I'm going to vent off topic

[Mountain trapper]

Arctic, I've used lots of outhouses when I was young. My grandmother didn't have indoor plumbing, nor did we until I was 5. My son and husband pee outside all the time and in the Spring and Summer we go around the gardens to keep critters away

Well Robin, to a man the whole world is our urinal.
When I was a kid I remember some of the old timers who wouldn't have an indoor toilet. They thought it was pretty disgusting to crap in the same building where they eat.
When our house is built we'll have a couple bathrooms. The cabin is just too far away from the septic to justify running a temporary sewer line, but we do have a shower and sink indoors which drains in to a pit.

 

[Dani]

I actually want to build an outhouse out by the stable. Not exactly sure the best way to go about it, but been researching it. It's FL, so can't dig down too deep.

If you find a way please post. This close to the shore line with our water tablet I don't think it is an option. I know there are some further north from us though.

 

[user 7704]

Well Robin, to a man the whole world is our urinal.
When I was a kid I remember some of the old timers who wouldn't have an indoor toilet. They thought it was pretty disgusting to crap in the same building where they eat.
When our house is built we'll have a couple bathrooms. The cabin is just too far away from the septic to justify running a temporary sewer line, but we do have a shower and sink indoors which drains in to a pit.

I took me a while to figure out why my shrubs kept dying. Finally, I wised up and told them to walk further away from the house where nothing is growing but weeds.

 

[Gazrok]

For me, it's not an issue in the morning to just pee outside out by the inner fences (still dark, and neighbors too far to see (and fenced, anyhow)...but we have female boarders who aren't going to do so, hehe.... The stables are quite a trek from the main house, and even though the shop bathroom is available when we are home, when we aren't home, they basically don't have anywhere to go.

I'm thinking we just wouldn't make it very deep, and we'd use bacteria, sawdust, etc. to treat it. We're pretty far inland, so that's a good thing. I just don't want anything that would contaminate the well. One idea was to even make a small concrete vault about 4' down, for it, so that may pan out. For the walls, just 2x4's and plywood. (doesn't really usually get too cold here, so insulation isn't really a need.)

When time to empty, I'd probably just have a sewage company come out and pump it.

We're in an unincorporated area, but I'll still check any local laws regarding it. (though really, nobody would stop me from it, or even see it being done).

I'd do it up nice. Actual toilet seat, power (so motion light, exhaust fan, cooling fan, automatic fragrance, even outlet with USB ports for phones, etc.).

I'd use the tinted corrugated plastic roofing for the ceiling (to let light, but not prying eyes in)...and frosted glass for windows.

I'm thinking I could even have a tube loaded with sawdust, and treatment materials, that could use gravity to deliver a dosed amount with a "flush" like trigger.

I could even splice off an existing water line in the barn, and run it to a small sink in the outhouse (drain water would simply go out to ground) for washing up.

Even put up a little medicine cabinet with mirror door, etc. (with some OTC meds).

 

[user 7704]

My grandma had a bucket of lime in her outhouse. When you finished, you just put a scoop of lime in the hole to keep down the smell.

 

[Mountain trapper]

My grandma had a bucket of lime in her outhouse. When you finished, you just put a scoop of lime in the hole to keep down the smell.

I keep a bucket of lime in the out house to drop a scoop in after use. I also dump the ashes from the wood stove down the hole plus I hung up a couple air fresheners from the ceiling. I also installed a vent pipe under ground level extending above the peak of the roof. There's little to no smell.

 

[Gazrok]

vent pipe sounds like a great idea.

Lime, that was it, not lye...

 

[Mountain trapper]

For me, it's not an issue in the morning to just pee outside out by the inner fences (still dark, and neighbors too far to see (and fenced, anyhow)...but we have female boarders who aren't going to do so, hehe.... The stables are quite a trek from the main house, and even though the shop bathroom is available when we are home, when we aren't home, they basically don't have anywhere to go.

I'm thinking we just wouldn't make it very deep, and we'd use bacteria, sawdust, etc. to treat it. We're pretty far inland, so that's a good thing. I just don't want anything that would contaminate the well. One idea was to even make a small concrete vault about 4' down, for it, so that may pan out. For the walls, just 2x4's and plywood. (doesn't really usually get too cold here, so insulation isn't really a need.)

When time to empty, I'd probably just have a sewage company come out and pump it.

We're in an unincorporated area, but I'll still check any local laws regarding it. (though really, nobody would stop me from it, or even see it being done).

I'd do it up nice. Actual toilet seat, power (so motion light, exhaust fan, cooling fan, automatic fragrance, even outlet with USB ports for phones, etc.).

I'd use the tinted corrugated plastic roofing for the ceiling (to let light, but not prying eyes in)...and frosted glass for windows.

I'm thinking I could even have a tube loaded with sawdust, and treatment materials, that could use gravity to deliver a dosed amount with a "flush" like trigger.

I could even splice off an existing water line in the barn, and run it to a small sink in the outhouse (drain water would simply go out to ground) for washing up.

Even put up a little medicine cabinet with mirror door, etc. (with some OTC meds).

My water table is probably 300+ feet down, and my well is over 1/4 mile away. Ground water and well contamination isn't much of a concern for me. I dug the hole about 5 feet deep with a backhoe, until I hit rock and couldn't go any deeper.
I used 2×4 framing for the walls, 2×6 pressure treated floor joists, 3/4" plywood flooring, lap siding and asphalt shingle roofing. I put in two large windows and a real toilet seat for the throne. I installed a vent pipe underground level in the pit extending above the roof peak. No orders. Inside I have a battery powered light and a propane heater. We don't use the heater much unless we're sick. Usually in winter its a quick trip in and out. Outside is a solar power motion sensor light.

 

[Brent S]

I actually want to build an outhouse out by the stable. Not exactly sure the best way to go about it, but been researching it. It's FL, so can't dig down too deep.

Gaz, I built one in fla and it worked fine. The sand is easy to dig, even by hand, and it drains really well. I dug a hole about 4 ft down and 3 feet square. I just stacked cement blocks on their sides so the waste could drain out into the sand. My brother used it for about two years in my back yard, and all his shower and sink water went into it as well. One thing, don’t put it anywhere near your well. The sand is too porous and you don’t want to risk contamination. Another thing is do not go to the county about it. They will shut you down in a second. The powers that be won’t allow a cheap septic system anywhere near Florida, they will make you spend 7 to 10 grand and use a licensed company . Just do it on the down low.

 

[Dani]

Gaz, I built one in fla and it worked fine. The sand is easy to dig, even by hand, and it drains really well. I dug a hole about 4 ft down and 3 feet square. I just stacked cement blocks on their sides so the waste could drain out into the sand. My brother used it for about two years in my back yard, and all his shower and sink water went into it as well. One thing, don’t put it anywhere near your well. The sand is too porous and you don’t want to risk contamination. Another thing is do not go to the county about it. They will shut you down in a second. The powers that be won’t allow a cheap septic system anywhere near Florida, they will make you spend 7 to 10 grand and use a licensed company . Just do it on the down low.

How far inland were you? Asking cause of water tablet. I know where I'd like one. Already have the bushes cut for girls side and boys side when the kids want to have bonfires and invite half their friends. I've read to just make sure it is 100 ft away from your well or water supply.

 

[Brent S]

How far inland were you? Asking cause of water tablet. I know where I'd like one. Already have the bushes cut for girls side and boys side when the kids want to have bonfires and invite half their friends. I've read to just make sure it is 100 ft away from your well or water supply.

I was about 30miles inland, but the water table was about 60’ down or so as my property was on a ridge, or old sandbad. No problem with that anyways. As far as distance from the well I’m sure 100’ is ok, but would just be safe and keep it as far as reasonably possible from it. If your ground slopes keep that in mind and be downhill from it as well.

 

[Brent S]

One thing to consider about septic systems is they use a liquid filled pool to soak the solids in, which help the bacteria to break down the solids, preventing them from clogging the drain field. It would probably be smart to put a thirty or 55 gallon drum in the center of the hole that will stay wet. I would even think that putting drain holes 8” down from the top of the barrel, all the way around, would help prevent solids from floating out over the top of the tank or barrel. This would give it longer to break them down into liquid.