Practical, Modern Outhouse For Your Off-Grid Homestead

A modern outhouse can be quite nice and a good idea. Your outhouse can be as crude as a 5-gallon bucket with a lid attached, or as sophisticated as a modern toilet complete with septic.

Get the plans for the outhouse shown at the top of the page from Etsy using this link. $38.49*. Included in this package are detailed digital 3D plans, contractor-ready blueprints, a complete materials list, and over 100 photos and videos of the building process, along with notes on the exact brands of fixtures, stain, etc, and how best to put it all together.

An outhouse can be, but no longer needs to be, a hole in the ground with the outhouse over it. In fact many counties no longer allow outhouses or even composting toilets because most homes are built with modern sanitary facilities. It would be best to contact your zoning officer before building since they can be quite cranky otherwise. Being proactive with your zoning officer is the way to go.

But, lets assume you’ve done your homework and we’re good to go.

There are several advantages to removing the commode from your abode

1. You remove the smells and noises from your living and entertaining area.
2. The plumbing is much simpler.
3. The waste is all outside of your home.
4. You’ll have more opportunities for waste mitigation like actual composting.

My outhouse needs to:

• Be free of smells as much as possible.
• Provide a clean, dry, safe, well-lit, fairly roomy environment.
• Be warm enough, even in the winter.
• Have hooks for jackets and a hand washing system.
• Be easy to clean and even easier to remove the waste.

Taking it a step further, move the shower and even the laundry to an outbuilding. This will also remove more moisture from your structure. You’ll need less venting equipment. We’ll cover bathhouses on a separate page.

It will also free up more space inside for other uses like a closet.

Removes the smell and waste from your tiny house or cabin

Many tiny house builders choose composting toilets to save money and work on plumbing systems. Some RV owners have so much trouble with their holding tanks that they quit using them and install a composting toilet instead.

However, my own personal experience is that I’ve never seen a composting toilet that doesn’t stink. Also, most composting toilets don’t actually compost the waste. More accurately, they package waste in a way that is easily disposable. The composting toilet shown below is a notable exception.

See my thoughts on composting toilets in detail.

Common Elements of an Outhouse

Outhouses can take many forms. Only your imagination is the limit. But, there are certain elements they all need to have.

The structure

Your outhouse needs to be safe,  well-lit, and well-vented. In cold climates you might also want it heated.

Off-grid lighting

Hang  solar-rechargeable, motion-sensitive lights (shown here) near the roof to illuminate it at night. I put one inside and one outside the door. They can be set to activate for 90 seconds or 5-minutes. Very bright. No wiring needed. Just screw them onto the wall.

Click on image to see more details.

Outhouse venting

Visit any state or national park and you’ll notice a 12″ black tube on the outside of every outhouse. Active venting is caused just by the sun warming the tube. Consider adding a piece of black PVC pipe from under the seat to well above the roof. Remember to also add an air intake.

If you are using a composting toilet, you won’t need much additional venting. The toilet itself will have a small fan in it that needs power to operate.

This solar-powered attic fan might be just right for venting your outhouse. Click on image to see more details.

Off-grid heating

Consider a passive solar heating panel to add warmth during cold winter months. These panels only work during the day, so you’ll need to come up with something else for nighttime use.

We use a portable camping toilet inside our RV during the winter for those nocturnal tinkles. It’s easy to stow away and is easily emptied.

Hand washing station

Add a hand washing station of some sort to complete your privy.

You could buy the portable unit shown here, or rig up a rainwater collection system to feed your hand washing station.

Hand washing water is considered gray water and needs a lot less processing to be safe for you garden. See my page on Handling Gray Water.

Little things make a difference

I recommend a covered landing like the one shown at the top of the page. This gives you a stable place to stomp the snow off your boots.

A non-skid floor mat like this on is also a good idea in snowy areas. Designed to be tough and durable with drainage holes for water, snow, salt, and slush, this 24″x36″ rubber mat will keep you safe, clean, and out of the moisture.

Also, install lots of hooks for your coat, scarf, hat, etc.

 

Want a Warm Hiney in the Winter?

You could keep your toilet seat inside to keep it warm then take it out with you (if you remember) when it’s time for use.

Or…you can use a Styrofoam Seat. These seats feel warm even in the coldest weather.

Separett Privy Kit 500 with Grey Foam Seat

The Separett Privy Kits convert your existing outhouse or latrine to a urine diverting system. The reduction of urine from solids greatly reduces the odor and decomposition periods. The units installs below the current latrine platform and the attached urine hose diverts fluids from the current holding location. The Gray Insulated Seat with Cover assures a good seal over the privy when not in use. The molded foam seat warms with your body on contact making the colder seasons more pleasant. The lid has a location for a tether to assure the lid is not separated from the unit.

 

 

In an Outhouse You Can Make Room for a Real Composting Toilet

The Centrex 3000 High Capacity Central Composting Toilet System is the largest central composting toilet system in the Sun-Mar lineup. Capable of handling a family of 6 full-time or up to 9 for part-time seasonal use, this system is a real giant in the industry and is perfect for heavy cottage or medium residential use.

When used seasonally by up to 9 adults, compost will normally only need removing annually each spring. In residential use, compost will have to be extracted more frequently.

Centrex central composting systems offer all the benefits of modern waste composting systems while keeping the look and feel of a more traditional bathroom.

The Centrex 3000 utilizes a continuous flow design for very heavy cottage or medium residential use. With a continuous flow system, rotation of the drum moves compost along the larger and longer 3000 series drum, before it drops automatically into the collection housing at the end of the unit. Under normal operating conditions the drum will not have to be turned backwards for emptying.

All Centrex 3000 series units are supplied with a 1″ diameter drain hose which should be connected to the 1″ drain at the bottom left of the unit.

The Centrex 3000 may be used as a wet or dry system, depending on your available hookups and needs.

Basic DIY septic system

While a composting toilet takes care of the solids, you should dispose of the liquid with a septic system.

There are a lot of YouTube® videos showing DIY septic systems. I also have described some on this page: Septic Systems

Composting human waste

Converting human waste in to safely usable compost is an 18 month process that requires some heating to kill the pathogens. Refer to the Humanure Handbook for details. Even then, Humanure can be used on trees and flowers, but should not be used on vegetables in the garden.

Make sure you comply with local zoning laws concerning the disposal of human waste. Read this blog post of one Coloradan who wouldn’t.

More Pages of this website you might be interested in:

Stunning Off-Grid Bathhouses

Composting Toilets

Composting Toilets and Zoning Laws

Here’s a good page on outhouse construction.