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Aviary roof

Amy104

Warren Veteran
My run is being converted to a full height aviary this weekend. I'd really like to slope the roof and have some guttering.

Please can you share your tips and pics on the best way to do this.
 
Interested to read about this. I have my duck aviary roof sloped, but no guttering. Probably would be useful so rainwater doesn't drain into the aviary from the back.

I use clear corrugated plastic roofing sheets but I'm trying to think of other options because the sun makes it get brittle pretty quickly (maybe not an issue in the UK). I'd also prefer not to have to use plastic and I'd like whatever I use to last 10+ years and through high winds (this stuff is pretty good with wind though).
 
I would make one side wall of the aviary about 12" / 30cm higher than the other. Run extra, fairly substantial, beams down the roof slope every couple of feet or so. Add battens across the length of the roof (between the beams) as these will be needed to fasten the roofing sheets on to. Fasten sheets of exterior / marine OSB or ply sheets on top to cover the whole roof (fastened to the main beams, etc). This may need painting just to seal it and stop water getting in, especially at the edges - anything will do as you won't see it. Then use Onduline sheets on top with a small overhang at the bottom (maybe an inch) - make sure that the rain will drain into the guttering under it. This will need to be fastened to the horizontal battens with special nails (although I swapped them for screws and just used the plastic cups).

There are alternatives such as clear corrugated sheeting or polycarbonate twinwall / triplewall sheets. Whatever you use, make sure it is fastened down as per the manufacturers instructions so it doesn't blow off in the wind.

Use bigger guttering than you think you need (ie standard house stuff rather than smaller greenhouse size) and fasten the brackets straight on to the wood frame of the aviary, or add an extra batten across the whole edge if it needs to come out a bit more. Don't forget the downpipe at one end as the rain still has to go somewhere - either into a butt or just dig the end of the pipe into a sump hole in the ground to stop it flooding.

For example:
https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Treated-Sawn-Timber---47mm-x-47mm-x-2-4m/p/9000036486 - for substantial beams going down
https://www.wickes.co.uk/Structural-Plywood-CE2+---12mm-x-1220mm-x-2440mm/p/144279 - ply sheeting.
https://www.wickes.co.uk/Onduline-3mm-Green-Corrugated-Bitumen-Sheet-950-x-2000mm/p/240059 - corrugated roofing (Onduline type) Green is cheaper than black.
https://www.wickes.co.uk/Onduline-Profile-Sheeting-Nails-70mm-Green-PK100/p/240089 - 'matching' nails for roofing sheet
https://www.wickes.co.uk/Products/B...ering+Drainage/Round-Line-Guttering/c/1000238 - guttering, brackets, stopend, stopend outlet, downpipe, downpipe brackets
 
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