How to make cheap windows

can you post a pic of the shed? that may help. If you have nice big aviaries with wide opening you may not need any windows. pigeons may fly into clear glass or plastic. but you could always put those stickers on it that they sell for windows so birds don't fly into it. are you looking to add more light into the shed/loft? Im guessing. you could take out the vents and use hardware cloth on the openings and not plastic.

Well put Spiritwings, the more ventilation the better, just design it so the openings can be covered on the north side in winter.... IF you have winter were you live. Dave

I live in the Missouri Ozarks so we get all extremes. I need a lot of light but something that will also keep out the elements. Last year we had heavy downpours of rain...3 to 4 inches at a time.

Well, if it were me, i would wire the windows, and make overhangs to help prevent rain from getting in. Or use shutters. DANG! i wish i lived in the Ozarks! LOL! Dave

Dovey said:

I live in the Missouri Ozarks so we get all extremes. I need a lot of light but something that will also keep out the elements. Last year we had heavy downpours of rain...3 to 4 inches at a time.

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I have one "window" that is really just hardware cloth on a cut out, I put thick plastic cover on it in the winter and take it off in the summer for ventilation, thats all you really need. If you make your aviairy openings wide and face it south you will get light in the loft too. I do get get light in the loft because I used semi clear roof panels for a few of the roof panels. but you don't have that option so, I would just see where you want ventilation and just use hardware cloth and then include the aviary door openings as well to add air and sun. cover with thick plastic in the winter months.

heres how I make my windows but this place will explain it better then me and they are easy to make too ,and you pick the size you wants http://www.buildeazy.com/newplans/playhouse_6x6_window_sash.html

LokotaLoft said:

heres how I make my windows but this place will explain it better then me and they are easy to make too ,and you pick the size you wants http://www.buildeazy.com/newplans/playhouse_6x6_window_sash.html

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That is a perfect solution, but your "easy" and mine are two different things, easy to me is a cut out hole with hardware cloth over it, and maybe just maybe a frame around it....LOL

spirit wings said:

That is a perfect solution, but your "easy" and mine are two different things, easy to me is a cut out hole with hardware cloth over it, and maybe just maybe a frame around it....LOL

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see then that is half the battle cuz all you would need do is cut a grove on the inside of that frame and slide a piece of plexi glass into the grove close the frame up and attach it over the wire covered hole you cute out and wellah you have a window lol

LokotaLoft said:

see then that is half the battle cuz all you would need do is cut a grove on the inside of that frame and slide a piece of plexi glass into the grove close the frame up and attach it over the wire covered hole you cute out and wellah you have a window lol

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my eyes glazed over when you said cut a groove......I know nothing, hubby does all the wood work around here. Im sure if he looked at the plan he would say....yea, piece of cake. That is a nice idea and plan though. We just bought a window from lows for out new loft and going to use it for the aviary opening, so it will be open most of the time, still not sure about it though.

as long as its purty Im sure it will work out great oh and I like my glaze on dough nuts and cinnabuns hehe

This is a link to a picture of what my shed looks like.

http://www.robbsbuildings.com/*widg...9846592&F=/portablebuildings.nxg&locale=en_US

the aviaries would face south-southeasterly and out of the major storms which seem to blow in from the southwest or northwest. I need light though on the west and north, other wise it will be real dark.

Dovey said:

This is a link to a picture of what my shed looks like.

http://www.robbsbuildings.com/*widg...9846592&F=/portablebuildings.nxg&locale=en_US

the aviaries would face south-southeasterly and out of the major storms which seem to blow in from the southwest or northwest. I need light though on the west and north, other wise it will be real dark.

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Lakotas link with that window would look really nice in that shed........If you can do it that is what I would put in it.

Lowes,or home depot sell thin plexiglass.You can cut a square or rectangle shape in your shed and screw the plexi to it.

You could cut out the square for the window. Cover it with hardware cloth on the inside. Then on the outside, put like a track on the bottom, and up each side. Nothing on the top. Get a piece of plexiglas cut to the right size, that you can just drop into the track. That way, you could put it in or take it out at will. Easy, and cheap! If you have a small hole cut in the plexiglas, up near the top, it would make it easier to lift out and put in.

The pic. you showed tells me, put in as many WIRE windows as possible! you have NO Ventilation as it stands! Better to much, than to little!!!!! Dave

You don't have to worry about the pigeons flying into the glass or plexiglass....whatever you use, the wondows quickly get dusted up with pigeon powder, I used stickers initially but didn't need them at all within a few days.

sasha, that doggy door conversion is a great idea and looks very neatly done. Thanks for sharing that.

I went to a local farm cooperative today and bought two medium pet doors for $15 each on close out. The new ones are $36 bucks ea.

Being the handyman that I am NOT these should get me started while scouting out other businesses that may have some for about the same price or a little above.

Inflation has hit big time!

Thanks for your help. I also bought more vents and will make sure they new loft has plenty of air moving through it.

Vents

Fastpitch here--
I use foundation vents in my lofts. They are the size of a concrete block. When I put them in I put them in backwards from how they go in block .
This gives them a "roof" in case it's raining and you need them open. Here's what one look likes open and closed. Mind you, I use these for extra ventalation.