Bird Spike Installation Guide
Safety and Personal Protective Equipment
Always disinfect the working area thoroughly with GuanoFix Plus (GC208) avian disinfectant before working anywhere there has been bird activity. Bird faeces can contain a large number of transmittable diseases.
It is important to wear appropriate PPE when installing bird spikes, use our 1 person PPE kit GC089
Our Spike Installers’ Kits (BS314) come with everything you will need to undertake a safe and effective installation.
Spikes are designed to deter light-weight birds of no more than one kilo in weight. Do not use them to prevent human-intruders, cats or other animals, as serious injury may occur.
Surface preparation is the key to a successful installation. Do not lay spikes onto contaminated or unprepared surfaces.
Use Surface Cleaner (BS332) to prepare greasy surfaces prior to priming.
Use Surface Activator (BS365) to prepare polished surfaces such as metal or plastic prior to priming.
Always prime the surface to be adhered to with Spike Adhesive and our Disposable Priming Brush (BS335), regardless of the composition of the surface. This ensures a long-life bond.
Positioning
The tips of the spikes should overhang the leading edge of any ledges, parapets or sills by about 10mm. This is in order to stop the birds gaining an initial foothold as they approach the surface. If parallel rows of spikes are to be laid then a 65mm gap can be allowed between the outer tips of adjacent rows for pigeon spikes and a 100mm gap for seagull spikes.
Where less than an entire 500mm strip is required, grooves set perpendicular to the base of the strip are provided for easy reduction in size. Simply snap off as much as you require.
The polycarbonate base of the bird spike means that you can bend a spike along a shallow curve. Be aware that this will increase the space between the spike points so may be less effective against target birds.
Gluing
Ensure you have primed the surface with glue before applying glue to the spikes. Bird spikes should be glued down with a neutral cure low modulus adhesive. Other adhesives will only provide a temporary fixing to bird spikes as temperature fluctuations and chemical reaction with the polycarbonate will cause separation between the glue and the spike base.
Using a caulking gun run a bead of glue approximately 8mm wide along the underside of the base of the spike strip.
Use your fingers to press the polycarbonate base of the strip down firmly on the surface to which it is to be applied (that you have previously primed) so that rivets of glue come up through the holes in the base. Do not attempt to secure a spike by pushing on the spike points. Do not disturb the spike for at least 24 hours after gluing.
Spikes can be easily fitted to the outer edge of a rainwater gutter using our specially designed BIRDOFF Gutter Clips. Use two clips per spike strip, one at each end of the strip.
