need help closing up rafter area

[Randall]

Couldn't you use standard eave vents? They come for rafters on 16" or 24" centers. If your spacing is off, just add 2x4 blocking.

 

[cmjust0]

Actually...

I was just reading the "truth about coons and chicken wire" thread and how coons can allegedly rip right through it... So, I think I'll be returning that tonight in favor of a roll of hardware cloth.

I actually dunno what I was thinking when I bought chicken wire to begin with.. I've been trying so hard to seal all the walls in the coop up to within no more than about 1/4" gap, and here I was gonna put 1" woven chicken wire up..may just as well have left 1" gaps everywhere if there's a 1" gap anywhere..

But, still...I'll be doing the boxed rafter thing, for ventilation...it'll just be hardware cloth instead of chicken wire.

 

[cmjust0]

Quote:
I thought about using those myself, but I knew I'd have to 'nudge' (read that, CRAM, SLAM, and BANG) the 14-1/2" boards I cut to get them between the rafters I set on 16" centers.. Should have slipped right in, of course, but the rafters were bowed, warped, and twisted really badly. I actually double blocked with 2x4s instead of a single 2x8, because I figured it would be easier (read that, possible) to get the blocking in one half at a time.

It was still a struggle..

Point is, eave vents wouldn't work for me -- but if they had, I'd have used them!!!

 

[Cluckatar]

Thanks for the ventilation link Pat, I read through there to make sure I've got things covered. Or, well, uncovered in this case.

Those standard vents look interesting Randall. I wonder though, since we framed with 2x3's if they would fit. I'll check at the hardware store.

We have two windows we'll be installing in the front doors (the whole front wall is split into two swinging people doors). But these are fixed windows, so just for light. I think we might want to add a ventilation window on the pop door side of the building, and/or the back wall. Or I may leave well enough alone if I can fix the rafter vents. They will have run access during daylight, so won't be in the coop, and our nights are nearly always cool and windy. We're about 10 minutes from the coast, so we get substantial off shore breezes.

 

[Im4dabirds]

I did mine from the inside with hardware cloth. I'll take a couple of pics when I get home and post them. It was fairly easy, but a bit of a chore to do, but I think (hope) it works to keep the critters out. Course it won't stop the wasps.

 

[GardeNerd]

Mine is mounted and curved into the roof on the inside. A couple of parts on the edges and in the corners I cut just one to three squares in to accommodate a curve, and in other parts I cut a couple of inches to make notches around the rafters. Here are a couple of pics.

These are two pieces that overlap under the rafter.

 

[Cluckatar]

What sort of fastener are you using to attach the hardware cloth to the underside of the roof? I'm trying to think of what is strong enough, but still won't go through the plywood and shingles.

 

[GardeNerd]

Quote:
I used short screws with washers under.

 

[Im4dabirds]

Yep, that's pretty much what mine looks like too.

 

[GardeNerd]

It is not that noticeable in my photos, but there is a layer of aluminum screening with hardware cloth over it fastened up together. It is to prevent flies from hanging out in the coop. I have the combo on all my openings.