DIY Balcony Dog Porch Potty
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- čas přidán 5. 02. 2020
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A DIY porch potty for dogs and puppies! I made it for my Labradoodle Max to he can pee outside upstairs when we are not home.
This self draining and easily cleaned (just hose it out and the plumbing takes the water off the balcony!) was a fun project. It is suitable for apartments or balconies.
I wanted to make this DIY porch potty durable and stable. DIY pet toilets also give you more value for money. I wanted my puppy Max to have a luxurious extra large balcony toilet.
DIY allowed us to get bang-for-the-buck and get a much larger self cleaning porch potty. The base and frame are durable - and the plastic lining and astro turf can be easily replaced if needed.
We plumbed it down the the garden below - you could instead drain it to a drain or container.
Step-by-step instructions available here: www.oodlelife.com/diy-porch-p...
Complete material list below:
DIY Porch Potty Materials List
Pine of adequate width to form the four walls of the potty
It needs to be of adequate width (which will be the height) to give the PVC plastic board enough slope to drain properly
We used 1.2 metre and 950mm as this allowed the perfect space for our 1200x900 PVC board
Stain to colour and protect the wood (I used a durable oil based varnish)
Three wooden 950mm battens to support the steel mesh
PVC sheet (1200x900)
Steel lattice (can use stronger fencing lattice) also 1200x900
Pond liner (any plastic is OK but pond liner is very though)
A soft shower liner is fine - even thicker concrete lining plastic is ok.
Spare wood to support the PVC sheet (does not need to be stained or good quality)
Cable Ties
Astro Turf/Fake Grass
Timber screws
Nails (or a nail gun)
Wood strength staples
Pipe (We used 10 metres of 25mm diameter)
Matching L shaped pipe
A metal pipe fastener (the type that can be tightened or released with a screwdriver)
Some Silicone to seal the drain pipe
Your local hardware store usually has the cheapest materials (Home Depot in the USA or Bunnings in Australia) but you can find cool red gnomes or fire-hydrant lanterns on Amazon (amzn.to/39cgHAj)
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The lower level neighbor just has to be more careful. I like this one. Good for rainy days :)
Wow! This is exactly what I was looking for. Even better! Thanks for sharing 😃
Brilliant!
Awesome!!!!! Thank you so much!
I think I'll modify what I have. I like the drain feature.
I’m building a similar one right now so thank you for the video has helped a lot. Also Stone and Wood Pacific Ale is the best beer so 10/10 sir 🤣🤣
Haha love a Stone and Wood. Hope the build has gone well
@@OodleLife I will build mine next week. I will put everything firstly on AutoCAD and engineer it before making one! Thank you for sharing man!
@@DRS88 hey! Care to share your AutoCAD plans? I’d like to build one myself before winter comes
i would definitely buy this if you sold this online LOL!
Same!
My thoughts exactly!
Wow amazing!!! 👏🏼
Thanks!
@@OodleLife you’re welcome ☺️
Great solution, u need more subcriber!!
Thanks for watching! I’m so glad we built this, our puppy Max is an expert at tidy porch potty use now! No accidents or mishaps in forever
Looks good. What's the dimensions of the boards that make up the main walls, out of interest? I'm planning to follow this exactly and I *think* they're 86x19 but just want to double check :)
Do you think your dog would use a porch potty? Thanks for watching!
Thank you
No worries!
What did you use to frame your porch to keep your pet from getting out through the bars and where do you buy it? Thanks.
Hi Tanya! It is prefab bamboo screening. It comes in a roll, and we just used cable ties to attach it to the balustrades (large bars). I had to use two large cable ties to attach. In one area I ended up using an adhesive velcro strip to make it look snug and stick to the brickwork well. It is street facing so I went for a nicer roll, but there was a variety of prices avaible. Not sure where you are - In Australia, you can get bamboo screening an Bunnings. In the USA I checked home depot, they call it bamboo fencing instead in their catalogue.
This looks great, except where is it draining to? I see your on an upper floor and it goes off the side.
Hey for us we don’t have a drain on that balcony - but it’s the second story of a freestanding house. So we just drain it via the pipe down into a garden bed. It works a treat!
Thanks for sharing a great video! Do you this size would be suitable for a labrador? Have you found the drainage system to still be effective?
I do think this would easily suit a Labrador, the wire is very stable and the support struts hold human weight (my low tech way of testing). Even after this time the liner and drainage still works well. I do rinse it fairly vigorously with a hose every other week to really flush and clean it.
Where did you find the steel lattice and pvc sheet? I’m having the hardest time finding those!
Hey the steel lattice was from a big hardware store in the tradespeople end. Any mesh that is sturdy will do. If it’s possible head to a large store and ask. There are quite a few construction products that are similar - plastic lattice etc as well. The PVC is trickier. I know some readers have found it at Home Depot but it’s not always on their website (I got it at the Australian hardware store Bunnings). Thin metal sheets or even ply that is flexible can also work.
How did you keep the elbow PVC piece attached to the PVC sheet/Pond Liner?
Hey Gabriel! I attached the elbow PVC piece to the PVC sheet using waterproof silicone (bathroom silicone I had around the home). The pipe sits really passively for me so I didn’t need much glue power. Originally I had planned on using plastic to plastic glue - and if the fit ever change I will use that.
Love the DIY! Actually working on building mine right now. How big/heavy is your dog? I’m worried my dog would fall through the mesh. Or it wouldn’t hold her weight. She is 25lbs (max 30 lbs).
That’s awesome! Our dog is light only 17 pounds or so - but the mesh and grass would easily hold double or triple that max weight. Have had visiting dogs in that weight range have a sniff around with no issue. It’s a really durable combo.
Awesome project! One question, did you poke a hole into the pond liner, in the corner by the drain (in the area by the drain pipe) so the liquid goes into the elbow pipe?
I cut a small hole a bit under an inch by inch. Originally was a bit smaller but for flow when washing I made larger
Thanks for your reply! I tried making this over the weekend but once I “tested the drain” I noticed I had a big fail, my issue was the pipe in the corner and keeping it in place, I put tons of silicone and it didn’t help my case. I need to do this again, I’ll try reinstalling it in another corner as I need to drill a new hole and do over the slope towards the new corner. It was a bit tricky to secure the pipe so it keeps in place and doesn’t move. I tried replaying your video closely a few times and I saw you put a small piece of wood underneath the pipe. How did you keep that piece of wood holding its place? If you have any tips on keeping the pipe in place please share!
I need this help! Did you find a solution?@@ariadnaalaniz5666
Hi there!! Just out of curiosity where did you place your drainage hose to drain out to? I’m on a third floor balcony so my neighbors wouldn’t be too pleased with me if I had it hang off the side 😂 thanks!!
Yeah this is a big concern for many people who comment or email me! For us it’s a garden we own below which makes life easy. If you don’t have a physical drain on your balcony then perhaps a broad drip tray is a best (some people have sent me photos of this working for them with a similar setup)
That’s a great suggestion! Thanks for the response ☺️
how much did all of this cost?
How do you prevent pee from leaking outside the hole you made for the pipe? I don’t see how you secured either the pvc sheet or the tarp to the pipe joint!!
Wet area gap filler (silicone) for the pipe to the wood. PVC sheet and tarp not attached to the pipe and no leaking after years
Won’t the wood support beams get soaked with urine?
That’s true - the varnish and seal has been perfect so far though. No damage, water problems or stain yet. Could use a PVC strut instead if concerned
Where did you buy the metal grids? I looked up online and they were so expensive
People ask this a lot! Two years ago you could easily grab it at a decent price from Big box hardware stores (Home Depot : Bunnings) but not anymore.
It’s a very difficult time to purchase metal lattice. Prices feel like they’ve doubled if there is even stock. I would consider finding a wooden lattice or making one if you can’t find it. Annoying I know! A hard plastic garden fence also works.
Looks great. What is the height of the sides?
About ten to 12 inches! Just under 28 centimetres. Sorry I missed this earlier
Where did you find a steel lattice to fire the size ??
I actually went and found the lattice first, then modified my design to fit the lattice. Local big box hardware store had this size
Hey! I was thinking on getting my dad to build this cause we are getting new floors and don't want them ruined but how often would you have to change the grass pad for your dog? (I'll work around that haha also great vid!)
I thought we would need to change the fake grass more often, but so fair it’s been minimum 3 months each time and it’s holding up well! Was inexpensive grass too which was great. Good luck!
Oodle Life that’s great! i’m definitely going to get my dad to build this cause he’s also bored with this whole quarantine haha.
But if you live in a tall appartment building wouldn't it be wrong to make a drainage from the balcony since it will leak on other balconies and even on the parking ? I live in one so don't really know what to do for drainage.. any ideas ? :(
Find a large flat plastic tray like a trunk liner and use that. Less convenient but it’s the only solution for such a situation. In many countries newer build apartments have drainage on the balcony, but most still do not.
Dude this is amazing, can you please make me one for my 8 week old golden retriever haha! Great project!
Thanks! Congrats on the new puppy! The build in the video is still going strong and works a treat.
Amazing invention 👏👏👏. But I still don’t fully understand it 🤣🤷♂️. So where does the pee go and how long will it last?
Drains to the hose! For us is runs down the second storey to the garden below. You can have it collect in a tray too I guess but it’s easy for us to drain to that spot. We rinse the turf with water and it all drains there.
If there is a nearby outdoor drain I’ve seen people run the hose to that also - but for us it’s the garden (and the garden is doing a-ok)
Where did you get the red gnome? I really like it. I'm in the process of building my own porch potty with some other adjustments - wish me luck!
Good luck! The gnome I found at a local plant nursery I am pretty sure (Australia). So not a particular store. It was on sale and looked perfect for our set up
How often do you replace the turf? and do you rinse it down after each time the dog goes potty or do you do a weekly rinse?
I saw someone post a review on the Porch Potty and how her turf was smelling real bad but I don't believe she had a full drainage system, just a little catch container at the bottom. So she wasn't giving it a regular rinse.
I'm curious how often I would have to replace the turf as I plan to make one pretty big about 8 x 7 ft.
Hey Pancake thanks for watching. So I bought extra synthetic turf as I imagined having to change it every few months. So far? Have not needed too once yet. The relatively cheap stuff I purchased seems to be bullet proof 🤷🏽♂️ I’ll keep a close eye on it. It will be annoying when I do need to change it but will only take an hour or so.
For smell - I rinse about once a week in the cooler months and every 2-3 days in Summer, seems to do the trick
@@OodleLife Thanks this helps. Did you by any sort of special turf like pet turf or one with certain type of drainage?
Nope! Actually just got the toughest looking turf that seemed quality - and it ended up being one of the cheapest! I looked in a large hardware store and tried to imagine how sturdy it would be. I’ve used much higher quality “pet” turf before and this is now where near as luxurious or “nice” - but it works a treat for the task. And for drainage? I stabbed about fifty holes in the surf with a screwdriver. There was drainage cut into it but I wanted much more.
@@OodleLife perfect thanks gonna give this a go tomorrow hopefully my dog actually uses it ha
where did u you get the bamboo fence?
Hey! Local large hardware store for me. (Bunnings in Australia). It came as a roll and we fixed it to the balustrade with cable ties. A neat solution!
It is resilient to weather and looks okay, but is not super strong by itself
Where is the supply list please?
Adding tiny automatic sprinkler laid opposite to each other along the edges, would be a great time saving addition.
How come there's no such product already available in the market?
There is one on the market for about $325. porchpotty.com/collections/all?gclid=CjwKCAjwps75BRAcEiwAEiACMddbtNfIh8-A03cGcMPnQMbRh1OW-xNBJwQnOqvY0nfZLacx-irqchoCq1oQAvD_BwE
@@maggiev4456 thank you so much
Looks like some of the commercial options have sprinklers built-in. czcams.com/video/GJuj1RiimVg/video.html
how to replace the black plastic sheet? because the wood on the upper part is sealed with screws
Hey Melissa, you can just cut around and re staple the plastic. That said, if you use pond liner you may not need to replace it… at all. Depending on use and environment
where does that water drain to btw? I am just imagining someone below getting rained on lol
Haha yeah that would be not great! Luckily it drains down into a garden on the lower level.
I was just thinking about that 😂
Hi has anyone done this but with a tray underneath instead of a drain? As the drain in my porch goes down to the street so can't use it. Was thinking of also putting a solution in a seperate aluminium disposable tray inside of the solid one of hyrdogen peroxide or vinegar, baking soda and washing liquid. So the urine gets absorbed in it before I trow it away. And avoid some nasty smells. Has anyone tried this in a similar way?
I know this is a year later, but pine pellets in a tray/ litter box would be good for that
Nice work and thanks for sharing, the design is a good concept. I'm going to use it and modify it. How is the pup managing with that wire grate below the artificial grass? My thoughts were to make the drain piece diameter larger and perhaps with a funnel to allow more urine to drain out and not linger behind. Brilliant with the PVC liner.
Hey Geter - Max handles the wire grate fine. He is a lighter dog (under 8kg /18 pounds) but we have had visiting dogs of double his size and more investigate the porch potty. So really no major issue there. The astroturf is surprisingly resilient.
The idea of a wider diameter drain piece makes total sense. I am thinking of modifying mine to do the same (or rebuild and give current one to a friend). Great thinking IMO
Hi I just built your design and am struggling with the drainage hole. I went for a slightly wider one and have the pond liner cute in a little x to make it all flow as centre as possible. Yet its still not going in there. Any thoughts?@@OodleLife
@user-dc1wv3lj7c the liquid just pools? What happens when you raise the end using blocks a half inch or so at the tall end? You might need to permantly add risers
How come you used the pond liner? The wood is sealed+Stained, and the PVC... I guess just to avoid any small amounts possibly getting trapped in gaps? or?
Totally right about the wood seal. The reason I went with the liner is just for cleaning and washing purposes, the wood is as new today, years after the build. I can just replace the pond liner if needed. Ended up not needing to replace yet! (I have replaced the fake turf)
@@OodleLife Awesome thanks. And how come you replaced the turf? Between rain or just rinsing it... not good enough?
It was holding up well actually, but looked a little frayed around the edges. I think the colour had changed due to sun exposure too. I used a very inexpensive roll and had so much left over so I decided to change (was 1.5 years or more before I even thought about it). So not really necessary but it looked nearer after the change
Where does the pee and the poop go and do you wash the grass???
You gotta pick up the poop. The pee drains out the base and into a garden/drain. We do rinse the grass every other day!
does this work for poo as well? and how to clean the fake grass?
The dog does poo on the Matt, but you need to pick it up and dispose (flush typically).
Cleaning the fake grass is SO easy. Plain water does enough, or any vinegar / sugar soap/ or dog urine cleaner works a treat but wash it a bunch with water after.
It’s crazy how easy it is to clean
Where does the pee drain to? Do you wash it?
A garden downstairs. You could drain into a tray if necessary but it works great for us into the garden.
I do wash it every couple of days, more frequently in summer
Do you know what modifications could be done to support 2 people on it?
Two dogs? Extra strut and ensure you use steel lattice. It’s pretty resilient as it stands tbh
@@OodleLife I'm thinking strong enough for people to walk on
Oh Jeesh I’d have to think on this, the design would change a bit
Great idea but wont the grass smell ?
We have been really lucky - it drains well for us. I do rinse it with water every other day. Summer has been the closest to being a problem, winter has been fine (our winters are not very cold here in Australia but our summer can be scorching)
@@OodleLife wha?? Australia is friggin cold in winter what u on about lol you must be north lol
Yo le hice algo similar a mi perrita y lo coloque donde habitualmente hace, y no sube hacer, hace por los lados, no se cómo hacer para que haga arriba. Se sube a otras cosas, pero no hacer pipí
lograste que pudiera hacer arriba?
What was the thickness of the PVC panel?
Hey @colinbowern it was 4mm (roughly 1/8 inch). Any thicker would be difficult to flex.
So the urine gets dripped on every one below the balcony ?
Nope! Drains via a pipe to a garden drain. I’ve been sent other builds what use a plastic tray or some lucky new build apartments have drainage. Gotta think about the neighbours!
HOW CAN I GET MY DOG TO USE THIS? HE'S USED TO BEING WALKED. I NOW LIVE ON THE 2ND FLOOR. THESE STAIRS 4 TIMES A DAY. TOO MUCH. AND SUGGESTIONS??
Walk your dog to his porch potty station on leash like he would on a regular potty walk. Tell him to go potty or whatever word you usually say. You can give praise or a treat every time they use the potty
Not for my dogs caucasian shepherd's they are over 200 lbs
How do I get them to go up there?
Most dogs will just hop up into the turf / it’s a small height. You can also wipe a little dog urine onto the turf and it helps give them the idea of how the whole thing works
Could you estimate how much you spent on this?
Hi - it’s not the cheapest project - around $150-180 USD from memory. I used high grade dressed pine which was not really necessary but nice, a high quality stain and varnish, and overly strong steel lattice. A weaker steel frame would have been fine I think now that I’ve tested it with a few different sized dogs. If you picked normal quality wood and varnish the cost would decrease too.
It’s still working a treat, our dog uses it every single day. So easy to clean!
@@OodleLife That's still not a bad price! I'd much rather pay $180 one time over the extra $200+ that an apartment with a full yard would add on to rent. Definitely gonna give this a try, thank you!
Looks good, but you stapled through the pond liner instead of just using caulk, so you poked holes into your whole waterproof design.
True! But no issues in the last year, I think it’s not ideal super long term but have had no issues yet
If you caulked, which one of the other build videos do (czcams.com/video/v7JRj09VX4A/video.html) does that limit replacement in the future? I suppose you could disinfect and hope it doesn't break down.
What does it drain into though?
hc6777 hey thanks for watching! Drainage wise you have a few options. We drain down from the second storey in a long hose to a garden with resilient plants (they are somehow thriving!) If you have a drain on the balcony (how convenient!) feed into that with the hose. Same if there is some lawn or a drain you can reach with a hose. You can position the hose slightly higher and run it into a plastic tray also. Another option is to skip the hose externally and allow it to drain into a flat pan stored underneath the potty
Jerk Of All Trades you savage lol 😂 no complaints yet ?
@@OodleLife Do you rinse it with fresh water from time to time to reduce urine smell? We are moving into an apartment and I'm trying to decide if using artificial grass or buy a roll of sod every couple of weeks is best.
Hey Darla, I’m we do rinse it with fresh water at least once per week. In summer more frequently.
Sod is not unreasonable if you can find a good source because you simply throw away the smell!
What did you do about the odor ??
Hey Herm, we have been pretty fortunate that the odour has never been too bad. We do rinse it at least once a week and allow it to drain. More in the hot summer. I have used a urine smell removing liquid from the pet store and it worked a treat too.
@@OodleLife thank you for your quick response, I will look into that 🙏🏼🙏🏼
Ok am i right that you are showing us how to do this ....and your version is not for sale somewhere? being disabled vet a diy is not an option...
This one is available online porchpotty.com/collections/all?gclid=CjwKCAjwps75BRAcEiwAEiACMddbtNfIh8-A03cGcMPnQMbRh1OW-xNBJwQnOqvY0nfZLacx-irqchoCq1oQAvD_BwE
How is the smell?
Not something we have issues with really! Get mildly stinky in the heat but it drains well and I rinse it extra during warmer times. I know there are cleaning solutions for Astro turf than could help of it did give us issue.
Bruhh an automated one you can buy was made years ago. Good diy video though
That's why it says DIY.. not buy a automated one tutorial 🤨
Where can I buy this
Haha if only these were easy to sell and ship. The brand porch potty do a super luxe similar version (smaller) you can find it on Amazon in the US and Canada.
Easier DIY builds others have made here also work - www.oodlelife.com/best-indoor-diy-dog-toilet-solutions/
Good luck!
so is this also a pool that stores dog pee? I'm confused as to how it is disposed if you are just lining it with pond liner. hmmmm
Did you miss the entire part where he put in the drainage?
Why not just take the dog for a walk?! Is that off the table some how?🤷🏿♂️
Always our best option! Despite having this set up we walk and he toilets outdoors every day too.
This just helps with any time we are away from the dog, and times when weather is an issue.
ever consider selling these and shipping.
yes please
There are commercial options - czcams.com/video/GJuj1RiimVg/video.html
way too much work. Is there a simpler way to do that? I have a condo and don't have the space or the tools to do all that.
There are small pre-made similar solutions
! Lots of options on Amazon.
Or even services that deliver a grass patch to you that you throw away.
Even a cheap puppy artificial grass patch works if you don’t mind emptying the tray
so the drain just pours off the balcony? lmao.. is that legal? what if you pour pee on someones head hahaha
Haha not quite! We live in multi storey house so run the line down to our garden on the level below. Flowers and plants are thriving despite it all - I was worried about that in the beginning
If we lived in an apartment or had a walkway below I would drain into a drip tray I think.
But when he'll poop?
Haha yeah the dog does poop there too, I just pick them up every morning and remove them !
@@OodleLife oh thanks ❤
Can you please sell these? Thanks ! Lol
Haha I think the shipping from Australia 🇦🇺 would cost more than the potty 🚽
what about poop😊
Aha you still need to pick up the poop and dispose of
Unfortunately my dog would not use it so a wasted 100 plus :(
Oh no! Sorry to hear that Katie. Dogs can be so picky sometimes :/
So if you’re above the first floor, dog waste is pouring out the hose end down the side of the building!? Onto the balcony, balcony’s below!? Disgusting thing to do to your neighbours, and grounds for eviction if you’re a renter.
That would be beyond inconsiderate wouldn’t it! Plumbing it to a drain, garden, or just collecting it in a large drip tray are some of the ways people avoid being nuisance neighbours.
Would rather have my dog just take leak and water it down, this is s joke lol..
There are way easier ways to do this. This guy has to much time on his hands. I guess everyone needs a hobby so we stay sane. A 4 effort though
It's probably a great idea but your music was so annoying that I had to stop the video. Why wouldn't you just talk us through it instead of that stupid music?.