How do you remove Bird droppings on rafters

[Itsahobby]

Hi all,
My new place has a open pole barn on it. I am contemplating converting it to a shop, but the rafters are covered in bird droppings.
Is there a efficient, none damaging way to clean it off?

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[nadogail]

Pressure Washer?

 

[matt_i]

N95 and a putty knife and shop vac with HEPA filter is coming to mind.

Its nasty stuff and will be a strong reminder that it deserves appropriate treatment to exclude birds in the future. You said new place so you probably didn't create the issue but I'd have the long-term remediation on site to start installing as soon as you clean it.

 

[gunguy]

Take Matt's PPE warning seriously. A friend almost died from histoplasmosis.

Jim

 

[Itsahobby]

Thanks for the advice.
Yep, well aware of the dangers. One of my coworkers son spent a long time in the hospital and his lungs will never be the same.
As far as cleaning goes, it's a pretty large building, scraping with a putty knife would take a long time.

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[astroracer]

Scaffolding and a pressure washer. An electric one would do the job. Hit it with the pressure washer and follow that with a wire brush then rinse it off. This will also knock the dust down. Use the same pressure washer to clean the floor, blow that **** right out the door.
Mark

 

[ddawg16]

As the others have said.....and do it on a dry warm day...the rafters will dry out in no time

If it was me....full PPE suit...N95 and face shield.

Give it all quick wet down....that will loosen up the BS (Bird ****)....then go back with the real wash down.

Take as much stuff out of there before you wash it down. Cover with plastic anything you don't want getting wet.

And like Astro said....wash out the floor last....and where ever it goes on the ground, give that a good soaking as well to make sure there is no BS dust floating around

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/histoplasmosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20373495

 

[Itsahobby]

Thanks all.
Pressure washer, it is then.


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[ddawg16]

And.....mmmmm.....post up some pics

 

[bob15]

pressure washer is the quickest and easiest and worked for me.

 

[santagary]

Take Matt's PPE warning seriously. A friend almost died from histoplasmosis.

Jim

Histoplasmosis is no laughing matter to be sure. I nearly died from it also back in '68 in Ohio. There are two types...one affecting the body, dystemic and one the blood, hystemic. 50 years ago it was referred to as pigeon fever, but now with the infestation of starlings in the Ohio river valley there are injections given kids to prevent them getting the disease. Mask up and spray with diluted bleach in your power washer, then put the anti-bird roosting spiked strips along the tops of all roosting surfaces. The spores I inhaled (in the dust), were over 100 years old in an 1870's house I was remodeling. They, the spores in chicken and bird ****, were mixed with the surrounding dirt to make a kind of concrete called "noggin" and served as a fire break to cement bricks together between the hand hewn studs during the houses' construction. Forewarned is forearmed.

 

[rburke65]

Ya keep your distance from the pop. Pressure washer with some added bleach might be a good idea ...during and with the rinse,

 

[Dragfluid]

As the others have said.....and do it on a dry warm day...the rafters will dry out in no time

If it was me....full PPE suit...N95 and face shield.

Give it all quick wet down....that will loosen up the BS (Bird ****)....then go back with the real wash down.

Take as much stuff out of there before you wash it down. Cover with plastic anything you don't want getting wet.

And like Astro said....wash out the floor last....and where ever it goes on the ground, give that a good soaking as well to make sure there is no BS dust floating around

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/histoplasmosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20373495

And then a .410 afterwards.

 

[Skyking1992]

I don't have much to add, but thought I'd share this.

I'm the treasurer at my church. We've spent over $250,000 restoring two steeples. $30,000 of that was to remove the pigeon poop. The guys went in with hazmat suits and spent several days cleaning, then disinfecting. They said the poop was a foot deep and even found dead carcasses.

Glad it wasn't my job!

 

[Milton Shaw]

Pressure washer with a wall extension wand and a gutter attachment to get it to blow down wards. No scaffolding and climbing required. Do were PPP (breathing and skin protection) and wash everything down that it drips on.

 

[brownbagg]

12 gauge

 

[astroracer]

Pressure washer with a wall extension wand and a gutter attachment to get it to blow down wards. No scaffolding and climbing required. Do were PPP (breathing and skin protection) and wash everything down that it drips on.

No, "someone" needs to be up there to verify ALL of the **** is gone. I use one of those gutter extensions on my pressure washer but I still need to see what, if anything, I missed and I usually need to go back a few times and respray. Besides, doing this from the ground makes it very hard to see with all of the overspray. Being able to stand "over" the work will be a benefit.
If renting a good scaffold is what it takes, that is what is recommended.
Mark

 

[dereksummers]

I don't have much to add, but thought I'd share this.

I'm the treasurer at my church. We've spent over $250,000 restoring two steeples. $30,000 of that was to remove the pigeon poop. The guys went in with hazmat suits and spent several days cleaning, then disinfecting. They said the poop was a foot deep and even found dead carcasses.

Glad it wasn't my job!

Sheesh.

Have nothing to add, OP, but just a piece of advice. To prevent situations like this in the future, as matt_i said, I can recommend these noise makers that let off a very high pitched whistle (I got mine here). I had one at the workplace in the past when we have dealt with crows and pigeons. It was quite effective - they have left the place after the installment.

 

[pepi]

How do you remove Bird droppings on rafters>> When dry