Swift box roofs

[Mike Priaulx]

Hi all,

An unusual subject - someone in NE London has been making and installing Model 30 type boxes.

However, the lids are not screwed in and are blowing off in the wind.

So in summary:

The lids do blow off if not screwed in!

If anyone knows who this might be making them then let me know, and I'll tell them about this flaw.

I have seen a Model 30 lid blown off where it had a single screw each side, as the plywood inner roof must have given way leaving the screws in place...

so for windy locations a double screw connection (like the current Action for Swifts Model 30 boxes), or screwing down the roof from above, is maybe a good idea?

All the best,

Mike

[Machynlleth & District Swift Group]

Hi Mike,

I make the Model 30 boxes here in Wales. I get them flat pack and screw them together. Our initial batch of boxes (around 80 boxes) were made by local carpenters based on the John Stimpson model. The lids were screwed ‘upwards’ through the inert plastic plywood panel into an uPVC roof. The boxes had been up a couple of years when some of the uPVC roofs separated from the inner panel. This was a very worrying situation as someone could have been injured. Adhesive as well as screws were used to secure the roof onto the inner panel but some still came off in high winds. On our Model 30 project boxes ‘now’ I ensure that I screw no less than four stainless steel screws from the outside of the box into the inner plywood panel ‘and’ I also apply ‘Gorilla’ adhesive to secure the uPVC roof to the inner panel. I am confident that the roofs would never detach now on our present model. I’m probably ‘going over the top’ with my efforts to ensure that the roof stays on the box but I can sleep well at night confident that they won’t blow off and hurt someone!

If you are copying John Stimpson’s model 30 swift box make sure you use enough screws to secure the roof an inner panel. I have used bolts on some boxes but they are an expensive alternative. Now I use special stainless steel screws. 

Best wishes

Elfyn

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[Alistair]

I’ve also noted some locally built(unsure of the ply quality) ply only roofed nest boxes delaminating after a couple of years too…so if I do any more Zeist boxes they’ll have a upvc roof too…

Cheers

Alistair

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[Machynlleth & District Swift Group]

Hi,

The plywood we were initially using on our project swift boxes was from ‘Travis Perkins’ and certified ‘BS 1266’ standard but it was poor quality and like your experience Alistair the plywood roof started to delaminate after only being up a couple of years. Of course anything made of wood will rot eventually. We now source our plywood from an FSC certified supplier. 

Apparently according to our box supplier it’s down to the quality of the glue used in the plywood that determines the longevity of the wood used.

I mentioned in my last email that I fit robustly constructed uPVC roofs to my swift boxes. I ‘also’ give them a coat of non toxic water based wood preservative and following that I paint the exterior of the box with three coats of high grade water based white paint. Taking this course of action will extend the life of the box which is important because if swifts take up occupancy of a specific nest box then they may use the same box for several years or more so it’s important to provide your birds with good quality boxes. 

Regards

Elfyn

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[Dick Newell]

If you can keep wood out of the sun and the rain, then quality wood properly treated should last indefinitely.

Dick

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[Cally Smith Huntly & District Swift Group]

It worries me that a company like Travis Perkins are NOT supplying FSC certified ply in any case.

Cally

[Mike Priaulx]

Hi all,

Catching up on some old posts - we visited this site in Redbridge where some box roofs blew off, and we now have some insight about what happened.

Eight John Stimpson boxes were installed together and it seems a local tradesperson was hired to fit them, but he fitted the boxes without the lid, then realised they were too close together for him to get his screwdriver in and attach the lid. He then left most of the boxes with the lids fitted, but not screwed in!

(We've now securely attached the lids using the ingenious invention of a short screwdriver.)

So just an errant tradesperson in this case (perhaps if you're accompanying one bring a short screwdriver!),

although the replies to my original post have highlighted that the secureness of the lids does need to be considered especially in windy locations.

It is possible to lose a lid which has only one screw each side in stormy weather.

Boxes made by "Men's Sheds" are a great idea in principle but there have been a couple in London where the lid blew off quite quickly in spring weather, so they must have had a design or construction flaw.

So it's probably best to check those quite carefully before installing.

All the best,

Mike

Islington & Hackney Swifts Groups

[Dick Newell]

If you cannot get a screw into the side because no space for a screwdriver, then you can also insert a screw in the front to hold the lid down.

Dick

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[Cally Smith]

Thanks Mike

It is always worth checking a prototype before going ahead with a whole batch!  We had the same with one mens shed and had a few pointers for them!  We now ask them to produce one box first!

Cally

Cally Smith 

Founder of NES Swifts (formerly Huntly Swift Group)

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