We use Western Red Cedar and stainless steel hardware. Western Red Cedar is naturally rot and bug resistant and it’s also an absolutely beautiful wood. We also apply a coat of exterior grade tinted stain and sealer for an added layer of protection. Stainless Steel hardware is great for outdoor use and is corrosion resistant in acid wood. It also looks great. We also use a clear residential grade silicone to seal all seams in the wood.

Click here to see what other features set BatBnBs apart from other bat houses.

 

Yes, you can! In fact, experts have shown that painting a bat house can increase occupancy rates by as much as 50%. Bat houses in warmer areas, such as the southern United States, may benefit from light colored paint, while colder areas, such as the northern U. S. and Canada, may benefit from a darker color to help absorb more warmth from the sun. Check out painting recommendations page for shade recommendations based on your location.

Any kind of outdoor paint works well, but we recommend using a water-based paint as they're usually less odiferous and are slightly easier to clean up.

Also you can leave the landing pad unpainted, but if you want to paint it, please just put a light coat on so that the paint doesn't fill the grooves that the bats need to grip onto.

Additionally, if you decide to paint, you will want to use some 120-220 grit sandpaper on your BatBnB to remove most of the applied sealer and prep the wood surface for the paint to adhere effectively.

Please see our painting recommendations page for more information!