement can provide even further insights.
As early settlers moved into the Western frontier, sanitary facilities became essential. Though initially seen as an insult to civilized frontier culture, outhouses soon became essential. Common names for such structures included little house, privy, backhouse, latrine and dunny. Most were placed away from houses to minimize groundwater pollution risk and disease outbreak.
Cities and towns often host outhouse museums that preserve the history of these important structures, while others feature unique and creative designs such as New Zealand's Hundertwasser Toilets. Building an outhouse can serve both practical and aesthetic needs simultaneously; you may use it to experiment with design and construction techniques.
Materials
An outhouse (or sanitary privy) was an integral component of rural areas for centuries prior to indoor plumbing being introduced. Also referred to as a little house, backhouse, water closet or latrine, an outhouse relies on natural decomposition of waste products in an aerobic environment with enough moisture for bacteria, molds and earthworms to flourish naturally in order to break down organic material into eco-friendly compost - thus decreasing groundwater contamination risks as well as diseases spread via drinking water sources.
Traditional outhouses were built over open pits three to six feet deep. When these pits became full, outhouses had to be moved periodically and covered with soil before filling again - this process could become tedious over time; occasionally professionals known as gong farmers were hired as professional muck-rakers in order to empty pits that families couldn't move themselves; unfortunately this job often resulted in suffocation or illness among workers performing it.
Recent innovations such as composting toilets are providing an effective, cost-efficient sanitation solution for remote areas that lack sewage disposal systems. A portable septic tank may also offer rural living residents another viable solution.
An outhouse shed can range from being a simple rustic structure to something more intricate with vaulted ceiling and interior features. There are kits available to simplify construction of backyard outhouses; these provide step by step guides as well as lists of materials and tools necessary for completion.
An outhouse shed can be an excellent option for campers and people who want to live off-grid while taking in nature's splendor. While in certain locations digging an outhouse hole may be illegal, an outhouse shed equipped with composting toilet or dry flush can still provide an option - as is commonly found in tiny homes and RVs.
Design
An outhouse, also referred to as a privy or john, is an outdoor toilet that does not connect with either sewerage or septic systems and serves as an easy, low-cost decentralized waste management solution for rural communities and developing countries alike. Their designs vary considerably but all feature toilets that do not flush directly into the ground; state and local governments frequently regulate outhouses for safety, sanitation and environmental reasons.
Outhouses come in all forms; some may simply provide shelter over an opening while others are elaborate structures designed to convey pride and dignity of their owners. Early American outhouses were notable for their intricate woodwork and shingled roofs; early American women's facilities had separate holes for men and women as well as cutouts that identified which facility it belonged to - for instance crescent moon cutouts indicated a ladies facility while star cutouts indicated men's facilities.
An outhouse can serve as a place for family and friends to congregate, relax, and socialize, or act as a workshop where individuals can hone their woodworking skills or explore DIY design concepts before working on painting projects.
Outhouses serve not only as entertainment and education venues, but they can also act as a statement about community commitment to environmental protection and sustainability. This is especially true of eco-friendly outhouses designed with sustainability in mind; many feature recycled materials or solar panels for electricity generation while some feature more sustainable materials like recycled timber, recycled concrete or even reclaimed brick construction materials.
Although outhouses remain common in some rural areas, their use has gradually declined as cities and towns connect to sewer systems. Still, some homeowners opt to build one as a means of saving utility costs and living closer to nature; building one may also be required if living in an area lacking public sewer access; in addition, construction and maintenance of outhouses may be subject to various degrees of government restriction, regulation, and prohibition depending on where you reside.
Construction
An outhouse is a small structure containing a toilet that does not connect to any sewer or septic system; such as a pit latrine or bucket toilet. Outhouses are popular choices in remote areas as they allow residents to avoid paying for sewer services while being portable enough for homes, RVs and remote cottages alike. Outhouse designs range from the simple to more complex.
Outhouses were once a fixture in rural American areas. Most often used by homesteaders and farmers, outhouses could also be found anywhere with enough wood available to construct one. Early American outhouses were usually constructed of wood with multiple holes for family members to use; typically located near running water sources with either moon-cutout doorways for women's facilities or sun cutout doorways for men's. Some outhouses even featured multiple stories for added privacy.
Most often, an outhouse was installed over an open pit that measured three to six feet deep, then covered with soil. Once full, the outhouse might need to be moved or "gong farmers" were hired for professional "emptying outhouse pit" services which often resulted in suffocation or illness for users.
The term "outhouse" has long been in use and may derive from Middle English "outhous." Meanwhile, privy is more recent, appearing in American English for the first time as early as 1819. Other names for outhouses include backhouse, cabin toilet and toilet shed.
While modern toilets have long been replacing outhouses in homes and businesses, these simple structures continue to hold an important place in people's hearts. Outhouses often appear in movies, television shows, books or as part of historical reconstruction projects to show simpler times or as proof of human ingenuity; some areas around the world rely heavily on them as survival necessities.