Whats everyone's opinion on best way to close up this gap to keep the birds out?

This is what someone tried in the past

Get some wood and nail it on there . If it needs to vent cut some strips of hardware cloth and slap stample it on there . Get a roll of hardware cloth and before you open it up take your saws all and cut the whole roll up to size . That's a trick shhh don't tell

You could finish out the outside with soffit and fascia. Fascia out of PT 1x4, soffit with 1/2" plywood with vents. Some pole buildings don't lend themselves to that though, depending on who set the trusses.

It's hard to see from the picture but it looks like a bug screen that has been put on loose and defeated by a larger pest. I would think about removing the bug screen and going back with some hardware cloth if they want the vent. If it is not possible to secure it properly I would probably add some type of trim.

Thanks guys, I believe it was just screen material. This barn will be my first bird job, I was thinking screwing hardware cloth to the 2x4s. She wants to keep it open up there so I won't be able to close it completely in. So I screw the hardware cloth up there?

Get a slap stapler . It will save money and hold better

I'd throw in some screws and washers they can stand some stress from time and animals.

If you use screws , get some pipe strap and run a strip along the top and bottom and run your screws into the holes . Screws wil just pull threw the wire if you don't . I know it's just for birds but might have a coon come by

I like the pipe strap idea!

I can't argue with pipe strap it will also seal the edge of your cloth. If not necessary to do that washers will keep the screws on the proper side of the hardware cloth and go faster.

Trapper paw we must of been writing at the same time I dint even see yours . Washer will do just fine to . I would still just staple it . Staples hold really well and there cheap . If it was on the outside I would screw it because they would rust out in time . They have stainless steel staples to I guess not cheap .

I believe you fellas need to get away from consumer grade handyman hardware cloth for repairs. It just isnt good material for permanent commercial or consumer repairs or professional use.It is cheap to use and readily available but not a good overall material to use in this industry.

The reason for this statement is that I have seen some real cheesy repair jobs done with the slap staple method that we have had to go in behind a budget repair job many times just a couple of years after it was installed due to rusting of material and staples rusting thru. In several cases squirrels and coon had made another re entry to these repaired areas.For birds and bats that kind of repair will suffice for a while but it just doesnt hold up well for the long haul.

Your geographical/environmental location plays a big role in material corrision potential as does the location of the job site.On site conditions with alot of trees,shading and moisture exposure, pines etc. can pose a very acidic setting that is very hard on some metals as well as wood deteriation.

There are other wire grid choices that are much better. 1/2" x 1/2" Gaw 16ga.is the better choice over all. It is much stronger and will last many years without corrosion, plus it can be painted nicely if you want to match a vent or other type of cover to blend better.It definitely is more expensive but that is bid into the job and will last many times longer.

Consumer grade wires and pipe strapping are not good install repair materials for long term exterior use. Some materials begin rusting in a few months in open weather and some low grade metal composites begin to bleed on sideing and painted structures. Ask me how I know this. That is why after 40 years doing this work we dont and wont use the materials mentioned.

Once you have done some of your work after a few years go back and drive by some work you have done and evaluate your repair materials in passing as this is how I found how poor the material quality was that I was using.That is when I learned about the value of GAW wire grid, vinyl coated grid and painting wire grids prior to install.

For larger jobs like that an air staple gun using stainless or nickel content staples will speed up the install and add alot of time to the fastener part of the job.Coated screws and washers will work very well and your most durable attachment point but that method will slow down the install but will most likely last forever with a heavier grid wire. Just some food for thought.

I use 1/2 x 1 " GAW

What's GAW mean? And where do I find it? The best gauge I can find locally is 19.

Galvinized wire . You could double up the wire if you think there's going to be a problem with what you have . It's a barn with birds . The slap stapler works good to tack the wire on before you add your screw . If you tack it on first you can get nice and tight . You could go 1/4 wire then go over it with 1 " + 2" wire that's a heavy ga . I would watch the bottom of that ladder I watch a guy brake both his arms when his ladder kicked out . Boy did he screem ,i can still hear it .You can't help but throw your arms out infront of you when the ladder kicks out . Sounds like you have done some framing so you know what I'm saying .

One more thing ,not wishing to sound like your mom ,but that bird crap is toxic . If your doing the clean up I would do that first . One thing I don't play with is bird crap . You might not see the dust but it's there . Take a change of cloths to . There's mites everywhere in that barn . Wouldn't want to have that all over your truck and kids

GAW means galvanized after weld, which means they weld the wire together and then run it through a zinc bath. Cheaper wire is GBW and rusts quickly at every contact point or every + in the wire. I get my wire from The Wire Cloth Man 973-328-1000, Lewis Field is another good supplier, also Fields Development 614-833-9610 call Doug and he can custom cut and ship sections if thats something you need and I would imagine Scott Balts would as well (330 trapper). My favorite fasteners are zinc coated pole barn screws with the rubber washers on them, they look nice, dont strip out and dont rust and bleed. I hope that helps.

like bob j , gaw and plastic coat wire is what i use for everything , i figure do it once and do it right

Yep !