How to Build an Outhouse

If you have a taste for history, learning to build an outhouse will increase your appreciation of what it was like in the olden days. It is actually very easy to do.

Required Tools and Materials

Shovel
Concrete
Tape measure
Hammer
Saw
Nails and screws

Find the Right Area

The location must be at least 300 feet or 100 yards from water supplies or running water. By running water we mean lakes, streams and others. Also it should be some distance away from where people go to and gather. Clear the area and pave it if needed.

Make a Pit

Measure the area that the hole will occupy. Once you have it set, start digging to build an outhouse. The average size is 3” x 3”. The depth is set at five feet. You can of course, make it deeper and wider than that. Try to keep the sides as even as possible.

Create the Flooring

You can choose either concrete or wood. Use a measuring tape so you can cut a hole in the wood the same size as the pit. Use a saw to cut the hole. Before doing so, be certain it is as large as the pit you dug.

Make a Cover

This is only optional. Get some wood boards. Cut some pieces to make a box shape. Use the saw to make a hole in it. You can use this as a cover now. You can also use this to sit on. It is also used to filter out the smell. Not all of those who build an outhouse use this option. Even during the Middle Ages, these covers were not always present. You can also use roll roofing for a pit cover. This will be needed if it rains and you don’t make a roof.

Making the Walls, Roof and Door

After you have made the pit and riser, you can proceed to the walls. Get some wood boards and make measurements. Cut each of the four sections. Put them in place. Get some help if necessary. Nail each one onto one another.

Create the door from the wood. Fit a couple of hinges on it. Fasten it with screws. Connect it to the wall. You can also add steps when you build an outhouse. A roof can be made from a single wood board. Just be sure someone helps you get it on top of the walls. Use nails to fasten them in place.

You can paint the structure now. Depending on the size, this can take a while.

Tips

If four wall sections are too large, you can cut several smaller pieces. If that is the case, saw some wood boards to make a frame. Slice some wood boards and nail each one to the frame. Add as many as needed. Ascertain that they are fastened tight.

Learning to build an outhouse will show exactly what it was like for people living back then. While you probably won’t use it, it can serve as an example of the difference between ancient and modern life.