Well with the collapse of the outhouse at our cottage last summer it was time to build a new one. We chose a location and started digging, after striking several unmovable rocks we gave up…
The next weekend we set out to dig in a new location, while we didn’t hit any large rocks we did encounter several difficult layers. The first 7 inches was dirt and roots. Then we hit about a foot of grey material that was like digging in a litter box. Next came a dark rusty layer that was harder than hell and had to be busted apart with a steel bar. This layer also brought ground water which started seeping into the hole.
Every inch after the rusty layer for over the next foot or more consisted of hard packed sandy rocks. This layer was so tightly packed we had to use the steel bar to break it up before we could shovel it. We couldn’t stop digging at this point as water continued to come into the hole.
In the end we where exhausted but managed to sink a plastic barrel into the hole to keep the hole from collapsing.
That was it for that weekend, next weekend it was time to build. We got some concrete footers and a pile of lumber based on the plans in our heads and set to work. The black flies were out in full force, and there wasn’t any wind to blow them away, but we kept going. After two days of working from morning to sun down we managed to get everything up and sheeted before the weekend was gone and the rain started.
We still need to install the door, shingle the roof, build the bench, add trim and paint. Next weekend…
My mother owns a house just up the street from out family cottage. Which works out well as our cottage does not have running water. However as the house was closed up over the winter we ran into some problems. Mainly the sump pump burned out and the basement flooded with water. On top of this the platform holding the water pump finally rotted away and collapsed leaving everything dangling from a single pipe.
We bought a new sump pump and drained the basement and set to work removing all of the years of crap plumbing and stuck together bits in an effort to remove as many of the future potential leaks as possible. We also installed a number of shut off valves as any that were down there either went to some long ago piece of pipe that no longer exists or where so badly corroded they refused to move. Some did both and just slowly dripped showing their age.
I failed to get any before pictures but grabbed some after everything was redone.
I should also mention that I did all of the solder connections and didn’t have a single leak. Not bad for a guy who’s only training was soldering electronics and DIY shows on TV.
Moose has found a new sleeping spot, parking himself at the end of the weight bench. He is often found here in this position resting his head on the little metal post.
This leaves me to believe that either his head is too heavy, or his neck it too small.
