Gwethrien
Songster
Today was major construction day of the coop expansion. I’ve planned and drawn and measured for weeks. I have watched you tube, read articles studied basic carpentry articles. I gathered supplies including a nice pallet and a bunch of decent cheap lumber and supplemented a bunch from store.
Truly everything that could Go sideways did Go sideways.
My first task was to fill in the pallet and raise it up. I learned my geometry skills are very rusty and making a diagonal brace was problematic.
The platform was finally solid enough once I made the wall frames I was proud I had squared them up but on closer inspection there were still some things a bit off.
Finally I need to get the original wing ready which meant raising it up as well, my neighbor helped cut shelfs into my pressure treated posts for the original coop legs to go on. I still need to reinforce this but for now solid enough.
I went to Paint reject bin at hardware store and pink is what they had for exterior paint, my daughter was thrilled.
I also bought liquid rubber for the roof. Paint day was yesterday.
Day began by removing back off original and removing roof. Up went the frames and the original roof was reattached with opposite pitch. Then walls door and the hardware cloth
Problems Encountered
- leveling legs and then cinder blocks cracked finally went with basic pavers.
- tree needed major trimming over coop due to coop being so high
- Walls didn’t fit in frames though they fit when frames were in garage
- the door it was a nightmare not a level square corner to be found and none of the four boxes of screws were right because boards were thinner, because of wall issue identified above hinges are placed quite wonky. After third adjustment doors shut “ok”. Door handles and slide bolt didn’t work. It was getting well into evening and I’m panicking because there is No back up for night So we go with Block lock, not pretty but secure
- Hardware cloth is a nightmare.
Day is done, it is 95% secure, again hardware cloth is a nightmare. Floor is not done- sorry ladies you are getting straw for one night. We will lay linoleum and put sand in tomorrow. There is also just a pseudo roost but roosting is still not their first choice and for one night I’m Not going to worry.
Truly everything that could Go sideways did Go sideways.
My first task was to fill in the pallet and raise it up. I learned my geometry skills are very rusty and making a diagonal brace was problematic.
The platform was finally solid enough once I made the wall frames I was proud I had squared them up but on closer inspection there were still some things a bit off.
Finally I need to get the original wing ready which meant raising it up as well, my neighbor helped cut shelfs into my pressure treated posts for the original coop legs to go on. I still need to reinforce this but for now solid enough.
I went to Paint reject bin at hardware store and pink is what they had for exterior paint, my daughter was thrilled.
I also bought liquid rubber for the roof. Paint day was yesterday.
Day began by removing back off original and removing roof. Up went the frames and the original roof was reattached with opposite pitch. Then walls door and the hardware cloth
Problems Encountered
- leveling legs and then cinder blocks cracked finally went with basic pavers.
- tree needed major trimming over coop due to coop being so high
- Walls didn’t fit in frames though they fit when frames were in garage
- the door it was a nightmare not a level square corner to be found and none of the four boxes of screws were right because boards were thinner, because of wall issue identified above hinges are placed quite wonky. After third adjustment doors shut “ok”. Door handles and slide bolt didn’t work. It was getting well into evening and I’m panicking because there is No back up for night So we go with Block lock, not pretty but secure
- Hardware cloth is a nightmare.
Day is done, it is 95% secure, again hardware cloth is a nightmare. Floor is not done- sorry ladies you are getting straw for one night. We will lay linoleum and put sand in tomorrow. There is also just a pseudo roost but roosting is still not their first choice and for one night I’m Not going to worry.
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