Need help figuring out how to add roof to very large run

[surfrchik44]

Hi!

I want to add a flat roof (harware cloth) to my run. It is 12.5ft by 20ft. Don't know where to start since one piece of 2x4 won't extend the full length. Any ideas?

 

[black_cat]

Posts in the middle to serve as supports (especially helpful if you get snow) and places for you to change 2x4s. You could put the posts in these:

 

[aart]

I want to add a flat roof (harware cloth) to my run. It is 12.5ft by 20ft. Don't know where to start since one piece of 2x4 won't extend the full length. Any ideas?

Well, a 12 foot span would need at least a 2x6 or 2x8.
So, yeah, a beam down the middle would be good.
How you support that beam depends on the lay of the land.
Pics of your run would help here.
Also.....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Slocala]

Hi!

I want to add a flat roof (harware cloth) to my run. It is 12.5ft by 20ft. Don't know where to start since one piece of 2x4 won't extend the full length. Any ideas?

what about top rail for chain-link fencing? It's light weight and you can add to a piece to make it any length you want? You could use electric fence wire to lash the hardware cloth to it?
I ended up using 16ft. pan roofing metal to cover part of mine. Best wishes to you! Wells

 

[Melky]

Large framing sections. See below where roof and sides are supported evenly.

 

[CatsandCrops]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/wait-thats-not-a-small-guest-house.75696/

We did 4 posts with one in the center and ran beams. We also got some reclaimed barn wood after this was posted and used it to sandwich/line all the seams of the hardware cloth (put the wood on the top/out side of the hardware cloth and used a large washer/small screw to secure it from the inside of the cloth) It has worked out really well for us thus far