Pigeons on a balcony can quickly go from a nuisance to a real problem. Droppings build up, nesting material collects in corners, and the space below can become unusable. This is a recent job one of our technicians carried out at a residential block in Wembley, and it shows how we fix the problem for the long term rather than just cleaning up after it.
The problem
Our technician attended the property and found pigeon guano fouling the balcony. Pigeons were clearly getting in, and on the floor of the balcony above they had started building a nest, so everything was falling onto the balcony below.
Cleaning alone would not have solved this. As long as the birds could get in, they would keep coming back. The long term answer was to stop them reaching the balcony at all, which meant pigeon netting.
Survey and quote
We took photos of the problem areas, assessed the openings that needed proofing and sent a quote to our client. Once the client accepted, we booked the job in.
Step one: a thorough clean
Before any netting goes up, the area has to be properly cleaned. Our technician pressure washed the balcony and treated it with a biocide spray. This lifted the built up droppings, grease and grime and returned the balcony floor to its original condition.
This step matters. Pigeon droppings are not just unsightly. They can harbour bacteria and fungal spores, they can stain and damage surfaces over time, and when wet they make floors slippery. That is why clean ups should be done with the right protective equipment and a proper disinfectant, rather than a quick sweep.
Step two: fitting the netting
With the balcony clean, our technician drilled the fixing points into the wall and ran a tensioned wire system around the balcony openings. The net was then attached to the wire using hog rings, giving a tight, secure finish with no gaps for birds to squeeze through.
The result
The netting stops pigeons getting onto the balcony, so there is no more nesting and no more fouling. The tenant gets their balcony back, and the managing client has a long term solution instead of a recurring cleaning bill.
Why proofing is the right approach
Feral pigeons are wild birds and are covered by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which limits what can be done to them and their nests. Proofing methods such as netting are humane, legal and effective, because they remove the reason pigeons keep returning rather than dealing with the birds themselves.
Pigeons causing problems at your property?
Whether it is a single balcony or a whole block, we can survey, quote and fit the right proofing. Find out more about our pigeon control and bird proofing services, or call our team on 01702 520 060 or 01708 458 416.
