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Written and reviewed by Elaine Bliss, Technical Manager, PestFix
Last reviewed 5 October 2026
Use solar panel mesh when your panels have a lip on the underside of the frame, or when you want to close the gap under the array completely on a tiled roof. Use solar spikes when your panels have no lip, when the array sits on an uneven or profiled tin clad roof, or when pigeon pressure is heavy. Both systems keep feral pigeons out from under the panels without drilling into the panel frame. For a typical home array, a complete 30 metre mesh kit costs from £68.12, and the Solar Panel Proofing Kit, with 35 metres of Solarguard HDPE spikes and 150 speed clips, costs from £132.00, including VAT.
Prices checked on 5 October 2026 and taken from the EnviroGuard shop. All prices include VAT.
Solar mesh and solar spikes side by side
Both systems do the same job: they stop pigeons getting into the space between the panels and the roof, where they nest. They differ in how they fix to the array, which roofs they suit, and what they cost.
| Solar panel mesh | Solar spikes | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | A 200mm wide steel weldmesh runs around the outside edge of the array and closes the gap between the panels and the roof. | Stainless steel spikes on a UV stabilised base fix along the panel edge and block the gap underneath. |
| Birds it is designed for | Feral pigeons | Pigeons |
| Panels it suits | Panels with a 10 to 20mm return lip on the underside (push fit or premium adjustable clips), or panels with no lip using the Solar Mesh Speed Clip | Panels with no lip on the underside, uneven roofs and profiled tin clad roofs |
| Fixing | Clips only, no drilling into the panel frame. About 2 push fit or premium clips per metre, or 5 speed clips per metre. | For the SolarGuard adjustable spikes, Solar Spike Speed Clips (6 per metre) or bird spike adhesive. No drilling into the panel frame. |
| Finishes and visibility | Silver galvanised, black PVC coated (less noticeable against dark panels) or 304 stainless steel | Clear or black bases. The Solar Shield base sits flush with the top of the panel, with the spikes below. |
| Lifespan | Not stated on the product pages | Not stated on the product pages |
| Removing it for servicing | Speed clips and premium adjustable clips can be removed and refitted. Push fit clips are single use and are cut off. | Spikes on speed clips can be unclipped from the frame. Spikes fixed with adhesive are bonded to it. |
| DIY difficulty | Roof work at height. You cut the roll into lengths, straighten them before going on the roof, and clip them on. | Roof work at height. You trim the spikes to a neat edge with wire cutters and clip or bond them on. |
| Typical materials cost | £68.12 to £98.10 for a complete 30 metre kit | £132.00 or £156.42 for the 35 metre Solar Panel Proofing Kit |
The products compared
Solar panel mesh
All EnviroGuard solar mesh is 25mm by 12.5mm weldmesh on a 200mm wide, 30 metre roll, and it fits every EnviroGuard solar mesh clip. You can choose galvanised mesh at £34.08 a roll, black PVC coated mesh at £30.48 a roll, or 304 grade stainless steel mesh at £56.52 a roll, which is the one to choose for coastal sites or where stainless steel has been specified.
The clips decide which kit you need. If the panel frame has a return lip on its underside, the push fit clip or the premium adjustable clip hooks over it. The push fit clip locks like a cable tie and is cut off to remove it, while the premium clip has a nut, so you can take the mesh off for servicing and put it back. If there is no lip, the Solar Mesh Speed Clip grips the side of the frame through the mesh apertures, at 39p each and five per metre, and it can be removed by reversing the fitting.
Complete 30 metre kits include the mesh and clips:
- PVC coated mesh kit with push fit clips: £68.12
- Galvanised mesh kit with push fit clips: £71.69
- Galvanised mesh kit with premium adjustable clips: £74.58
- PVC coated mesh kit with speed clips: £90.12
- Galvanised mesh kit with speed clips: £93.72
- Stainless steel mesh kit with premium adjustable clips: £98.10
Solar spikes
The SolarGuard adjustable solar spikes are made for panels that do not have a lip on the underside for the mesh and clip system, and for uneven roofs and profiled tin clad roofs. They have stainless steel spikes on a UV stabilised polycarbonate base and come in four lengths before trimming: 100mm, 130mm, 160mm and 210mm. You choose a length at least as long as you need and cut it back with wire cutters for a neat straight edge. They are sold by the metre, with lower prices per metre on longer runs, so check the product page for the price at your quantity. You fix them with the Solar Spike Speed Clip, at 31p each and six per metre, or with bird spike adhesive.
The EnviroGuard Solar Shield is designed for profiled roofs and for panels with heavy pigeon pressure. Its pins adjust individually to match the roof shape, and its base sits flush with the top of the panel, so there is no excess spike to trim. It is sold per 1.2 metres: £7.63 for the 60mm to 90mm size, £8.27 for 130mm to 180mm and £9.41 for 160mm to 210mm.
For a complete spike system, the Solar Panel Proofing Kit includes 35 metres of SolarGuard HDPE 125mm spikes with 150 speed clips for £132.00, or 300 speed clips for £156.42. The HDPE spikes are also sold on their own at £2.49 per metre.
A worked example
Suppose your array is four panels wide and three deep, with a perimeter of about 20 metres, and the panel frames have no lip on the underside. Both systems can be used here.
- Mesh: 20 metres at five speed clips per metre is 100 clips. One PVC coated mesh kit with speed clips includes 30 metres of mesh and 150 clips, so it covers the job for £90.12.
- Spikes: one Solar Panel Proofing Kit includes 35 metres of spikes, more than the 20 metres you need, with 150 speed clips, for £132.00.
If the same panels did have an underside lip, the mesh kit with push fit clips would bring the materials cost down to £68.12. Our solar panel pigeon proofing cost guide works through the prices for every mesh kit in more detail.
Which should you choose?
- Panels with a lip on the underside, on a tiled roof: mesh with push fit or premium adjustable clips is the simplest and lowest cost option.
- Panels with no lip, on a tiled roof: either works. Mesh with speed clips costs less for a typical array; spikes on speed clips are the system made for lipless frames.
- A profiled tin clad roof or an uneven roof: spikes suit this best, because the SolarGuard adjustable spikes and the Solar Shield pins can be adjusted to the roof profile.
- Heavy pigeon pressure: the Solar Shield is described as ideal for panels with heavy pressure activity.
- Near the coast: stainless steel mesh, which is the version recommended for coastal sites.
- You want it to look as discreet as possible: black PVC coated mesh against dark panels, or the Solar Shield, which sits flush with the top of the panel.
- You expect to remove it for panel servicing: speed clips or premium adjustable clips, rather than push fit clips or adhesive.
When to use both
Some roofs need both. If part of an array sits on tiles and part on a profiled section, you can mesh the tiled section and use SolarGuard spikes or the Solar Shield where the roof profile is uneven. If pigeons are also using the ridge, chimney or ledges nearby, those need proofing as well. Our bird spike cost guide covers spikes for ledges and ridges, and you can see every pigeon product on our pigeon control products page.
Before you fit anything: nests and the law
All wild birds, including feral pigeons, are protected, and an active nest with eggs or young in it must not be disturbed. Meshing or spiking a bay that still holds an active nest traps the birds and the mess, and the panels have to come off again to put it right, so nest and droppings clearance comes first. Our guide to bird control and the law explains what you can and cannot do, and our solar mesh installation guide walks through the fitting method step by step.
Need it installed? Request an installation quote and we will arrange it through our recommended installer, JG Pest Control.
Common questions
What is the best type of anti bird mesh system for solar panels?
It depends on your panel frames. If they have a lip on the underside, a mesh kit with push fit or premium adjustable clips is the simplest choice. If they do not, use mesh with speed clips or a spike system. Choose black PVC coated mesh for a discreet finish, or stainless steel mesh for coastal sites.
Are bird spikes or mesh better for solar panels?
Neither is better everywhere. Mesh closes the gap under the panels completely and costs less for a typical home array. Spikes are made for panels with no underside lip, uneven roofs and profiled tin clad roofs, where mesh is harder to fit neatly.
Is 304 stainless steel mesh best for solar panel bird proofing?
The 304 grade stainless steel mesh is the one to choose for coastal sites or where stainless steel has been specified. Elsewhere, galvanised or black PVC coated mesh does the same job for less: a stainless steel kit is £98.10, compared with £68.12 to £93.72 for the other kits.
Is plastic or stainless steel mesh better for solar panels?
The black mesh we supply is not plastic. It is hot dipped galvanised steel mesh with a PVC coating, so it is still a steel mesh, with a darker finish that is less noticeable against dark panels. Stainless steel mesh suits coastal sites.
Do solar panel spikes or mesh affect the panel warranty?
Neither system involves drilling into the panel frame. Mesh fixes with clips, and spikes fix with clips or adhesive, so the frame is not pierced.
See every product in our solar panel bird proofing range, or visit our bird control installers page to see who fits what.
