Whether pigeons or seagulls, birds nesting or perching on buildings can be a real nuisance. The cooing of pigeons and the squawking of seagulls can really get on the resident’s nerves (not to mention being woken up at dawn), but the biggest issue is what birds leave behind.
Bird droppings are highly acidic, and damage stone and other building materials – that’s in addition to the ugly mess. There are also health risks associated with fungi and bacteria breeding in bird droppings and feathers, from Cryptococcosis to salmonella. Some of them can be fatal to vulnerable people. No wonder that the owners and managers of residential, commercial and public buildings spend thousands of pounds on hundreds of manhours devoted to cleaning and repairing damage caused by birds.
Installing bird deterrent systems is the best solution to bird pests. These include bird spikes, and in some cases, wire mesh bird netting, which offer permanent, humane and most crucially, a very effective, solution.
Painting of exterior elements of the building typically requires secure access for the workers, and protection for the members of the public. From walls (masonry) painting, to dealing with downpipes, gutters, metalwork fixtures as well as joinery including windows, the expertise required for roofing and rope access jobs applies to painting as well.
We focus on effective but safe access and minimise mess and nuisance.
Exterior painting can be a simple job. That is usually the case when the building is not too tall and all surfaces are easily accessible. Things get a little bit more complicated in the case of taller buildings. Safety becomes a major concern, both for the workers and for the general public.
You also want to avoid damage to the property, accidental paint splashing or things dropping on the people or cars below. We deal with such challenges every day, and exterior painting is one of many work-at-height services we offer.
From walls to downpipes, gutters to window frames, finials to dormers, a professionally applied paint job will not only greatly improve the appearance of your property, but prolong its life, providing protection from the weather damage.
Specifically designed as a secure and maintenance-free finish to the edge of a roof, installing a dry verge involves fitting a series of interlocking sections which are then fixed in place with screws or nails. In addition to dry verge, there are several other uPVC products that are commonly used to protect Scottish homes from the wind and rain that we experience so often.
These include fascias, soffits and cladding. Fascias and soffits are used to protect the roofline and eaves of the house. Cladding is used to cover the exterior of the house and can provide insulation as well as protection against weather damage. uPVC cladding can be particularly useful on exposed additional roof structures, such as dormers, in addition to or in place of traditional felt or wooden shingle; and is lighter and cheaper than slates.
Installation of uPVC products typically involves removing any existing wood or metal components and replacing them with the uPVC alternatives. The uPVC products are usually pre-cut to size and can be fitted using screws or clips. Incorrect installation of roofline products can lead to structural damage, so make sure that whoever fits those, knows what they are doing.
If it involves working at height, up the roof (or inside the roof space), we can probably do it (and quite likely we have done it before). If unsure, just get in touch with us. While we don’t engage with typical larger building projects, we have building and masonry skills needed to deal with chimneys and stonework repair, and related tasks.
While we are not specialist joiners, we know how to deal with joinery, and we do it on a regular basis when working with roof fixtures details, cupolas, hatches or dormers. We also provide cleaning services in hard to reach places, for example removing graffiti from public structures or cleaning up whole decades of accumulated dust from interior roof elements.
Large banners or signs need installed?
We can do that. Cabling in hard to reach places for that wonderful Christmas lights show? Get in touch.
Very prompt and professional, a pleasure to deal with.
The work was done so efficiently and professionally that my neighbours were pleased to have him return and tackle a bigger job of roof and gutter repair.
Prompt survey and estimate. Clear list of work to be done.
Artur is a pleasure to deal with, considerate and accommodating, and he responds quickly to enquiries
A dry verge is a roofing system that provides a secure fixing for the tiles at the roof edge (roofline) while allowing for movement in the roof structure. It uses verge boards, verge clips, and hip tiles.
Predominantly used on pitched roofs, dry verges can also be used on flat roofs, offering a good alternative to the work-intensive and difficult to fit traditional mortar bedding. Dry verges don’t need mortar or any other adhesive. The fastening is mechanical (interlocking uPVC components are used), which makes for an easier fitting, better durability and ensures greater resistance to the elements including wind, rain and snow.
Bird spikes are legal in Scotland, and can be a very successful deterrent to unwanted bird visitors such as pigeons and seagulls. They discourage and prevent birds from landing on, roosting and nesting in a given location, and help to avoid nuisance, mess, health hazards and the damage to buildings caused by birds, their feathers and droppings.
Strictly speaking, you don’t, legally, need to hire a professional to install bird spikes. But it is a somewhat fiddly task that involves working at height, often in hard-to-reach places at the very edge of the roof, on top of the chimneys and in similar locations. So unless you feel very confident about your DIY abilities, have a great head for heights and know exactly what you are doing, hiring a professional might be a good idea.
