roof suggestions? for a novice builder

[Robotmomma]

Think I need to return the Ondura panel because there isn't enough over hang on the sides. I don't know what I was thinking. Doh! I was gonna have to use my tin snips in the parking lot to cut the 12' galvanized metal they had at lowes and I forgot my gloves and chickened out... Lol. I am hauling materials in a tiny Little scion xb.

 

[Robotmomma]

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Went ahead and did a roof yesterday with 2x2s as rafters and 1x3s as purlins. Now I am having problem with the Ondura 3" nails sticking out from the purlins. They are too long. If I use a two inch nail is that going to hold it down well enough you think!? Or do I need to haul this stuff back and get metal and screws? I haven't punctured it yet so I could still return everything - over fifty dollars for the two panels and nails.

Help? I haven't got a clue.

 

[Robotmomma]

I made a mistake with the length of the roof frame too. Forgot I had to overlap the two panels so I am a few inches short on materials or a few inches long on framing. Ah newbie mistakes.

 

[jetdog]

I made a mistake with the length of the roof frame too. Forgot I had to overlap the two panels so I am a few inches short on materials or a few inches long on framing. Ah newbie mistakes.

Yuo don't need to use the nails,get some shorter screws but take the neoprene washer off and put it on the screw,just snug it down gently a screw will blow right threw it.

 

[roseyred]

I would have done the roof how you originally had it, flush with the front and back and then just put mesh wire in the sides as ventilation. In the winter you can always cover with something I its too cold but you def sill want that ventilation

 

[Robotmomma]

I would have done the roof how you originally had it, flush with the front and back and then just put mesh wire in the sides as ventilation. In the winter you can always cover with something I its too cold but you def sill want that ventilation

It would have leaked into the coop because the panel was too short. That would have been a lot cheaper... But I designed that huge roof to make use of the two panels... and cover part of the run which will extend from the left side. I read somewhere on here that taller is better for ventilation so I extended the height a bit which has the extra bonus of clearing my head. But does make this all way more expensive and complicated.

I wonder how many inches to leave for ventilation now? Should I do all four sides or just two? Maybe frame out a window up top that opens? My big picture window doesn't open, it faces east for morning sun and for chicken watching.

 

[roseyred]

Ooooh I get ya. And yeah I made my roof out of plexi glass hoping the sun coming in will make for a nice warm coop in the winter. They dot spend anytime in the coop during the days in the summer lol. My ventilation is small but all the way at the top.

 

[Robotmomma]

oh neat. a plexiglass roof. how much did that run ya? if you don't mind saying. I was thinking of doing a mini-green house next because building this coop has been so much fun and very satisfying! I have about six or seven more of those giant windows I got from someone on freecycle intending on making cold frames but a green house would be prettier.

 

[roseyred]

actualy i was very fortunate to get it for free. a couple construction workers were replacing the front poleax glass windows of a tjmax and i jokingly said can i have your scraps and got so much! like huge pieces! i was like geeeeze this is scrap? they said if i didn't take it it would be tossed in the garbage. i took it all. lol needless to say i am a scavenger and even dabble in dumpster diving occasionally lol. i found a fresh pallet the other day. was brand spankin new. took it apart to save the wood for whatever else i need build

Heres the day i started removing the roof i had added to the coop and planning the "upstairs"

The upstairs frame


frame


added the back door.



this is what i started with. someones rabbit hutch that had 4 nest boxes. last summer when the chickens were little this was perfect.



then i put this foldable roof on which when folded they decided was a roost....whatever lol. i only put this down when it rained.

this is the upstairs with the plexi gas on and the walls

from above

lil roost bar. its hard to tell but there is a plexi glass floor across half of the bottom of the upstairs



now you can see it.



idk where the rest of the pics are but in those little long trinagular parts i put mesh. the poleax glass has a little hangover to keep the rain out. so far its been awesome. i can leave the back open for them if its a nice night.

 

[roseyred]