I Need help....

[onedoodle3]

I need help with my coop and decided to post here as everytime try to ask anyone around here, I get asked, "What is your husband building?" That is a rant for another day...

My problem..... I want to build a 12'X12' coop. My problem is I do not know how far apart to put the floor joists or the studs in the walls. I know practically nothing about arcitecture (however it's spelled) but I can hammer a nail and know (in my mind) how I want the coop to look. I plan to use 4X4X8 posts for the back corner supports (set 2' in the ground in cement) and 4X4X10 posts for the front corner supports (also set 2'in the ground w/cement). I will not be cutting these off at floor level. I am going to incorporate them into the building itself. That way I don't have to use 2X4's for the corners of the coop. I will be putting the floor about 3 feet off the ground and know I have to use 2"x6" boards for the joists, I just don't know how far apart they should be. I think the studs in the walls need to be 16" but not sure.


I appreciate any help anyone can give me. Thanks for not making me feel like an idiot.

 

[OutInTheStiks]

16" on the wall studs is pretty much standard.

A 2x6 floor joist across a 12 foot span might have more flex than is desirable. I personally would use 2x8 joists on 24" centers.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Wall studs are normally 16" on center. You can put them at 24" to save on lumber and it will be plenty strong for a coop. The floor joists depend upon how far you are trying to span. In my experience 2x4 joist spanning 8' need to be 16" on center. 24" on center is a little bouncy. If you are trying to span the full 12 feet, then 2x6s at 16" on center would probably do well. I'd have to drag out a framing book to get more specific.

 

[onedoodle3]

thanks! I didn't know of floor joists were 16" like studs or not.

I'm going to have support in the center of the floor so it doesn't start to sag in the center. Do you think that will work?

 

[OutInTheStiks]

Quote:
If you have support in the center, then 2x6 on 24" centers should be fine.

 

[onedoodle3]

Great! Thanks everyone. I knew I could get answers with out being made to feel like an idiot!

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
Yeah, that's perfectly fine. You'll want to sink posts in the middle of the span and bolt 2x6s to each side of the posts, to create a beam to support your floor in the middle. The joists would just overlap on the beam.

 

[onedoodle3]

Thanks! I was just gonna run one thru the middle but I see what you're saying. I'll do that!

 

[MissJenny]

Sounds like you know more about architecture than you suspected. Can you post photos as you go. It would be really inspirational to folks who are a little apprehesive about such a project.

And I think I read somewhere that pea gravel makes a more secure footing than concrete. This is just a wee thought in the back of my brains... I think it had something to do with drainage... and concrete failure? Can anyone confirm or deny this gibberish of which I speak?

Jenny

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
I guess that would work too. I'm used to building decks where a beam would be common. You could run one through the middle and then use joist hangers to butt the joists against the middle board.