Help with my T 14 (pics)

[LynnInTenn]

My brother in La. built me a T14 for Christmas. Made of cypress. I think I need to tweek it a little bit.

Do I need to cut off some of the bottom of the SREH? I can take 3/8" off and still leave room for the screws on the bottom. That would put them 1/2" up from the porch. If yes, what would be the best way to cut that off?

He didn't put owl guards on so a friend of mine is making me some out of cedar.

[Wetterdale]

Hi Lynn:

You'll love the T-14. It's such a beautiful house.

The rule of thumb is to position the bottom of the crescent between flush to 1/4" above the porch to maximize its effectiveness. You can try it 1/2" but starlings may still breech them. I would cut the SREH at 1/4" below the bottom of the crescent with a sharp blade and drill two new holes on the sides. Just make sure it still covers the hole you cut in the wooden door.

[LynnInTenn]

Thanks Dale. That might be a problem. He put the porches anywhere from 3/4 to 1" below the bottom of the cut out. I suspect the porches were glued and screwed too, so moving them up won't be an option. I can get the SREH's a bit lower, but I doubt I can get them 1/4" from the porches. I'll give it a try and see how it goes.
My only other option would be to build up the porches

[Wetterdale]

Lynn:

You shouldn't have to move the porches. Just work on your SREH plates. You will have to cut the wooden openings a bit lower which is pretty easy to do.

[Archer]

Another option would be to add another board of the right thickness to the top of the porch, looks like you have lots of room for that. Ive read that sreh are most effective when the porch is from flush to 1/8th above the porch level.

[LynnInTenn]

I have another problem He put "keepers" in the compartments. The bottom of the cut out is even with the top of the keeper. The porches are actually even with the actual floors of the compartment.
The keepers are glued in place. Would you just remove the keepers? I suppose I could pry them out without tearing up the rest of the house

[LynnInTenn]

How important are the "keepers" for the nesting material? Since I don't have much in the way of woodworking tools, nor the skill, the easiest thing for me to do would be to cut the wood openings out at the bottom a little more. That is if I can get the keepers out. I do have an old jig saw around somewhere. That's what I would use, right

[rdhd]

I

[eyeamtheman]

You could probably use a screwdriver and a hammer and knock those "keeper" things loose and get em outta there. Theyre really not that necessary. I don't have them in my T14's.

[LynnInTenn]

Thanks for all the advice.
I'm leaning towards removing the "keepers" and cutting out the opening a little more. Then cutting off some of the bottom of the SREH's and putting them on.
Those porches are on there really tight. I think I would break them if I tried to knock them off. I took the screws ou,t and as I thought, he did glue them also.
I'll let you know how it turns out.

[Glynn B - LA]

You have a easy fix. Just cut a small piece of wood ( like a stoop ) the widht of the SREH and the depth to make each the 1/8 distance below the entrance. It would look great and you would not have to damage your house.

[LynnInTenn]

Hi Glenn B,
My Dad,Mom,and 2 brothers live in W. Monroe
Now in regards to your suggestion, how far out should I come with the stoop? I/m not sure if I can find cypress up here so I guess I could use cedar.

[Glynn B - LA]

I would go two inches out, this will look great.


Nice to know you have Family here.

[LynnInTenn]

Thanks a bunch Glynn B and everyone else who helped me with this problem.