Roof waterproofing

[roitelet]

I bought the first chicken house (shame on me) and now am constructing another classic ark to house new arrivals.

The question is how to waterproof it. I have made it from T&G boarding and am considering painting it with bitumen. I am concerned that the bitumen will turn soft and sticky in the sun. I have some roofing felt but understand that this is not a good idea as it harbours red mite. I also have a quantity of wood preservative.

I really don't want to have to buy anything else to treat it with ('cos I'm tight)

Any suggestions please.

[Nicos]

Have you thought about a piece of corrugated plastic? That wouldn't be very expensive would it?- or would the noise of the rain on it drive the chooks mad??

[Madasafish]

My quail house is simple pallets, sealed with acrylic sealant (much cheaper and easier to use than silicone.. workable with wet cloth when applied...) on joins and knots and cracks, then creoseal (was creosote - substitute) PLUS old engine oil.. Apply coat 2 after 4 days. Leave for 3 weeks under cover.

Costs: acrylic x 3 tubes £6... ((apply with a mastic gun).
Creoseal £4.99.

That's it.

Leaks? What are they?

PS as I use pallets, that was the total cost of the house..

[Digger-07]

I have some roofing felt but understand that this is not a good idea as it harbours red mite.

It's not so much that the roofing felt harbours red mite it's the fact that the critters can get into cracks and therfore be difficult to eradicate. I hate to say it but T&G boards by their very nature have cracks at every joint.

[roitelet]

Thanks for the advice folks. No one has yet told me about the bitumen, I have about 5ltrs of the stuff and want to use it up. If not on the chicken house then on something else.

The house is not finished yet so I will take all the advice on board and think about the waterproofing. Will post some pictures when it is finished.

[TPeers]

The ark shown in my avatar is of T&G construction, all it has is a coat of pet friendly wood preservative - no leaks!

Why do you need an extra layer?

Terry

[Polly Fouracre]

I bought the first chicken house (shame on me) and now am constructing another classic ark to house new arrivals.

The question is how to waterproof it. I have made it from T&G boarding and am considering painting it with bitumen. I am concerned that the bitumen will turn soft and sticky in the sun. I have some roofing felt but understand that this is not a good idea as it harbours red mite. I also have a quantity of wood preservative.

I really don't want to have to buy anything else to treat it with ('cos I'm tight)

Any suggestions please.

If you are not fussy as to looks,why not plastic feed bags.They are free,waterproof and simple to replace when worn.

[HeyWayne]

Could you use PVA glue - watered down?

[Digger-07]

Is the bitumen the Synthapruf stuff? If it is then the smell will take a while to weather away but it should be OK as long as the livestock can't get to it to eat it!