Whether it’s a coastal building swarmed by noisy seagulls, or an inner-city office block occupied by dirty pigeons, there’s no pest problem that can’t be solved by the quick and easy installation of bird deterrents. Those who are faced with this problem with their own buildings often feel at a massive loss, not least because traditional means of access are so expensive and time-consuming.
The truth is, to beat the birds you have to act like the birds! That’s why rope access is the best means of carrying out pest control in the most difficult locations at height, including ledges, roofs, signs and facades. In this blog post we’ll be looking at the different kinds of bird deterrent, and the advantage of using rope access to ensure their successful installation.
Why do buildings need bird proofing?
A building infested with birds faces a range of problems that should warrant immediate action from building owners and maintenance workers, but luckily none which cannot be solved by putting the appropriate control systems in place. The benefits of sufficient bird proofing are plain to see, and they include:
- Maintaining a building’s structural integrity
- Cutting down on cleaning and maintenance fees
- Reducing the spread of bacteria and disease to the occupants of a building
- Improving a building’s appearance, both from the inside and the outside
- Preventing the possibility of damage to exterior wiring and cabling
- Protecting a building’s guttering and reducing the risk of water ingress
- Stopping birds from being a nuisance to both the occupants of a building and the pedestrians walking below or near it.
What are the different kinds of bird deterrent?
Taking the form of adaptable strips, spikes present the best choice of bird deterrent for more narrow spaces where birds love to perch and roost. These are usually found on sills, signs and lights – places which would be difficult to access with scaffolding, not to mention time-consuming. Rope access, on the other hand, allows deterrents to be placed quickly, safely and with great precision in even the most awkward of spots.
Rope access technicians are also called upon to install intricate netting systems. These nets are best used to cover spots which are too large or complex to be sufficiently protected by spikes or wires, e.g. roofs, outdoor areas or windows. You may see these nets quite often on listed buildings such as churches and cathedrals. Due to the openings found in their belfries and lanterns, church towers are classic spots for pigeon nests – and they tend to cause a good deal of damage, mess and irritation while they’re up there! But despite being notoriously tall and tricky structures, rope access technicians always get the job done with no time spared.
Why use rope access?
For many building owners, the returns involved in bird proofing their properties don’t seem equal to the cost. Quite often, that cost comes down to the excessive time, effort and equipment required for more traditional modes of access (scaffolding or MEWPs). Rope access, however, is not only a safer and more flexible choice when installing bird proofing systems in hard-to-reach spots, it’s also considerably cheaper!
Plus, rope access technicians are able to clean the space, disinfect it, and remove any old features of the building which may have been damaged as a result of the pest problem. Again, it’s without a doubt the quickest and most versatile method of access – and if they’re up there anyway, why wouldn’t you make the most of it?!
The main takeaway here is that some jobs are best served by more dynamic and less disruptive means of access. If your building has a pest problem and you think it would be too difficult and expensive to solve, rope access is your saving grace! If you’re curious, don’t hesitate to give us a quick call and we’d be happy to help.
