5 Helpful DIY Porch Potties You Can Make Today (With Pictures)
Updated on
Even if you don’t normally think of yourself as a DIYer, there are times when making something on your own can save you lots of time and money. If you’re a pet parent, for example, you might have noticed how expensive some porch potties are for your dog. So, why not just build one yourself instead?
The Top 5 DIY Porch Potties
1. Dog Porch Potty
| Materials: | Wood beams, linoleum, tubing, caulk, screws, artificial turf, linoleum glue, pressboard, plastic fluorescent light grate |
| Tools: | Drill, circular saw |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
If you have a circular saw and you’re looking for a weekend project, then this dog porch potty is a great option. This project does involve some careful measurements and cutting, as well as ensuring the linoleum is properly secured into place. If it isn’t, then you could end up with dog urine underneath the linoleum. This means that you won’t be able to clean it properly and the wood may begin to rot from moisture.
You’ll also need to ensure you provide adequate drying time for the glue and caulk. Otherwise, things may slip out of place and make your porch potty less secure. It’s a good idea to have more than one piece of artificial turf that is cut to fit your porch potty so you can always have a clean one down while you clean and dry the other.
2. Porch Potty Build
| Materials: | Pond tubing, plywood, steel pegboard, deck screws, wood beams, PVC pond liner, exterior sealant, artificial turf, brad nails |
| Tools: | Drill, impact driver, miter saw, table saw, jig saw, brad nailer, pocket hole jig, tape measure |
| Difficulty Level: | Difficult |
Do you have technical know-how and multiple power tools? Then this porch potty build is just for you! This project does require quite a bit of measuring and cutting, as well as some specific tools and technical ability, so this isn’t the best project for a weekend project with your kids. However, if you’re looking for a porch potty that’s going to look beautiful on your patio, then you’re in the right place with this one.
3. DIY Pet Porch Potty by Living to DIY
| Materials: | Astroturf, resin fire hydrant, metal grate, metal handles, wood beams, dowels, screws, wood glue, PVC pipe, durable plastic sheet or pond liner, wood stain (optional) |
| Tools: | Drill, miter saw, tape measure |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
This DIY pet porch potty can be put together in a day or two, making it a great option for a weekend project. It does require the use of some power tools, so you will need to be prepared for some technical skills and careful measurements. It also requires creating divots in the wood beams for the dowels and PVC pipe to fit into, so you may need a specialty drill bit to create perfectly sized divots.
This project uses wood stain to make a more appealing porch potty, but this step is optional and is dependent on how you want it to look. Also, the fire hydrant is optional but definitely creates a fun touch that your male dog might appreciate.
4. Balcony Porch Potty
| Materials: | Pine wood, PVC plastic board, wooden battens, steel lattice, pond liner, spare wood, cable ties, fake grass, timber screws, nails, wood staples, PVC pipe, L-shaped PVC piece, metal pipe fastener, silicone sealant |
| Tools: | Drill, hammer, nail gun, circular saw, impact drill |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
This balcony porch potty is a very similar build to the previous DIY project, except this one includes instructions on how to pipe your porch potty away from its base. This makes it a good option for balconies or raised porches.
Piping it out will allow you to set exactly where you want the waste and cleaning water to exit the potty. Without piping it out, your drain will simply drain to the closest and lowest point. By piping your potty out, you will be able to prevent mishaps with drainage and pipe the waste away from things like flower beds and children’s play areas.
5. Homemade Doggy Potty
| Materials: | Boot tray, tile or linoleum, fake grass, puppy pads, decorative garden fence (optional) |
| Tools: | Box cutter or knife |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
It doesn’t get much simpler than this homemade doggy potty, and most of the materials can be purchased at your local dollar store. If you’re lucky, you can create this entire build for under $10! If you want this to last, you might consider getting more expensive, higher-quality materials than what you can find at a dollar store, though.
Puppy pads should be changed at least once a day, but most puppy pads will need to be changed multiple times per day, especially if your dog produces a lot of urine. The artificial grass will also need to be cleaned and disinfected every day to keep it hygienic and prevent unpleasant smells.
Conclusion
No matter what type of porch potty you need for your dog, there is something here for you, even if you aren’t technically inclined. Porch potties are a great option for people who live in condos and apartments, dogs who have trouble getting up and down stairs, and house training puppies.
Some people also use porch potties during bad weather, so their dog has a comfy place to potty without making a mess in the house. Just remember that porch potties all require routine cleaning and maintenance to keep them clean, safe, and stink-free.
Featured Image Credit: VidaHawaii, Shutterstock
