Stop pigeons on my solar panels - the right way!

Wednesday 05/10/2022

So you've had a new solar panel array put up on your roof, and suddenly you appear to have some squatters move in

Pigeons are a familiar sight on a roof with a solar panel system. Pigeons feathers are not waterproof and so that tidy little space on your roof under the solar panels is the perfect spot to keep dry and be protected from any predators.

Click here to see SolarFix solar panel protection products.

Solar panel proofing is becoming a widely used preventative and reactive measure to stop pigeons on solar panels. But with this comes a wide range of inferior materials on the market that, whilst looking good on paper and seemingly cheaper, just don't stand up to the job

So what should I look out for? How do I know if I am buying the right materials?

Solar panel mesh and solar panel mesh clips are the most effective form of proofing that provide the least possible risk to the birds as the system ages.

The key things to look out for when buying solar panel mesh:

• The thickness gauge, 16-19g will offer decades of use


• It is stainless steel (especially on coastal areas) or hot dipped galvanised.


• It is NOT coated with plastic. Plastic naturally degrades with UV exposure so after only a short period of time will you have water ingress and rusted degrading mesh


• The size of the mesh squares is no greater than 50mm x 50mm

The key things to look out for when buying solar panel clips:

• They are made from UV stabilised plastic. With high exposure to sunlight you need to ensure the clips retain their structure and do not become brittle and fail.


• They are made from virgin nylon, this allows them to retain a level of elasticity and reduces the risk of failure from weather, debris etc


• They have the correct size disk for the mesh you are using, a larger disk allows for a 50mm mesh square


• The disks are a permanent fixture on the shaft. Using a one way locking system and not a twist on method to ensure the mesh is securely fixed and does not become loose over time

The PestFix unique and protected design has been providing bird proofing to solar panels for nearly a decade, with half a million clips sold nationally attributing to at least 250km of solar panel perimeters protected!

Click here to see SolarFix solar panel protection products.