The removal of Guano (bird droppings) is something that should be taken care of by professionals. Not only does it pose a health and safety risk but if left it can actually damage the building fabric due to its acidity. There is also the risk of infestations of blood-feeding insects which could transfer disease to humans.
Our team of experts will not only remove the guano but will sanitise the area and provide bird proofing to prevent further habitation.
Guano Removal & Sanitising FAQ's
Q: Why is it that pigeon droppings cause problems?
The most common guano-related problem is the soiling of external areas of a building as a result of overnight roosting (and breeding) and/or daytime perching (where pigeons are using a building as a vantage point to exploit a food source). Of the two problems, overnight roosting/breeding problems are the most serious, normally resulting in much larger quantities of pigeon droppings being present than with daytime perching. This is because when pigeons are exploiting a food source during the daytime they are constantly on the move, checking each of their numerous feeding sites and never spending long on one site. When the birds are roosting, however, they are static for anything up to 16 hours depending on the time of year. In the summer months they may only be in their roosting sites for 8-10 hours, but in winter it can be as long as 16 hours and in some cases even longer.
Q: Are pigeons and their droppings a danger to human health?
Much is made of the potential to contract a disease from contact with pigeon droppings, but this is a myth and the likelihood of a human being contracting a disease from contact with pigeons or their excrement is virtually nil. Most experts are of the opinion that human contact with pigeons and/or their excrement is no more harmful than contact with a caged bird or any other family pet. The only way in which pigeon guano can have a detrimental effect on human health is where an individual who has a pre-existing respiratory condition comes into contact with large volumes of very well dried guano. In these cases it is possible that the inhalation of dust, created when large quantities of well-dried guano are disturbed, may irritate the bronchial passages.
Q: In what circumstances should bird droppings be removed and is it necessary to instruct a specialist contractor to undertake these works?
lthough bird guano cannot be considered to be a health risk in anything other than extreme cases it can severely compromise the aesthetics of a building and large quantities of well-dried guano in, for example, a roof void can cause smells and attract insects. It is always wise, therefore, to remove guano, whether it is random soiling on the exterior of a building or exists in large quantities within a building. There will, of course, be instances where the scale of the problem is beyond the capability of an individual and in these circumstances a specialist cleaning company, like RM Contractors would be the only option. A specialist cleaning company would normally be called in for the clearance of guano in large-scale roosts that have been used for many years. In these circumstances it may even be necessary to use breathing apparatus if there are large quantities of well-dried guano present.