The building of... {no name yet} - let the *fun* begin! VERY pic heavy!

[JackE]

For a small building like this, 4X6', you really don't need to dig in a below frostline foundation for the posts. Just put it on skids and level it. For my coop, 8X16', it is supported at six points on concrete blocks, sitting on shallow holes filled with gravel. Been sitting there for years like that with no problems. If a corner starts to settle, I'll just jack it up and shim. I mean, we are talking about a chicken coop here, not the TajMahal.

 

[jbher]

For a small building like this, 4X6', you really don't need to dig in a below frostline foundation for the posts. Just put it on skids and level it. For my coop, 8X16', it is supported at six points on concrete blocks, sitting on shallow holes filled with gravel. Been sitting there for years like that with no problems. If a corner starts to settle, I'll just jack it up and shim. I mean, we are talking about a chicken coop here, not the TajMahal.

That's what we were thinking for our original plan. Was to do the skids and level it in some trenched out ground with either concrete blocks or gravel or something like that... I'm happy to hear you've had no problems doing this too.

 

[JackE]

That's what we were thinking for our original plan. Was to do the skids and level it in some trenched out ground with either concrete blocks or gravel or something like that... I'm happy to hear you've had no problems doing this too.

Yeah, and from what you posted, you have rocky/stoney ground where you are. So it would work even better for you. But definitely get the coop up so you can monitor what's going on under there.

 

[keystone]

You might consider covering the walls instead of open studs. 2 reasons: first you can insulate with r-13 batts. Second it will be easier to clean. Here again I used cement board 4x8 sheets of James hardee. Osb or Plywood would be fine. Heck- put up metal inside. You have access to it.

 

[keystone]

Can't go wrong with any product from SW. Duration and Emerald are self priming products but I would still apply a primer. (I'm a painting contractor). Use the highest sheen you can for shedding dust.

 

[petrel]

For a small building like this, 4X6', you really don't need to dig in a below frostline foundation for the posts. Just put it on skids and level it. For my coop, 8X16', it is supported at six points on concrete blocks, sitting on shallow holes filled with gravel. Been sitting there for years like that with no problems. If a corner starts to settle, I'll just jack it up and shim. I mean, we are talking about a chicken coop here, not the TajMahal.

Skids sure make sense for ease of construction and the ability to move the coop later. My logic was backwards from yours. I was thinking small footprint = light weight = more need to secure from wind. In retrospect, I guess they don't get many microbursts or hurricanes in Wisconsin. My chicken tractor weighs nearly 1000 lbs and I still move it into a wind break if a storm with high winds is coming. I guess if you are in NE MD your coop has survived a hurricane or two, but your coop pretty big.

 

[hoosiercheetah]

Personally, I buy all my paint from the mis-tint shelf at Lowes or Home Depot. 5 bucks a gallon, and the chickens are guaranteed not to tell you if they don't like the color. ;-)

 

[jbher]

You might consider covering the walls instead of open studs. 2 reasons: first you can insulate with r-13 batts. Second it will be easier to clean. Here again I used cement board 4x8 sheets of James hardee. Osb or Plywood would be fine. Heck- put up metal inside. You have access to it.

Valid point... I guess I was trying to save myself some "work" by not having to create walls on the inside and outside... I did think that keeping the 2x4 stud walls inside may be more difficult than covered walls.

Can't go wrong with any product from SW. Duration and Emerald are self priming products but I would still apply a primer. (I'm a painting contractor). Use the highest sheen you can for shedding dust.

Perfect!! I will do that! Thank you!!

Skids sure make sense for ease of construction and the ability to move the coop later. My logic was backwards from yours. I was thinking small footprint = light weight = more need to secure from wind. In retrospect, I guess they don't get many microbursts or hurricanes in Wisconsin. My chicken tractor weighs nearly 1000 lbs and I still move it into a wind break if a storm with high winds is coming. I guess if you are in NE MD your coop has survived a hurricane or two, but your coop pretty big.

We definitely don't get hurricanes but we do get tornados and straight-line winds... The location where I will have the coop is *sort of* protected on two sides (the north and east)... it's going to be nestled here (ignore the garden fence panels on the ground):

 

[Pescadoman66]

Fantastic! Good to see someone else who know what they are doing. You are definitely a Google Sketch-Up Pro. Check out the progress of my Coop and how I built my nesting boxes. Don't have the hens yet but just about there after the pen is built.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/870105/coop-coming-together-finally#post_13180388

Chris

 

[jbher]

Can't go wrong with any product from SW. Duration and Emerald are self priming products but I would still apply a primer. (I'm a painting contractor). Use the highest sheen you can for shedding dust.

One more question - what would you recommend I use to paint our hardie siding? It's a red right now but I would like to paint over that with a different color...

Fantastic! Good to see someone else who know what they are doing. You are definitely a Google Sketch-Up Pro. Check out the progress of my Coop and how I built my nesting boxes. Don't have the hens yet but just about there after the pen is built.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/870105/coop-coming-together-finally#post_13180388

Chris

Chris, thank you so much!! Your coop is BEAUTIFUL!!! I love all the wood on the outside!! I will be following your thread too!