Bat House Forum

[FlaChiropterer]

I have been reading about color recommendations for areas of the country.

Several sites recommend a dark color for Central Florida.

How dark is "dark"? is "milk chocolate brown" light enough?

I would like to hear from others in Central Florida if possible of what has worked for you.

I purchased a bat house and built another myself. I am painting both after caulking and sealing with kilz.

The purchased one is rough cedar with plastic mesh, the one I made is roughened (by me) plywood. I scored horizontally every exposed surface on my table saw .

they are both 30 inches tall (4-6 inches landing), by 24 wide, with three 3/4" partitions.

I am also exploring the best way of attaching them to a metal post, or if it be best on a wooden 4x4. Any ideas would be welcome.

[Terry Lobdell]

I can't really advise you on color because I'm in the north.........but from what I've read most bat houses in the south are a lighter color.......

To mount it I am a firm believer in french cleats..........

post-t867.html

The link above shows some recently mounted boxes using french cleats. I've been doing this for over 10 years and they are by far the easiest way to mount a box on either a pole or building.

All you have to do rip a 1x6 or 1x8 the same width as your bat box down the middle with a 45 degree angle. You mount one strip on the pole using a level then attach the other piece to your bat box. Attach the bottom french cleat to your bat house then you can just carry it up the pole and set it in place. The angles of the french cleats lock it into place.

The bottom french cleat can be attached to the pole once the box is up.

Some of my boxes that are temporarily mounted are hanging by the top french cleat only........no screws at all........

What I like about this method is you don't have to worry about leveling the box while you are up on a ladder.......it is automatically done when you attach the top cleat to the pole.

I'll try to post some better pictures of french cleats soon!

[FlaChiropterer]

I can't really advise you on color because I'm in the north.........but from what I've read most bat houses in the south are a lighter color.......

To mount it I am a firm believer in french cleats..........

post-t867.html

The link above shows some recently mounted boxes using french cleats. I've been doing this for over 10 years and they are by far the easiest way to mount a box on either a pole or building.

All you have to do rip a 1x6 or 1x8 the same width as your bat box down the middle with a 45 degree angle. You mount one strip on the pole using a level then attach the other piece to your bat box. Attach the bottom french cleat to your bat house then you can just carry it up the pole and set it in place. The angles of the french cleats lock it into place.

Thank you for the idea, seems pretty simple and efficient. If I understood correctly, you use two cleats, one for the top one for the bottom?

After they are on the cleats, do you use anything else to secure them?

[Terry Lobdell]

It is not always necessary to have the cleats on the bottom as long as you have a spacer to screw into the pole.

I do often use some metal L-brackets for additional strength when mounting heavy bat boxes.

Exposed to full sun and all sorts of extreme weather breaks down any exposed wood fast so metal is a nice form of extra security in attaching a bat house.

I think the biggest advantage of french cleats is once you attach the top cleat nice and level, it's so easy to just set the bat box onto it and automatically the box is perfectly level.