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Why DIYing runs is so expensive...

keletkezes

keletkezes

Wise Old Thumper
...I had to buy a second roll of weldmesh from Wickes. It's not the best quality and they don't advertise the gauge anymore. It's £55 for the 1"x1/2" stuff. So, for the 'smallest' run (ours is 8'x4') you need two rolls at £55, so you're spending £110 on mesh alone. Once you've added on decent timber, fixings and preservative/paint, you're approaching £250 I reckon!

We were lucky, my Dad used a load of castoff bits to make ours but it hasn't weathered well, partly because those bits are really thin. One of the uprights is now so rotten I need to take it out and replace it, at least partly! It was full of earwigs when I pulled it apart :mrgreen:
 
You're right, same in Turkey. It is cheaper when we buy it ready-made, I pay more when I buy the materials myself and make them. Normally I'm very skilled at home decorations, knitting toys, jewelry making, painting things, but I don't do it most of the time, because materials cost more, cheaper when bought ready-made. :roll:
 
Oh gosh, I hate earwigs! :mrgreen: We didn't have them in Alaska, although there may have been their armored cousins, pillbugs, I can't remember. Usually those two are the main lodgers you'll find under any rotting piece of wood in the lower 48. :(

Is this all bunny run stuff? Building materials for any size construction are at a premium here of late and I see several projects getting stalled as supply is kind of catch as catch can due to availability and cost. :?
 
MimzMum said:
Is this all bunny run stuff? Building materials for any size construction are at a premium here of late and I see several projects getting stalled as supply is kind of catch as catch can due to availability and cost. :?
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Yes, but all construction stuff is at a premium. Covid, Brexit and the Suez blockage :roll: I sneaked some gravel in the other day so I'm stocked up for repotting things!

Pillbugs :D We have their non-rolling cousins too, woodlice :thumb: Haven't seen a pillbug for years TBH!
 
Can't say that. I bought good mesh for about 125€, 1m high, 25 meters long, 19x19x1,4mm, overkill for a run but I needed something for the hutch. Don't need to buy wood since I recycle pallets into firewood anyway. To make it durable I soak it wit a mixture of sunflower and line seed oil. (and paint it with rabbit urine afterwards to keep them from eating it up).
 
Preitler said:
Can't say that. I bought good mesh for about 125€, 1m high, 25 meters long, 19x19x1,4mm, overkill for a run but I needed something for the hutch. Don't need to buy wood since I recycle pallets into firewood anyway. To make it durable I soak it wit a mixture of sunflower and line seed oil. (and paint it with rabbit urine afterwards to keep them from eating it up).
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How... How do you collect the pure rabbit urine in such a large quantity..? [emoji38]
 
Cuthbert&Dillon said:
But at least you know it is quality when it is finished.
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Well, you know what the quality is ;P In my case it's 'barely OK' because I'm terrible at using the stapler: it's too big for my hands and I can't hammer nails in because the materials are too bouncy :lol:
 
Expensive but definitely less so than buying from a company. My OH makes pens & he’s just made a 12 x 7ft (6ft tall) walk in run with 16g weld mesh for £550. It’ll last easily the lifetime of the rabbits & beyond, and is completely Fox proof, human proof, weather proof etc :)
 
TheBee said:
Expensive but definitely less so than buying from a company. My OH makes pens & he’s just made a 12 x 7ft (6ft tall) walk in run with 16g weld mesh for £550. It’ll last easily the lifetime of the rabbits & beyond, and is completely Fox proof, human proof, weather proof etc :)
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So, if I'd've made that from Wickes that would have cost me >£700 in weldmesh alone!
 
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