The nature of this product inevitably means working at height, so if you are not comfortable accessing your roof or working with ladders, please do contact someone who is. The system is easy to install, it is simply siliconed into place, so any property maintenance person or pest controller will be able to help you.
Step 1 - Clean the Area: As the Defender Curved Ridge Anti-topple System is siliconed into position, it is necessary to prepare the area first. If birds have been perching on the tiles, it is very important to thoroughly clean the area to ensure a good fix with the silicone. All bird guano, moss, lichen and any loose debris should be removed.
We would recommend damping down the debris first, preferably using a disinfectant like
Germ Clear™ Bird Droppings Disinfectant Spray. This stops the cleaner from breathing in any dry droppings, which could potentially cause respiratory illnesses. After it's been left to soak in, use a stiff brush, a scraper and warm soapy water to remove the dirt. Leave the area to dry fully before beginning installation.
If you would like further advice on cleaning bird droppings safely, please refer to our guide
"How to Safely Remove Bird Droppings From Your Property".
Step 2 - Fixing Methods: Defender® Pigeon Spike Fixing Silicone is the silicone we recommend to use with the Defender Curved Ridge Anti-topple System. It is specifically formulated to create a strong bond with the polycarbonate base of our Defender spikes.
Step 3 - Silicone: A caulking gun is required to use in conjunction with our Defender Silicone tubes; if you don’t already have one, they can be purchased on our accessories page. We also have a handy guide on
"How to use a Caulking Gun" if you haven't used one before.
Using the caulking gun, squeeze a bead of silicone about 8 mm wide along the entire length of the base of the Curved Ridge Spike, including along the stabilisers. Always check the suitability of surfaces for use with our Defender® Silicone. For more information, please visit the product page :
Defender® Pigeon Spike Fixing Silicone
Step 4 - Positioning: You can position a couple of strips of the Defender Curved Ridge Spike at the ends of the roof to stop birds from making a mess down the side of the building or on the area below. However, birds will be able to sit on the unprotected parts of the ridge.
If the aim is to banish the birds entirely, you must place the Defender Curved Ridge Spike Anti-topple System along the whole length. Do not leave any gaps between the strips as birds will try to land in these spaces. To finish a length exactly, there are snapping points between the stabilisers which can be snapped by hand. These shorter lengths can then be siliconed into place to finish the job.
Step 5 – Other Sections: As access could be tricky it’s worthwhile considering other areas that may need proofing, for example, the chimney stack and pot or even the aerial. If seagulls or pigeons liked to perch on your ridge, they might just move to the next convenient area. Take a look at the roofing section of the ‘Not Sure What to Buy’ page for examples of other areas on the roof which might need birdproofing.