MJ's little flock

[RoyalChick]

I am ready to bet that the rafters will not become their permanent roost. I remember your call to patience when mine were huddling in that nest hole in the wall .
It's also a matter of power to weight ratio, when they will be heavier it will take them more and more energy to get up there from the ground.
The fact that they are changing means they haven't found their perfect teenager's place yet .

How unexpectedly wise of me. Yes, patience. I will try!
I don't want to let them out of the Chicken Palace until they have settled on where they believe their bed is because I worry they won't go back in at dusk and will spot spot that they could relatively easily get up onto the roof of the Chicken Palace and from there they could get into the big tree which would allow them to go probably 100' up and I am really not going to be able to get them down from that!
Hopefully they will decide which set of rafters they like best soon because I would like to have them out and about if possible before we get a big snow.

 

[MaryJanet]

Good evening MJ and everyone

MJ, I always love seeing you're tea settings and lovely dishes

Thank you! It's a weekly treat and I was excited about the tea set.

 

[MaryJanet]

a wonderful treat to begin your weekend.

It's a habit I started many years ago and I love it! I don't see a good reason to skimp on luxuries that don't cost much.

Did you actually have rain, or did you pour water on it ?
For practical reasons we made our covered run roof much flatter than it should be and rain hasn't really posed a problem, the only thing is that the soil gets a bit damp near the border of the roof. Snow is another matter though as it stays on the roof.. but I don't think you get snow?

I sprayed the garden hose onto the roof and none of it reached the gutter before I felt like I was wasting too much water. It pooled in the lowest point which is the mid-point. Not what I had in mind when I asked for a skillion roof verbally and in writing, which is high at one end to ensure run-off. I don't yet know how the roof will perform under a big storm. Hopefully it will drain away and not leak through.

In time, the downpipe will be connected to a rainwater tank, which will water plants in the chicken run. We don't usually get much rain, so catching it and putting it to use is wise and new houses are required to have rainwater tanks, so of which are plumbed to flush the toilets which is fantastic - why flush perfectly good drinking water down the toilet?? That said, recently we've been getting more rain than I'm used to and it's been another very mild Summer so far. This coming week will be in the low 30s C all week, but that's not very hot, especially as the humidity will be close to 0.

There's never snow at my house, but sometimes there's snow on the biggest hill nearby (we call it Mount Lofty but compared to the mountains at your house, it's an ant hill ).

 

[RoyalChick]

It's a habit I started many years ago and I love it! I don't see a good reason to skimp on luxuries that don't cost much.

I sprayed the garden hose onto the roof and none of it reached the gutter before I felt like I was wasting too much water. It pooled in the lowest point which is the mid-point. Not what I had in mind when I asked for a skillion roof verbally and in writing, which is high at one end to ensure run-off. I don't yet know how the roof will perform under a big storm. Hopefully it will drain away and not leak through.

In time, the downpipe will be connected to a rainwater tank, which will water plants in the chicken run. We don't usually get much rain, so catching it and putting it to use is wise and new houses are required to have rainwater tanks, so of which are plumbed to flush the toilets which is fantastic - why flush perfectly good drinking water down the toilet?? That said, recently we've been getting more rain than I'm used to and it's been another very mild Summer so far. This coming week will be in the low 30s C all week, but that's not very hot, especially as the humidity will be close to 0.

There's never snow at my house, but sometimes there's snow on the biggest hill nearby (we call it Mount Lofty but compared to the mountains at your house, it's an ant hill ).

While it will probably function just fine for how you want to use it, that is not what you paid for. I suspect a relatively minor adjustment could solve the problem, so why not call the Tradie and have them come back and tweak it.
It doesn't sound like an issue of the pitch of the roof - it sounds like it needs a bit more support - it should not have a low point in the middle - sounds like it is sagging a tad.

 

[MaryJanet]

How unexpectedly wise of me. Yes, patience. I will try!
I don't want to let them out of the Chicken Palace until they have settled on where they believe their bed is because I worry they won't go back in at dusk and will spot spot that they could relatively easily get up onto the roof of the Chicken Palace and from there they could get into the big tree which would allow them to go probably 100' up and I am really not going to be able to get them down from that!
Hopefully they will decide which set of rafters they like best soon because I would like to have them out and about if possible before we get a big snow.

Last night the laundry was stifling. I couldn't let the Red Marauders sleep in there. So, they slept in the chicken run which was much cooler. I went out after dark and put them into the little coop, then locked them in so they'd be safe in case Mr Fox came looking for a snack.

Dad left a bunch of pavers and I may place them around the edge of the run to keep the foxes from getting in until I can get someone to pave it properly. I need to engage tradies in a much slower manner instead of accepting the first quote. It's just that the pandemic economic stimulus has them all working on large projects and there are so few available for doing small tasks for home owners.

 

[RoyalChick]

Last night the laundry was stifling. I couldn't let the Red Marauders sleep in there. So, they slept in the chicken run which was much cooler. I went out after dark and put them into the little coop, then locked them in so they'd be safe in case Mr Fox came looking for a snack.

Dad left a bunch of pavers and I may place them around the edge of the run to keep the foxes from getting in until I can get someone to pave it properly. I need to do engage tradies in a much slower manner instead of accepting the first quote. It's just that the pandemic economic stimulus has them all working on large projects and there are so few available for doing small tasks for home owners.

Have similar difficulty here - though I think for different reasons - very hard to get parts and tradies.

 

[MaryJanet]

While it will probably function just fine for how you want to use it, that is not what you paid for. I suspect a relatively minor adjustment could solve the problem, so why not call the Tradie and have them come back and tweak it.
It doesn't sound like an issue of the pitch of the roof - it sounds like it needs a bit more support - it should not have a low point in the middle - sounds like it is sagging a tad.

It's tricky in a small town like Adelaide. I agree that I need to find a way to talk to him about it, but I don't want to get a reputation as someone who's hard to work for. I think perhaps I'll call him after the first storm, when I'll have some photos to show him it's not allowing the water to drain.

It's low in the middle because he attached it to a beam that was lower than the beams at the top and at the bottom of the roof. It's not actually sagging, it's fixed at a lower point than the gutter. This is why I couldn't do it myself. I was struggling to see how to raise the midline without making a mess of it, and now I know that person also made a mess of it, he might not be the right person to fix it, because he doesn't have enough knowledge and skill.

I blame myself for engaging someone who didn't know 1:3 pitch was the right pitch for a skillion. I knew it, but I accepted his "professional" opinion that it didn't need to be that steep.

 

[MaryJanet]

Have similar difficulty here - though I think for different reasons - very hard to get parts and tradies.

It slows everything down and I need to become better at tolerating the slow pace.

 

[RoyalChick]

It's tricky in a small town like Adelaide. I agree that I need to find a way to talk to him about it, but I don't want to get a reputation as someone who's hard to work for. I think perhaps I'll call him after the first storm, when I'll have some photos to show him it's not allowing the water to drain.

It's low in the middle because he attached it to a beam that was lower than the beams at the top and at the bottom of the roof. It's not actually sagging, it's fixed at a lower point than the gutter. This is why I couldn't do it myself. I was struggling to see how to raise the midline without making a mess of it, and now I know that person also made a mess of it, he might not be the right person to fix it, because he doesn't have enough knowledge and skill.

If I am understanding right I don't think it is a difficult fix - it needs some kind of spacer or shim on the beam in the middle.
I understand your concern, but I don't think you need to complain per se, you can raise it with him as a concern. Frankly how he responds will tell you a lot about whether he is someone you would want to work with again.

 

[MaryJanet]

If I am understanding right I don't think it is a difficult fix - it needs some kind of spacer or shim on the beam in the middle.
I understand your concern, but I don't think you need to complain per se, you can raise it with him as a concern. Frankly how he responds will tell you a lot about whether he is someone you would want to work with again.

That's true. It's a matter of finding the right words, it's just that he didn't hear me when I clearly communicated what type of roof was needed. So he might not hear me when I raise the issue of water pooling in the middle. Sometimes video or photos cut through when words don't.