BIRD CONTROL WITH GRAVEL BINDER

Project QuickStats

ROOFTOP GRAVEL BINDER

Some great photos below show the the use of StoneSet’s Pour On Gravel binder as an alternative bird control solution, to lock together decorative pebble and rooftop ballast.

Located in a densely populated commercial centre of St.Leonards north of Sydney, the rooftop ballast at this Commercial block was at risk of being picked up and removed by birds onto pedestrians and traffic below.

The Northside Group Clinic Health facility had multiple levels that overlooked the rooftop area. Whilst the area could not be trafficked (other than services and facilities access) many of the private rooms were on levels higher than the rooftop ballast section as shown in the photos below.

BALLAST STONE BINDING

Specified by architects, these large pebbles serve a highly useful purpose of absorbing the Sun’s UV rays and preventing them from damaging the roof’s waterproofing layer.

The larger pebble is normally about 40mm great looking and functional finish for rooftops – there is one major problem, and that is those pebbles falling off the top of your multi-storey building!

The legal reality is the buildings owner is responsible for peoples safety in and around their property. Unfortunately this makes the Owners Corporation (OC) of residential Strata
Title complex’s liable for damage caused by birds dropping loose stone from the complex rooftop.

That doesn’t stop the confusion between the OC or anyone in the public unlucky enough to have a stone dropped on themselves or their car! The photo above was taken near Strathfield NSW where the OC had obviously had a prior incident, taking it upon themselves to stop people parking in at-risk locations.

This shortcoming leads to investigation into various Bird control measures. Employed for various reasons, ranging from safety, right through to facade aesthetics, where the mess from bird poo, nests and other organic matter build up can detract significantly from a buildings appearance.

BIRD DETURANTS ARE COMPLICATED

Mechanical bird control measures such as bird spikes and electrified wires are visually obtrusive. For and for large sections of ballast stone rooftops such as this one, they can not be relied upon.

Bird netting would have proven particularly visually obtrusive and unbecoming of a modern facilities appearance. There is also the risk of animal cruelty as birds have been reported being stuck in nets recently in the media.

The other shortcoming of this old fashioned approach to pest control was the high winds generated in commercial districts. During storms these wind speeds can become cyclonic, and rip older netting that has been damaged by UV exposure.

POUR’ON IDEAL ROOFTOP BIRD CONTROL

The whole reason natural, loose stone is architecturally specified for rooftops is to protect waterproofing membrane (a man-made, petrochemical product) from the damaging effects of the Sun’s UV rays.

Whilst netting is effective and reliable in the short term, it is still a plastic, polyethylene based material. Regardless of netting being UV stabilised and high density woven, it is constantly under tension and exposed to high winds and UV all day, every day.

Alternatively, the PourOn biding resin is never exposed to the sun! After being poured over dry, existing rooftop stone the polyurethane trickles down, coating the stone and curing dry in 12 hours. This binds the stone into a solid, cross – linked matrix under the surface, interlocking at multiple touch points between the stone.

Because there is no UV damage or water pooling on the surface layers, there is little to no friction, erosion and UV degradation of the binder. What is left is a strongly bound stone matrix covering the waterproofing.

CONTACT US FOR PEST SOLUTIONS

Modern facilities require modern solutions! So if you are a building manager or architect and have a new commercial development like this healthcare facility in a high density commercial district – call us! Lets discuss the option of investing in a durable solution and avoid unclean look of worn and damaged bird netting in years to come!Share