I started on my first bat job yesterday. All of my knowledge on bat work came over the phone or reading the archives here. I would appreciate it if you folks would critique my work.

I will start with my original inspection photos. You will notice somebody else attempted to stop them before.

Ok you found some spots...what it is you want graded on ?

This screening isn't your final work is it ???

The rest is my work.

No, that wasn't me at all. Those were attempts by the previous homeowner who "doesn't know of any bat problem"

Now that I look at them, I am not very impressed with these photos. They were taken during the work and don't really show my finished work. I will get better pics when I go back to finish it.

Lol I see that all the time where someone buys
A house and the previous owner didn't know they
Had bats but theres 2 inches of fresh blown in cellulose
Over 6 inches of guana! Or the is foam sealant everywhere
On the inside of the attic around the chimney and gable
Vents!
Looks good for your first bat job, just make sure
EVERYTHING is sealed up!

I was told to seal anything a pen could fit through. The homeowners are quite happy just with the wasps I have killed and sealed out.

The bats will test your skill grasshopper...

Use solid blocks when you use the tube excluders; except for small, inconsequential gaps (< 1/8"), the only air going in or out should be thru the excluders. This is how bats find the way out.

I always figured it was habbit...over air currents. Otherwise they would be plastered to the inside of soffit vents screaming "let me out!".

OK, second half. Following the advice above I went back and flush mounted the excluders. In the process I located and put valves in a few new locations. I managed to leave my camera at home that day. But they were all flush mounted plastic tubes sealed in to the best of my ability.

I went back yesterday and finished the job. The bigger gaps were filled with foam, then covered by metal lathe. After that I glazed it with either caulking or paint.
All gaps I found were sealed.
If I am doing something dumb tell me.
Without order here are my repairs. I was also trying to reduce some wasp problems they were having.

Not overly pleased with my paint job. But it really isn't visible from the ground anyway.





Yes I was harnessed in

That screen is screwed down. Just hard to see because of the paint.

John experience is the best teacher. I am sure you learned a a lot.

Is the customer happy with your work?

The important question is if they end up with bats next year how are you going to address it.

Call backs can be a real pain even expensive but there is no better way to learn then see your own work with a fresh pair of eyes next bat season.

I will warranty this work for two years. Especially since it is most likely my fault if they get back in.

This was what she wrote with some photos she sent me after I was done. She seemed to think it was scary that I was on top of the garage LOL.

"These were from my cell-phone, so they are not of the best quality, but enough to scare anyone's mother. You are our rock-star, John. Thank you for everything you have done for us. Please know if you'd like references or a website accolade...we'd be happy to write one...honored even!



All our appreciation,"

Sounds like if you honor your work you will always be their rock star !!

Say goodbye to summer fun:) When everyone is enjoying that July-August summer trip you will be like the rest of us running around like a mad man. Don't forget to tie the ladders down before leaving a job:)(don't ask)....

LOL so true, don't forget to take the burrito, or drink off the toolbox in the bed of your truck too.

True, experience IS a great teacher, but you can put yourself in a much better position if you first have formal education on the subject. Additionally, when the job is between you and local competitors (and/or your bid is higher) credentials give the customer a level of confidence in your abilities when they're weighing your proposal against others. I highly recommend Eric Arnold's Bat Management course and the NWCOA National Bat Standards course (haters, please take a break today. I'm trying to help the guy). Your goals should always be safety of the customer/humans, security of the property, safety/well being of the resource (bats), and security of your reputation/business/paycheck. With formal classroom and field work, and then more OJT, you'll be armed with the wisdom and experience required to properly secure the property, properly vent bats without stressing them into finding other exit options (e.g. into the living space) or infecting them with WNS fungus, safely remove biohazardous materials (guano and bat bugs/eggs), and ensure there are no other options for bat reinfestation during the warranty period. You'll also want to aim for securing property without exposing your sealing materials. I tell customers that if they can't see any of my sealing products, then I did my job right. My goal is to not change the look of the architecture with my work. Whenever possible, there should be no exposed foams or sealants; gable screening and attaching hardware is painted to match louver colors so they blend in (when painted to match, 2nd story screening is very hard to see with the naked eye and 3rd story impossible to see). Wood sealing products should be similar or complimentary species/color of wood, stained or painted to match as well. Construction gap sealing should look professional if no gutters are installed, and hidden well when installed above gutters. All this will take time and practice, but the goal is to get the job done right the first time so the customer is pleased with the results (bats gone, house secure) and the look (low/no profile proofing products), and you don't have to come back to do any costly followup work. That will earn you lots of referral business.

That it is and many of us have paid dearly for our experience. That's why I'll second the motion on gaining a formal education on the subject if for no other reason than to save yourself some of the more painful experiences. I also consider it rather bad form to gain experience at the cost of others, namely your customers. It is they who suffer our mistakes.

Fortunately we are in a much better state today than it once was as many of us will gladly share if asked so feel free to ask me at anytime. Not that I really know anythiung but if I can help.

A portion of the money I am making in these jobs is being set aside for education. I bought and watched the McMillan DvDs, which was a bit of a mistake. But seeing that I didn't pay half the retail price for them I am not out much. Will be taking the online course from UNL shortly and hopefully some hands on training later.
As is before I start something new I do all the research I can. Have memorized half the archives on here. And may have to take out a loan to pay of the phone bill lol.

I kind of work with a "No excuse" motto. There really is no excuse for not doing it right. The bat job that is posted on this thread. I missed a couple of entrances and had to go back, that is when I fixed the other excluders. They were not charged for that trip. Its my fault and I fixed it.
As is I am doing the best I can to blend in my repairs. still have a bit to learn in that department. But getting there.

I will say that the UNL course is rather expensive, but u will either learn it or u won't receive your passing 80%... The test is very challenging I thought, and got a 77% the first time... I reread the book, did all the questions at the end of each module,memorized as much as i could and passed the second round... Long story short, I would recommend the course to anyone that has their heart set on doing this kind of work... You can find the same info that is in the UNL course anywhere, but let me tell you, you won't just read it, u will know it if u plan to pass that test...

Good attitude and definitely the right thing to do. Customers appreciate a warranty and an ethic that says I will back up my work and word gets around. I've gathered more new clients because others didn't offer to fix anything they did and those clients told others about me and about the other company that didn't come back again...

Keep it up!

Just got a call for bats. This was was referred to me by a previous customer. Probably half of all my referrals come that way.

We are trying to come up with a way to band the bats so that when they get relocated they can be our referrals.

Paul bands do not work, you need a banner so they can read it when the bats fly out of the roost. Another Idea would be gps tracker, and leave a note in the mailbox telling them they have bats.

Great minds at work!