When it gets hot, the wood can lose water and shrink. On the other hand, in cold weather, it may absorb moisture and expand.

Step 3 - Positioning: Start at one end of the guttering and clip each piece firmly into position. Continue along the guttering making sure no gap is left between the ends of the pigeon spikes. This mechanism places the gutter strip in the centre of the gutter. It hovers above the base of the gutter, allowing for the free flow of rainwater beneath. So how do you go about understanding which of these pigeon-related problems it is that you are experiencing? Over the period of a few days watch the movements of the pigeons and observe if they are active on the property throughout the day or whether they are only there first thing in the morning and then again an hour or two before dusk. If most of the activity is seen during the daytime, particularly on the upper reaches of the building (i.e. roof areas or top-storey windowsills and guttering), and there is no obvious sign of the birds on the property after dusk or during darkness, then it is likely that you are experiencing a daytime perching problem where the birds are using your property as a vantage point to exploit a food source. If, however, there is increased pigeon activity in the late afternoon or early evening and then again at dawn, with only limited pigeon activity during daylight hours, then it is likely that the birds are roosting overnight and/or possibly breeding on your property.Birds singing in the garden is often beautiful and relaxing, but birds scrabbling around in gutters often at night is not! The principle of this installation is the same as a commercially available product called a post and wire system. Thin steel wires (or fishing line) are installed approximately 3” above the windowsill, spanning the windowsill from side to side and fixed to the side wall of the window recess. When a pigeon attempts to land on the windowsill its feet will touch the wire, the wire will then move making the pigeon feel unsafe and the bird will abort the landing. This is a very simple but effective control option. We usually start on one part of the home, and work our way around the entire home. That way you don’t skip over or miss any sections. SET UP YOUR LADDER Be careful not to dent the gutter when doing this. That is why we suggest a rubber mallet. Normal metal hammers will scuff up the paint on the gutter spike, and damage the gutter if you’re not careful. CONCLUSION

Having a build-up of pigeon poo and rotting debris comes with health risks. Pigeon guano is known to be a contributor to several human diseases and can exasperate those susceptible to lung conditions.Additionally, you need to space spikes appropriately. This results in an equal weight distribution throughout the gutter. When protecting period properties it is important, at the outset, to confirm whether the property is a listed property and graded as such. In the UK there is a system of grading buildings that are of historical or architectural significance, which, depending on the grade in question, can place comprehensive restrictions on the property owner in relation to what can be done to the property. This would include the provision of pigeon deterrents. Therefore, prior to undertaking any works it is important to confirm whether the property is listed, and if it is speak to the appropriate body (in the UK this would be the Listed Buildings Officer at the local council) to seek advice about what can and cannot be done. The most straightforward DIY method of stopping pigeons perching on horizontal pipework is to install a thin piece of plywood, or any other similar material, above and sloping down over the pipe at such an angle that pigeons will be unable to continue to perch on the pipe. The installation will be a permanent fix once installed and may actually improve the aesthetics of your property by merit of hiding ugly pipework. One of the major causes of loose gutter spikes is the accumulation of debris. This can come from leaves, stems, or twigs. Gutter spikes come loose over time. They are essentially a big nail that gets re-nailed into the same hole over and over again. However, if you have a large amount of spikes that keep coming loose in one section, than that section may have some other problems. FASCIA BOARD DAMAGE