I have already spent $40 on materials and I would like to not buy more. I have (2) - 1" x 8" x 8' [actual measurements .75" x 7.25" x 8 feet long, one rough side]. And I have (1) - 2" x 4" x 8' [actual measurements 1.5" x 3.5" x 8 feet long]. So I intend to use the 2x4 for the sides & the 1x8's for the front, back, roof and dividers. If I make a 3 chamber house I think I will split the 1x8's on my tablesaw so I don't need to buy more material or make the house much smaller, so w/ a 1/8" blade curf on my table saw that will make the 3/4" thick 1x8's into 2 5/16" inch pieces.
As for the placement of the house I have talked to my Mother about this (The same mother that wanted a bathouse so much), and I told her it should be places on south or southeast face as I have read. Well, that's the front side of her house and while there is a place I could put it there, she isn't thrilled about it & once she says no once, she can be very stubborn. I really don't think I will be able to talk her into putting it on the front of her house. She wants to put it on the West side of the house, near the peak of the roof where it will really only get a few hours of direct sunlight each day. The overhang of the roof will shadow it until late afternoon & then in the evening there are tall trees in the west that will block the sun. I would guess maybe 3 hours of direct light. Perhaps if someone were to tell me there was no prayer of bats making a home there I could try again to talk her into putting it on the south side. But I think it may take a year or so of the house hanging up there unoccupied to convince her it needs to go on the south.
Anyway, that being said, we do live in North Carolina, so we're kinda in the south. Could it maybe be warm enough here that they don't need it to be on the south side of the house? Also, I know we have bats around here, I have seen lots of them. I even rescued a very cute & friendly bat out of one of her trash cans once. But I don't know if they are large or small brown bats (are big & small brown bats different species or are big brown bats the same as a small one just fatter?).
The first plans I saw were for a single chamber bathouse that had a space 1.5" wide. Although maybe this was for another type of bat in a different part of the country. Right now I am thinking about doing 3 chambers @ 3/4" 3/4" and 1-3/8". Is the 1-3/8" chamber too big for bats in my area? If it is, I could always rip the 2x4's down so that I could make 3 chambers all 3/4" size, or 2 chambers 3/4" and 1 chamber 7/8".
I know this is a long post & I have alot of questions, sorry. All help is very much appreciated. I have a nephew that is recovering from a hip & knee surgery and he's not been getting out of the house much & been getting a 'lil stir crazy. So I have invited him to come over & build this batbox with me on Sunday. So we'll be building on Sunday, so i hope i can have some answers by then. All advice is appreciated
thx, gus
