How to attach mesh to brick and fibro?

[quotemepls]

Hi team

There's a gap all along the perimeter of my house (around 200 metres long) where the fibro and brickwork meet. It's big enough for bees to enter and set up home (which has happened repeatedly every spring over the past few years). I've attached a photo of the side of the house, and a photo of the gap (so looking from a perspective of lying on the ground and looking up towards the sky). I'm hoping to attach mesh to the outside of the house to prevent bees from entering. What's the best way to go about this? What mesh would you recommend,  and how would I afix it to the outside surface? I can't simply close the gap as the gaps provide ventilation. Thanks in advance!!

 

 

[EricL]

Hello @quotemepls 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about the gap on your brick and fibro wall.

I propose using Cyclone 610mm x 2m Aluminium Flyscreen cut into 100mm strips and holding it in place using Metal Mate 20 x 1.6mm 3m Aluminium Flat Bar. One bar to be attached to the fibro and one bar to be attached to the brick wall. The gap at the top can be covered with Selleys 430g White No More Gaps Exterior Gap Filler. On the condition that the flyscreen is not attacked by a rat or rodent the flyscreen should provide a long service life.

I propose using stainless steel screws to hold the aluminium bars in place. It will be necessary to use brick wall plugs to hold the screws in place on the brick wall.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Noyade for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[quotemepls]

Thanks @EricL! I love the flyscreen idea. Might there be a way to attach the fly screen with strong outdoor adhesive rather than a drilling solution? The place where the fibro meets the brickwork is about 2 metres above the ground (so drilling would be quite intensive, and I'd rather not drill into fibro or the brickwork). Thanks in advance!

[Dave-1 · Accepted solution]

Good Evening @quotemepls 

I have had a bee coloney try and start up within the walls of my house I was sitting there and watching this flight path of bees make a "beeline" towards the air gap in my brickwork.

My solution was to fill the gap with stainless steel wool and some with the yellow scubbing sponge. It stopped them in their tracks.

So Something like this Crommelin 965mm Custom Orb Superseal There are also various companies that manufacture specific strips dpending on the model of colourbond that you have. Any course sponge would work and I would just push up the strips so they wedge between the brick and metal.

Dave

[EricL]

Hello @quotemepls 

I believe @Dave-1's is easier to accomplish as you just need to push the deterrents into the gap. I'm sorry, but even if I were to suggest using an adhesive, you'll still need to get up to that high location and use tape to hold the assembly in place, it would therefore be better and less troublesome to just screw it in. I propose hiring scaffolding or perhaps engaging the services of a handy person to help you with this activity.

Please remember to take all necessary safety precautions when working at height. I suggest having a look at this guide - (2) How to use ladders safely by @Adam_W.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[quotemepls]

Thanks @Dave-1!! Super helpful. Yes I’ll need something quite coarse to permit air flow. The house is one of those old ones with internal vents, and which then uses gaps in the wall cavity to vent externally. Great idea, and no need for adhesive since the superseal would expand to fill the tiny bee sized gap. Many thanks!!

Yes - seeing a swarm of bees heading towards you and having them decide to reside where you live is really the stuff of nightmares!! Thanks again!! 

[quotemepls]

Thanks @EricL !