New Bathroom

Getting a little tired of the last “busy” time for Earl. Around 8:00 each evening Earl needs his last “busy” (that is the command allowing him to relieve himself) trip to the lawn. In the winter it involves putting on jacket and spikes to go down the three floors to the lawn so that Earl can have his last potty break of the day. It is not a big chore but sometimes I’m really settled in (possibly stoned) and it can be a little dangerous to navigate the icy steps and driveway.

When I decide that he can do without it, I wake up to a black nose staring me in the face, two big brown eyes above that and the clock on the dresser above that showing 3:00 AM. Although I’m in better condition to make the trip, I’d really prefer just letting him out to figure it out himself (I would never do that). So I decided to make a place where he can relieve himself on my deck. I threw down an old blue tarp (there are a lot of those up here) to see if he would use it. He will but just a leaky old tarp won’t cut it. The need for the tarp is not to protect the deck, rather to prevent doggy pee and crap from raining down on my downstairs neighbor’s deck directly below. I just think Julie would not understand.

So, it was time to search the internet for solutions. Amazon had several units that resembled a large cat box with Astro turf instead of cat litter. Some had an elaborate drainage system. You Tube offered several systems that could be rinsed and drained off to a better site, like the flower garden. They averaged about $300 to $500. And that led me to the usual place, “I can build a better one for only about twice that.” I used to think I could do it for less but many years ago I realized the truth.

So I gathered my tools, went to Home Depot and jumped right in. Earl was not impressed but resigned himself to supervisor duties, as usual.

I figured the easiest way to get him to use it would be to make it the only space he could access on the deck. Now I have a nice large deck that wraps around the corner to cover both the South and West sides of the building. So I just decide to block off the West side and build it covering most of the area right in front of the sliding glass door opening onto the South side.

At this point I think it would help you to understand my process if I explain the PTS like manic state I’m in at the beginning of any new project. The ideas are surging around in my brain like a kettle on full boil, of course money is not a factor. Often weather or life interrupts the process and when I return to it I wonder what the hell I was thinking. At least this one can always double as a practice putting green.

The frame is 2x6s on edge with OSB for a floor. Here’s the drainage system between the astro turf and the waterproof pond liner. 

And here is one of the drainage points. So far, there are two on opposing corners.

The drainage system is a couple of layers of fencing that looks like it is made of weed whacker cord.

I use a bunch of 2×4 wedges to raise up one side and get enough slope to drain the liquids to one of the draining corners.

Solids get picked up manually and then you can flush right through the carpet and mesh to a corner drain and then it is carried to a remote part of the backyard via plastic tubing.

Right now we are on a weather hold. We are looking at a week of clear and cold. Good for some things but not deck bathroom construction.

The bonus of that is we got to see a rare Auroral display. Best viewed from the hills north of us; some friends shared the best parts.

You can never be sure if you don’t stay up all night. My curfew is 10:00.

Next visit to this project should be when we are set up on the west side of the deck.

Stay warm.