Building a "Critter Proof" room in the barn

[aczlan]

My inlaws are looking at building a "Critter Proof Room" in the barn to store some family stuff (hope chest, china "grandmas wedding dress", etc).
The barn is post and beam and does a pretty good job of staying dry.
My thought is to lay down tin on the floor (overlapped ~1" at the seams), then bend it up at the edges and slip metal roofing into it.
Use the metal roofing on the walls and do the same thing again for the roof.
Install some vents on the sides (with sub 1/4" screens), a light inside and a solid door.

Anything else I should look into doing to keep the critters out?

Aaron Z

 

[ultrarunner]

re: Building a "Critter Proof" room in the barn

Sounds like the tin would do the trick with a good fitting door.

My brother is having the same problem with his new place in the country... 100 year old barn and outbuildings with critters everywhere.

My farm cousins said the first thing he needs to do is get a couple of barn cats... in the spring... everytime they see one of their cats it's found another mouse.

Is there a concrete floor?

 

[aczlan]

re: Building a "Critter Proof" room in the barn

Is there a concrete floor?

This would be on the second floor, so currently a wooden floor. Don't really want to take up space on the first floor with long term (5-10 year) storage.

Aaron Z

 

[ultrarunner]

re: Building a "Critter Proof" room in the barn

Seems like mice can get into pencil size openings.

I found one once inside a metal outlet box when remodeling.

The guy got in where the romex entered and was not clamped.

 

[tcreeley]

re: Building a "Critter Proof" room in the barn

As a kid we had a grain room in our dairy barn. Tin was put down on the floor, walls, ceiling - then covered over with pine boards. The door was inset and also had tin sandwiched in it. Mice, rats couldn't gnaw their way in. It worked. Before that we always had rats in the grain bin. Cats help, but can't do it all. Poison helps, but rats/mice are always moving in. If you do make something, think about the ventilation needed and how to achieve it.

 

[GBeck]

re: Building a "Critter Proof" room in the barn

is there room to drop a metal shipping crate in there? they are assembled and water tight

 

[Rustyiron]

re: Building a "Critter Proof" room in the barn

Anything else I should look into doing to keep the critters out?

Aaron Z

Meow, Meow:licking:

 

[aczlan]

re: Building a "Critter Proof" room in the barn

is there room to drop a metal shipping crate in there? they are assembled and water tight

There is room to fit a 10' container in there, but not to get it up the stairs and I would rather not take up first floor space for a container.

Meow, Meow:licking:

True. We have several of those (they are excellent mousers) and there wont be any food in the room, but I would prefer to keep them from nesting in there.

Aaron Z

 

[BeezFun]

I'd think about insects, mold, and ultraviolet damage as well as critters. I had a nice chest in the attic for a long time, the UV coming through the roof vents really damaged the finish, couldn't believe it. They make blackout lining used for drapes that you can cover stuff with to protect from UV. As far as insects and mold, I'd put a dehumidifier in there to keep it dry during humid weather. Maybe moth balls, or if you have any cedar around, put some cedar up.

 

[aczlan]

I'd think about insects, mold, and ultraviolet damage as well as critters. I had a nice chest in the attic for a long time, the UV coming through the roof vents really damaged the finish, couldn't believe it. They make blackout lining used for drapes that you can cover stuff with to protect from UV. As far as insects and mold, I'd put a dehumidifier in there to keep it dry during humid weather. Maybe moth balls, or if you have any cedar around, put some cedar up.

Good points.
UV: This will be inside the barn away from windows and any vents will be arranged to prevent sunlight from entering.
Mold: I will keep an eye on the humidity levels, hopefully ventilation will be enough.
Insects: Any entrances will have screens, clothes will be packed with mothballs and (if there are hanging clothes), I have access to a cedar closet that might go in there.

Aaron Z