What is an eaves bird comb?
An eaves bird comb is a provision at the eaves that prevents birds from crawling under the roof tiles or behind the roof boarding and nesting there. On a tiled roof it follows the wavy underside of the bottom tiles, with a wavy edge or comb-like teeth. It is also called a bird stop or eaves filler, and in Dutch a vogelschroot. It can also keep out rats and mice.
Versions
- Plastic: the most common, light and inexpensive.
- Galvanised or stainless steel: sturdier, longer-lasting and more resistant to rodents and martens.
- Combined with an eaves profile: the comb is fixed to an eaves element that also regulates ventilation.
- For corrugated sheets: special profiles that follow the shape of the corrugated sheet.
An eaves comb is often fixed to the top of the lowest tile batten, sometimes to the underside as well.
Ventilation
An eaves comb is open enough to let air through. That is important: the space under the tiles must ventilate to remove moisture and condensation. A fully closed eaves can lead to moisture problems in the roof boarding and battens.
Birds and the law
Closing everything off is not always the aim. House sparrows and swifts depend on spaces under the tiles for nesting. In the Netherlands their permanent nest sites are protected all year round. In many other countries active nests are also legally protected, so check your local wildlife protection rules before renovating or re-roofing where birds breed, or have an ecologist take a look. A vogelvide is an alternative that closes off the roof but leaves a nesting space.
Tips
- Fit the comb so that it matches the tile profile closely; gaps of a few centimetres are already enough for a sparrow.
- On an existing roof, check whether the comb is still complete. Plastic becomes brittle after years.
- Fit an eaves comb outside the breeding season and only after you have established that there are no nests.
Related terms
- Eaves
- Vogelvide
- Bird deterrence
- Nest box
- Roof boarding
- Roof tile
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