Ventilation question for new coop

[patandchickens]

Quote:
I live on an open flat area without many trees on the property, anything that casts cool shade in summer and slows the wind down in winter is good in my book

I guess I can do OSB on the roof with metal over it. That's how my current coop is and I don't have problems with condensation.

If you're *certain* about the no direct sunlight thing, you could make removeable insulation panels. Assuming this is going to be a full sized coop you would just cut foamboard panels to exactly fit between your roof stringers (or whatever), then screw on a few battens or whatever to keep them there. You'd lose the light during the part of the winter when you needed the insulation, but as long as you have a window or two that should be no big deal. And you'd still have the benefit of the clear roof the rest of the time.

(e.t.a. - or you could even try just taping a layer or two of bubblewrap to the underside of the clear roof. Whether it'd be enough to prevent condensation, you'd have to see, but it *might* be. Bubblewrap is something like R=1.5 IIRC. Might try it before going the foamboard route anyhow)

Just a thought anyhow.

Have fun,

Pat​

 

[willheveland]

Quote:
IMHO I think that would be your best bet. Metal rocks! We've had hail got through that plastic stuff(it gets brittle over time) and has gone through that wavy Ondura stuff too.

Would you dare drop them trees before they get any bigger,not sure if they'd reach that fence yet? My sister has the same in her backyard.Nice shade but she hates the needles and she don't trust her little brother to drop'em. Will

 

[Buster]

Thanks again for the replies. I know it won't be completely shaded in the summer so I should probably scrap the plastic roof idea.

These trees are so tall that they shade my garden spot and I have to move my garden now. The area in front of the trees used to be a nice garden. Now it's going to be a chicken yard.

Steve- I have some metal roofing already so I think if I use that I can save a little money. I probably have at least 80% of the total I need.

 

[Steve]

Then by all means use it. It will make a great roof for you.

 

[Buster]

Quote:
IMHO I think that would be your best bet. Metal rocks! We've had hail got through that plastic stuff(it gets brittle over time) and has gone through that wavy Ondura stuff too.

Would you dare drop them trees before they get any bigger,not sure if they'd reach that fence yet? My sister has the same in her backyard.Nice shade but she hates the needles and she don't trust her little brother to drop'em. Will

I'm not a "tree hugger" by any means, but I think it would be a shame to drop those. My neighbors may burn me out if I do.

If I could sell them I'd have them moved. It would probably go a long way toward payments on my place.

Do you have felt between your metal and the osb?

 

[Buster]

Ok, you guys sold me on the metal roof.

Back to the ventilation system:
Should I leave the eaves open on the upper and the lower part of the roof or will closing off the upper part force the air down and out the bottom eaves?

 

[willheveland]

You don't need or want to put felt under metal.That dark paper,roll roofing,shingles can all harbor mites.(another plus with metal)You could really just use purlins(1x6 roughcut or 2x4 every 2 foot or so)then use your OSB as a ceiling inside your coop.People do put metal over shingles and rolled roofing but they should nail down furring strips on the roof to get air space between.The idea with metal is you want the metal(both sides) to be temp. of the outside temp.If the metal is exposed to outside temp on one side and other side is the inside temp,that's where you get the sweating or greenhouse affect.You don't want that.
You might want to leave your facia off,but then critters may get in.Or you could buy vents or just cuts holes and screen them to get your ventilation.
Hopes this helps. Will

 

[Buster]

Thanks Will. At the risk of sounding ignorant, what is a purlin? Do you fasten those to the osb and so the osb isn't fastened to the metal directly?

 

[CARS]

With the metal roof you wont need the osb.

What you do is nail (or screw) 1x4's or 2x4 depending on local codes across your rafters and screw the steel to them. the purling is the lateral strength that replaces the osb's lateral strength.

 

[Buster]

Gotcha. Thanks. That should cut cost as well.