Redwood For Roofing an Aviary

Barewolf · 29-09-2010, 01:39

Im building a large Aviary type structure to be used as a Chicken Run and play area for my Chicks, and I need some advice about Redwood for the roofing, mainly to see if it will hold up. I have never used Redwood before, and I'm not much for DIY

Basically, I've attached a picture of the stage I am at, See Picture 1 & 2.

The fence posts are 75mm x 75mm x 6.2ft High, these are going to be my supports for the panels I will be fixing in-between, See picture 3.

The whole structure will be 12ft x 12ft

Because I havent put a Fence post in the centre of the Chicken Aviary it's left me needing support beam going from the centre of the middle posts, a crossover beam if you will, but this will need to be 12ft long, once I have done this, I can then work on the roof.

I have found that there are Redwood panels I can use that are perfect width and length, and just over an inch thick, but I'm worried this may not support the roof because of the thickness. See link.

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Redwood-PSE/invt/166392

I will be placing half the roof with these sheeted boards to allow shelter for half of the Chicken Aviary, see link.

http://www.wickes.co.uk/OSB2/invt/110024

The other half of the roof will be made up of panels similar to the sides in my diagram, where there will be galvanised wire to keep out predators.

What I don’t want to have happen is any bowing in the middle, if they sold 12ft fence posts I would use those, but would the Redwood work?

Having sheets of OSB might put too much strain in the middle, but I can't find any 75mm x 75mm Posts that stretch the 12ft, and I don’t know what else I can use without putting a fence post in the centre, which I don’t really want to do.

Taf · 29-09-2010, 09:00

I always plan using materials I KNOW I can get hold of. Longer lengths can be sourced from builders merchants (I've seen posts 75x75 at 6m in length).

DaiNasty · 29-09-2010, 09:24

Looks like pine to me, so it's a softwood and will need appropriate protection from the elements.
When you're placing your side panels don't forget that both chickens and predators like to dig under stuff. You'll need to drop the wire below ground level.

BTDT.. We had one particulat 'hen with attitude' that would tunnel under stuff with great enthusiasm.

Barewolf · 29-09-2010, 12:50

But will a 1 inch 14ft long peice of redwood support a roof? or should i buy a 3inch by 2 inch beam instead?

reason i use wickes is they deliver free

joglynne · 29-09-2010, 13:25

I would have thought using a 1" X 1" X 14' piece of any wood to support any load would be pushing your luck as I would expect the wood to sag under it's own weight alone. Have a look at the beam sizes on the following link to a pdf for a redwood shelter. I know it's not what you want to build but you can see the sizes of beams they have used.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&sou...QOq2ZB1STXZr4w

DaiNasty · 29-09-2010, 14:36

Agreed, 1" will definitely sag very quickly across a 14' span. I've got 3 x 2" rafters about the same length in a lean-to and even those are drooping a bit.
You'd probably get away with one cross-member at the 7' mid-section point. Will you put some sort of felt on the finished roof to waterproof it?

martyh · 29-09-2010, 17:50

the redwood you have chosen is totally inappropriate for the job you require,it will sag under its own weight without any support .your best bet is to get some 75mm sq tanilised timber from any builders merchant ,3.6 mtr is a stock length so will be readily available be warned though that that will still sag a little under its own weight to get no sag over 12ft at all you will need a minimum of 5"x2" to support itself and a roof

---------- Post added at 17:50 ---------- Previous post was at 17:36 ----------

C16 Regular Treated Timber

Product Code: 190169

<LI class=iseven>Timber depth: 150mm <LI class=isodd>Timber Width: 47mm
Timber Length: 3.6m

wicks link

this would be much more suitable priced at £14.35 per 3.6mtr lenght

Bulky · 29-09-2010, 17:52

Rather than a builders merchants , try a timber merchants , seeing as you live in wilmslow I have used this merchants many times , www.tomlinsonparbans.co.uk Click on the shop door to enter site. 12ft 3x3 posts wouldn't be a problem.

LSainsbury · 29-09-2010, 18:53

Have you got planning permission for that?

martyh · 29-09-2010, 20:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSainsbury

Have you got planning permission for that?

actually i was wondering that myself ,not sure if it is needed but keeping chickens in a built up area is a big no-no with some LA's.

I would think that Barewolf has done his homework though

Barewolf · 29-09-2010, 23:49

I dont have planning permission but was told I wouldnt need it as it's not something permanent.

I dont live in Wilmslow anymore, I live in Bromsgrove.

I may have to use 3" x 3" x 12ft as I cant find anywhere that has anything bigger.

---------- Post added at 23:49 ---------- Previous post was at 22:37 ----------

Im going to do some more sketches based on your advice, im not going to be buying the wood until saturday, so hopefully i will have a solution by then, with the forum members help of course.

thanks for advice so far.

And yes, I will be felting the roof part, not all of it, just 3 parts of it, which will be 4ftx6ft panels x 3.

back to the drawing board.

LSainsbury · 30-09-2010, 12:08

What's that yellow box thing? Is it a bee hive?

Barewolf · 30-09-2010, 14:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSainsbury

What's that yellow box thing? Is it a bee hive?

lol, no thats my chicken coop, where they lay eggs, it has a run attached but it's a bit small for 3 chickens, hence the big run im building.

bee hive next maybe

Taf · 30-09-2010, 14:59

From a personal perspective, I would have built long rather than a large rectangle.... basically copying the frames of 2 or 3 6ft x 8ft sheds fitted end-to-end, and then covering with chicken wire. Bitumened OSB sheets would then be easy to fit as roofing as a peaked or sloping roof.

http://gardenparadiseideas.com/resou...+shed+plan.jpg

http://www.gibsontimberframes.com/po...den-shed-2.jpg

Barewolf · 30-09-2010, 15:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taf

From a personal perspective, I would have built long rather than a large rectangle.... basically copying the frames of 2 or 3 6ft x 8ft sheds fitted end-to-end, and then covering with chicken wire. Bitumened OSB sheets would then be easy to fit as roofing as a peaked or sloping roof.

http://gardenparadiseideas.com/resou...+shed+plan.jpg

http://www.gibsontimberframes.com/po...den-shed-2.jpg

That would be an ok idea but i wanted the chickens to have as much space as possible, 12ft squared is ideal for 3 chickens, more than enough room for about 8 in fact. but i dont really have the length to have a longer run.

anyway, ive decided to use a 4x2" beam as a support between 2 posts, then use supports either side, which might not be neccasary yet.

i will then build round the structure using my panels, and using the same idea for the walls, i will attach the roof to the supporting beam.

i figure that because the edges of the roof panels will be attached to the wall panels, it should in theory take off weight from the support beam, and so it shouldnt sag.