The bats are hanging right above a big hot tub. Dropping there little goodies on the peoples head. How would you go about excluding them from the rafters. You can see by the stain that they go to the peak. I thought of bat netting, but if they get tangled and die that wouldn't be good. This is a rental cabin. If I hardware cloth it let say 2 ft down will they cling on at that point? Thanks

Is this an open gazabo? Just tossing out ideas....they like a rough patch to hang. What about installing plexiglass panels at the top? Or, have it drywalled and painted.

My Dad just tiled his floor with tiles that look like hardwood. Tile the ceiling. Boy, that would be a job.

Yes it's open. Plexiglass is a great idea.

you would have to do the hole cealing from top to bottum. If it's a hot tub the steem and moisture will build up on the plexiglass and drip Just my thoughts.

Just use a bat trap.

LOL and ship to NM.

From the look of things I'm surprised skeeters aren't the biggest problem.

Maybe solve two problems with one solution.

Paul, have netted some ceilings with similar timbers, when stretched tight and using a tight perimeter no tangle worries.

Have a few pics if you'd like can email them to you. Have done two porches in the this spring where chronic roosting of this type was staining the stucco.

Justin

a fan??

Keeping in mind that I do very little bird or bat work right now. I would think that you could use something like this covering the roosting points and it would solve the problem.
http://www.birdbarrier.com/products/bird-shock-flex-track/

Eviction should not be a problem.Typically in my experience there arent alot of bats hanging in such places, just a single or a few at best.Umbrellas found on patio tables all seem to be other good spots a single or few bats seek out for harborage.

Lightly spraying some clean water from a pint or quart pump spray cleaning product bottle onto the bats will cause them to fly off without any harm to the bat(s)giving you a bat free work window.You may find a suitable bottle at home that can be cleaned out adequately or you can purchase a new clean bottle spray units at a home depot or lowes at times.

Coordinate and select your solution first prior to eviction. Finishing exclusion material will be dependant upon what you will be allowed to use according to acceptance by the customer. I think a stained sheet of luan or 1/4" exterior plywood, may be attached to a dropped down level framing face mounted several feet down from the peak. Then you will need to fill in the gaps around the edges with cut angle boards leading under the framing to prvent crawl unders to the tight peak areas now being used.

Stapling a heavy guage plastic or vinyl over the interior joist peak board surface area preventing access to the tight jointure areas may be an easier faster fix but wont have as good as a cosmetic finish as a plywood completed job.

We have done many similiar type jobs on certain log home designs. I built a removable custom frame to fit the problem area then cut and stapled a vinyl pet screen material found at Lowes to make a rigid screen panel. Be sure to use stainless or non rusting staples. Then it is just a matter of mounting the frame and covering all the squeeze by areas.

Good post Bob, thanks for the thorough explanation. Can think of many areas where those ideas would work as well.

Was thinking the netting with a "drop ceiling" effect just above the lighting a foot or so would allow the look to remain similar
but prevent them getting up higher into those tiny nooks that they're utilizing.

Justin

Thanks for all the input. I don't know which way we will go on it yet. It is just a couple clingons Mr. Jameson. The owner likes the plexiglass deal

Plexiglass is not easy to cut and configure without cracking or breaking. You need to be good using a glass cutting knife or fine bladed jig saw to get good clean cuts.

Stained glass with led lighting above would be cool.

Bob , the rafters are 8 inches wide. I'm hoping to find some 8x24 pre cut. If not I will have it cut.

Paul,

Not sure how close you are to any larger city that might have a plastics supply. We are doing some projects that require some pvc and other types of plastic sheeting (non exclusion related) and every plastics vendor in town was willing to do the cuts for free if we were buying entire sheets.

Just a thought and the price on the sheets should be better as they sell more of it than the typical hardware of big box store.

Justin

Nice tip, Justin!

You could cut look out blocks for between the rafters so there's no knotching needed . Just buy something round about the right size then stick it up there and mark we're it's going . take the round glass down then fill the gaps with cedar blocks . I think I would just string a net accross anchor the center of the net in the peak then tie it down the sides . See if that works first . I do that on these porches doesn't need to in very tight or fill the whole thing . Little wing foot down seems to work just fine . If it was birds different story .