Cube Mark One Run

[Omletina Kyckling]

OK, as a relative newbie to the world of WIRs....when do people take the tarps off the outside of their runs?

The recent mild spell has tempted me, although living where I do, I'm not totally taken in by it.

Just wondered when others strip them off?!!

[beach chick]

I took mine off a couple of weeks ago, because I was so fed up with them ripping, flapping in the wind etc (despite bungees). mind you we are very exposed...

I have to say it looks much nicer without, and so far we have been lucky with the weather down here.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm about to take all mine down today . I, too, am fed up with the flapping and ripping . In fact, I've taken measurements for perspex panels .

[beach chick]

ah ANH, that's interesting, because that was potentially my plan for next winter, and DH would be up for making them for me if I asked nicely...

I guess I was thinking of timberframed panels with perspex in the centre so hopefully more robust than the tarps...

havent got round to thinking about how to secure them though - any ideas?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I think they need to be fixed in a non-permanent way because they're bound to get dusty and need washing (the tarp blinds all got horribly dirty).

 

I bought some Rapstraps from Ebay this week which I think might work. You'd have to cut them off each time you wanted to remove the panels but as each Rapstrap can be used up to 5 times, it might be cost effective enough. I'm planning on drilling holes in the corners of the perspex and fixing it to the weldmesh. Don't know if they'd work with timber frames though.

[beach chick]

yes, definitely need to be able to wash them.

perhaps I dont need timber frames.... on the other hand, not sure about the effect on the weldmesh if the perspex was fitted directly onto it, once the wind gets in/underneath.

I will ask DH if he has any ideas - maybe some kind of hooks on the fascia boards might work.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm planning on getting perspex the size of the weldmesh within each frame. That way, it'll be right up against the mesh and will be easier to fix and less likely to flex with the wind. Also, any bedding would hopefully end up back in the run rather than in the gap between mesh and perspex.

[beach chick]

do you mean fitting the perspex inside? I hadnt thought of that, could be an idea though, and would definitely help retain the bedding - tho I suppose rain could run into the gap between the perspex and the inside of the kickboards.

 

I just know that our tarps were pretty useless this winter, they ripped within days and despite crisscrossed bungees all over the place they still flapped like mad.

[Plum]

I've just drilled little holes in mine and screwed onto the frame it's held nice and tight and could come off at right time of year it is just covering 2/3 of one side though.

 

I leave my perspex panels at the back of the run all the time. The cover for the door at the back is corrugated pvc hung on hooks and tied onto the frame, it can come off when it's fine.

 

I've folded back the tarp on the side of the run and the front tarps only come down when the wind is from the North and NE. Just wait it'll rain now

Must say I check the weather daily for wind direction and rain forcast so I can protect the right side.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

do you mean fitting the perspex inside?

 

No, on the outside (my mesh is on the inside so it could rest on the wood frame up against the mesh - if that makes sense ).

 

I must get cracking getting it ordered. I have absolutely no tarps on my WIR now - I did a HUGE cleanout and it's all looking lovely but the Easibed is going everywhere and it's bound to rain before long .