Solitary chicken - need advice

[FiggyPudding]

..it's looking like a quagmire - my poor girls. I let them out all day, although not when it's raining (having said that, they are out at the mo) so I haven't put anything on the ground. The roof is made of some black ridge stuff (can't remember the name) but is leaking at some key points, which means half the floor area is very wet. I've put in a couple of buckets to catch the drips as a temporary measure.

 

Can anyone advise me on what the best thing to do is ? We are intending to put the run at the back of the garden, but need to take a tree down first.

 

Also, I probably need to something around the sides (shower curtains ?!) & could do with advise on flooring...I bought a load of aubiose, but of course that's no good if it gets wet.

 

Arrrrggghh !

[Falkor]

If I recall correctly you purchased you WIR from a company?

 

If the roof is leaking then I would get them back out to fix it for you.

 

However this does not solve your current and immediate muddiness......

 

I would be inclined to keep with the buckets to catch the drips (although be careful the chooks doen`t take a swim) and throw the Aubiose down, this will mop up some of the wetness and make it a bit more pleasant for the chooks. It may need shovelling out after a few days and replacing as it will soak up the wet like a sponge.

 

OR....you could throw some sand down.....or some hardwood woodchip. If the ground it especially wet at the moment (which I assume it is as it is tipping it down) the woodchip may get lost in the mud so a weed membrane or similar could be used. I would be inclined to get is reasonably dry first.

 

 

Ikea shower curtains (85p) or clear glass tarps can be used to cover the sides of the run to stop the horrizontal rain a bit but remember to leave gaps for ventilation,

 

Em

x

[FiggyPudding]

thanks for replying...I was on the verge of developing a complex

 

No ikea near me...where can I buy the other stuff from ? I seem to remember someone have these lovely see through plastic blinds, do you remember who that is ?

 

I'm not sure what to do about the guy that i bought it from, he put it up by mistake, so not sure on what grounds I have to complain ? still the roof is supposed to be waterproof - I think it's leaking where the screws are ?

 

I might put the chooks back in their eglu run with some corragated plastic on it, then try & get hold of the stuff you mentioned..

 

Thanks - hopefully I'll get some more replies !

[Redwing]

It was Ain't "Ooops, word censored!"ody Here' that had the blinds

 

I would be inclined to throw a cheap tarp over the roof and attach (firmly) with some rope or bungees

 

Once we get some dry weather ether approach the chap or locate the screw holes and cover with some clear silicone, whichever is less hassle!

 

The chap should have used some screws/nails that go through plastic 'cups' so that the Onduline roof should not leak, if you have the energy you could replace the nails with the proper nail and cups

 

Like these:

 

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Profile-Sheeting-Nails/invt/240085

 

In the meantime I would woodchip the floor

[FiggyPudding]

thanks - he used those screws, but if I recall correctly, I don't think all the 'lids' went down.

 

Do you know if I can replace one of the onduline sheets with PVC ? will they all join up ok ? It looks a bit gloomy in there & would benefit from some sun.

 

Poor old girls, they went to bed about 4:30pm today..

[Redwing]

Yes I have a clear PVC roof on my run

[sjp]

if it's leeking through the screws thats easy to fix you can do it 2 ways

1 way is with flash band but this time of year that requires the you of a heat gun

the other way is with silicone sealent clear is the best just take the srews out pump silicone in to the hole in the sheet them put the screws back in then if you haven't got the caps just put some silcone overe the screws then smooth it down that bit you need a wet finger water on its own doesn't work best way is to spit on your free hand then dip your finger in your can lick your finger but silicone taste horid

[FiggyPudding]

...morning all,

 

Just checked the marsh this morning. Have found that where the 2 rows of roof are joined, water appears to be pooling & when I push the join of the panels, there water POURS through. Does it sound like it's been joined up incorrectly ?

 

Girls are wandering around the garden today & I think I will set up their eglu & run else where, until I can fix this roof & the run dries out..

[sjp]

do you meen the ends of the sheets or the sides

if it's the ends then they should be overlapped 100mm min.so that the sheet at the bottom of the slope in under the one at the top. the top edge of the roof should be 50mm higher than the bottom edge.

if it's the side they only need to overlap at least one flute then they can't leak

have a look here it's not a very good drawing but it should help http://www.wickes.co.uk/pcat/44roofing

[FiggyPudding]

aha here lies the problem - many thanks for the info & link.

 

It's the end of the sheets. My panels overlap about 6cm or so, instead of the recommended 12.5 cm.

 

I'm sure my run is 9ft x 12ft & I think there is one join, so looks like I'll need to buy another row of sheeting

[sjp]

If I've understood right then all you need is one sheet if you cut strips about 240mm long (longer if you can get them all out of one sheet) you can take the fixing out along the joint slide the new piece up at least 120mmunder the top sheet then refix this assumes that the overlap is over a roof timber bed the bottom of the joint with clear silicone about 25mm up

the other way is to remove the fixings from the top sheet slde it down to the right overlap the refix adding the new short piece at the top

the first option is the better one as you reuse the fixing holes

[kevtheplumber]

even easier get some silicone/ mastic from any diy place, if you can as its wet get one you can put on in wet weather so it sticks straight away, normal sealant need dry and dust free conditions and about 8hrs to go off.

[FiggyPudding]

great, thanks for all advice

 

I had a proper look last night, it does apear there is an overlap of 12cm, but looking at the roof, it looks a bit saggy, so am wondering if there is a correct amount of screwns that need to be used..i.e. 1 screw every 10 cm ?

 

After emptying the buckets, I sprinkled some aubiose down, which Lola, didn't go much on,

 

Have tried to order some clear tarpaulin, but it's out of stock, so will do a visit to buy the sealent & see if I can buy a pvc cover & bungee things.

[sjp]

by sagging do you meen the shetts or the support timber as for screws I only used 3 on the width of the clear plastic sheets on the garage they've been in years never lost one yet but you could bump them up to 4 screws to the width I think it's about every 3rd or 4th flute on 3inch corregated sheet but it's been a while since i set a roof out from scratch

if the roof is 9 foot wide I'd have used at least 3x2 with the 3" taking the load i.e upright useing 5 timbers one at the top and bottom one at the centre of the overlap then one to the middle of the 2 sheets

2"

T T T T T 3"

each T is a timber the spaqcings aren't right but i should give you an idea as what i mean they should be about 2 foot apart give or take

[FiggyPudding]

sagging is in the onduline.

 

The maker suggested more timber, but can't get to me for a while. I think the whole roof will have to come off, more wood strips put in for support & then the onduline put up again. I think I might be better off with some PVC panels (can you mix & match?) just to let some light in during winter..

 

The aubiose helped...as well as the advice here ! Thanks

[Redwing]

You can mix and match providing the profiles are the same size or they wont st snug

 

Really onduline is meant to be laid over solid boards as it has this tendancy to sag otherwise

[sjp]

no you can ues it over purlins as long as you put them at 3'/900mm centers the same as the clear sheets which aren't as thick as the onduline

as long as you use the 3" corregated clear sheets which are the same profile then your ok

I take it the the sheets are only supported at the top bottom and joint then?

[FiggyPudding]

ooh sorry for the delay in reply.

 

There are 2 rows of sheets. I think the front of the run is one piece of wood higher than the back, so there is a row of onduline which is about 3-4 inches higher than the back which would be 9 foot away

 

It is overlap ok, but the sagging has caused it to dip & pool & it stinks now !

 

I think I'll take it off at the weekend....

[sjp]

I've given this a bit of thought today it sound to me like they top of the roof has been lifted up but not the middle so thats not to hard to cure i'm assuming that they used a 6ft sheet and a 3ft or a 3ft6" sheet with a timber at the joint but not in the middle of the 6ft sheet and thats were the sag is i'll assume that the top is lifted up 3inch what you need to do is incease the height on the middle two supports but not the bottom one by 1 inch a piece of 2" x 1" sawn treated timber screwed on to the support beam will do it.that should level the roof sheets out and keep the pitch of the roof

[sjp]

FiggyPudding I was just wondering how you've got on with your roof repairs/modifications