How To Fit Green&Blue SwiftLoft

How to fit the Green&Blue SwiftLoft

Thank you for buying a Green&Blue SwiftLoft from us, it means so much to us to know that you're working together with us to provision for our native wildlife in your own home and that the SwiftLoft you've bought will house Swifts for many generations to come, the Green&Blue SwiftLoft has been designed as a long term nesting site that can be installed and left untouched so that you can be rewarded with seeing successful broods over many years.

And so we thought it would be helpful to put together some information for you to help with making sure that your SwiftLoft is sited and mounted securely and effectively. 

In this guide:

  1. Choosing a position for your SwiftLoft
  2. How to fit
    1. Retrofit Instructions and how-to video
    2. New Build Instructions and how-to video
    3. Assembling the loft - diagram
  3. Maintenance and cleaning

 

 Retrofit components New Build components

1. Choosing a position for your SwiftLoft

Swifts nest very high up so the SwiftLoft needs to be placed at least 5m from ground level.

Fit within the soffit and fascia cavity. The SwiftLoft should be situated on a side of the building that gets shade during the day. Not over windows or near to vents, and away from predator access. The SwiftLoft needs to be located in a spot with clear adjacent airspace to allow high speed flight access.

Positioning more than one SwiftLoft

Swifts are happy to nest near one another, meaning that installing multiple lofts to encourage a colony is preferable. The Swift Conservation suggests a minimum of 2 nest units per house, more for a commercial development.

 

2. How to fit

Due to the height required for placement, please consult a professional contractor.

2.1 Retrofit Instructions

Watch the instructional video for new build installation here. Written instructions are given below.

 

 

 

 

How to assemble, step by step for an existing soffit

  • Place the box printed side down
  • Fold up the long sides
  • Fold the short ends up and bring the end flaps in towards one another
  • Bring the end over the end flaps and push down to secure the ends so that they clip into the slots; the end wraps over the side flaps to create a double layer. 
  • This will now mean that the back and sides are closed in and the ends are double-walled like a shoebox with the top open and the printed side with the access hole standing up
  • Bend the flaps on the top inwards and start to fold the top over 
  • Apply glue to the underside of the insert, press down onto the lid with the nesting dish at the furthest end from the entrance, and positioned so that the top can be closed
  • Apply two lines of glue, one to the inside crease of the box and the other to the long edge flap
  • Fold in the sides of the lid and then bring the rest of the box over to close it, pressing down on the glues areas
  • Hold the box up to the underside of the soffit and mark the box corners on (excluding the box's overhang)
  • Draw and cut the rectangle from the soffit
  • sand the cut area
  • Slide the box in so that the box's flange sits below the soffit.
  • Place the supplied fascia plate over the box and align the entrance holes
  • Screw the plate into place

2.2 New build Instructions

Watch the instructional video for new build installation here. Written instructions are given below.

 

 

 

When installed on a new build, or when new soffits and fascias are being installed, The SwiftLoft attaches directly to the soffit meaning that the only part of the loft that is visible is the entrance hole. The fascia is screwed on afterwards.

How to assemble, step by step for a new soffit and fascia installation

  • Place the box printed side down
  • Fold up the long sides
  • Fold the short ends up and bring the end flaps in towards one another
  • Bring the end over the end flaps and push down to secure the ends so that they clip into the slots; the end wraps over the side flaps to create a double layer. 
  • This will now mean that the back and sides are closed in and the ends are double-walled like a shoebox with the top open and the printed side with the access hole standing up
  • Bend the flaps on the top inwards and start to fold the top over 
  • Place the box top down on the reverse of the soffit and mark out the hole position with a pen. In the instructional video there are details of how to measure and drill the hole easily
  • Use the drill attachment to create the hole
  • Use a sanding block to smooth the entrance of the soffit so that it doesn't damage the feathers of parent birds and fledglings
  • Apply glue to the inside crease of the box avoiding ventilation holes without pressing down, then apply glue to the long sides of the printed side of the box (the lid)
  • Flip the box over, align the holes to one another and glue down just the lid
  • Apply glue to the underside of the insert, press down onto the lid with the nesting dish at the furthest end from the entrance, and positioned so that the top can be closed
  • Apply a line of glue to the closure point and press down
  • The soffit and fascia can now be installed in place

3. Assembling the Loft - diagram

    SwiftLoft fitting diagrams

    4. Maintenance and cleaning

    The SwiftLoft should not require any ongoing maintenance.

     

    5. Enjoy your SwiftLoft and the nature it attracts!

    Keeping in touch with us 

    We would love to know the progress that you have with your SwiftLofts! Please share your nature photos and videos either on social media or by email to info@greenandblue.co.uk