Should You Use Hardware Cloth Under Corrugated Roofing?

[calista]

If we decide to go with Sun-Tuf or some similar corrugated roofing over the run (love the clear stuff, especially for those infrequent sunny days here in rainy Washington) and it's installed correctly according to manufacturer's directions, is it coon-proof? I've read posts about coons chewing through or tearing into wood and shingles on coop roofs.

Is it better to put up hardware cloth and THEN the corrugated stuff? Has anyone done this and can tell me how you installed both of them? (Pictures would be great!)

Thanks!

 

[LittleFeat]

We used Sun-Tuf on the roof. I can't really answer as to whether a coon could chew through it but I kind of doubt it especially if he was chewing down on a panel rather than chewing from an edge. That stuff is like it's name "TUF". You might contact the manufacturer and see what advice they could give you. I wasn't too worried about it (to tell you the truth never even thought about the possibility). Our yard is completely fenced with chain link and the coop is completely sealed with either wood or hardware cloth so I figure any coon problems will be at night when the girls are locked up tight in the coop.

We put hardware cloth in all the open ends and eaves so the entire coop and run is enclosed. We also ran 3 strings of electric fence 2 around the bottom and one around the top. You can see our coop and run on my page. You can't really see the hardware cloth at the roof area but it is there. The pics also don't show the top wire of the electric fence either. We used the smoke gray color and really like how it filters the light. Hope this helps. Sorry I don't have any close up pics of the roofing panels and hardware cloth.

 

[patandchickens]

That's an interesting question.

I am CERTAIN that a raccoon could chew through Suntuf or other plastic roofing panels if it *wanted* to... I mean, you can cut the stuff with scissors, and raccoons have sharp teeth.

Is this a problem? Possibly for small tractors or reach-in coops without much roof overhang and very motivated coons, I suppose.

Honestly though I do not think that a raccoon would have the presence of mind to try it on a larger building or one with a good-sized roof overhang, though. Raccoons seem to be reasonably linear thinkers IME. And I am skeptical that a raccoon could get ahold of the place where adjacent roofing panels overlap to tear into the *middle* of a correctly-installed roof.

So, I dunno. I do not think it is a big risk, and in most cases I do not think it is a real risk at *all*, but you should do what you're comfortable with.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Goose and Fig]

I've used the clear corrugated roofing quite a bit- as windows and roof panels. I hate dark coops! Never had a problem with coons getting in- and we have plenty of the critters around here! I learned the hard way that chicken wire is useless

 

[Bossroo]

Little Feat... you might want to consider to add 2x2's at the top and bottom ends of your roof and fasted the roof panels to them as with the current setup, the wind will cause enough vibrations on the panel ends to cause the pannels to start to crack at the next hold down screws and eventually to tear those panels off. I have seen this happen on a nice lama barn in sunny Cal.

 

[fancbrd4me02]

I used corrugated metal because I was concerned about racoons, our place is swarming with them. I have read a lot about racoons tearing up the roofs on houses to get into attics to build nests. For peace of mind, I would line it with wire underneath if you use the sunpanel stuff. Also, make sure you use screws to attach the panels, not nails.

 

[LittleFeat]

Quote:
You know that's actually been something that's worried me. We did watch it closely during a very bad storm one night to see how much it was flexing. One note, we did put 2 x 2 blocking in all the ends around the whole thing but not out on the very end of the overhangs. Have you seen that happen with SunTuf brand panels. They are supposed to be crackproof for life, whatever that means.

Actually I guess they are cause I'm a "crack pot" and I put them up so they were "crackproof" then!

Pictures on my page aren't updated to show the new blocking or the electric strand we've also added to the top perimeter. Thanks for the tip! I think we might even still have some extra packs of the plastic mounting strips around.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
You know that's actually been something that's worried me. We did watch it closely during a very bad storm one night to see how much it was flexing. One note, we did put 2 x 2 blocking in all the ends around the whole thing but not out on the very end of the overhangs. Have you seen that happen with SunTuf brand panels.

I really do not think that is going to happen IF you have installed them as per manufacturer's directions, with no more than 3/4" (maximum) of unsupported overhang along the sides and no more than 1" of unsupported overhang at the end of the panel. The problems people get into are when they do not look up the instructions, and leave several inches just hangin' in the breeze to be caught and ripped off. (Or not using the foam closure strips, which are *mandatory* for secure and lasting installation). People also mess up sometimes by not predrilling the holes the correct size with the necessary little amount of room for thermal movement. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS

(e.t.a. - also, it is smart to use extra screws along the edges in windy locations, e.g. every rib, which will halve the strain on the panel at any one screw)

JMHO,

Pat

 

[LittleFeat]

From this discussion I think I am going to go back and put blocking in the very ends of the overhangs. We did install it according to manufacturer specs but didn't go all the way to the ends and I have worried about wind constantly weakening them. We did put blocking in the ends at the rafters so we could attach hardware cloth so the entire coop and run is totally enclosed. Pics on my coop page don't show that however. Thanks for the warning/alert.

 

[SC_Hugh]

I don't have any closeup pics yet, but I could take one later.

I stapled the hardwire down first, then screwed the roof supports down on top of the hardwire and then screwed the roof panels to the panels supports. So far, so good.

--Hugh