Foundation Question

[Lurch1]

10x12 coop. PT mini railway ties or concrete blocks? If concrete blocks then how do I connect the 2x6 floor frame to the blocks?

 

[Nuzzy]

Their are a number of different styles of pier blocks if that's the way you want to go.

 

[gibsonbuzz]

WOW.........with all those block piers, you'd think you were putting elephants in that coop.
I used cinder blocks. Use liquid nail to hold the floor to the block and then concrete anchors to give added hold.
8 blocks on edges and at least 1 or 2 for center floor support.

 

[HennyJenny]

Nuzzy did you use those on your coop? I looked at those - they do call for some outrageous number for an 8 x 12 structure - like 18 of them.

 

[Nuzzy]

Quote:
Well, the pic was just randomly found on google images, so who's to say he isn't building an elephant kennel...?

 

[Nuzzy]

Quote:
No I didn't on my coop. I used 4x4 pressure treated beams sitting on the ground and then anchored them to the ground in the corners with metal feet buried.

However, I did use those pier blocks for my deck. Yes they say to use some asinine amount, and I promptly ignored it!

I placed them every 8 feet or so, sat 4x4s vertically on each one, and then hung everything off those. Our deck routinely sees over 2 feet of compact snow and has help up wonderfully.

 

[HennyJenny]

Thank you, Nuzzy! My carpentry skills are getting better but those seemed like a solution to boost a few of my lacking skills - but 18 of them seems like total over engineering to me (and they are about eight bucks a piece!). I will look at them again and see if I can get away with less and if they still help me out if I don't have to use them like lincoln logs.

 

[Nuzzy]

Quote:
The only logical reason I can think of why they might suggest so many is if you're trying to spread the weight out over a marsh land

Obviously if the ground is really mushy or hasn't settled, a lot of weight on a small contact patch COULD cause some sinking if the constructed item was heavy enough... But on settled (read: non new construction development) land, there is no way a chicken coop could possibly have enough weight to cause a problem. Cement is incredibly strong as far as compression goes.


Just because I had them handy (the wife organizes EVERYTHING). You can kinda see the blocks in use here. I think I did something like 9 or 10 for the whole deck...

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
Both.....

Use a couple of PT 4x6 beams set on (solid) concrete blocks then run your 2x6 floor joists from beam to beam. Space the beams about 6' apart so the floor is cantilevered out...that would leave around a 2' overhang. Or, to build it more solidly run a beam down the middle of the structure (total of 3 beams) and kick the outside beams closer to the outside edges (no cantilever). Either way would work. Just using the beams on the ground will work but that puts the coop so close to the ground that the rats will love you for it...they'll setup housing under it pronto. Also, if you raise the house up 18" or so, the chickens will go underneath it for shelter from the rain, sun, hawks, etc., and will probably make some dust baths under there. Another benefit is that you get the actual building up high enough that rain splash doesn't overly soak it from below.

Just some thoughts.

Best wishes,
Ed

 

[Lurch1]

Wow thats great info. I think I will choose the pier blocks. Do I need to put gravel under the blocks or right on the ground? The soil is very rich and black. I have a limited budget do its either the blocks or the PT lumber.