Will exterior paint work on OSB to make it last longer?

[jimmywalt]

I buddy wants me to help him build a chicken coop & run as CHEAP as possible. Like maybe $50 or less.... and I figure the chicken wire for the run is going to cost about $30 of that.

T1-11 is about $20/sheet around here and OSB is around $9. Wondering if I could just use OSB for the walls and an exterior paint to help make it last 3 or 4 years?

Also "un-treated" 2"x4" boards are a lot cheaper than treated. Can I go with the cheaper even if a couple of them will be on the ground?

We are located in West side of Michigan right near Lake Michigan. This winter was brutal and we had a lot of snow.

Thank you!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Cheap isn't cheap if it doesn't last and you have to start all over again soon.

OSB simply doesn't last out in the weather, no matter how you try to treat it. It sucks up moisture and swells and starts to come apart. Properly used, OSB can last a life time, but properly means 100% shielded from the weather. Paint just won't do it. It is primarily designed for roofing boards, which are covered with felt and shingles. It is also used for sheathing on a structure, but then covered with house warp and siding.

If you go cheap, that money is soon wasted and you've not ended up saving a dime. My $.02

 

[Ernie G]

Do not use untreated lumber in the ground. Go out and look for used wood pallets for free. They arre out there.

 

[Themehmeh]

You're not going to get anything very nice or sturdy at all for under $50 unless you use as much free/recycled materials as possible and then the cost of time and gas money to get those things can sometimes not make them worth it. Pallets are one way to go if you want to look for treated wood but they will typically be worn out, beat up, and at the end of their lifespan. You usually don't find very large pieces there.

Also, Chicken wire is actually not the best wire for chickens- go figure.
The chickens can stick most of their face through the wire.
The gaps are large enough for smaller predators like racoons and possums to reach through and throttle your chickens. The wire is weak enough for larger predators like Dogs and Coyotes to break through. It stretches and bends and is very hard to get nice and taut. hardware cloth is more expensive, but much more permanent and safe.

Habitat for Humanity Re-Stores are a good place to look for cheap materials, And the Craigslist Free classifieds.