How to attach rafters?

[fightingbunny]

Also, I am not shy on buying new tools as you never know what you might need them for in the future! As long as they are versatile and not too crazy expensive.

Do I rent an air compressor as well as a specific hand tool to do the staples?

 

[fightingbunny]

So I found these pictures on my camera that show the lighting around noon. It isn't quite as shady as my memory has it. Now I am worrying that I should have gotten fully opaque roofing, but hopefully half transparent/half opaque is good enough!! At the price of these panels, I am not replacing them now!

The funniest part of these pictures is that the dogs were digging/dirt bathing where the chickens probably will later I do not recommend having dogs repeatedly digging large pits where you are placing ladders. We had quite a few leaning ladder incidents.

 

[Rob Tof]

Go to harbor freight if you have one. I bought the staple gun for under 40$. Compressor borrow if you don't have one.bonus you now own the tool. More tools better projects.

 

[Rob Tof]

Great part is rafters are wood you could just staple weed fabric to the underside of the rafters to limit the light. Easy cheap fix.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

You can also just toenail the rafters into a double top plate. Hurricaine ties are designed to keep the roof rafters tied to the walls in high winds. This only works well when the walls are tied to the ground, otherwise the whole thing can blow away.

If you toenail, drill a pilot hole so you don't split the rafter...

 

[fightingbunny]

Go to harbor freight if you have one. I bought the staple gun for under 40$. Compressor borrow if you don't have one.bonus you now own the tool. More tools better projects.

Which staple gun? There are different sizes and types!

 

[jvls1942]

I have a Pneumatic 1/4"crown stapler.
it was not expensive, or else I would not own it.
I can shoot 5/8" long up to 1 1'4" long staples.
I even stapled cyclone fence to the wood frame when I built one of my lean to's.
always use the longest staple you can.
determined by the thickness of the wood you are stapling into.
use lots of them.. they are very cheap.
I would stay away from drywall screws. they rust and they break.
they are not meant for construction.
for attaching the hardware cloth , they are OK
get the square drive ones.better yet, and if you can, get a screw with the star drive heads. I refuse to use philip's head drives.
the driver tips break easily, and the heads on the screw strip out.
this advice comes from 40 years as a building contractor.

......jiminwisc........

 

[cavemanrich]

This is the stapler that I have. It looks just a little different since I have had it for over 10 years. (models change all the time.) and here is a link to it.
https://www.harborfreight.com/18-gauge-14-in-crown-air-stapler-68018.html
You will need staples, a hose, and a compressor. See if you can borrow from your contractor friend things you are nor ready to purchase.

On a separate note..... I would NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR COOP HAVING TOO MUCH LIGHT. In fact I will be building an upgrade coop for my girls soon, and plan to use those same panels as you. (for roof)
I currently am using similar panels but in blue on a open air covered area on the back of my garage. Has been up for about 20 years. They are about due to be replaced, BUT 20 YEARS IS NOT BAD.
Remember that at night it is dark regardless.

 

[fightingbunny]

This weekend I am going to be tackling the hardware cloth using 1 inch screws and fender washers, so I will update with status! I might end up regretting not using the stapler as that sounds a lot faster/easier, but I have a strong feeling I will end up wanting to change things later and the screws are a lot easier to get out.

 

[Rob Tof]

My gun was the two in one both staple gun and finish nailer.