Authentic Woods KD (Knock Down) 10' by 16' Coop Build

[Ted Brown]

Are you charging by the hour?
Or at least working your time into the price?
BTDT.

As background my career was in IT, the later stages as a project manager. I was required to develop estimates for almost everything I did.

I do two things:

1. Charge by the hour based on actual time spent.
2. Develop very detailed estimates for both time and materials up front. I am pretty good with details and not bad at estimating how long things take (but not perfect!). A typical estimate runs up to a hundred lines for both T&M.

I usually come in at +/- 10%. Clients often change things and the detailed estimates allow me to say "not in the quote" without rancor on their part. I am selective about who I work for, ask that materials be paid for up front so I do not get stung.

Seems to be working so far, I have work booked for at least the rest of the year and either existing or new clients asking for more.

 

[jthornton]

As background my career was in IT, the later stages as a project manager. I was required to develop estimates for almost everything I did.

I do two things:

1. Charge by the hour based on actual time spent.
2. Develop very detailed estimates for both time and materials up front. I am pretty good with details and not bad at estimating how long things take (but not perfect!). A typical estimate runs up to a hundred lines for both T&M.

I usually come in at +/- 10%. Clients often change things and the detailed estimates allow me to say "not in the quote" without rancor on their part. I am selective about who I work for, ask that materials be paid for up front so I do not get stung.

Seems to be working so far, I have work booked for at least the rest of the year and either existing or new clients asking for more.

Sounds like you have enough business to keep you busy and a bunch of happy customers. I never could estimate time for projects because most of what I did was R&D so I'd say how long does it take to develop an idea on how to solve this problem and how many experiments will it take to get to the end machine... that usually shut the pencil pushers up lol. If I had been doing repetitious work it wold have been another story. Later on I started a business with a partner that could quote a project in an hour, never know how he did that but we always made good money. I miss him...

JT

 

[Ted Brown]

Foundation for Coop

My focus will shift this week from coop build to site preparation.

• Move 20 year old pile of dirt in the location where the coop is going.
  • To 1st raised garden location road side of pole shed (sides will be 3 left over hydro poles; 12' by 6' area)
• Install foundation for coop
  • eight concrete deck footings
  • eight 2' vertical 4" by 4" cedar posts
  • two 16' maple 4" by 4" side beams
  • four 4" by 4" cedar cross beams
• Install first two coop panels on foundation
  • Panel A & back wall in an "L" shape

 

[Ted Brown]

It is to rain for the next 24+? hours. Wood pile 1st, two coop panels 2nd.

 

[aart]

It is to rain for the next 24+? hours.

Bummer.....here too, but I have no outside projects going on.

 

[jthornton]

Hard to do dirt work in the rain, I've been waiting for months for a dry spell to get some dirt work done and cut down some dead white oaks.

JT

 

[Ted Brown]

Best to get at 'er.

 

[Ted Brown]

I will be clearing the area where the coop will be and building the support frame over the next few days.

I had planned to elevate it 2' off the ground, yesterday it was suggested that 3' would make it easier to clean out when that was necessary; either height is possible with the materials on hand.

My intent is to DLM in the covered run area but leave the space under the coop as open ground. Will the birds drag materials under the coop? What do folks think is the better height, does it matter?

 

[jthornton]

I have an elevated coop and would never do that again unless it's 6' off the ground so I can get under there without crawling. Just wondering why you want to elevate a woods style coop?

JT

 

[Ted Brown]

Just wondering why you want to elevate a woods style coop?JT

I need to provide more run space and thought that the 160 sq feet of space available under the coop was an easy/quick/in-expensive way to achieve this. I would build removable frames with HC attached for three sides to facilitate clean out; fourth side would be open to the attached 12' by 12' covered run.

I also have read that it is easier to predator proof an elevated coop?