OSB or CDX for flooring?

[conny63malies]

I will start building a mini coop( 4x4 ft) for some Seramas or Dutch banties, even though it may take still 2 more years or so until my husband retires and we can have chickens. I got the plan sort of drawn and the rest is all in my head. it will involve crown moulding and hopefully be quite fance on the inside. The coop will be raised anywhere from 12 to 24 in off the ground, not sure yet. Prob. 18 in. What would be better CDX ply or OSB? i thought 1/2in thick should be good, since it will only house 5-6 pounds worth of chicken and the floor framing will be 16in on center. Also i will use either Vinyl tiles or sheet vinyl to cover whatever is use as flooring .

 

[Hammond Egger]

Here in Arizona OSB will last about a year outdoors, and that's if it's sealed and painted with a high quality paint. I wouldn't use it for anything.

 

[gale65]

We decided to use plywood for the floor. It's for flooring and is tongue and groove, but is probably about the same as CDX. We did use OSB for the roof and it is covered with metal roofing. The siding we used also looks like OSB on the inside.

 

[conny63malies]

CDX is a grade of ply. T&G wont be neccasary since it will be only a 4x4ft, but i will use it for the main coop. My DD just came up with the great idea to use fancy table legs(like Queen Ann) to stabilize the wallhung nest boxes. now if i can find a mini chandelier

 

[gale65]

Quote:
Right-C on one side, D on the other, eXterior grade. I used to work at a lumber company.

I agree T&G won't be necessary for that size coop. I was just stating what we used and the fact that it's made to use as flooring. Love the idea of fancy legs and a chandelier.

 

[Abirdbrain]

I have a dead flatscreen monitor and a satelite dish on my coop. And a chicken weathervane. Gets people wondering.

Half inch cdx plywood is the inexpensive grade that would work best. Heres a tip. find a vinyl remnant, and cover the floor. It will resist moisture and stink from being generated from wet floor, and save the wood. I use deep wood chips, 2" on the floor, and the girls love to scratch around and mix the poo with the chips. The floor should be covered with something, otherwise you risk getting some splayed legs from slipping on the slippy surface. I use this method and it works to my advantage. A coupla sweeps with a broom or garden rake, and the floor is mostly cleaned of chips and a few handfulls are upt back in just minutes. The chips/litter is commited to the garden area, and evetually mixed into the soil.

The chip, flake, bonded trash is no good for flooring. The chip materials work ok for roofing under cover, shingles, tin, or plastic. Use t-111 or similar sheet sidings for wall, and forget about the flake board sidings that fail at the wet edges in a short time. I have built yard barns that have been up nearly30 years and are still outstanding looking.

 

[wayne hulgan]

Quote:
Don't know what CDX is but OSB is not good for outside applications where it will get wet. I used a product called AVANTEK Flooring. Several friends are builders and this is the flooring they use. its got a 50 year warranty painted or not. last I bought was around 20 bucks per 4x8 sheet. Just got finishewith a floor a portabal building. Built the last coop using this for the walls and floor.

 

[mommissan]

Quote:
Don't know what CDX is but OSB is not good for outside applications where it will get wet. I used a product called AVANTEK Flooring. Several friends are builders and this is the flooring they use. its got a 50 year warranty painted or not. last I bought was around 20 bucks per 4x8 sheet. Just got finishewith a floor a portabal building. Built the last coop using this for the walls and floor.

X2

Advantech is worth EVERY penny! OSB turns to compost at the sight of moisture. We never use the stuff.

 

[Chris09]

CDX stands for "C-D Exposure 1 plywood" . C-D means that one side of the plywood is rated "C" grade and the other side is rated "D" grade . The letter "X" means the glue of the plywood is exterior glue. But CDX plywood is not exterior plywood . Because usually the core veneers for CDX plywood are not as good as exterior plywood. CDX plywood is moisture resistant but can not be exposed to water or weather for long time .

C-D Plywood is for sheathing and structural uses such as temporary enclosures, subfloor and is unsanded.

If it was me I would go with the CDX but after you cut it to size and before you nail it down I would coat all 6 sides with some Boiled Linseed oil or a good Wood preservative.

Chris

 

[airmechreed]

I used 3/4 in tounge and groove flooring material covered in glass board. Glass board is a type of fiberglass that is impervious to chemicals etc. and is smooth so chicken poo does not stick to it. It runs about 48.00 for a 4x8 sheet but it was worth every penny when it comes to clean up.