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A single-chamber bat roost box with a grooved back panel for grip and a ventilation gap up front.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Back Joined edge-to-edge to form the full back panel; grooved on the interior face. | 2 | 3/4" × 9 1/4" × 16 1/2" | 1x10 | ☐ |
| Sides | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 20" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Front, lower | 1 | 3/4" × 9 1/4" × 18" | 1x10 | ☐ |
| Front, upper Mounted with a 1/4" gap below it, against the lower front board, for ventilation. | 1 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 18" | 1x6 | ☐ |
| Top | 1 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 19 1/2" | 1x6 | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar or weather-resistant lumber, 1x10, 6 ft Avoid pressure-treated stock — bats are in close, prolonged contact with this wood. | 1 each | ☐ |
| Cedar or weather-resistant lumber, 1x3, 6 ft | 1 each | ☐ |
| Cedar or weather-resistant lumber, 1x6, 6 ft | 1 each | ☐ |
| 1-5/8" screws | 12 each | ☐ |
| 1-1/4" pocket screws | 6 each | ☐ |
| Wood glue | 2 oz | ☐ |
Overall cost: $. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Miter Saw, Pocket Hole Jig. Materials: Cedar or weather-resistant lumber, 1x10, 6 ft, 1-1/4" pocket screws, Wood glue
Cut the two 1x10 back boards to 16-1/2" and join them edge-to-edge with pocket screws and glue to form the full back panel.
Cut shallow, parallel grooves — about 1/8" deep — across the interior face of the back panel, spaced every inch or so. This is the surface the bats will actually grip and climb, and it's the one detail that determines whether the house gets used at all.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Cedar or weather-resistant lumber, 1x3, 6 ft, 1-5/8" screws, Wood glue
Cut the two 1x3 side boards to 20" and attach them flush to the back panel's edges with glue and screws.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Cedar or weather-resistant lumber, 1x10, 6 ft, Cedar or weather-resistant lumber, 1x6, 6 ft, 1-5/8" screws
Attach the 1x10 lower front board and the 1x6 upper front board, leaving a deliberate 1/4" gap between them — that gap is the bat house's ventilation, not a construction error.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Cedar or weather-resistant lumber, 1x6, 6 ft, 1-5/8" screws, Wood glue
Cut and center the 1x6 top board (19-1/2") flush to the back, securing with glue and screws.
Tools: Random Orbit Sander
Sand all edges smooth. Leave unfinished or use only a non-toxic exterior treatment — skip paint and stain entirely.
Mount high on a wall or tree in a spot that gets morning sun; bats favor roosts that warm up early.