Building My First Coop

[K0k0shka]

Ahh , got ya . For the run yea , no problem . I was thinking the coop itself where you need more consistency in the dimensions .

Yeah, my 2x4's dimensions are all over the place even in the coop... It's not as precise as I would've wanted, but I try to keep in mind that it's just a chicken coop I gave it sturdy half lap joints everywhere to compensate, and as long as it doesn't fall on my head, I'll be happy, even if it's not 100% even and perfect everywhere.

 

[aart]

2x4's dimensions are all over

Where are you buying your lumber and what are the actual dimensions?

 

[K0k0shka]

Where are you buying your lumber and what are the actual dimensions?

Home Depot. They’re all less than 2 and less than 4 inches, but by different amounts. I started out cutting each lap of the joints to match each individual piece of wood, but it was too much work and tedious. So I cut them all by the same amount and now some laps are flush, and some have a gap I hammered shims into... Some of the pieces also bow a lot so the joints there are under tension. Oh well. As long as it holds up. I drove a 3” deck screw through each joint just for peace of mind.

 

[aart]

They’re all less than 2 and less than 4 inches

You know that nominal size is 2x4....but actual size is 1 1/2 x 3 1/2.
Not sure what the tolerance is.

 

[K0k0shka]

You know that nominal size is 2x4....but actual size is 1 1/2 x 3 1/2.
Not sure what the tolerance is.

Actual actual size is 1 3/4 and 3 3/4 but it’s not quite a real 3/4 in all pieces.

 

[aart]

Actual actual size is 1 3/4 and 3 3/4

That's weird, never heard of it.

 

[EggWalrus]

A 2x4 used to be rough cut to 2x4, then the face and sides planed down about 1/4 inch to make it about 1 1/2 x 3 1/2. Depending on moisture content they were slightly bigger or smaller. But they are meant to be used for rough framing. If you're using 2x4s, you ain't building cabinets.
The chickens don't give a $hit if it's pretty and precise or just rough log beams.

 

[K0k0shka]

My lot had been sitting in the rain because the delivery guy f-ed up the order and they were delivered a week late. Sat in the HD parking lot waiting. They were soaked and very heavy. Wood expands with moisture... Maybe they were slightly wider because of that.

Also, if they get planed by 1/4 inch wouldn’t that make them 1 3/4 and 3 3/4, not 1/2?

Either way, my point is, the wood I got was very inconsistent but I don’t care because it’s just a chicken coop.

 

[adirondak5]

Got the front of the coop framed today .

Then I had 2 cutoffs big enough to get the front gable sided , and gave it a coat of paint .

 

[EggWalrus]

My lot had been sitting in the rain because the delivery guy f-ed up the order and they were delivered a week late. Sat in the HD parking lot waiting. They were soaked and very heavy. Wood expands with moisture... Maybe they were slightly wider because of that.

Also, if they get planed by 1/4 inch wouldn’t that make them 1 3/4 and 3 3/4, not 1/2?

Either way, my point is, the wood I got was very inconsistent but I don’t care because it’s just a chicken coop.

Each board has 6 sides to it just like a cube. it has 2 ends, 2 faces (the ~4" part) and 2 sides (the 2"part).
If you plane/mill a 1/4 off each face, that would be about 1/2" total off the 4". Same for the 2" sides.
It also depends on what part of the country the wood was milled and the company. Some companies only shave about 1/8th" off, others a whole 1/4". Since I mill most of my wood myself, I make a 2x4 actually 2x4.so is stronger and should last longer. I have to remember to mill boards smaller if I'm replacing wood on a building built with store bought lumber.
You can't fit a real 2"x4" board where a modern 2x4 was.