Nails or screws? Wire beneath the floor?

[MalcolmR]

Hi there,

I'll be starting my new coop today! It may well be beyond what I can cope with, but I'm going to give it a shot. There will be an 8 by 12 foot base, but the plan is to use either 1/3 or 1/2 of it for the coop, and the remainder for a wood store/shed/something else - with the idea being that the coop could easily be expanded into the rest of the space if need be in the future. We really don't want more than 6 chickens.....

So. The main structure will be concrete blocks with 4X4's as uprights at the four corners, and 2X6's around the edges, at 16" intervals for the flooring and 24" intervals for the roof with 3/4" plywood on the floor, and 1/2" plywood for the roof (slanted roof, 7' high at the front, 6' at the back).

The questions are - I have a lot of screws left over from a recent fence project and will use those for the main framing. I have a screw gun, but not a nail gun. Most people seem to use nails rather than screws - is there any reason for that? I plan to do the 2X4 framing with screws as well, and most of the finish work too.

Also, I see a number of people recommend a layer of wire below the floor to keep other critters out (we have a good population of raccoons, and there are foxes and coyotes around too. The floor will be around 18" from the ground, but I plan to use 1X8 uprights for the siding, and will bring that down to ground level. Do I need to have wire as well? And if so, what kind?

Many thanks, Malcolm

 

[Bat Cave Silkies]

Good Morning Malcolm,
In all of our construction we use screws---they seem to hold better and for longer; I can't hammer worth a darn, and we have electric drills.
If your running your siding down to the ground level, you're asking for the wood to rot. You might be better off to run it one inch below the flooring, then attach a small gauge wire from the flooring to the ground.
I'd recommend putting vinyl flooring across the entire interior floor. Its relatively cheap, and it will keep fluids from being absorbed into the wood.

Good luck

 

[Dogfish]

Framing nails are quicker that screws, usually for me, when using a hammer. It is one of those things that comes with time and experience. Using my pneumatic fraiming nailer, I just fly through the project. Nails are also stronger than screws when it comes to shear strength. Ever notice how you sometimes will pop the head on a screw in tough wood? Screws are hardened, making them more brittle. That doesn't mean they are a bad material, just something to thing about.

If you are using either galvanized or gold 3" square drive screws, you should be good to go. Sounds like a nice sized project.

Don't do what I usually do when using a screw gun, and drive that bit into your thumb.

Old past time around here for me, about every 6 months, when that bit slips as you are starting a screw. (Another reason I like nails)

 

[Lurch1]

Just a thought about the joist spacing. I am building a 10x12 coop shorlty and am going to do 24" OC for the joist. You can save a bit of money by going that route.

 

[Backyard Hencam]

Sounds like you're going to have a great coop! My husband built our coop with the intent of keeping all critters out! So far it has worked and he wouldn't build anything without screws! Good luck!. You can see our coop at the website below.

 

[MalcolmR]

Many thanks for the replies! What a great forum this is....

Thanks for the advice as well. I wish I did have a pneumatic nailer, but I think, Dogfish, that I'd be more likely to shoot a nail through my thumb than a screw!

Good point about siding to ground level, BCSilkies, and I will definitely go with a vinyl flooring. I'm just back from Home Depot where I ended up getting OSB for the flooring - a vinyl covering will make a big difference to that.

24" spacing for the joists would certainly save a couple - but I think I may stick with 16" for the flooring. This is my first "structure", so I would hate it to fail. Also I assume OSB is not as strong as plywood - though I may be wrong. Good luck with your bigger one, Lurch. Sounds like you could fit a lot of chickens in there!

Thanks for your good wishes too, cambria lady. I enjoyed looking at your webcam!

Sadly the weather has suddenly deteriorated. Today's forecast was to be warm and sunny, but instead is cloudy, cold and wet... Started out with snow, now heavy rain showers on and off. Oh well, I guess I have to be tough and just get out there!

Thanks again, Malcolm

 

[Dogfish]

Few people regret over-building a structure.