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How to Handle Build an Outdoor Dog Potty Area on Concrete Step by Step

When build an outdoor dog potty area on concrete leaves you confused, worried, or unsure what it means, a clear step-by-step approach can help you sort the signal from the stress. This guide explains how to understand the situation, reflect on what matters, choose a practical next step, and know when to ask for trusted support.

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Part 1

Choosing and Measuring the Location

Determine where you’ll build your pup’s potty area.

If your dog isn’t particular, choose an area where the potty will be out of the way. If it’s hot where you live, placing the potty area in a shaded area may be ideal. If your dog isn’t particular, choose an area where the potty will be out of the way.

If your dog isn’t particular, choose an area where the potty will be out of the way.
If it’s hot where you live, placing the potty area in a shaded area may be ideal.
If your dog isn’t particular, choose an area where the potty will be out of the way.
If your dog isn’t particular, choose an area where the potty will be out of the way.
If it’s hot where you live, placing the potty area in a shaded area may be ideal.

Calculate how big you want to make the potty area.

You likely want to build a potty area that’s at least 4 by 4 feet (1.2 by 1.2 m) so your dog has plenty of space to sniff and poke around, but you can make it any size you’d like. If you have a larger breed, you may want to make it twice (or even three times) as big.

You likely want to build a potty area that’s at least 4 by 4 feet (1.2 by 1.2 m) so your dog has plenty of space to sniff and poke around, but you can make it any size you’d like.
If you have a larger breed, you may want to make it twice (or even three times) as big.
You likely want to build a potty area that’s at least 4 by 4 feet (1.2 by 1.2 m) so your dog has plenty of space to sniff and poke around, but you can make it any size you’d like.
If you have a larger breed, you may want to make it twice (or even three times) as big.
You likely want to build a potty area that’s at least 4 by 4 feet (1.2 by 1.2 m) so your dog has plenty of space to sniff and poke around, but you can make it any size you’d like.

Mark the dimensions of the potty area with chalk to size your frame.

Use your measuring tape to calculate your dimensions. If you want to be super precise (you don’t have to be), get a chalk line and enlist a friend to hold one end for you. Pull the string taut before snapping it into the ground to mark each line. Alternatively, draw your box out freehand with a piece of chalk.

Use your measuring tape to calculate your dimensions.
If you want to be super precise (you don’t have to be), get a chalk line and enlist a friend to hold one end for you.
Pull the string taut before snapping it into the ground to mark each line.
Alternatively, draw your box out freehand with a piece of chalk.
Use your measuring tape to calculate your dimensions.

Part 2

Constructing the Frame

Cut your wood boards if you didn’t get them cut to size.

Purchase 1 by 4 in (25 by 102 mm) treated lumber boards. You can get them pre-cut at the building supply store, or cut them to size yourself using a circular saw or using a jigsaw. Set your boards on sawhorses, mark your cuts with a pencil, and put on protective eyewear before carefully making your cuts.

Purchase 1 by 4 in (25 by 102 mm) treated lumber boards.
You can get them pre-cut at the building supply store, or cut them to size yourself using a circular saw or using a jigsaw.
Set your boards on sawhorses, mark your cuts with a pencil, and put on protective eyewear before carefully making your cuts.
Purchase 1 by 4 in (25 by 102 mm) treated lumber boards.
You can get them pre-cut at the building supply store, or cut them to size yourself using a circular saw or using a jigsaw.

Secure your boards together using a drill and wood screws.

Any kind of wood screws should work so long as they’re long enough to drive through the thinner side of your boards (2 in (5.1 cm) wood screws will work fine). Set the thin end of your longest board inside of the adjacent board at a 90-degree angle. Drive at least 2 screws through the adjacent board and into the center of the longer board to secure them together.

Any kind of wood screws should work so long as they’re long enough to drive through the thinner side of your boards (2 in (5.1 cm) wood screws will work fine).
Set the thin end of your longest board inside of the adjacent board at a 90-degree angle.
Drive at least 2 screws through the adjacent board and into the center of the longer board to secure them together.
Any kind of wood screws should work so long as they’re long enough to drive through the thinner side of your boards (2 in (5.1 cm) wood screws will work fine).
Set the thin end of your longest board inside of the adjacent board at a 90-degree angle.

Set your frame down and reinforce it with hinges if necessary.

Once you’ve constructed the frame, place it over the designated area where you drew your chalk. If it feels a little wobbly and you want to strengthen the frame, pick up four pieces of flashing and screw them into the walls of the lumber on the inside of the frame. This will help the frame keep its shape over time.

Once you’ve constructed the frame, place it over the designated area where you drew your chalk.
If it feels a little wobbly and you want to strengthen the frame, pick up four pieces of flashing and screw them into the walls of the lumber on the inside of the frame.
This will help the frame keep its shape over time.
Once you’ve constructed the frame, place it over the designated area where you drew your chalk.
If it feels a little wobbly and you want to strengthen the frame, pick up four pieces of flashing and screw them into the walls of the lumber on the inside of the frame.

Part 3

Filling the Potty Area

Lay landscape fabric down if you have cracks in your concrete.

Landscape fabric is typically laid down in raised beds to prevent weeds from growing through raised beds. If you have cracks in your concrete—even a few little ones—lay this fabric down to keep your potty area weed-free. Purchase a sheet of landscape fabric, cut it to size with scissors, and lay it down before filling the potty area in.

Landscape fabric is typically laid down in raised beds to prevent weeds from growing through raised beds.
If you have cracks in your concrete—even a few little ones—lay this fabric down to keep your potty area weed-free.
Purchase a sheet of landscape fabric, cut it to size with scissors, and lay it down before filling the potty area in.
Landscape fabric is typically laid down in raised beds to prevent weeds from growing through raised beds.
If you have cracks in your concrete—even a few little ones—lay this fabric down to keep your potty area weed-free.

Fill the potty area 1/3 of the way with a base layer of pea gravel.

Pour the gravel inside of the frame and spread it out by hand so that the bottom 1/3 of the potty area is filled. The gravel will provide drainage for your pup’s urine, to keep it from building up in the potty area over time.

Pour the gravel inside of the frame and spread it out by hand so that the bottom 1/3 of the potty area is filled.
The gravel will provide drainage for your pup’s urine, to keep it from building up in the potty area over time.
Pour the gravel inside of the frame and spread it out by hand so that the bottom 1/3 of the potty area is filled.
The gravel will provide drainage for your pup’s urine, to keep it from building up in the potty area over time.
Pour the gravel inside of the frame and spread it out by hand so that the bottom 1/3 of the potty area is filled.

Place a sheet of peg board on top of the pea gravel (optional).

Pick up a cheap sheet of wood peg board from a home improvement store and set it on top of the pea gravel. This will keep the pea gravel from shifting around over time. The holes in the peg board will also allow for plenty of drainage.

Pick up a cheap sheet of wood peg board from a home improvement store and set it on top of the pea gravel.
This will keep the pea gravel from shifting around over time.
The holes in the peg board will also allow for plenty of drainage.
Pick up a cheap sheet of wood peg board from a home improvement store and set it on top of the pea gravel.
This will keep the pea gravel from shifting around over time.

Lay landscape fabric over the peg board and/or pea gravel.

An additional layer of landscape fabric will keep your top soil and pea gravel separated here. This way, the urine can drain through below the soil and air out. Cut the fabric with scissors to match the size of the potty area and lay it on top of the gravel.

An additional layer of landscape fabric will keep your top soil and pea gravel separated here.
This way, the urine can drain through below the soil and air out.
Cut the fabric with scissors to match the size of the potty area and lay it on top of the gravel.
An additional layer of landscape fabric will keep your top soil and pea gravel separated here.
This way, the urine can drain through below the soil and air out.

Lay fresh sod or artificial turf over the potting soil.

You have some freedom at this point. For the natural look, purchase a roll or two of fresh sod from your local gardening store. Lay it down on top of the soil. Alternatively, you can buy artificial turf and lay that on top of the soil.

You have some freedom at this point.
For the natural look, purchase a roll or two of fresh sod from your local gardening store.
Lay it down on top of the soil.
Alternatively, you can buy artificial turf and lay that on top of the soil.
You have some freedom at this point.

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