Could be the coating or maybe just dumb luck, but I'd hold off celebrating until you've seen it in action for a while. Just my two cents.
Yeah, I'd be careful trusting any claims about bird-proofing too quickly. Had a similar experience with a green roof project—manufacturer insisted their mesh layer was "completely bird-resistant," but within weeks we had sparrows happily nesting right under it. Birds are smarter and more persistent than we give them credit for... better to wait and see how it holds up over time before making any assumptions.
Honestly, I get the skepticism about bird-proofing claims, but sometimes these things do actually work better than we expect. A couple years back, I installed some metal flashing around my chimney because pigeons were driving me nuts—constant cooing, feathers everywhere, you name it. Everyone told me it wouldn't do squat, and I was fully prepared to see those birds laughing at me from their comfy new perch.
But surprisingly enough, it actually worked. No pigeons since then, not even a single feather. Maybe it's the shiny surface or something about the metal texture they don't like... who knows? I'm not saying your mysterious roof sample is guaranteed to be bird-proof (and yeah, manufacturers tend to oversell these things), but don't rule out the possibility entirely. Birds are clever little jerks, sure, but they're also weirdly picky sometimes.
Of course, your mileage may vary. My neighbor tried something similar with aluminum strips around his gutters, and the birds basically threw a party on them. So maybe there's something specific about certain metals or coatings that makes a difference. Either way, I'd say give it a shot and see what happens—worst case scenario, you end up with some new feathered friends and a funny story to tell at barbecues.
"Birds are clever little jerks, sure, but they're also weirdly picky sometimes."
Haha, couldn't agree more. I've had mixed experiences myself. A while back, I tried some reflective tape around my deck railing because sparrows kept nesting underneath. Worked like a charm for about two weeks, then they just decided it was party decor or something and came back stronger than ever. On the other hand, my dad swears by copper strips—he put some around his shed roof, and birds haven't touched it since.
Honestly, I think it's less about the metal itself and more about how it's placed or how shiny it stays over time. Birds seem to adapt pretty quickly if something stops being intimidating or annoying enough. If your mysterious roof sample is shiny and reflective, it might actually do the trick... at least for a while. Worst case, you end up with a cool-looking roof and a good story, right?
I've seen similar things happen with reflective stuff. Birds are smarter than we give them credit for—they figure out pretty quickly what's actually a threat and what's just decoration. I've installed plenty of metal roofs, and honestly, the shininess factor does help at first, but it fades over time. Once the glare dulls down, birds usually come back around.
Copper strips do seem to work better, probably because they oxidize differently and birds don't like the feel or taste of it. But placement matters a lot too. I've seen people put copper strips in random spots and wonder why birds still nest nearby. If your mystery metal sample is something like aluminum or galvanized steel, it'll probably deter them for a bit, but don't be surprised if they eventually get used to it.
Either way, sounds like you've got nothing to lose by giving it a shot. Worst case scenario, you end up with a unique roof and a funny story to tell your neighbors...
"Copper strips do seem to work better, probably because they oxidize differently and birds don't like the feel or taste of it."
Interesting point about copper oxidation—I hadn't considered taste being a factor. Wonder if anyone's tried mixing copper and aluminum strips together...would that combo confuse the birds more effectively?
