Cheap roofing idea?

[bjones1128]

​

Okay, so it's not perfect, but I'm just a mom trying to build a chicken coop with her two boys, although I do have the help of a nice neighbor man on the hard parts, lol. Anyway, I am having to build this as I get the funds, and this is where it stands now. I already have 4-week old chicks in a brooder inside it.

I left a lot of ventilation at the top on purpose, hoping that a really big overhang would be enough to keep the rain out.But I now realize that I'm going to have to close that off because the rain keeps coming in. I'll have to cut some windows for ventilation that I can close when it rains, I guess.

My question is this... what can I use on the roof, even if it's just temporary, until i can afford shingles or tin? I bought a roll of roofing felt and it helped keep the water out, but our high winds took tore it off in no time. I also tried a thick roll of plastic I bought at a big box stores, but the winds took it off, too.

The coop is 8x8 and the roof is 10x12. I made the overhang bigger at the back because I want to put nesting boxes extending out of the coop there and thought it would help. Right now the roof is just plywood, but I'm tired of cleaning out the coop every time it floods, and the chicks will have to come out of the brooder eventually.

There' still so much to do... a run, nesting boxes, windows, etc. But this roof problem has really got me discouraged. I wish I had the money to just run out and get the materials, but I don't. I just need something to keep the rain out for 2-4 more weeks.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Personally I think your ventilation is WONDERFUL and would just try to build some sort of hanging down panel on the roof to shield the ventilation holes from rain. They really do need all that air!

If it were me, I'd take that plastic and set some concrete blocks on the corners on the ground to hold it down, so it goes from ground up to the roof, then back down to the ground again, weighted by blocks. I do this for firewood stacks (tarps) and it holds it on there. I wouldn't put concrete blocks on the roof, since they may fall and hurt someone.

A large enough tarp would do it too.

Another option would be to install plexiglass small panels inside that can flip up into place if you wanted to close the ventilation holes for a rainstorm. Plexiglass is easy to cut and I buy mine from Home Depot by the sheet (they have cheaper grades as well- I don't get the expensive ones).

 

[bjones1128]

Personally I think your ventilation is WONDERFUL and would just try to build some sort of hanging down panel on the roof to shield the ventilation holes from rain. They really do need all that air!

If it were me, I'd take that plastic and set some concrete blocks on the corners on the ground to hold it down, so it goes from ground up to the roof, then back down to the ground again, weighted by blocks. I do this for firewood stacks (tarps) and it holds it on there. I wouldn't put concrete blocks on the roof, since they may fall and hurt someone.

A large enough tarp would do it too.

Another option would be to install plexiglass small panels inside that can flip up into place if you wanted to close the ventilation holes for a rainstorm. Plexiglass is easy to cut and I buy mine from Home Depot by the sheet (they have cheaper grades as well- I don't get the expensive ones).

Thanks for the ideas! I'd have to buy another tarp/sheet of plastic that was big enough to that but maybe it wouldn't cost too much and could tide me over until I get some shingles or tin.

I thought about installing wood pieces on hinges over the top ventilation so I could just lift it up on rainy days. I might give that whirl and see how it goes.

 

[4Chicks2]

You can put the plastic on the roof and fold the edges underneath and nail it to the backside of the 2x4. That way the wind can't get underneath the plastic and rip it off. THat should last you a few weeks til you can get some roofing material. Use the same simplex nails (nails with the orange or green plastic washer around them) that you would use to hold down the felt paper. Hope this helps.

 

[bjones1128]

You can put the plastic on the roof and fold the edges underneath and nail it to the backside of the 2x4. That way the wind can't get underneath the plastic and rip it off. THat should last you a few weeks til you can get some roofing material. Use the same simplex nails (nails with the orange or green plastic washer around them) that you would use to hold down the felt paper. Hope this helps.

Good idea... maybe I just didn't do a great job nailing the plastic on the first time. I just nailed it to the side of the coop and the wind took it right off. The felt paper lasted a little longer, but eventually came off, too. But maybe if I wrap the plastic underneath as suggested.... it might work.

 

[all4birds]

I went to Wal-mart last weekend to buy a tarp. I just needed to cover up some tables for my yard sale. The cheapest route was to buy some plastic sheeting in the paint department. It was $4.00 for 4 mil sheeting vs 11.00 for a similar sized tarp. That's about as cheap as you can get for a temporary roof. You can cut a strip of cardboard to put over the edge when you staple it. Sandwich the plastic between the cardboard and the wood and it will keep the staples from ripping through the plastic.

I hope this helps,
Terry

p.s. Your coop looks great!

 

[settingdusk]

I used this http://www.homedepot.com/p/Palruf-26-in-x-8-ft-Clear-PVC-Roofing-Panel-100423/100038031 it has built in ventilation.

 

[yyz0yyz0]

Check Craigslist for free or low cost roofing materials. Also post an ad on Craigslist looking for cheap or low cost roofing material.

Search your local area for Reuse/Recycle centers or I've also heard about Habitat for humanity having stores where they sell left over materials. One near me had 4-5 bundles of shingles for like $2 a bundle.

Try contacting roofing companies in your area and ask them what they do with their leftover material. if you get three different color shingles you can always get creative and use the colors to make a pattern on the roof so the mismatched shingles don't look so bad.

If in the end you have to just buy roofing, rolled roofing is probably one of the cheaper options. It's like the felt paper but it's really roofing with stones imbedded in it just like shingles.

 

[bjones1128]

Check Craigslist for free or low cost roofing materials. Also post an ad on Craigslist looking for cheap or low cost roofing material.

Search your local area for Reuse/Recycle centers or I've also heard about Habitat for humanity having stores where they sell left over materials. One near me had 4-5 bundles of shingles for like $2 a bundle.

Try contacting roofing companies in your area and ask them what they do with their leftover material. if you get three different color shingles you can always get creative and use the colors to make a pattern on the roof so the mismatched shingles don't look so bad.

If in the end you have to just buy roofing, rolled roofing is probably one of the cheaper options. It's like the felt paper but it's really roofing with stones imbedded in it just like shingles.

Great ideas! I have been keeping a good eye on Craigslist but we live in a very rural area and there's just not much on there in places I can drive to. There is a Habitat store in a town about 25 minutes away, though. I had forgotten about it... I'll give it a try this week!

I have never heard of rolled roofing. Is this something Lowe's would have? I'll check it out, maybe I could afford something like that.

 

[loveourbirds]

we have a metal roofing here that is about 1.70 a foot (3 feet wide) you would be looking at about $75 to roof it with this metal. it only comes in galvanized, has a 20 year warrantee i think. i used it on my barn. i don't have a pic of the outside but this is the same roofing on the inside.


if you know someone who is tearing down a house trailer (mobile home) you can use the top or side metal on the roof, run screws through the same holes. make sure the screws have the rubber washer. if using new metal or ridged metal always put the screws in the high points to avoid leaks.

i have also seen people use OSB or plywood and paint it with mobile home roof paint. this will usually last 3-5 years if the roof has a slope.


edited to add:
if you have a metal recycling place around you, some of them will let you buy metal at scrap price or just a little over. if they have thin sheet metal there, you could get enough for your roof for $10-15.