Working with polybycarbonate and is it safe from predators?

[HollowOfWisps]

Bummer. I guess anything is susceptible to being damaged by a big storm. I wouldn’t know what else to use. I don’t want to use metal roofing because I’m trying to keep the cost down. (I already went WAY over budget on their coop). This would just be for the run, not their coop.

Do you have Facebook? If so go to Facebook marketplace in the farming/ag section or even Craigslist. There is usually always someone selling some second hand metal panels that are either from a shed/barn they are taking down or leftover from a project. Another option is finding a surplus contracting warehouse where they have discounted scraps and leftovers from bigger projects. Some are also just scratch and dent or returns that can’t be at sold full price. My dad bought all of the steel roof for his pavilion from one of those surplus warehouses for 1/3 the price of buying new all because it was scrap from a big project and needed painted.

 

[aart]

Yes, I will have purlins. I was hoping the purlins would be enough support for 4’ space rafters. I just didn’t want to do every two feet. It’s a lot of work, I’m by myself and it takes time. But obviously it’s time well spent in the long run.

Don't skimp on rafter spacing.

 

[Lulu-vt]

Don't skimp on rafter spacing.

Will this see-through poly bicarbonate hold up to snow? It should, right? If I space rafters appropriately and clear it off when it builds up.

 

[Lulu-vt]

Will this see-through poly bicarbonate hold up to snow? It should, right? If I space rafters appropriately and clear it off when it builds up.

I’m kind of rethinking this whole thing. Maybe I should just make the run with HC across the top. I actually think it would be cheaper.

 

[aart]

Will this see-through poly bicarbonate hold up to snow? It should, right? If I space rafters appropriately and clear it off when it builds up.

Most likely, best to get that info from the manufacturer as there are many different products that might have different capacitites.

I’m kind of rethinking this whole thing. Maybe I should just make the run with HC across the top. I actually think it would be cheaper.

Snow won't go thru HC, if that's what you're thinking, it can even get hung up on my 2x4 welded wire.
If it's predator that's your main concern then you might want HC under any other roofing.

 

[Sefirothe]

But.... I just realized that if I don't secure each edge of the roof then it will become at risk for a predator to break through. Am I right? If a raccoon got on top of the roof (you know they will), if it's not secured by 2ft rafters, it could break - even if it's secured by purlins?

If you are talking about where the side edges of each panel of your roofing material overlaps the edge of the one next to it, you absolutely want a rafter under that and have the overlapped area screwed down well.

I know the metal roofing we purchased to roof our run came with a sheet of paper laying out how to space the rafters, panel seams and screws to assure it was attached properly.

 

[aart]

I know the metal roofing we purchased to roof our run came with a sheet of paper laying out how to space the rafters, panel seams and screws to assure it was attached properly.

Did it need purlins too?

 

[paintedChix]

I’m kind of rethinking this whole thing. Maybe I should just make the run with HC across the top. I actually think it would be cheaper.

Snow & ice will pile up on 1" x1" HWC. Will pull down & break smaller squared.

We bought home that had chicken wire over a couple of runs & smaller pens. What a mess to remove - broken & bent by animals & weather, then rusted. Went through gloves! Found it easier to remove during winter, wearing heavy, canvas coveralls - Polar King. The wire didnt go through nor did it tear them up.

I now use 2x4" wire for roofs, but be aware, some animals can get through it.

 

[gootziecat]

The clear poly panels for roofing are tempting. You get lots of light but they can cause the coop to be extremely hot in the summer if no shade. It would be like you being unable to get to shade in blistering sun. I had these panels as roofing for a porch and they don't hold up that well. Sun mostly, I believe, deteriorates the plastic. I have had them as a "ribbon" running across one wall under the eaves and basically replacing part of the plywood wall. Worked great and the sun didn't compromise it as badly. I'm wanting to build a new coop too, as inexpensively and easily as possible. Still stirring ideas around. Good luck with yours.

 

[avjudge]

thank you!! Of course. I didn’t even think of the weight of snow. I was hoping it would slide off but I know it won’t always. The pitch is not as steep since I lowered one side.

We have a polycarbonate roof on my pigeon aviary. It is built as a lean-to addition to our barn and has the same 8 in 12 slope. With that slope it does shed snow so that it never really builds up, but more slowly than the metal barn roof. But that is probably more of a slope than you had planned for your run.

I would definitely go with the 2 foot rafter spacing. Not because of predator issues, but because of snow. 4 feet sounds like a very very lightly framed structure.

I am in northern New Hampshire (along Rt. 2), so pretty much the same climate.

I don’t have any really good pictures to show the structure on this device, but here are some that sort of show it. Aviary is 6’ wide; purlins are 2x3s set on top of the 2x6 rafters.