My copy of BH Builder's Handbook is quite old. I do not have a copy of a rocket plan. So, my asessment of the rocket plan is based on photos only. I am trying to determine what the highest likelihood of success is for me. I live in the suburbs of Chicago (which, as far as garden and landscape plants, is zone 5)
1. The nursery plans that I have talk a lot about ventilation. The rocket does not seem to have any ventilation. Is overheating an issue with the rocket?
2. One of the advantages of the nursery boxes was the open bottom (discourages pests and vermin). The rocket box would necessarily have spacer blocks on the sleeves to keep the sleeves centered. These spacers create horizontal surfaces. Does this cause the rocket to be more prone to pests and vermin?
3. the clear advantages of the rockets seems to be the ability to add a thermal core (which is brilliant), there doesn't seem to be as much thought needed about orientation to the sun/ more options available to the bats with regard to sun orientation.
Skill required to put these together is not an issue, as I am handy enough for these projects.
So, are my assessments correct? And will one of these plans lend itself to a higher success rate?
I guess I am leading toward a couple of nursery boxes screwed to either side of a 4x4. I may use some concrete backerboard as a backwall of the boxes for thermal purposes. I already have the plans, so this is the way I am leaning.
Just looking for some affirmation before I sink the cash and the weekend into the plan.
Rick, On some of the rocket boxes I made, I just left a gap in the boards about 1/3 of the way down for ventilation. Ventilation is very important.
I like to use pieces of cpvc pipe for spacers screwed through from the outside into the inner 4x4 or whatever your inner core is.........if it is multi-layered or creviced then the screw just goes into the inner baffle..........
With a rocket you don't have to worry about orientation because you get solar exposure on all sides except north..........unless it is shaded somehow.........
Rick, your assessments are quite good and Terry's suggestion IMO is good as well. The thermal cores in rockets help buffer temps especially if it is multi-chambered. Interior spaced chambered gaps or holes allow bats passages to cooler or warmer areas horizontally as well not that you can't do that with a nursery as well. I have used rocket spacers which are pointed on the top with a severe taper and I have never had excessive guano accumulate on them and although I have not yet finished my current rockets with Terry's 1/2" cpvc spacer approach it sounds like these shouldn't accumulate much if any guano either. At least we know the urine won't be an issue with them. Whatever you choose, any bat house not mounted on a building should be large and have enough thermal mass to give bats temperature options. 4-6 1" rough lumber or 5-7 plywood partitions helps. Kent with vast bat house success, recommends larger lumber partitions. At this point I too am not using plywood anymore unless it is for the exterior shell/protection only. Looking forward to your progress.......
