Update on shotty built chicken coop

[Rosekitten]

So here is the original link from when I was first posting about my issues.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...frustration-about-the-coop-we-bought.1636322/

The company finally responded to the BBB after I sent them a warning that this was my final text message to them before I go to small claims court. They have ignored my messages, and the BBB all the way till just today.

I figured I would ask around here as maybe I am wrong and don't understand wood and wood treatments. The business is trying to claim that they used what they thought would work best (the staples/nails, and by this point in time most of them are not connected and I will have to get screws to fix all of those spots). They have also informed me "the lumber used to build the coop and run is all treated/exterior use lumber. It will expand and contract with changes in the weather and temperature. And yes, it can also bend or change position, pulling the securement devices out of place" They are also making the claim that this will cause the splits (that are very obviously from the screws being overtorqued) is from the wood being of this type as well and that the wood did not need to be sealed. (I live in NC btw, where we have high humidity any day of the week and lots of rain)

I am also informed that there was no discussion with placing the legs into the ground, and thus the coop was leveled where I asked them to set it up (the triangle block was used to level out one of the legs and how I even found out they were not sunk into the ground).



Now mind you.. it's taken them months to get back to me / the BBB to where when I do respond (I only get 5 days to figure out my reply). So there has been more damage from the weather and I have just learned the windows do not close/latch so I need to add that to my list of fixing to keep drafts out.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

 

[SmiYa0126]

I bought a pre made coop and my husband built the chicken run, yes the wood swells but none of the screws have come out. I didn't think that nails were used anywhere in our construction.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

First: Good luck. Businesses don't take the BBB seriously. I've worked for major manufacturers, where it was my job (for a time) to respond to the BBB, the Attorney General's office, etc. It was not considered a serious threat.

THIS (below) is a combination of either not predrilling, oversinking the screw, or both. Its the sloppy work of powertools, unskilled blabor, and an emphasis on speed - particularly on white woods, because some are softer than others.

This, on the other hand, is a "check mark". Its common in thicker lumbers like 4x4s as they swell and shrink from moisture changes at different rates due to changes in grain density, primarily.


Check marks are normal, and sadly almost unavoidable in most modern Pressure treated lumber (there's a variety that's pressure treated and then aged under controlled conditions - much more expensive - which is less prone to this in early years). Fix for check marks? Fill full of exterior-rated construction glue. Use C-clamps on the outside, apply pressure to mostly "close" the gap. Run a couple quality screws into the wood as further reinfocement. Wait 3-4 days to cure, remove the clamps. Stronger than the original wood.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Some of the other issues look like accepting lower quality wood (#2 grade) and not excluding obviously damage pieces or repurposing them to non-structural use.

 

[Rosekitten]

Some of the other issues look like accepting lower quality wood (#2 grade) and not excluding obviously damage pieces or repurposing them to non-structural use.

Someone actually told me that I can request a recite on where they bought the wood and I can get the number from there to see if it's properly treated wood. I've had a lot of people suggesting it doesn't look treated and I've had planks of pressure treated pine out in the elements just as long as this coop and those boards don't look like this either. Granted I also didn't buy split or cracked boards.. but for a structure I'd assume you wouldn't want to buy those either.

 

[Rosekitten]

I bought a pre made coop and my husband built the chicken run, yes the wood swells but none of the screws have come out. I didn't think that nails were used anywhere in our construction.

nails and staples aren't used a lot out where I live anyway due to the humidity and weather. I know wood swells and all that, even properly treated wood. But as I did not build the coop and paid for a 'professional' to build the coop I assumed they would know their own state and the weather we have. I'd never suggest staples for anything past holding the hardware cloth into the posts.. even then I'd likely try to find some small fencing staples where they have the hooks on the end and aren't likely to come out.

 

[thistlewick]

A lot of these photos look like normal things that happen to wood out in the weather. Heck, a lot of these photos look like things that happen to wood inside your house. Wood is porous and breathes, expands/contracts and doesn't really stay *still*.

If you want it to do that *less* paint it with exterior trim high gloss paint, two coats.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I agree, this looks very typical for something built with (Home Depot-quality) pressure-treated pine. And I can tell by the color of the wood that it is indeed pressure-treated. That said, the builders should know how to mitigate these problems by allowing more space in the door frame, adding braces to the door, and using better nails. The cracks caused by the screws are usually not a problem and the checks, as @U_Stormcrow mentioned, are normal and nothing to worry about.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Agree w/ @StinkyAcres - the color tells me its PT Pine, thought I had mentioned above, appears I didn't. (its the green staining, its a telltale on fresh ground contact PT lumber, which uses a copper based preservative.) Apologies for the oversight.

non-ground contact PT omits the copper based preservative, generally doesn't have as much green to it - wish it had none at all, so you could tell at a glance, but... no love for use consumers.