Why We Choose What We Use
Premium Lumber
We use only premium lumber for the framing of all of our chicken coops, in both the henhouse and run. It is always very strong and durable wood, but we make it even better by using pocket hole screws and wood glue on the entire frame. Today’s wood glues are stronger than the wood fibers themselves. We handpick the wood for our coops, and reject about 25% of the lumber that comes to us. We suggest treating the raw premium lumber with a paint, stain, or oil finish in order to protect it just like you would any outdoor structure.
Pressure Treated Lumber
We only use treated lumber only where there is ground contact to reduce chemicals in the coop.
The first benefit of metal roofing is its enhanced performance caused by recent innovations in metal roofing paint systems and coating technology. The vast majority of today’s metal roofs use a Galvalume coated steel substrate which virtually eliminates worries about rust and corrosion. Armors Galvalume steel carries a limited 40-year warranty against edge rot, rust, and corrosion, the best in the industry. And just as important, paint systems now have outstanding resistance to fading, chalking, and cracking under the most stringent conditions. Union’s metal roofs offer 40-year paint warranties as standard. These metal roofing paint systems use cutting edge technology and inorganic pigments to provide the maximum protection against harmful UV rays.
The second metal roofing benefit is that metal roofing is tough. When it comes to wind and weather resistance, metal roofing stands alone. Metal roofing meets the toughest wind, fire, and impact codes in the country. Your metal roof will probably outlast you. Most metal roofs last 3 to 4 times longer than an asphalt shingle roof.
The third benefit of metal roofing is that there is a genuine concern in helping to maintain and improve the environment for future generations. In this regard, metal roofing meets the criteria of recycled content, recyclability, and energy efficiency. Metal roofing is one of the most energy efficient roofing systems available and tests have shown that metal roofs can save you up to 40% on cooling costs.
In addition, another metal roofing benefit is that it’s not asphalt based like shingles, which means its production doesn’t continue to fuel our country’s biggest addiction… oil. Although these are the major drivers, there are many other reasons why metal roofing is gaining in popularity.
Chicken coop specific fact: While metal roofing may be hot to the touch, it does not hold heat like other roofing materials, thus cooling your coop faster in the warm months. Metal will also reflect the suns rays rather than absorbing it. Otherwise, in the winter months, metal will warm quickly during the day offering warmth to the coop.
Sanatec® HDPE is a formulated non-porous, high density material for food processing applications designed with superior scratch resistance. It will not absorb moisture, bacteria, or odors. It will not chip or peel and is dishwasher safe (just like giant cutting boards). Compliances: • FDA • USDA • NSF • RoHS compliant
Zinc
Zinc plating is the process of covering substrate metals (like steel and iron, etc.) with a layer or coating of zinc to protect the substrate from corrosion.
BLUE KOTE
Blue-KoteTM Screws feature three anti-corrosion layers, making them the perfect choice for a wide variety of indoor and outdoor projects. Blue-KoteTM Screws provide rust-resistance up to 400% greater than zinc-plated screws and work with pressure-treated material.
Black Hardware Cloth (standard)
We use a 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch (opening), 19 gauge, galvanized steel core, black vinyl PVC coated hardware cloth (welded wire). The PVC coating protects the inner core from rust and deterioration and adds years to the product! The black makes the wire “invisible” from a distance with no glare of traditional steel fencing. All of our installed wire is pneumatically fastened with 16 gauge, 1.5 inch long with a 1/4 inch crown staple for longevity of your wire and coop and safety of your chickens.
Wood Glue
First 1 part, water cleanup wood glue ever offered that is proven waterproof
- Passes ANSI/HPVA Type I water-resistance
- Waterproof formula that cleans up with water
- Superior strength – strong initial tack
- Designed for interior and exterior applications
- Longer open assembly time
- Unaffected by finishes
- FDA approved for indirect food contact
Pocket-hole joinery, or pocket-screw joinery
Involves drilling a hole at an angle — usually 15 degrees — into one workpiece, and then joining it to a second workpiece with a self-tapping screw.[1] The technique, in addition to doweling, has its roots in ancient Egypt. Egyptians clamped two workpieces together and bored a hole at an angle from the outside workpiece into the second workpiece. They then inserted a dowel with glue, and cut it off flush with the outermost surface.
Hardware
All of our hardware we use is rated for exterior use. All of our doors include lockable latches. We use all stainless steel hardware that is in contact with pressure treated wood, to ensure there is no corrosion at points of contact.
All of our windows (unless specified) are handmade in our shop. Framed with a marine grade wood and backed with black PVC coated .5 inch X .5 inch hardware cloth will be sure to keep your flock safe from harm. We also include our custom polycarbonate windows with each window! This allows you to close off the window of your chicken coop easily for impeding weather, yet still have light and ventilation in the henhouse.
