Could You Use SunTuf These Ways?

[calista]

I've seen lots of examples of using corrugated roofing such as SunTuf on coops and runs and really like the idea, especially here in the light-starved Pacific Northwest.

How about using corrugated roofing as SIDE PANELS of the coop?

Or, how about as actual FENCING panels?

Would predators be able to chew through this kind of product?

I'd welcome some thoughts about these possible alternative uses, as we are considering trying this on a small quarantine coop we'd like to set up. How you'd attach the side panels together (kind of like a greenhouse, I guess) and how far down in the ground you might have to bury the panels to prevent digging.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

How you'd attach the side panels together (kind of like a greenhouse, I guess) and how far down in the ground you might have to bury the panels to prevent digging.

Installation would be the same no matter if it's vertical or horizontal. The pieces simply overlap at the edges.
I wouldn't bury it at all. I'd use a wire "apron" flat on the ground with just enough dirt over it for grass to grow up through it

It's fairly thin plastic, so most any determined predator could chew through it easier than heavy wire, and I'd be concerned that it would get brittle in the cold, and with age.​

 

[patandchickens]

As Bear Foot Farm says. I totally would not trust them buried, a predator would easily rip/chew them apart; use buried or apron WIRE MESH instead. Likewise I would not use Suntuf as the sole run fencing; you can apply it OVER wire if you want, though. If you're doing that, may as well use the cheaper Palruf unless you get very cold temperatures and are worried about brittleness in wind. Remember that solid run walls catch a lot of wind and need to be built with more/deeper/sturdier posts and crossbracing than a regular wire-mesh run wall.

As far as using Suntuf as *coop* walls, I would not personally put them down where animals could claw and chew at them; but higher up, where they are less accessible, I guess you could if you want. Secondhand (salvage) windows would be cheaper though.

Whatever you do, make sure you obtain, read, and FOLLOW the manufacturer's installation instructions, as some of it is not obvious and really does make a difference in the durability and longevity of the product.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat, with suntuf roof on one run

 

[elmo]

I do this with my summer coop/run to provide more shelter from wind in the fall and winter. However, I put the panels up over the hardware cloth covered side of my run, so I'm not relying on it for predator protection.

Right now, the roof of my winter coop has only Suntuf panels on it, and I'm a little nervous about that arrangement. When I redo the roof of that coop, I'm planning on putting hardware cloth under the Suntuf, just in case.

You can cut the stuff with a shop knife or a stout pair of scissors, so there's no question in my mind that a raccoon could chew through it if it was able to get its teeth on the edge of a panel.

 

[Dogfish]

Build your frame first, then 2x4 wire or hardware cloth, finally add the sun tuff panels. Get the screws with the rubber gasket.

I should be done with the treddle feeder today, I hope. Had a few projects come up, like finishing a tractor coop, a live trap, plus the deck railing and benches for our back deck.

 

[columbiacritter]

My grandfather had a coon rip through corrugated plastic roof and take out his meaties. I've used it on many coops here in the PNW but ALWAYS with hardware cloth underneath.

 

[elmo]

Quote:
There's plastic corrugated roofing and there's polycarbonate. The latter seems tougher and is supposed to be able to last longer and stand up to hail (it's more expensive, too) but I still wouldn't count on it alone for predator protection on the sides of my coop.