How To Get Rid Of Pigeons On Your Roof

Pigeons and other birds love landing on roofs, as your roof space offers them shelter, safety and somewhere comfortable to build their nest.

Because all wild birds, including pigeons, are protected by the Wildlife And Countryside Act 1981, you can’t kill or harm pigeons that land on your roof. In fact, if they build nests there, you have to leave them undisturbed until the eggs have hatched and birds have left the nest, which can take several months. For specific situations, such as a public health risk from a feral pigeon nest, you might be able to obtain a license from a relevant authority, like Natural England, to remove the nest.

That’s why homeowners often use techniques to deter pigeons and other birds from landing on their roof space. As creators of a leading tool for pigeon proofing solar panels, the team at SolaSkirt understand the importance of deterring these pesky birds. Keep reading to understand how to get rid of pigeons and protect your property from these nuisance birds.

Problems Caused by Pigeons On Roofs

Pigeons might seem harmless enough, but they can cause problems when they land or build nests on your roof. Some of the most common problems caused by pigeons on roofs are listed below.

Damage & Blockages

One issue you may face is damage to your roof, which can be expensive to fix. Pigeon guano (droppings) can be highly corrosive and cause significant damage to your roof tiles and facade.

Additionally, debris from pigeons, including nests of twigs and leaves, can clog gutters, trap water under solar panels, and can lead to leaks or water ingress into roofs.

Mess & Disruption

As mentioned previously, pigeon droppings are a significant issue, not only on roofs, but also on solar panels, patios, cars, and driveways.

For example, a build-up of guano, moss, and debris can accelerate roof wear and can shorten the lifespan of your roof. Their nests can also fall down, leaving mess on your driveway and home, which will require regular cleaning.

Noise

When pigeons nest on your roof they can cause a major noise disturbance. These large birds can make a lot of noise moving around your roof, and you may hear scratching and pattering noises throughout the day and night.

You may also notice persistent cooing and shuffling sounds as pigeons move around on your roof. These noises can be irritating, particularly in the early morning, when they can cause sleep disturbances.

Health Hazards

Bird droppings carry a range of diseases, including salmonella, histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis and psittacosis, which can spread to humans, pets and other animals. Therefore, it is recommended that guano can only be cleaned using specialist equipment.

Additionally, close proximity to feral pigeons and their nests can lead to bird mites, fleas, ticks and other parasites making their way into your home.

Unexpected Costs

Due to the damage caused by pigeons roosting under your solar panels, you may find yourselves facing unexpected costs in the future to repair your panels.

That’s because pigeons can cause a variety of issues if your roof has solar panels. Their nests can block airflow, causing panels to overheat and dramatically reduce their efficiency, which overtime, can reduce their operational lifespan. There is also risk of damaging wiring and components and the mess they make to the face of the panels, which can impact on performance and will require regular cleaning. Also, the regular repairs, cleaning, and damage control add unexpected costs for homeowners who are making the most of solar panels to generate renewable energy.

What Attracts Pigeons To Your Roof

Pigeons tend to be territorial, so once they’ve found a roof space they like, they will make it their home. Some items you may have that could be accidentally attracting pigeons to your roof include:

• Bird Feeders: If you have bird feeders in your garden, then you might feed pigeons inadvertently along with smaller birds. Once they find a regular food source, pigeons are more likely to return to the area.
• Bird Baths Or Water Reserves: As well as food, pigeons also need water, and will look for somewhere to drink. If you have bird baths or anything that stores rainwater and isn’t secure, then pigeons may use this to drink and clean their feathers.
• Solar Panels: Solar panels are great for pigeons, as they offer a warm, comfortable place to roost under. If you don’t have pigeon proofing already installed on your panels, then you may find yourself with a pigeon problem.

Common DIY Bird Control Techniques

Thankfully, it isn’t impossible to discourage pigeons from landing on your roof. The most common solutions homeowners can install themselves to prevent pigeons include:

• Bird spikes
• Bird netting or mesh
• Plastic owls or eagles
• Ultrasonic devices

While these solutions are cheap and easy to fit, they aren’t usually an effective method of bird control, especially in built-up areas or on homes with solar panels or flat surfaces on their roofs, both of which offer excellent roosting areas for pigeons.

Also, badly fitted anti-bird netting or cheap plastic owls can be unsightly, while not actually being successful at keeping pigeons away.

How Professionals Get Rid Of Pigeons On Roofs

Professional bird control experts and solar panel installers can create professionally designed systems that offer better, safer, and longer-lasting results.

By using a combination of higher quality wire mesh or spikes, and premium edge protection systems, pest control providers can deter birds from your roof for many years to come.

One solution that is popular with bird proofing experts and solar panel installers looking to protect solar panels from pigeons is SolaSkirt. Our solar panel pigeon proofing solution is a smart black aluminium perimeter trim designed specifically for solar arrays to create a sleek, discreet finish.

This effective solution offers both premium aesthetics and complete pigeon protection. It is also compatible with all on-roof solar systems, making it ideal for any home with solar panels.

Some of the benefits of SolaSkirt include:

• Permanently prevents pigeons from nesting under solar panels.
• Protects your investment.
• Enhances kerb appeal with a clean, seamless finish.
• Helps maintain property value by keeping panels tidy.
• Backed by warranties and trusted by thousands of UK homes.

Homeowners, pest control experts and solar installers across the UK trust SolaSkirt to stop pigeons from roosting under solar panels. The solution is proudly Made In Britain and is used for both retrofits and new solar installations.

How To Get Rid Of Pigeons On Your Roof: A Brief Conclusion

Ultimately, getting rid of pest birds requires skill, expertise and an understanding of their behaviour. With the right bird control equipment, expert pest controllers can fit bird netting, bird spikes and other solutions, like SolaSkirt, to protect your property and solar panels from pigeons.

Now you understand what attracts pest birds and how to get rid of pigeons, you can find an experienced expert to help you pigeon proof your property.

If you have solar panels on your home’s roof, then you should explore SolaSkirt. We have an extensive team of installers throughout England and Wales, and an installer network across the rest of the UK, and can provide testimonials and example photos to show you how SolaSkirt could look on your solar array.

For homeowners looking to install a new solar system, Titan Eco, the manufacturer and distributer of SolaSkirt, is a trusted, long-term solar panel installer. Together, we can provide lasting support that will allow homeowners throughout the UK to generate renewable energy without risking pigeon problems.

Contact us to request a free quote today and find out how SolaSkirt can help you exclude pigeons from your solar panels and reduce your risk of damage and disturbance from these nuisance birds.