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Hi all
We have a 2m x 1m roof lantern in the back of our property that we had fitted with our rear extension. It's great lets in lots of light and looks good BUT .... we have an issue where during summer months flies, bees and even butterflies come in via the patio doors and fly straight up to the roof lantern and get stuck up there. We didn't know art the time but I should have asked for a window opener to be fitted as part of it to help them escape.
Our current solution to get rid of the flies is not hi-tech ... I climb on to the flat roof and drag a dark tarp over the roof lantern so it effectively blacks it out and the critters then wise up fly out the main bifold. We're not interested in killing them so the fly zapper suggestions won't work for us.
I can't keep doing this roof dance as getting on in years and I've been scratching around for ideas to resolve this first world problem. Currently I'm thinking of building some sort of contraption which can sit on the flat roof. Something that has a folded/collapsed canopy and a motor with a 180 degree arm that would lift the canopy up and over the roof lantern ... and of course some way to control this remotely. Solar powered ideally but could consider wiring in somehow if needed.
Do you have any pointers on how to go about researching, designing this sort of project - I'm no master DIYer but I'm happy to give things a go. I think getting a reliable remote motor would be the key thing?
Am I mad? any other suggestions from you all appreciated!
We have a 2m x 1m roof lantern in the back of our property that we had fitted with our rear extension. It's great lets in lots of light and looks good BUT .... we have an issue where during summer months flies, bees and even butterflies come in via the patio doors and fly straight up to the roof lantern and get stuck up there. We didn't know art the time but I should have asked for a window opener to be fitted as part of it to help them escape.
Our current solution to get rid of the flies is not hi-tech ... I climb on to the flat roof and drag a dark tarp over the roof lantern so it effectively blacks it out and the critters then wise up fly out the main bifold. We're not interested in killing them so the fly zapper suggestions won't work for us.
I can't keep doing this roof dance as getting on in years and I've been scratching around for ideas to resolve this first world problem. Currently I'm thinking of building some sort of contraption which can sit on the flat roof. Something that has a folded/collapsed canopy and a motor with a 180 degree arm that would lift the canopy up and over the roof lantern ... and of course some way to control this remotely. Solar powered ideally but could consider wiring in somehow if needed.
Do you have any pointers on how to go about researching, designing this sort of project - I'm no master DIYer but I'm happy to give things a go. I think getting a reliable remote motor would be the key thing?
Am I mad? any other suggestions from you all appreciated!
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