My coop build - a raised coop with an enclosed run underneath. PIC HEAVY - still in progress - Page 4

Thanks!  

We made the roof frame after another trip to Lowes for supplies (feelin the wallet burn!)...only now I need to go back and change it from 5x8ft to 5x7ft as the metal panels I planned on using were a cropped lie  After the alterations we'll put the frame up, hurricane tie it down, and add some 11/33" plywood and a couple Ondura panels with some of the length cut off - those will be used over the nest boxes and extras kept in case some vents need added protection etc.

But I did with hubby's help get the pop door surround / vinyl flooring secured and the ramp and platform on. The platform's screws need to be redone with a screwdriver, for some reason my drill keeps stripping them, they're not the nice screws I've been using to this point. And the lower ramp portion has a hinge to connect it so that I can lift it up for easier cleaning of the run under it.

I cannot get Photobucket to load one of the photos properly, a better view of the ramp from the back, so these'll have to do for now:

We're in for 10 days of on and off rain at least, so it's difficult doing more right now. but we're trying to get done asap...I'm hoping to finish it off this weekend, after doing more during this week of course,  but we'll see how that goes.

I'm really starting to enjoy the brightness of the colours myself! I usually play things safe with colours, but it's fun seeing something really colorful for once!

I haven't forgotten vents, promise! I plan on there being a hardware cloth covered roof vent all along where the roof and coop connect. Also I'll be adding some vents up near the top at the front / back. and some flap open sections on all sides. Then I can open what is needed and close what isn't. I'm hoping to keep them cool enough on the hottest days (and nights) not to worry about them if we're gone during the day for several hours. And the run will be shaded for the most part from the coop above it, the trees around it and the fence next to it. 

Something tells me I need to buy multi packs of hinges and latches 

Progress!!!

Okay so with hubby's help, in between scattered rainstorms and kid craziness, we got a bit further with the coop! I can't tell you what a motivation boost it is to see it with a roof on! The end is in sight!

Here the roof is assembled and ready for hubby and I to hoist up. We pre-assembled it because we still don't own a ladder, lol, so adding the roofing once the frame was up, wasn't an option.

Before hoisting the roof up, I had a little spark of brain function (pretty impressive because yesterday I was too tired to even be safe driving to Lowes, hubby had to go!). I cut and attached the hardware cloth over the top of the coop BEFORE putting on the roof so that I don't have to bend the HC around joists or studs to cover up the roof line vents, or cut lots of small pieces for those areas to avoid bending. This way I have to snip odd places to allow the hurricane ties to go though it, but that is SO much easier than the other options!

I used a mix of the Big 3" Ondura roofing nails with the plastic washers in the studs, and 1 1/4" screws with pilfered (from the HC I attached to the back of the run) fender washers for in between the studs. I'll replace the fender washers below when I go to Lowes again. Or just get the other screws, we'll see. The roof joists will also help keep the HC on.

And here is the roof on! It's only secured with 2 hurricane ties in the front so far (if you look carefully at the top of the wall studs you'll see them), but it was raining and the roof wasn't going to fall off, so we called it quits right before dark. I'll finish securing it today and probably go to Lowes for the other screws I need.

So now I have a roof and a wonderful big roof line venting system! Oh and we were under the roof while it was raining, and we stayed dry!  Let's pray it stays that way, ha ha!!

The end is in sight!!!!