Help with roof design

[ukcatsgrl21]

Thank you for all the information! If I remove the weed cloth can I still leave the HC on the bottom right against the ground? I'm not able to do a perimeter based upon where it's located in my yard.

A hinged roof would be easy and makes sense to me. I put hinged roof panels on my rabbit hutch build - they're only 2x3 and one covered in HC and the other with metal roof, but they work great to get access on a low structure.

I'd likely make the roof in at least two sections so they're lighter and less likely to warp, and constructed from 2x2 lumber. If going for 7ft wide, I'd consider making the roof closer to 6ft wide, and leave a non-moving section on one side to mount the hinges to - this way the flipped up roof can lean over a little and is not vertical and going to fall on you. If you're using a solid roof instead of HC, it will be heavier, so even consider splitting the width and have two sections swing away toward the outside; when in down position have them rest on something to make pitch in the middle for drainage slope. Hopefully that all made sense.

The fabric/gravel/sand idea sounds like chores and poop smells - I would personally go deep dry bedding over dirt, with HC perimeter anti-dig skirt

 

[saysfaa]

I wouldn't because hardware cloth can catch a toe or toenail when they dig. It is rough enough to risk bumblefoot, too.

The other options are to dig down instead of laying it flat; I forget how far it needs to be, partly because I tried doing it with garden fence to keep woodchucks out of the garden so I know I don't want to do that. It was difficult and frustrating. Possibly, it wouldn't be too bad if you have, or can rent, a trencher machine.

Another option is to cover the hardware cloth with a floor - remnants of vinyl flooring wold work.Then put the litter on top of that.

 

[ukcatsgrl21]

It's done! Fingers crossed it works, but so far so good!