by Alex A. Kecskes
Bird netting and pigeon netting are widely used on buildings throughout the world. Netting is an exclusionary
bird proofing strategy that physically denies access to virtually all pest birds.
One of the best is netting is Heavy-Duty Polyethylene
Bird Netting. It's made from a U.V. stabilized mesh and comes in various stock sizes and custom cuts. Usually, a structure is prone to attract a certain kind of bird, so the netting you will want to use will depend on the bird to be excluded from your building. Larger birds will require a 2-inch mesh; medium sized birds will be stopped by a 1 1/8-inch mesh; and smaller birds will be denied by a 3/4-inch mesh. In most cases, netting is available in a variety of colors to blend in with the fascia of the building and not detract from its aesthetics.
You'll want to get netting that stands up to harsh weather. The best netting is ISO 1806 protocol mesh tested. It's flame resistant, rot-proof, and non-conductive so as not to interfere with electrical wiring or cell phone, dish and other antenna systems.
Another effective type of netting is called
No-Knot Bird netting. It's roughly 70 percent stronger than conventional knotted polyethylene netting and it's also 30 percent lighter. No-Knot netting also has a higher melting point than knotted polyethylene netting. Overall, this type of netting is less expensive to ship and easier to install than regular netting. You also don't need to pull the net into shape, as is often the case with knotted polyethylene netting. Finally, this type of netting is best suited for larger, horizontal applications.
As with other netting, No-Knot netting comes in various mesh sizes. There's a 2-inch mesh to block out larger birds like pigeons, gulls and crows, and 3/4-inch mesh to stop smaller birds like sparrows and starlings.
The best No-Knot Bird Netting comes with a 10-year guarantee. It's made of a multi-strand polypropylene fiber that's highly resistant to heat and many chemicals. Netting like this is usually meets ISO 1806 Protocols. It will not rot, absorb water, or mildew. The netting contains U.V. inhibitors to withstand high temperatures to 338F.
Before installing any
bird netting, clean the area thoroughly and make sure that it's free of nesting materials, bird droppings, feathers, peeling paint or other debris.
There are a number of ways to effectively install bird netting. The main thing to remember is to leave no gaps, openings, wrinkles or excessive sag in the netting. When installing the netting with a tensioned cable system, make sure the cables are properly installed and able to support the netting. Most
bird netting can be cut to the size and shape using a good pair of scissors. Before cutting the netting, make sure to allow extra netting for perimeter fastening and overlap seams (6" min. for both). Finally, be sure you cut a larger piece of netting than what's needed for the job.
