We only bought Patch a new hutch last year and the roof has already failed. Rain water has been leaking in through the roof felt. I can’t afford a new hutch at the moment. So rather than leave it to get worse and Patch to get damp, I’ve come up with a great cheap fix.
I bought a cheap large bit of tarpaulin, £5 for approx 2 by 3 meters in a local shop. Armed with sharp scissors and a normal stapler I made a new roof (kinda). Think of old episodes of “changing rooms” and the presenter obsessed with re-upholstery and staple guns.
Yeah, that! I folded the tarp in half so its two layers thick and began stapling along the front wooden beam of the roof first (above the doors). Then I worked backwards across the roof, keeping the tarp straight and tight. When the roof was covered I folded the excess down the sides of the hutch and stapled it downwards carefully.
When the sides were done I concentrated on the back. The back panel of the hutch is damaged too from the roof fault. I covered the whole of the back panel, folding the tarp like a poshly wrapped gift. Its important to fold not cut it so that there is not a weak point. Rain always finds the weak spots!
Now its just a waiting game until it rains again. I am not expecting 100% water resistance but I think it will stay dry in normal rain, only leaking in thunder storm levels of rain. Well I hope so anyway!
I had a bit left so did the roof on the chickens bedroom too.
I don’t like the blue but if it works I don’t care.
What do you think? Will it work? Do you do things on the cheap too?
Warm & toasty bunnies
Its just one bunny in there, old guy Patch. I want it to rain a little now.
Looks neat and cosy even if it is bright blue.
If only they did slate grey, that would look right. 😉
What a great idea 🙂 I really like it, I hope it works 🙂
I’ll know by the morning, its raining right now. :-/
well done you, looks fab and I’m loving the blue!!Hope it’s worked!
This was the smartest and most cost-effective roofing solution for your Bunny’s abode. Alas, the same solution can not work for the house roofs 🙂