Tablesaw or handsaw
Caulking gun
Paintbrushes
Tape measure
1.5 inch galvanized finishing nails
Waterproof glue
Waterproof caulk
Exterior grade plywood
Cut your front, back, and side pieces to shape, and then cut them into two pieces. These two new parts will be assembled above each other to recreate the original piece, but with a 1/4” gap for ventilation. They will be held together by the trim and spacing strips.
You will need to cut 1/16” deep grooves into the interior sides of the front and back sides, as well as both sides of all of the partition boards. This makes it easier for the bats to grip the sides. The grooves should run horizontally and be 1/4” apart. Mitre saws work best for this.
Apply two coats of dark stain to the interior parts of the bat house. Bats prefer the dark and the stain will help protect the wood. Don’t use paint, as it might fill in the grooves you created.
Glue and nail all the boards together
Add caulking between all of the pieces of wood so that there aren’t any gaps left for heat to escape.
Use an exterior primer to protect the house from mold and plants, and then use a dark coloured paint. The further north you are, the darker your paint should be. If you live somewhere that’s usually warm, use a lighter colour or white.
Bat houses should be mounted 15-20 feet above the ground on poles or buildings, so that they are protected from predators. It should face south or south-east, and needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. There should be a lot of open space in front of the bat house so that it’s easier for the bats to fly in and out, and fresh water available (such as a stream or lake) within 400 metres (0.25 miles).