Calling Speckled Hen again.

[Standard Hen]

Cynthia I think it was you that suggested using bicycle inner tubes to cover like cracks or openings in a coop. I need to know, once you cut them how wide are they are will they tend to curl seeing as they were round to begin with? I have two small doors that were cut into two dog houses on the sides so that I could get into them to clean, when I shut them there are good sized gaps because the kid that put them in used a chainsaw! If I would have been here it would have never been done that way but I was not so that was the end result.
Last year I used that like foam stuff that has a sticky side to it , I stapled it but everytime I opened those side doors it would come off more and more so I am looking for a different method. I would like to get it done this weekend and plan on picking them up tomorrow after work but need to know if this will work for me if I staple it. Then when I open the doors it will stay right where it is. I hope?

 

[speckledhen]

For doors that open like a chest freezer (upward), we cut a tube to the proper length of the hinge area, then cut the tube down the center and open the tube. Yes, it will curl some unless you tack it over the hinge AND also on the door itself. I just let it hang there because even though it curls under on top of the nestbox lid, it still keeps water out. We used small tacks to tack it to the coop wall right over the top of the hinged lid. Hope this is clear, how I'm saying it. Sometimes we just use the tubing as-is to seal up extra wide openings in doors. We cut the tube so it doesn't make a circle anymore, but leave it as a tube. Then we lay it against the door frame tack it to the door frame right down the center of the tube and the door closes against it and makes a weather tight seal. Sometimes you just have to work with it to know how best to position it. Tubes are less than $3 at WalMart here, so buy a couple and just try it. We use them alot around here.

 

[Poison Ivy]

If you have any scraps of 1x2 pieces of wood you could make a frame on the inside of the dog house. That way it will make the door opening a little smaller. Then when the door is shut the cracks around the door fame is sealed. I had to do that with the picture frame window I put in my new coop door. I can take a picture tomorrow to show you.

 

[speckledhen]

I've done that as well, plus put a single layer of that bicycle tubing where the surfaces meet to seal them against air intrusion. That bicycle tubing is very versatile!

 

[TxChiknRanchers]

Quote:
Just what I was gonna say , or frame the outer side of the door and when it is closed the frame covers the crack

 

[Standard Hen]

Thanks for your responses. The door swings out so that is why the foam stuff did not work, well in or out it would not have mattered because it was always hitting and rubbing on it. I have plenty of scrap wood and yes Poison I would love to see a picture if you could. I am going to pick up a bicycle tube on my way home anyway because I need to get some other things at the same time. I am no builder that is for sure! I do have someone that helps me with those things from time to time but he has been busy working and has not been able to get over. Thanks again all and I will check back for the picture.

 

[Poison Ivy]

Here is two pictures you can see the extra wood framed in behind the door so that it makes a kind of seal. Plus is keeps the door from going inside the wrong way. But you can see what I'm talking about. Then you could put the rubber tire tube around it to make a door seal and keep out the wind.

This one doesn't go all the way around because it's the door to the run.

 

[Standard Hen]

Oh that is awsome,,,thanks so much Poison Ivy!!! At least I know that will not go anywhere and might be the better option. I like the idea that it will keep the door from going the wrong way too. Great idea, I knew I would get a good answer here
Thanks again for the pictures, I really appreciate it.

 

[Poison Ivy]

Your welcome, I'm glad I could help you out.

 

[Standard Hen]

Wll I thought I would let the responders know how I made out. When I was surveying the situation I realized there was no way I was going to be able to do a wood frame inside the door. I am having bad shoulder issues and need surgery (ok, I am chicken because I have heard all the horror stories). Anyway it would have been just about impossible for me physically to accomplish it. Soooo, I picked up a bicycle tube Friday on my way home from work and it worked perfectly!!!! I needed more than one tube so I was able to at least do a little on both coop doors with what I had. Worked awsome and was easy for me with the staple gun. I am going to pick up two more because I can see myself using these things for a few other projects too! Awsome idea, only on BYC. I still plan on doing the frame when I can get the guy over here who does jobs for me when he is available, he's been real busy this fall. Long live the bicycle inner tube!