Preparation is key when it comes to keeping birds away from your premises. Pest birds such as pigeons and gulls can take up residence, blocking up rainwater gullies on buildings, leaving their calling cards in the form of faeces and making a general nuisance of themselves.

Once they make a permanent roost, birds are difficult to get rid of and you have to contend with health hazards, odorous walkways and damage to external electrics as well as the facade of the building. Choosing to install bird netting as a preventative measure will save you time and money, as well as reduce the health risk to the human inhabitants who use the property, either as a home or workspace. Let’s take a look at some of the basic facts you need to understand before you get bird netting.

What is the difference between bird netting and bird spikes?

Bird netting is a knotted lattice made from thick strong twine. It’s an effective, physical barrier that covers the spaces where potential roosting birds will try to land. Bird netting is a great choice for bird proofing buildings that have a lot of potential landing edges, rafters, ceilings, ventilation areas and industrial rooftops. The black colour of the netting also absorbs light and makes these nets less visible from the ground.

Bird spikes are a deterrent rather than a barrier. They have a thin base out from which spikes protrude, usually made of stainless steel. The height of the metal spikes is higher than the birds’ legs, so it deters them from landing. For smaller species of birds, the spikes have narrower gaps, but higher and wider spikes are needed for larger birds. For full exclusion of all nuisance birds, installation of bird netting is recommended.

When should bird netting be installed?

Once you start to see a few birds gathering around the building, you need to seek the services of a professional company. Ideally, you are aiming to prevent them from accessing your building as a nesting site, so it is worth getting your bird netting in place as soon as possible. If you have not managed this, and the birds have gotten into small spaces that are not easily visible from the ground, all is not lost. You can arrange to have the area cleaned out, and once thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, then you can arrange for netting to be installed.

How durable is bird netting?

The twine is made of high density polyethene, which has been pre-stretched and heat treated to stand up to the rigours of the climate, as well as take any knocks or treatment from the birds attempting to roost. The material is flexible enough to cover all shapes of buildings/eaves/ledges but will not sag as the material does not absorb water or moisture from the atmosphere. The material is also tested to industry safety standards for net breaking loads, so you can rest assured that it is a very durable piece of kit that’s effective against all types of bird pressure.

What size of netting should be installed?

This will depend largely on the species of bird you want to exclude from the premises. The (smaller) 19mm squares netting is heavier but will protect against all bird sizes. For areas where seagulls are the major concern, the 60mm square nets is sufficient.

Please contact with us if any questions, our sales team will always be happy to provide you with the most professional info.