Cheap siding?

[jettgirl24]

Hi All - I'm in the midst of a coop building project. (See this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=513495) I'm constructing a 12' x 12' coop and we're getting to the stage where I need to start thinking about siding. My goal is to try and build the coop entirely out of salvaged materials... AND make it looks really nice

However I've run into a wall with the siding. I scour Craigslist daily but no luck yet. To cover a coop so large I will need about 288 SF. If I need to break down and buy siding, what would be the cheapest way? I looking into Hardiboard and at $33 a sheet I just can't do that. I can't justify spending $400 in siding alone. I found a couple of other siding options that were a little cheaper but not as much as I would like. Since quite a few people on BYC have undertaken recycled material coop projects I thought I would put it out here - Does anyone have any ideas on cheaper options for siding? I'm totally happy to get creative as long as it will look nice once painted.

 

[peepblessed]

We used bender board on the side of our apartment. Did a small over lap and it looked really great! Used roofing is an option also.

 

[gmendoza]

We have a similar project for our girls clubhouse.We used pine pallets for the structure,but instead of siding,we used the boards horizontaly and made it look like siding.It does in a way.Just get more pallet boards and cut off the pallet boards from the beams.then nail or screw them on the walls horizontally.

 

[Chick Norris]

Do you have a landfill or transfer station within driving distance? They often have an area where contractors dump their perfectly good but unused building materials that you can pick through for free. My dad built two garages that way. Even of you couldn't find enough siding to complete the whole thing, you may find enough to take a big bite out of the total cost.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I usually pick up my siding from construction sites that are building houses or other buildings and ask for any unused siding. They are more than happy to give me all of the extras. It helps out A LOT.

 

[JackE]

I used a man made siding product I got from Lowes. It is like some kind of pressboard that has the look of old barn siding. It comes in 4X8 sheets that only costs $18.00 a sheet. The edges are made to overlap each other like T-111. It has something like a 40year guarantee on it. It has been on my coop for over a year now, through all kinds of weather (Even a hurricane) and hanging in there with no problems. I think HomeDepot has a similar product. Good stuff and cheap compaired to T-111.
Jack

 

[silkiechicken]

Hello fellow washingtonian.

I used plywood sheeting stuff from lowesfor my siding/sheating all in one. It is thick enough to do both jobs as one, however it is a bit $$$. The thin stuff has an OSB backing and I believe was called "smart side" and was less than $20 a 4x8 sheet. However, it was thin and looked as if needed to go over structural sheething. Pretty sure that is what JackE is talking about. The guy at lowes who was helping me load said choosing the ply based siding for a non insulated coop was a good choice and recommended the OSB based siding for Californians.

 

[smokinjay]

[

] We milled alot of our coop, but most dont have mills. Look on craglist for rough cut lumbar it will come in the area 1.50-5.00 a board ft.

 

[JackE]

Quote:
The siding I bought is 1/2 in thick. I installed the siding as is on my coop. It is not installed over top of anything, but the framing. Like I said, The siding has been on for over a year, through all kinds of weather with no problems.
Jack

 

[ragnar1107]

We used 1/2" OSB primed it and gave it 2 coats of a real good exterior paint then put cheap furring strips on to give a board and batten look. It looks pretty good and the OSB was only 6$ a sheet.