The best way to put up your BatBnB up on a brick surface is to still use the mounting system that was included with your purchase. However, instead of using wood screws we recommend using Tapcon masonry fasteners such as these which you should be able to pick up at any big box hardware store. Use the pre-drilled holes on the mounting bracket as a template for pre-drilling into your masonry surface.

To be sure that the mounting bracket doesn't split when the tapcons are inserted, I would widen the pre-drilled holes slightly to accommodate the diameter of the fasteners you purchase. I would also caution against overtightening the fasteners, as this could also cause the bracket to split.

In all cases, we recommend that you ensure there is adequate penetration and hold of the mounting bracket fasteners into structural material that they will support and withstand the weight of your BatBnB unit once mounted. Longer fasteners may be required to ensure proper penetration into structural material.

See BatBnB’s hanging guide for additional details!

 

We have learned that our mounting bracket, the associated hardware, and the mounting guide can slide into your BatBnB’s chambers during shipment and get stuck. If you can’t find the included items check in the chambers first. If you do find the items stuck in a chamber, simply use a long slender stick or tool to dislodge the items. If you don’t find the items stuck inside the chambers, check the box once more and if you are sure you’ve received none of the included items, please contact us immediately.

support@batbnb.com

 

To mount to a vinyl surface may require longer or a different type of fasteners than those which are included with your purchase of a BatBnB, depending on the substrate of your vinyl siding. The easiest place to attach the mounting bracket is any point where the profile of the vinyl siding is closest to the substrate material, so the mounting bracket can be attached without deforming the profile of the vinyl siding in an unsightly way.

Vinyl siding can also create obstructions above the mounting bracket which can prevent the cleats from fully locking on to the bracket. This aspect needs to be taken into account when picking your spot for mounting to your vinyl siding.

In all cases, we recommend that you ensure there is adequate penetration and hold of the mounting bracket fasteners into structural material that they will support and withstand the weight of your BatBnB unit once mounted. Longer fasteners may be required to ensure proper penetration into structural material, as well as to avoid tightening the mounting bracket to the substrate material to the point of deforming the vinyl profile.   

For instance, frequently the vinyl siding substrate of is a layer of plywood sheathing which is fastened to a stud wall. This case would require fasters made for use with wood materials.

 

Most high-quality bat houses are occupied within a few months to a year. I would re-evaluate the appropriateness of the location if after two years your bat houses still haven’t been occupied. Some of the most successful houses that Merlin Tuttle has observed took 12-18 months to be occupied. There was one that was on a shaded side of a building went unused for five years. But when moved to a sunny spot just 50 feet away on the same building, it attracted more than it could hold in just a few months. Some were actually hanging out the bottom or clinging to the outside, apparently desperate to stay with their colony. Always feel free to email us photos of your BatBnB and we can give you an evaluation on the location you’ve selected. Location is key!