Any advice before I turn on the saw?

[bad_coffee]

The outside is 3/4 done. I bought 'underlayment' shingles instead of 'real' shingles. There's a $50 price difference between the two per bundle, and since I need 4 bundles, the cheaper ones will do. It just means 100% are not usable, but about 75% pass. I have one wall left, because I only bought 3 bundles! The lumber store opens at 7:30 am. . .

We're getting a couple of bags of "green roof soil" from a friend. Until I figure out if I need to trellis the roof (it's a 15* angle, so I have to stop the soil from erroding off the roof and ending up in the run,) it's just tar paper.

Here's the pics!
A close up of the back wall. I don't think these 'grade 3' shingles look too bad for a coop!

All but the right side shingled. I still have to attach the half shingles under the window and the pop door. I also need to shingle the window sills with scraps, then stain/seal the whole thing.

B

 

[AnnainMD]

It looks great! Nice job.

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Looks beautiful! Keep up the good work. Can't wait for the interior pictures!!

 

[ADozenGirlz]

I think you owe us an update!

 

[bad_coffee]

Quote:
okay okay okay!

At the end of the week building the coop, I got ANOTHER CALL FROM THE MANAGEMENT about the noise.

Mgmt: "Have you been working in the yard all week? I thought when we talked before it was a one time thing. We already sent you a copy of your lease where it says you can't bother other tenants. I highlighted the section for you"

Me: "But where's my right to use my 'private' backyard for what I wish?"

Mgmt: "If it infringes on the other residents, you don't have the right."

Me: "The lease says its a private yard, so I should be able to use it how I wish! I have to build some planters and benches for out back, I'm trying to make the yard look better than it is now. Please pass my number on to whomever is calling you with the complaints. I'll gladly alter my schedule so I won't bother them." (Notice I said I won't totally stop. I tried my hardest to not go off the deep end and start screaming, I thought I actually did pretty well.)

The woman upstairs (who was calling in the complaints,) called me that evening. The way she said it, I think management told her I would be working out there every day all summer long. I told her it would just be projects here and there. Also, she and her boyfriend are both Medical students, and are studying for the MCAT entrance exams. I told her I completely understand, and that my girlfriend was working on her dissertation. At the end of the conversation, everything was sorted out, and I said I'd give her a head's up a few days before I work out there.

Monday afternoon I called management and thanked them for passing on my number. They said the woman upstairs called and thanked them, and that I was really nice and understanding. Now when there's a problem, she can just call me.

After the conversation with the management co, The Lady and I had a long talk about keeping the birds. We both really like this apartment, and don't want to lose our lease. If the woman upstairs was complaining about the building, what is she gonna do when she chickens running around the yard?

We (she) came up with the idea of covering the coop and run with cabana fabric, so you couldn't see it from above. All you would see is that something is down there. We went outside to look at the options for hanging the 'curtains.' As we're walking around, talking about the benefits vs the pains in the ass about the birds, she looks at the wall under the fire escape and says, "Let's just put the coop right there. Nobody will be able to see it from above, and we won't draw attention to it with curtains."

She was right. It fits like it was built to be there. The only drawback is the birds will be on a concrete run. I may put some gravel or mulch in there later, but for now they'll just have a big dirt bath pan full of sand/dirt/DE. The concrete will be easy to hose down so the poop won't stink up the back yard. The only bad thing is the run will block our door from our bedroom to outside. The door opens 'in' so we can still get out in an emergency, but we won't be able to walk into the yard from downstairs.

Tomorrow I'll be building the run, installing the automatic door, finishing the cedar shingles, staining the shingles, and maybe Tuesday we can move the birds out!
All four walls stacked up to move. Luckily this move was just across the yard.

Coop in place! Since we're trying to keep it quiet, my idea for a tin roof went out the window. Until I can find a piece of rolled roofing, the top will just stay felt paper. I can't justify buying a whole roll of roofing for 4x5'. I'll see if I can pick up a piece on craigslist or freecycle.

In the right of the pic you can see the door we'll block. (I'm impressed I made the bed that day!)

Tomorrow more pics when the run is done and the auto door is in and working!

B

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Wow. What an update! I don't think I'd be as patient or accommodating as you are being with your neighbors and mgt co. That's a lot of hoops you're jumping through, but I guess you want to keep them quiet and happy and keep your lease. It just irritates me that people are such busy-bodies that it would occur to them that you should have to build a visual shield to prevent their prying eyes from coming up with more about which to complain. Sad.

 

[ColoradoMike]

That coop is all kinds of awesome -good luck with you neighbors and your management!