Bat House Forum

[Markcuda]

If you make the landing pad rough also, you won't need any mesh.
Over time, the mesh will deteriorate from the urine, or come lose, and hinder the bats.
So, just make the surfaces rough, and you will be fine

[connwalls]

What I have done so far--- http://www.flickr.com/photos/65163091@N ... hotostream

Not much, but it's getting there!

[Markcuda]

Are you going to rough that surface?

[connwalls]

Scratched the surface with a flathead screwdriver for a while if that's what you mean. I thought that's what roughing was! Lol, sorry, Im still new to this.

[William Bagwell]

That OSB (Oriented Strand Board) is pretty rough to begin with so your method is probably good enough. Normal plywood and other smoothly finished lumber must be grooved, have mesh applied, or be roughened in some fashion. (Unplanned, rough sawn lumber is usually rough enough as is) One technique I have seen mentioned several times is to run several sharp pointed drywall screws through a scrap board leaving just the points sticking out. Then scratch the bat house baffles with this home made tool.

William

[cloudman75]

OSB is OK for baffles as bought. Here is a photo I took tonight of my junkbox bat house with two osb baffles. It is full of little browns. The first and third baffles from the back are osb. There is one with screening which is failing and one with rough plywood from scratching it with sheetrock nails in a board.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Frank

[connwalls]

Almost done with the house! Just glued down the roof, all that's left now is the sides and paint. Here's what I got done toady---
http://www.flickr.com/photos/65163091@N ... hotostream

[Markcuda]

Are you going to caulk all seams?

[connwalls]

Are you going to caulk all seams?

yep

[Markcuda]

What color are you going to paint it, if at all?

[connwalls]

I was thinking a dark brown color.

[Markcuda]

Mine is painted Manor Dark Brown.
I think it is a Benjamin Moore paint.

[connwalls]

Thanks, I'll have to check it out, and thank all of you for the great info!

[Markcuda]

Paint color.