Coop leg preservation

[luisrosa411]

Hello all. I’ve built this coop with a goal of reducing the amount of toxins my monsters get exposed to. Paint is barn grade, caulk is pet safe. The legs are non pressure treated. They are removable with lag bolts. The legs will rest on pea gravel. I’m looking for comments, advice, observations. Feel free to be direct.

Because the legs protrude into the living space, I did not want them to be treated lumber. I used untreated lumber. And as you may be able to see in the photo, I treated the legs with tung/linseed oil mix. (Every day for a week, once a week for a month, one month for a year) However, to treat the bottom surface that contacts the ground, I’m looking at copper green wood preservative. This is toxic, but it would be minimal. As well, I’d like to cap off the bottom surface with flex-seal tape. (I’ve sealed the corners, under the trim, with flex seal, as well as door edges.).

So what do you guys think?
- is this workable
- should I only do one, or the other?
- any better ideas to protect the ground contact?
- how far up the leg should I put the tape?

 

[cavemanrich]

I understand you want to stayaway from toxic.
For the bottom of your coop posts, I would make 4 containers out of plastic milk containers, and place each leg into one. Then I would pour liquid tar into each container, about 1 inch deep. After about one month, remove plastic containers, and replace with dry ones. Then eventually throw those away. The tar will work its way into the wood pores from bottom enough to protect and seal the bottom of leg.
Tar does not seem to be very toxic, and more stable than other chemicals.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[luisrosa411]

I understand you want to stayaway from toxic.
For the bottom of your coop posts, I would make 4 containers out of plastic milk containers, and place each leg into one. Then I would pour liquid tar into each container, about 1 inch deep. After about one month, remove plastic containers, and replace with dry ones. Then eventually throw those away. The tar will work its way into the wood pores from bottom enough to protect and seal the bottom of leg.
Tar does not seem to be very toxic, and more stable than other chemicals.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

Great idea! But I have to put them in the new coop this week.

 

[StinkyAcres]

What species of wood are the legs made of?

 

[luisrosa411]

What species of wood are the legs made of?

Pine

 

[luisrosa411]

Great idea! But I have to put them in the new coop this week.

Thanks for the advice. I’ve had them soaking for two weeks!

 

[perkolator]

Personally I think you're overthinking this one. With linseed oil, pine will last years unless its sitting in extreme conditions like standing water; I'd just stick a paver under each leg and call it good. If a leg rots out in 5yrs, just replace it.

With a removable leg design like you've mentioned, it sounds a heck of a lot easier and faster, to just go buy a $15 pressure treated 4x4 and rebuild the legs to do it right, than spend 2-3x as much on just those coating products, and investing all that time, to modify something.

 

[Ridgerunner]

You have not installed it yet. I agree with Perkolator, the simplest solution is probably the best. Put it on pavers, pour a concrete support, whatever, to keep it out of the ground and level.

You probably want to anchor it. Drive a piece of rebar or something similar into the ground and clamp it to the leg.

I think that addresses your concerns about toxins. You should be able to do something like this on your schedule.