New Rat Shed and Rack

[ClarkT]

Yeah, we're figuring out the eaves thing, too.

I care about the smell, cause it sticks to me every time I go into my friend's rat shed--even for 10 seconds! If I can keep the smell down, then that's awesome.

[suzuki4life]

I'd use gable end vents for a cross breeze personally. Ridge vents won't work properly without soffits.

[ClarkT]

We'll be hanging the metal roof over the edges. Also, the insulation inside is up next to the roof deck--no attic. That's the idea of putting a vent down near the floor. Hoping we get a natural ventilation flowing up and out in the warmer times of the year. Also, I'm thinking we'll use a fan sucking air into that floor-level vent. Pressures will then cause it to vent out the ridge vent...

The hope is that we'll get a floor to roof ventilation going on.

[suzuki4life]

ok, issue. You never insulate tight against wood roof decking. You trap heat and moisture underneath and rot it bottom up.

IF you planned to run a metal roof, you remove the plywood and nail the metal straight to the joist.

If the door is a 36x80 then I see you having headaches with this setup. The rack is too tall. With tubs on both sides(of the door) you will have huge diffculty sliding a tub out full of rats and dealing with them. Small mortar tubs are 28" long. That only gives a 8" buffer when cleaning or removing the tub.

If you don't vent high, you will not bring in fresh air from below. You must cause it to naturally circulate. The power vent idea is not efficient and only MIGHT work.

Drop the top tubs from the rack. pull the insulation from the peak and create an attic. Add gable vents and then floor vents and you should be good.

I avoid power use whenever humanly possible.

[PitOnTheProwl]

IF you planned to run a metal roof, you remove the plywood and nail the metal straight to the joist.

Actually a 1X3 every 16" on top of the decking and then screwing the metal down to that is more than adequate and adds an air flow also.

[suzuki4life]

Actually a 1X3 every 16" on top of the decking and then screwing the metal down to that is more than adequate and adds an air flow also.

you can do it that way but it doesn't increase any type of flow INSIDE the building. It still won't stop moisture from forming on the bottom of the plywood either(hence rotting from bottom). There will be tons of moisture in this type of situation.

[ClarkT]

The door swings out, so I don't see the space of the rack/tub a problem.

Our power rate is $0.037 per kWh...not overly concerned with running a fan.

I could see possibly removing the wood. We'll see. our RH here is typically 20-30%. We don't have mold issues like many places in the country. We don't have condensation happening like many areas, either. Not that we can't and won't have the problem, but we'll keep an eye on it and change if necessary. A roof this size won't be tough to re-do/re-figure.

[suzuki4life]

The door swings out, so I don't see the space of the rack/tub a problem.

Our power rate is $0.037 per kWh...not overly concerned with running a fan.

I could see possibly removing the wood. We'll see. our RH here is typically 20-30%. We don't have mold issues like many places in the country. We don't have condensation happening like many areas, either. Not that we can't and won't have the problem, but we'll keep an eye on it and change if necessary. A roof this size won't be tough to re-do/re-figure.

just telling you how and why structures are built how they are. The easiest and most reliable ways normally are just by designing correctly and taking advantage of how nature works.

Are you insulating to keep heat in or out? I'm assuming out. Plus you want a good ventilation setup to keep ammonia low. Ambient RH is nice but it will be a different enviroment in rodent building especially in a hot low humidity environment.

[wolfy-hound]

Rodents will generate humidity too.

[RichsBallPythons]

Be sure to get a Roof Exhaust Vent in Summer as well as a Shed central heating/cool unit. And youll never worry about over heating or too cold.

This is one I would use when I move my rodents outdoors.

http://www.google.com/products/catal...ed=0CDAQ8wIwAQ