How to Install Bird Spikes

How to install bird spikes

Birds spikes are a great bird deterrent, when installed properly they will keep birds off areas of your building. Measure the width of the ledge you need to protect and purchase the appropriate spike. We mostly go with a 5” or 8” spike depending on the ledge size.

Step 1: Clean the Area

The goal is to wet down the area so that dust from cleaning the existing bird droppings does not become airborne. It’s also very important to have a flat clean surface so that the new spikes will stick properly. We follow the label instructions from different products such as “Steri Fab” and dissolve it to safely remove the droppings. In very severe cases, we have been known to use steam machines to remove the droppings and staining.

Step 2 Install your spike

Once the surface is dry, we like to use a clear construction-grade adhesive Clear helps eliminate some staining just in case there happens to be a drip or mistake. Apply a nice bead of sealant along the underside of the spike. Make sure that when you press down the spike the sealant comes up through the hole so that it can create a strong bond. Follow the adhesives label and you will end up with an installation that could last for a number of years.

In the photos the customer had installed a very sticky gel repellent that lost its effectiveness once it got dirty. We had to clean away the gel repellent with a solvent cleaner and the use of a power washer so we could properly glue down the new spike. Once the new Spike was installed it was a perfect physical deterrent that will keep pigeons off this ledge for many years to come.