Coop Roof?

[kwebb]

I have been searching and digging and got some pallets to break apart and put as siding. Would it be ok to put that on the roof too or should I go with the Tin roof? I have water protective plastic on the top, but still afraid it may leak, but at the same time, I am cheap and don't really want to spend anymore money if I don't have too. Only have front and one side done of the siding. Debating if I want to paint it, or leave it how its now. My wife likes it how it looks right now, but I kind of want to paint it and add some color too it. Will add some vent holes when it is complete.

Here is a picture of what it looks like so far.

 

[Country_Boy]

With a tin roof you can catch the rain water and pipe it to a water bowl under the coop

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Tin roofs sweat SOOO bad sometimes it might as well be raining inside... and that's when it ISN'T raining. Like when the sun comes up and starts to warm the roof. Personally would avoid that.

That plastic will probably be fine. I have used it MANY times. Or you can put some standard roofing material on it maybe.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

With a tin roof you can catch the rain water and pipe it to a water bowl under the coop

That's good thinking.

Tin or plastic I don't mind watering the animals with. Roofing shingle run off I only use for the garden.

 

[HoopyFrood]

I used a metal roof on my coop (sheathed with plywood to prevent the condensation @EggSighted4Life mentioned). I tore down a shed some family members didn't want so I could reclaim the materials, including the metal roof...

Around here we can get 3 ft wide galvalume metal roofing for just $2 per linear foot. I don't know if that's way cheaper than elsewhere, but a 6 inch overhang on a 4'x8' coop would only be about $15. Plywood sheathing would cost more than that... One of the benefits to living near an Amish metal working business

I'm afraid I can't think of a good way to do a roof out of pallet wood that wouldn't leak without a LOT of work (splitting wood into shakes basically). But I'm still pretty new to building. Hopefully someone with more experience can offer advice!

BTW I would paint or stain as you see fit - especially if you're using hardwood pallet wood! It's another expense, another work step, and has an environmental cost. But building any chicken coop is a lot of work. Why not try to help it last as long as it possibly can?

 

[kwebb]

Thanks. Think you all convinced me too look into a tin roof.

 

[chickengirl778]

You could do just a stain if your wife likes how it is now! However, that will not protect the wood as well as paint will. I found this on the web -
"While staining creates a rich, deep color that highlights natural wood grain, it does not provide long-term protection. Without a protective top coat, wood can be damaged easily due to contact with water, food, or sharp objects. A polyurethane top coat protects the wood from scratches, stains and water damage."

If you do decide to paint in the end, the most glossy paints are most suited to the outdoors, and they don't always look super glossy once they get dusty from the girls!

 

[HoopyFrood]

We did stain our entire coop (except the stilt foundation - that was exterior latex paint)... but my wife did all the research, acquisition, and painting, so I'm slightly ignorant on the subject.

We used what I think is called an exterior protective stain. It looks a lot more like a paint than a stain, but it's can be pretty transparent. It does seal and waterproof quite well (our coop got hammered in many rainstorms before I got the run roof up).

I THINK it was something like you'd find here:
https://www.homedepot.com/b/Paint-Exterior-Stain-Waterproofing-Wood-Deck-Stain/N-5yc1vZbbbm

Let me know if you want me to dig up the actual products we used. I'll have to go pick her brain a bit

 

[chickengirl778]

Oh, nice! If that's the case, just make sure you recoat when it says to on the can/bottle/stain vessel to make sure your wood is protected for a long time! In between recoating, just keep an eye out for things that need to be touched up!

 

[HoopyFrood]

Oh, nice! If that's the case, just make sure you recoat when it says to on the can/bottle/stain vessel to make sure your wood is protected for a long time! In between recoating, just keep an eye out for things that need to be touched up!

Totally! And you're right about the glossy not looking so glossy once the girls have a chance to work their "magic" around it