| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How much does solar panel bird proofing cost in Melbourne? | From $349. Most residential jobs fall between $349 and $1,500, depending on the number of panels, the roof pitch, the roof height and whether nest removal is needed first. You get a fixed written price after the inspection. |
| How long does it take? | Most jobs are completed in a single visit. A standard residential array usually takes around two to four hours on the day. |
| How soon can you get out? | Same day and next day bookings are available, subject to technician availability. |
| Do the birds and the nest have to be removed first? | Yes. Mesh fitted over a nest traps the material against the roof, holds moisture and leaves the droppings and debris under your panels. It would also trap anything still living under there, which we will not do. |
Same day and next day bookings are available, subject to technician availability. We quote before we start, and the price you are quoted is the price you pay. There is no call out fee.
If you are seeing two or more of these, it is worth having someone look under the array.
Pigeon proofing solar panels is the same job as bird proofing, with one difference that matters. Pigeons come back to a spot that has worked for them before, and they do not come back alone. Clearing a pigeon nest without sealing the array usually buys a season rather than fixing the problem.
Mynas and sparrows use the same space. They are smaller, so the size of the hole in the mesh is what keeps them out. A barrier sized for pigeons alone will not stop a myna.
Effective solar panel pigeon protection comes down to closing the access point. Deterrents on their own do not hold against birds that have already settled in.
Bird proofing closes the way in.
Established nesting activity generally needs both. Removal on its own leaves the access point open, and a sheltered roof space that has been used once tends to be found again. That is why we recommend exclusion work after removal, rather than only clearing the current nest.
Corners, joins and points where the array changes shape around a vent or a skylight are common places for birds to find access, so those get checked first. We also check the tiles immediately beside the mounting rails, because on older Melbourne homes with terracotta tiles those tiles can already be cracked or lifted from the original solar installation. Fitting mesh over a compromised tile creates a problem later, so we flag it in writing before we quote.
We do not fit mesh over an existing nest. It traps the material, holds moisture against the roof and leaves the reason the birds came sitting under your panels.
It clips to the panel frame. No drilling, no screws through the frame or the glass. On a steeper roof we add fixings along the bottom edge, because that edge is where a poorly fitted installation tends to lift.
The mesh is cut to the array rather than supplied as a fixed kit, which is what allows it to close off irregular angles and the points where an array steps around a roof feature.
The mesh has a 12 millimetre aperture. That size matters, because bird protection for solar panels is only as good as the smallest gap left in it. Too large and mynas and sparrows still get through. Too small and it restricts the airflow the panels rely on.
The mesh and the workmanship are covered by a five year warranty.
Birds that have been using the array will often keep landing on the roof for a while after it is fitted. That on its own is not a sign the work has failed. What matters is whether they can still get underneath the panels.
What to look for in the weeks after:
If you notice either of the last two, call us on (03) 9034 5957 and we will come back and look at it.
Beyond that, a quick look from the ground once a year is enough. If the mesh line still sits flush against the roof on all sides, it is doing its job.
The facilities manager of a warehouse in Laverton North contacted Tom’s Pest Control Melbourne after a routine WHS audit identified a bird contamination issue. Feral pigeons had established a roost inside the warehouse roof void, accessed through open eave vents along the northern face of the building. Droppings were accumulating on pallet racking in the storage area below, creating both a contamination risk for the goods stored there and a slip hazard on the warehouse floor.
The facility had previously had bird spikes installed along the external roof ridge by another contractor approximately 18 months earlier. The spikes had not resolved the activity because the pigeons were not entering from the ridge. They were flying directly into the open eave vents, which the spikes did not address. The facilities manager needed documentation of the treatment for the WHS audit response and required work to be completed outside of business hours to avoid disruption to warehouse operations.
Our technician conducted a full site assessment from the ground and from an elevated work platform. The inspection confirmed 14 open eave vent openings along the northern and western elevations, each wide enough for a pigeon to pass through without difficulty. Two of the openings had active nesting material visible from the EWP.
Inside the roof void, accessed through a service hatch, the technician identified three established roosting areas along the northern purlin line. Fresh and accumulated droppings covered the purlins and the insulation batts across a span of approximately 12 metres. Droppings had penetrated through gaps in the ceiling lining in two locations, which explained the contamination reaching the racking below.
The eave spikes installed by the previous contractor were intact and in good condition but positioned on the external fascia face, not across the eave vent openings. They had not deterred entry at all because the birds were flying directly into the vents rather than landing on the external fascia surface.
The work was carried out across two nights to avoid disrupting warehouse operations during the day shift. On the first night, our team accessed the roof void and removed all nesting material and droppings from the three roosting zones, working in full PPE. Waste was bagged and removed from site. The ceiling lining penetrations were identified and flagged in the written report for the facilities manager to arrange repair by a building contractor.
All 14 eave vent openings were fitted with stainless steel bird-proof mesh fixed to the internal face of the eave structure, allowing ventilation to continue while physically blocking pigeon entry. The aperture specification was selected for feral pigeon exclusion. Each fixing point was secured to the structural frame, not to the lining, to ensure the installation remained intact under normal building movement and wind load.
On the second night, a UV-stabilised polyethylene netting system was installed across the full span of the northern roof void interior as a secondary barrier, suspended from the purlin line at the eave wall junction. This created a belt-and-suspenders approach: the vent mesh as the primary exclusion point, and the interior netting as a secondary line of defence if any vent mesh fixing were to work loose over time.
A written scope of works, before and after photographs, and a signed completion report were provided to the facilities manager the morning after the second night’s work, in the format required for the WHS audit response.
All eave vent openings sealed. Nesting material removed from roof void. Interior netting installed as secondary barrier. Written compliance documentation provided within 24 hours of completion. No further pigeon activity reported at three-month follow-up.
Commercial bird control enquiry: Call (03) 9034 5957 for a site assessment, written scope, and after-hours scheduling across Melbourne’s industrial precincts.
When we quote a job, the panel count and the roof pitch are the two things we look at first. Four things move the price.
Two jobs with the same panel count can still price differently. Access underneath the array and the condition of the roof surface change how much work is actually involved, and that is why we quote after the inspection rather than over the phone.
You get a fixed written price. No call out fee, and no additions once the job is finished.
For warehouses, factories, loading docks and roof voids the job is bird netting rather than panel mesh. That is covered on our bird netting for Melbourne properties page.
If your suburb is not listed, it is still worth calling. See our areas we serve page for the full list.
What you get from us:
Very friendly, provided great feedback and suggestions and explained the process well. Report was available very promptly. Certainly recommend the team and we’ll be using them again for our next check.
Roman from Tom’s pest control did the job for me and he was amazing! So patient as he had to wait for a tradesman to finish repairing inside. He was very kind and explained everything to me. I really recommend this company
Have used Tom’s Pest Control for quite a few years. Very punctual, and know what they are doing, at a fair price. Would recommend.
James came on time and quickly assured me that the previous treatment by Tom’s Pest Control had been effective. I was grateful for the prompt service and reassured by James’ written report.
Tom’s Pest Control was very professional and prompt with communicating cost & booking appointment.
Pricing was fair and no extra hidden costs!!
Highly recommend!!
Recently had a annual termite inspection from Tom’s Pest Control. Company communicated their appointment time, showed up as scheduled, completed a very professional inspection by friendly and informed rep, and provided a detailed report. No complaints
Great prices. Brendan is very knowledgeable, helpful and professional. He did a thorough inspection of my double storey house. I’m very happy with the work and will recommend friends to get their services.
I was not home but my daughter told me the gentleman who attended was very professional. She had the baby asleep and he took particular care not to make too much noise. Will definitely be using Tom’s in the future.
David did an excellent job. He was very thorough and detailed in assessing the situation in my apartment and cooperated with his team of experts to ensure he can give the best advice and solution to my pest issue. I was very happy with the whole process of engaging Tom’s pest control and appreciated their responsiveness, professionality and honesty.
Excellent, professional and great service.A thorough inspection for termites and clear communication Highly recommend them to anyone. And will happily use their service again Great Job!!
Clear the nest and debris out first, then seal the perimeter of the array with mesh. That is what solar panel pigeon proofing is. Doing only the first half leaves the access point open. Deterrents such as plastic owls, reflective tape and ultrasonic devices often become less effective as birds get used to them.
DIY kits are available, but installing mesh means working at height and fitting it accurately around the full array. Gaps at the corners, at the joins and along the lower edge where the mesh meets the roof are the points where birds get back underneath. For elevated, steep or difficult to access roofs, or where there is already a nest in place, professional installation is recommended.
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Tell us your suburb, roughly how many panels you have and what you are hearing, and we will book an inspection and give you a fixed written price.
CTA Call (03) 9034 5957 or quote form online.
Written by David Lyon, AEPMA Certified Field Biologist, Tom’s Pest Control Melbourne.
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