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The aviaries we build are as
unique as the people we build them for. This particular project proved
challenging and exciting at the same time. As you can see by the end
result we can overcome most any obstacle.
We knew from the start that
this aviary had to be beautiful and functional. The clients yard is
reminiscent of a tropical paradise, and the aviary needed to reflect that
as well. Set next to the back wall and across from the large picture
window in the living room for comfortable viewing was the perfect location
for this aviary.
The aviary has 6-foot tall
walls with a gently peaked roof, which brings the total height up to 7
feet at the peak. The width is 12 foot and the depth is approximately 8
feet, featuring a bay window type front.
The first thing to do be was
to remove a tree and other plants from the aviary site. The client did
yard clearing and preparation work a few days before construction began.
As you can see the tree stump was initially left in. We were more than
happy to work around the stump, as it would be inside the aviary when
finished. It helped to emulate a more natural environment for the finches,
which helps stimulate breeding come breeding season.
The area was leveled and the
foundation stones were all laid in to place over the course of a few days.
This helps the foundation to settle and give a solid base for the aviary
to rest on. Several of the stones required special angled cuts because of
the angles on the bay window section. The day before we were to come in
and begin building the framework for the aviary the client decided to
remove the stump. In process of digging out the stump caused the
foundation to shift and 70% of the brinks needed to be reset. Construction
was pushed back another day so the client had time to fill in the hole and
finish pulling out the remnants of the stump.
Each section of panel was
built and put in to place before being screwed together to ensure a
correct and snug fit. Our attention to detail is what sets us apart from
other aviary builders. Each piece of wood was cut at angles so ensure a
smooth finished look. This isn't just an aviary; it's a mini home and
needed to look the part.
We worked in the blazing sun
and oddly enough the mud as well. The stump removal tore some of the
dripper heads off the clients dripper system that ran along the wall to
keep the tropical paradise green all year long. Naturally, this flooded
the work side and became quite a mess until the dripper system was turned
off. Luckily the foundation wasn't damaged for a second time.
Once the framework was
finished you could begin to see just how beautiful this aviary would be
when finished. Next the roof frame went up and about this time a change
was requested by the client, which would indeed make the aviary look
better but it required additional materials and labor. Not much a problem
for us but it did require a few extra days of construction.
While this aviary was being
build the client also had a crew in working on the pool. It isn't easy
building an aviary with another construction crew in the same area. The
pool crew managed to not only soak a lot of our wood, but also turn it
slightly blue as they were mixing the components to re-finish the client's
pool. A few more coats of paint on our already pre-painted lumber and were
back to work for the third time.
As with the frame, the
paneling and trim needed to be cut at angles to keep the bay front smooth
and seamless. The front section of paneling and wire were left off until
the end for easy access in to and out of the aviary while construction
continued.
The catch was originally
4'x3'x8', but to give the client a little extra maneuvering room it was
decided that the catch would be about a foot longer. This moved the catch
door from the side to the front and lead to the clients desire to hang a
metal door instead of using our wood and wire door. You wouldn't think
this would be much of an issue, however the doors were meant to be the
same size and not a size used by most household door manufactures. Once
this problem was fully realized by the client, the client decided to have
us custom build the door with some of the metal doors' decorative
paneling. It was extra work for us, but once again we overcame the
challenge and built a beautiful door for the aviary.
The misting system was put on
a timer, which was placed in the catch for easy access and control without
disturbing the birds. An extra faucet was plumbed in to the system inside
the aviary so the client could easily hose out and clean as aviary as
necessary. A small valve allows the client to turn off water to misters
while using the faucet as they are all connected. The dripper runs
continually but can be manually shut off at the splitter in the catch if
necessary.
The client brought in an
electrician to add lights and one electrical outlet in to the aviary. This
system is also run through the catch along side our plumbing. The
electrician also left quite a mess in the aviary when he finished. This
thoroughly annoyed our bird expert on staff who jumped right in to clean
all the little bits of wire and wire casing out of the aviary before a
bird could get to them.
This aviary was a challenge to
build, and we overcame every obstacle thrown our way. This is why when we
say, "if you can dream it, we can build it".
The above is from Myra's article |
