winterizing run, one section doesn't have a hard roof

[junior67]

I'd cover all the run walls, the open roof will give plenty of ventilation.
I'd cut some props to force fit(between ground and rafter) under each of the 'rafters' in the open area...and maybe figure out how to remove snow from top of HC.

We have a rake that I can turn over to clear off the HWC. The good thing is that roof is only 5' so my husband is tall enough to reach.

 

[aart]

We have a rake that I can turn over to clear off the HWC. The good thing is that roof is only 5' so my husband is tall enough to reach.

A roof rake?

I was wondering how tall it was.

 

[Farmgirl1878]

Let me go and take some more pics of our “hoop roof” that hubby built for the un-roofed end of our run. It’s like a greenhouse that has a 2”x4” frame with pvc pipes bent into a half circle and secured through holes drilled into the frame. Then it’s covered with a reinforced clear tarp. It‘s worked great through one snowy, rainy, and icy winter!

You can see the 1.5” pvc through the tarp (). The half circle pieces are (I think) 12‘ long. The horizontal pieces are secured with plumbing fittings that I’ll take a pic of shortly.

The clear tarp is longer than it is wide, so I secured the overlap with tent stakes. It allows good ventilation, but keeps the wet out.

We didn’t trim the excess pvc, so I can adjust as necessary to keep the tarp nice and tight. I’ll add more pics later.

 

[K0k0shka]

The posts are 2x4's and corners are doubled up. We can do center beams from top to ground or put a stronger one down the middle. But all sides are 2x4 the only thing not are ones under top of hwc

That's the thing, 2x4's aren't sturdy enough for posts. Not on a structure with a load-bearing roof. You may not have intended for the top of the uncovered run to be a load-bearing roof, but that's what it will turn into once you get a sizable snowstorm. Do you have closer-up pictures of the uncovered run? Are the rafters on edge? How do the top plates connect to the posts? I see in some place they are sitting on top of the post, which is good, but other places they connect on the sides of the post - not ideal. What kind of joint do you have there? Snow is water and water is heavy, it can do a lot of damage.

 

[junior67]

A roof rake?

I was wondering how tall it was.

my husband does have a roof rake. But I do have one for the run to rake that up too. I don't use the roof rake so not sure what that even looks like or if it would work.

 

[K0k0shka]

my husband does have a roof rake. But I do have one for the run to rake that up too. I don't use the roof rake so not sure what that even looks like or if it would work.

The roof rake has a much longer handle and can reach higher/farther, but at the same time it’s a lot lighter than a garden rake or a leaf rake - intentionally so, to make it easier to lift and maneuver high up.

 

[junior67]

That's the thing, 2x4's aren't sturdy enough for posts. Not on a structure with a load-bearing roof. You may not have intended for the top of the uncovered run to be a load-bearing roof, but that's what it will turn into once you get a sizable snowstorm. Do you have closer-up pictures of the uncovered run? Are the rafters on edge? How do the top plates connect to the posts? I see in some place they are sitting on top of the post, which is good, but other places they connect on the sides of the post - not ideal. What kind of joint do you have there? Snow is water and water is heavy, it can do a lot of damage.

they are all connected to the top of the wall I believe. I know my husband talked to builders before building the coop and they all told him 2x4's every 2' would be more than enough as that is how houses are framed since he was worried about it holding up through storms here and that is why he talked to builders since he works in construction (HVAC side of it). The corner posts are doubled up 2x4's I think. My whole coop and covered run are all built out of 2x4's as was our old shed that held up for 24 years before we took it down (the floor rotted out) to make room for the coop and run........

I will get a better pic of the uncovered side tomorrow when it is light out. I know the top will need more support for snow as they are just 2x2's that are up there.

 

[aart]

my husband does have a roof rake. But I do have one for the run to rake that up too. I don't use the roof rake so not sure what that even looks like or if it would work.

The roof rake will be good for removing snow from the roof of the run.
Raking the ground in the run is another ball game....in winter you probably won't be raking anything on the ground.

 

[junior67]

The roof rake will be good for removing snow from the roof of the run.
Raking the ground in the run is another ball game....in winter you probably won't be raking anything on the ground.

I just meant I could use the back/flat side of that rake for the roof.

 

[junior67]

Let me go and take some more pics of our “hoop roof” that hubby built for the un-roofed end of our run. It’s like a greenhouse that has a 2”x4” frame with pvc pipes bent into a half circle and secured through holes drilled into the frame. Then it’s covered with a reinforced clear tarp. It‘s worked great through one snowy, rainy, and icy winter!

View attachment 2886091

You can see the 1.5” pvc through the tarp (). The half circle pieces are (I think) 12‘ long. The horizontal pieces are secured with plumbing fittings that I’ll take a pic of shortly.

View attachment 2886097

View attachment 2886098

The clear tarp is longer than it is wide, so I secured the overlap with tent stakes. It allows good ventilation, but keeps the wet out.

View attachment 2886104
We didn’t trim the excess pvc, so I can adjust as necessary to keep the tarp nice and tight. I’ll add more pics later.

how far apart are your PVC pipes? trying to think of how many I will need. Thinking this is the best bet do keep the snow off the roof of it. I don't care if it gets in that section of the run but don't want the weight of the snow to collapse it. How do you have it secured to the top and do you take it down once the weather is better?

My wire covered area is 8' wide by 10' long. guessing I would need pieces going down the center so it would hold up as well? what about doing a triangle on top with thicker pvc would that hold better than a hoop?