Trailer Coop Build (Pic heavy)

[Ted Brown]

You been hustling your butt!! Very sweet. Get some cheap drip edge and attach to gable roof ends; will really clean things up AND protect raw edges.

Why the bottom ledges outside?

 

[aart]

Why the bottom ledges outside?

Was wondering same.

 

[Ted Brown]

@ColoradoPip I went back through the thread and found where you said the ledges were to be used for food and water; I can't find it again at the moment but it is there.

I hate to break it to you but you have a real problem with those ledges unless you do not get rain. Every time the ledges will catch water and wick (run?) it back inside the coop. Two problems:

• your bedding is going to be wet and at times cold; your flock will not survive in a wet environment.
• the whole structure will quickly begin to rot starting with the bottom of the walls and floor directly under.

This MUST BE FIXED before you proceed.

• The proper way would have been to place the walls on the outer edges and use drip edge where they join.
• I thought about leaving it and attaching slopping roofs to deflect the water out. This would be an awkward kludge but would probably work, I would not do it but...
• I cannot see the necessary detail; is it possible to cut those ledges off in situ? If yes and easy that would be my choice given where you are at.

Obviously your choice but you have to fix it somehow.

 

[ColoradoPip]

You been hustling your butt!! Very sweet. Get some cheap drip edge and attach to gable roof ends; will really clean things up AND protect raw edges.

You're not kidding. Working all day, then working all evening too. The later light gives me a shot to finish. But now there's snow coming tomorrow!

Yup, I already have the drip edge, just need to get it up there! So many little details to finish!

Why the bottom ledges outside?

I hate to break it to you but you have a real problem with those ledges unless you do not get rain. Every time the ledges will catch water and wick (run?) it back inside the coop. Two problems:

So, there are a couple of things about this lip. We get a few weeks of what some might call, semi wet weather, otherwise it's pretty bone dry here. I'm more worried about snow and melting, however my plans should account for all of this

The roof overhang ensures melting or dripping from above falls just outside of the lip. The lip will likely have a layer of linoleum/flooring/or some other material on it. This will help weight the lip down a bit, creating a slope away from the walls, and will also lift the height of the lip up above the floor line.

In addition, as you noted, I plan to put some food and water stations around the outside of the coop. Adding more weight to the lip and (hopefully) ensuring the slope is away from the walls and coop itself.

That's my plan at least!!

 

[Ted Brown]

Sorry bad plan. You have said water will intrude from both a little bit of rain AND from snow; water/snow does not always fall in a straight line.

[I looked at average precipitation for Denver. You get a little less (~15 inches) than 1/2 (34 inches) of what I get up here covering about 6 months.]

 

[ColoradoPip]

Thanks Ted, you have given me some things to think more about.

I am not set on having the lip and it would be possible to cut it off later. I've become quite good at holding the circular saw up while cutting I'll consider that as a last resort though.

For starters I will go with the plan and closely monitor it. However, based on your feedback I will definitely put some thought and action into proactively addressing it (trim, sealant, etc. plus, most importantly ensuring it slopes away from the wall, in combination with the extreme dryness). As long as snow melt or rain water doesn't flow inward toward the walls, things should be fine.

 

[Ted Brown]

Water wicks as well as flows. If those ledges get wet you will have some wicking inside; the minimum is that rot along the wall bottom plate will begin.

Do it now or you "never" will. Cut your losses, get on your back with that circular saw, a mask and googles. What's it going to take, like a couple of hours?

 

[ronott1]

Wheel wells and windows in. Need to finish them but they are in. Nest box frame built too. Both windows open. Yay!

The trailer is looking very good!

 

[aart]

Adding more weight to the lip and (hopefully) ensuring the slope is away from the walls and coop itself.

I wouldn't count on that.
Is the lip the same piece of wood as the floor?
If so, I'd use a sawzall to cut it off, won't get close enough with a circular saw.

 

[Ted Brown]

I wouldn't count on that.
Is the lip the same piece of wood as the floor?
If so, I'd use a sawzall to cut it off, won't get close enough with a circular saw.

Yes to same piece of wood as the floor.

@ColoradoPip was thinking of cutting from underneath. If possible I would carefully snap a chalk line and go slow with a circular saw; takes a pro to use a sawzall and cut a straight line.