How to Install Bird Spikes

Bird spikes are your best defense for keeping birds away from your property and are widely used at commercial properties with great success.

Bird-Spikes

Frequently Asked Questions about Bird Spikes

How do they work? Bird spikes are very effective at preventing birds from landing or perching in key areas such as roof ledges, trusses, lights, and piping.
Are there other options? For very large areas with complex pipework or wide open spaces, you may want to install bird netting instead of bird spikes.
Do they harm birds? No. Bird spikes are an annoyance that keep birds away from an area.
Are they durable? Yes, they are very durable and will last for many years. The stainless steel spikes are corrosion resistant and the base is a UV treated plastic to prevent weather damage from the sun.
Do they look bad? Not at all. In fact, you have seen many buildings with bird spikes installed on them and probably didn’t notice unless you were really looking for them.
What about plastic spikes? Stainless steel spikes are much more durable and will last over 10 years while plastic spikes usually last only 1 to 2 years.

Next, we’ll show you where to install them and how to install them …

Where to Install Bird Spikes

Start with an inspection of your property and make note of where birds are nesting, perching or landing. Keep track of how many linear feet of space you need to protect as you go.

Here are some of the key areas you want to look at during your survey:

1. Building Roof Edges and Ledges

Bird-spikes-along-roof-edge

Birds have a habit of swooping in and landing right on the edge of a roof. This is especially true of flat roves on commercial buildings that have a short 1 or 2 foot high pony wall surrounding the roof ledge. Install your bird spikes along the outer edge of these walls.

2. Lights and Other Wall Fixtures

Bird-spikes-on-fixtures

Under covered areas such as storefront walkways you will find light fixtures, electrical boxes, and other things that birds love to nest or perch on to stay out of the weather. For large light fixtures, you will want to install 2 rows of bird spikes on top of each fixture to really dissuade birds from roosting (they love the warmth from the lights plus the cover overhead so these areas are especially enticing to them).

3. On Top of Light Poles

Bird-spikes-on-pole-lighting

Parking lot pole lights are not usually a favorite place for birds to perch, but in low wind areas where food and water is abundant, you may need to install bird spikes on top of these fixtures as well.

4. Piping in Covered Areas

Bird-spikes-on-ducting

Another favorite place for birds to perch or nest is on top of piping or ducting in covered areas. This is especially a problem for covered or underground parking areas. They can also perch on overhead canopy framing or roof trusses.

Caution: Always follow approved safety procedures for working at height (on ladders, roof tops, and in other high areas) when installing bird spikes.

There are 3 ways to secure bird spikes to various surfaces of your building or property; caulking, tie straps, and screws. Lets look at each of these methods, and where they should be used.

Method 1: Installation with Caulking

The preferred and most common method of installation is to use caulking. One tube of caulking is enough to install 10 feet of bird spikes. Bird spikes are very light and caulking will hold them very securely without creating any holes in the building or fixture surface that allow water ingress.

Bird-spikes-attached-with-caulking

Installing your bird spikes with caulking is suitable for ledges, roof flashing, light fixtures and any other flat surfaces. To install …

Ensure the surface is clean and dry
Lay down a thick bead of caulking where your spikes will go. You can do this a couple feet or 10 feet at a time
Press your bird spikes onto the caulking firmly allowing it to ooze through the holes in the base and around the edges of the base – this will help hold them in place even more securely once the caulking is dry

Method 2: Installation with Tie Straps (also known as Zip Ties)

Tie straps are primarily used on narrow runs such as piping where birds perch. This allows you to secure the bird spikes more easily than trying to balance them on the piping while the caulking takes hold (you can install with both caulking and tie straps if needed).

Bird-spikes-attached-with-tie-straps

Tip: use black tie straps instead of white ones. Black tie straps blend in so they are less easily noticed, and they have greater resistance to sunlight and weathering. To install …

Ensure the surface is clean and dry
Hold a length of spikes onto the pipe and wrap a tie strap around the pipe and narrow section of the spikes’ base a couple inches from one end. Secure the strap tightly and apply additional straps. You can secure a one foot length of bird spikes with 2 or 3 tie straps

Method 3: Installation with Screws

Screws can be used in high wind areas in conjunction with caulking for an extra firm hold. They can also be used where caulking is not suitable such as surfaces where the paint is thick and flaking off – caulking will come off with the paint whereas screws penetrate the material below the surface.

Bird-spikes-attached-with-screws

You can use common 1″ wood screws and they should only be used on surfaces they can penetrate such as wooden beams or ledges. It’s also a good idea to use caulking with the screws to prevent water ingress into the mounting surface. To install …

Ensure the surface is clean and dry
Lay your bird spike section onto the surface and secure with 3 or more wood screws through the screw holes in the base
Make sure to tighten the screws snuggly against the bird spike base, but not so much that you risk cracking the base

Bird Spike Specifications

Bird Spikes are available in 5″ and 8″ widths for different applications. Here are the specifications for each size:

5″ Bird Spike Specs

For installation on piping and on very narrow ledges and fixtures.

Available in kits (with caulking) of 10 linear feet or increments of 10 ft.

5in-spikes

Height: 4.5″ (11.4 cm) total including base and spikes
Width: 5″ (12.5 cm) span
Length: 12.6″ (32 cm) per one foot section
Weight: 1.9 oz (54 g) per linear foot
Spikes: Corrosion resistant surgical grade SS304 stainless steel, 0.05″ in diameter, 24 spikes per foot in 3 row fans
Base: Flexible UV treated recyclable polycarbonate plastic, three attachment method design (caulking, tie-straps, screws). Can be cut into smaller lengths.

8″ Bird Spike Specs

For installation on most roof top edges and other ledges.