Alternative Materials

A builder has reported that after presenting the materials/cut list at the local lumber yard, the yard worker shook his head in confusion. It seems that the materials used here in the Midwest are not so common on the west coast. Please don't get discouraged if this happens to you. The idea is to use the most common (read least expensive) materials needed to do the job. Cedar in California is pretty scarce from the reports I have received. It may take a bit of extra work, but I am sure that with a little searching and talking over with your lumber yard people that you will be able to come up with suitable and affordable materials. Please don't think that anything on the list is absolutely necessary. The idea is to keep the coop looking nice and the cost low. Think alternative.

Making it easy

Hi,

Here is a post from a builder who suggests framing lumber straight out of the lumber yard.

Hey Dennis,

Just got through with the 4X8 playhouse and thought I'd pass this along. First I made all of the cuts per plan at a friends house and had no issues. The second is by doubling the uprights to the right of the door I was able to cover all of the sides with a 50 foot roll of 36 inch wire. Everything was ripped from 5/4x6's but I cut extras to cover ones that may have warpped. If I built another I would use a full board there instead. Just thought I would pass it on and will try and update to the blog if it's ok.

Scott James

Error

Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Error on 8 x 8 Materials List

Another error has been found on the Materials/Cut List for the 8 x8 plans. The roofing materials from Metal sales should measure 32" wide, by 52" long roof panels.

Note that in some locations around the US the roof panels are available in either 24" wide or 36" wide panels. Here in Wisconsin I found 32" wide panels. As long as the width can add up to an even 96" you don't have to cut the last panel. The metal can be easily cut if needed, however.

If you are building the coop 8 feet long, you will need4, 24" wide panels per side of roof or a total of 8.
Posted by Dennis at 6:52 PM
Labels: Roof panel error 8 x 8 model
0 comments:

Framing lumber tips

Hi,

Here is a post from a builder who suggests framing lumber straight out of the lumber yard.

Hey Dennis,

Just got through with the 4X8 playhouse and thought I'd pass this along. First I made all of the cuts per plan at a friends house and had no issues. The second is by doubling the uprights to the right of the door I was able to cover all of the sides with a 50 foot roll of 36 inch wire. Everything was ripped from 5/4x6's but I cut extras to cover ones that may have warpped. If I built another I would use a full board there instead. Just thought I would pass it on and will try and update to the blog if it's ok.

Scott James

Assembly Sequence

The construction takes place by building the 4 flat panel wall and bottom flat panel frame. Begin with the bottom frame, laying it out on a large flat surface. Next, lay out the two gable end walls, making sure that they are the same size and that the plywood triangle pieces have the same angles. Follow this with the 2 long walls. The plywood that makes up the exterior of the roost box is attached to the flat panels at this stage. Don't forget to cut in the cleanout and egg doors as well. The plexi-glass can be installed at this time.

Once you have built the 5 flat panels, stand them up on the flat panel floor frame and check your dimensions. If all lines up properly, lay the panels down again and install the wire over them. Before installing the wire, make sure that the diagonal measurements of each frame are equal to insure that the corners are square. This is a old carpenter's trick. After the wire is secure, stand the wall up again over the floor frame and secure the corners with screws or angle brackets.

Next, complete the three interior wall of the roost box. You will need to install additional framing inside the coop to support the plywood pieces. Install as needed. Then, install the bottom of the roost box, followed by the front interior panel with the sliding door. Finally, install the top flat plywood ceiling with the vent holes.

Finally, install the roofing material and all the trim, hinges, roost bar, etc.

This sequence is only one of many ways to build this coop. I suggest you carefully think through each stage of construction, taking into account your physical limitations. There is not perfect sequence, but with a little forethought, you will greatly reduce the inevitable frustration that comes with such a building project. Stay focused when building, but stop occasionally to plan ahead.

Some like to prefinish the wood before assembly. I like this idea. I cut the framing members, then coated them with the Lifetime Wood Preservative. I gave the plywood a single roller coat of paint before cutting it as well.

Metal Roofing

I was on the phone today with our local roofing supplier ABC Supply.  The salesman explained to me that I do not have the correct product name on the plans.  The metal roofing is properly known as ridge roofing and not standing metal seam.  The ridge roofing is a less expensive product that does not need underlayment and can be installed over the coop frame.

I was out at our local big box home improvements store today and found that ridge roofing is now available as a special order product.  It is offered in 10 different colors and has all the trim materials.  The store can order the panels precut to the inch at a very attractive price. One tip is to first choose the roofing and then make the roof length fit the width of the panels.  The panels I saw today are 38 inches wide.  Three panels would give you 104 inches. If you don't want to have to cut the panels to make the 8 foot as called for in the plans, consider building the coop to fit the 104 inches.  Alternatively, the metal panels can be cut easily with tin snips or aviator snips.

The matching screws sold with this roofing product are also expensive. You can substitute a generic screw with a rubber washer available at the home improvement stores.  Here in Madison we have Home Depot and Menards.  I have not checked to see what Lowe's has to offer.

Again if you find the metal roofing too pricey, consider using an asphalt corrugated roofing material.  It won't look quite as finished, but the chickens will surely not complain.

Happy Building

Beekeeping

I'm currently building a Top Bar Bee Hive for backyard urban use. The style will match that of the Playhouse Coop. If you are interested in complementing your urban chickens with a hive or two of bees, please write me at im-handy@sbcglobal.net.

Yours,


Dennis

Materials/Cut List Update for the 8' x 8' Plans

I uploaded an updated version of the Materials and Cut list for the 8 x 8 version of the Playhouse Coop Plans. They are available now when you purchase the plans.

If you have purchased plans for the 8x8 version prior to March 20 and would like to download the updated version, please contact me at im-handy@sbcglobal.net or use the link I sent you.

Thanks.

Dennis

Using Recycled Materials

Here is a note from a builder with a very good idea for locating recycled deck boards for the Playhouse Coop:

"My wife and I purchased your plans for the 8' X 8' coop, and I just started on it earlier today.

I read your blog this evening and saw the one about recycling lumber for the coop. This is exactly what we have done, our local land fill will allow us to take 3 cubic yds of material a day out for recycling purpose's. I started going to the building material area , and as luck would have it I hit a gold mine one day. Someone had very carefully disassembled a red wood deck and disposed of it. We hauled a good portion of the lumber out before the land fill chipped it up for mulch. I spent the day today ripping the 2 X 6's and plan to start construction in the morning. We have more then enough lumber for the frame of the coop and plan to use the rest for other projects we have planned. You may want to suggest people check their local land fill's for lumber in your blogs. We will send photo's when construction is complete. By the way, I enjoyed your directions for constructing a rain barrel on Utube, and have the materials to make 4 now".