Things You'll Need:
- 1/2-inch plywood sheets
- Pencil
- Measuring tape
- Circular saw
- Furring strip
- 1 1/4-inch deck or exterior-grade screws
- Screwdriver
- Caulk and caulking gun
- Stain, exterior-grade
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Step 1
Cut 3 pieces of 1/2-inch plywood into the following dimensions: one 26 1/2 inches by 24 inches, one 16 1/2 inches by 24 inches and one 5 inches by 24 inches.
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Step 2
Make lines with a pencil 1/2-inch apart along the entire length of the back piece (26 1/2 by 24-inch piece of plywood). Then cut along the lines with a circular saw to a depth of about 1/16-inch.
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Step 3
Apply a dark stain to the interior parts of the plywood. Don't use paint, as this fills in the grooves cut in Step 2.
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Step 4
Measure and cut the furring strip into three pieces: one 24 inches in length and two pieces 20 1/2 inches in length. Attach two shorter furring strips to the short sides and the 24-inch strip to the long side of the back piece.
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Step 5
Attach the 16 1/2-inch by 24-inch plywood to the furring strips. Leave a 1/2-inch gap for ventilation, then attach the 5-inch by 24-inch piece below the top piece. Now there is an 11 1/2-inch, exposed part of the back piece that acts as a climbing point where the bats can land and crawl into the chamber.
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Step 6
Caulk all joints to seal the bat house chamber. Attach a 1-inch by 3-inch board for a roof. Then paint or stain the exterior of the bat house. Mount on a building such as a shed or garage.
