Pressure treated lumber or no?

[Elyrian1]

Oh! I forgot about that Mace, that's a excellent point. Just make sure you ask the job foreman for permission. Frequently they'll order up to 10% over their estimated needs to cover for mistakes or design flaws, that's material they either have to dispose of or haul away to somewhere else, either way it costs them money to do so.

Also, pallets can be useful if you're willing to put in the labor to tear them apart. I bet if you talked to your county maintenance they could hook you up. Stay away from pallets used for overseas shipping, they can be treated with insane chemicals, or heat treated until brittle. When you've had pallet wood shatter, and I do mean shatter, with the first whack of a hammer, it's super annoying. Splinters everywhere...

 

[Jrobinsonmtplus3]

If we had the time... That would have been smart.
alas we are on a time crunch

 

[Doc Schoepp]

Not sure your area but you could look for a company called 'ReStore' run by Habitat for Humanity. They sell good condition used or overstocked construction material for very cheap. I go there and can buy good condition if not new 1in PVC piping for $0.10 a foot. I also get some of the specific wood needs from there if I cant source from various free options.

 

[Mace Gill]

If we had the time... That would have been smart.
alas we are on a time crunch

Time crunch and on a budget, check!

If anyone you know has suitable old shed that they can part with AND you have a means to transport it, that would be fastest! Just needs odds and ends to outfit it.

Failing that, I reckon you'll need a couple of handy capable people motivated with promises of pizza and beer and three days. Assuming you have a level spot already to put it on.

Day one: research what you need, plan the design, draw it up, and make your materials list ... as detailed as you can with your list!
Day two: purchase, gather materials and tools however from wherever.
Day three: Build that coop! Treat willing 'volunteers' to pizza and beer.

The three days must be in that order, but don't have to be consecutive. If you start with the pizza and beer, things will not go as well!

 

[Doc Schoepp]

@Mace Gill, Agreed! Payment *AFTER* services rendered!

Too many projects to name that started with the pizza /beer stage and went from a couple hours to a couple days...

 

[ReneeBoyette]

It's probably been asked before and if appreciate thread links if anyone can help,
But should I use pressure treated lumber?
Particle board or plywood?
Why or why not to both those questions? Tia!

I have never used or will use pressure treated wood around birds. Nasty chemicals to the preserve wood.

 

[Jrobinsonmtplus3]

Not sure your area but you could look for a company called 'ReStore' run by Habitat for Humanity. They sell good condition used or overstocked construction material for very cheap. I go there and can buy good condition if not new 1in PVC piping for $0.10 a foot. I also get some of the specific wood needs from there if I cant source from various free options.

Yes we frequent the restores in our area and that's where I've scored a 3x50 ft run of wire fencing and our amazing coop door for under $50!
Haven't seen plywood or 2x4s or linoleum though... but will continue to look for siding and some sort of flooring.

Ordered our lumber this am after deciding against treated wood for all but the floor and roof. Big cost savings.
My husband is a pretty sufficient diy'er so here's hoping we can bang it out this weekend!

I'm all about the "do it once and do it right" and "measure three times before cutting"
So that's why I've been here asking 9,000 questions

 

[Doc Schoepp]

ReStore can be very hit or miss. I have found some amazing things there and I have walked out empty handed. I would guess yours is similar in that when I asked about lumber they said that it is few and far between when they get it in, and if they do have it thy sell it immediately. They also never get anything close to full size pieces, just scraps.

As far as the pressure treated lumber goes, I was going to use that (reclaimed pallets mostly) for the siding and maybe roof. The nests, roost and floor is all different lumber that isnt (supposedly) treated. I picked up some pet/animal safe sealant from Amazon for the inside that would hopefully prevent any type of leakage off the pallet wood and into the coop. Came recommended by the owner of the local feed store we frequent and she has yet to give me 'bad' advice.

 

[ScottandSam]

really. I use paint and stains a lot. I build rustic furniture and the wife does chainsaw carving for a living. I used oil based paint on the inside along with blackjack on the floor and 3' up the walls. I also stained the spruce board and baton on the outside of the coop.
After a year and a half no hen or rooster has damaged the floor or wall coating. Oil based paint will not flake like acrylic or water based will with time. you may ask how do I know this? Because I have used everything under the sun as far as coatings for both inside and outside. I try NOT to comment on here when I do not know what I'm talking about But rest assured oil based paint is a pain to clean brushes but is far superior to both acrylic or water based paints.

Scott

 

[ScottandSam]

Also 3/4" on a roof is a overkill. in the Midwest the standard for a home id 5/8" wafer board. 3/4" for floor (ours is treated the black over that).I'd also go 1/2" on walls if your not doing anything over the top of that like siding otherwise you could drop to 3/8" plus your siding.

Scott