Free wood OK for coop?

[gottadance]

OK - so this guy is offering me 20 2 x 6 pieces of wood over six feet and 74 1x4 pieces of wood over six feet for FREE (the right price!). I was initially just looking for lumber for the frame of the 8x8 coop, but he has so much free wood, I'm thinking can't I just use this wood to make the entire coop? Or will I still need to put plywood under the boards. I've never built anything and was planning to hire someone to build this - was just going to use lumber for the frame and plywood for the sides, with a shingled roof. But now I'm thinking if I'm getting all of this wood, maybe I can just build it with this wood - what do you think? I can't envision how you build it with just wood - won't it be drafty with the crevices in between the boards?

I'm going to see if I can find some samples of a coop built with wood boards on the forum. Thanks!

 

[patandchickens]

That may not be quite enough wood for doing all the siding out of (depending on your coop dimensions) but it would at least put a good dent in it.

The easiest way to deal with gaps between boards, with such relatively small boards, would be to put something solid on the inside -- you won't really need it til next Fall so you will have plenty of time to wait for free plywood or panelling or whatever to come your way.

If instead you wanted to use it for framing, your best bet would probably be to pair up the 1x4s to make more-or-less-2x4s. That would be a great big pain in the butt though and ACTUAL 2x4s are not that expensive (and easily scroungable, usually) so I am not at all sure it'd be worth your while.

Frankly, if you have room to store it and if the wood is in good condition (if it is from a torn-down deck or fence that had got in rather soft condition, it might not be) it'd be worth the price ("free!") even if you don't use all of it for the coop. I don't know aobut you, but for me and most of the people I know, there is no such thing as too much lumber lying around, it will find its purpose soon enough

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[ThinkingChickens]

Wow, what a great find. I'd say that will get you a good deal of the way toward a coop. Even with a few additions and details you scored big time!

 

[catdaddy66]

80 board feet of 2"x6" and just under 450' of 1"x4" for FREE?!

That would build a very nice coop, indeed! Maybe not the entire 8'x8' coop but very close. Take that deal and run with it! get out the hammer, saw and level and go nuts. We demand pics, though.

 

[eastercreek]

Instead of using plywood for walls...we used deck lumber from a fence we took down...it was 6" wide and worked well as siding...plus it was pressure treated. You could get an idea of how to use your 2x6 lumber from this. We didnt do the board and batten design...we jsut did the boards because we live in a warmer climate. We used the boards that were somewhat warped by cutting them in to the shorter sections of the walls.

 

[eastercreek]

Btw...if you can get all that free....make it work! Once you price fencing for the run you will be glad you didnt spend any on wood!

 

[Noymira]

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I totally agree!

 

[gottadance]

Oooh thanks everyone - and for posting that pic - the wood he's giving me is old deck wood. I'm building an 8 x 8 coop and with the wood he's giving me, plus some stuff I had in the garage and some I picked up from HD scrap pile (18 pieces 6ft plus long for $16!!! Thanks for that tip BYC friends!) I should be able to build it. I told him I'm going to take it all. Now just need to find a way to transport it - LOL - I drive a ford Taurus and yes, it was pretty hilarious with me driving home from HD yesterday with 9 ft boards sticking out of my trunk.

I've also found a dog kennel for a run - not super cheap but exactly what I wanted - $125 for 13 x 7.5 x 6ft tall. And someone at a garage sale sold me a tarp for $5 and threw in a free vent. So things are rolling along. The hardware cloth will be the killer cost...but I live in a very natural area with lots of predators and need to make everything predator proof and do it right the first time.

 

[Kathi D]

I LOVE this coop! Has such a great rustic look!


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[7L Farm]

I have a freind that builds picture frames from old fences & he lets fencing company's dump old fences on his proberty. He gives me what he doesn't use. I have built two coops with this wood & I'm now on # 3.