6 Fall Tips for Homeowners from Our Wire Mesh Experts

Chilly temps and falling leaves are surefire signs autumn has arrived—but don't wait until October to start your seasonal home maintenance projects. Depending on where you live, you'll have a much easier time tackling these tasks before things begin to cool off, and it'll cut down on your winter upkeep.

Read on for a rundown of DIY projects, best practices, and fall tips for homeowners looking to prep their abodes for the season ahead.

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

There are numerous things to do to prepare your home for fall, and many of them can be completed with wire mesh materials. Before the weather turns, it's a good idea to revisit your gutter guards, foundation vents, chimney cap, fireplace screen, and pest-control strategy. Find tips and insight below.

1. Make Wire Mesh Gutter Guards

No matter how much precipitation or leaf fall you anticipate this autumn, if your home has gutters, gutter guards are a must. They work by preventing dead leaves, twigs, and other debris from clogging up the eaves-shoot, which can result in an overflow of water. This is something you definitely want to avoid, as overflowing gutters can lead to flooding, roof rot, mold, mildew, or rust.

The good news is gutter guards are easy to make yourself using durable copper or stainless steel wire mesh products. Not only does the gridded metal prevent overflow, but it also saves you time and effort on cleaning your gutters.

2. Fasten Foundation Vents Out of Hardware Cloth

Foundation vents encourage airflow into your basement, crawl space, and the air ducts beneath your house. They help reduce moisture and support year-round climate control throughout your entire home.

For those who face humidity issues in the fall and winter, adequate ventilation allows warm air from inside to flow out into the cold. Mill-finished and poly-coated stainless steel hardware cloth are ideal for foundation vents, as the heavy-duty materials stand up to harsh weather and last for years.

3. Create Wire Mesh Soffit Screens

Like foundation vents, soffit screens help ventilate your attic, ductwork, and upper crawl space. They temper humidity levels and minimize condensation, ensuring your house remains cozy through the fall and winter. Additionally, the screens can help you avoid mold and rot in your attic.

When you construct soffit screens out of wire mesh sheets, your home will have better air circulation, which supports the efficiency of your HVAC system. Welded, galvanized poly-coated, or woven stainless steel mesh is recommended for DIY screens.

4. Make a DIY Chimney Cap

For homes with wood burning fireplaces, safety is critical in the colder months. Without a chimney cap, sticks and dry leaves can blow into your smokestack, which is a fire hazard. 

Industrial-grade hardware cloth can be used to make a protective cap. This will prevent debris from clogging up your chimney while also helping to contain flying sparks. Since a wire mesh chimney cap repels rain, it can also prevent water damage in your ceiling and walls.

5. Design a Wire Mesh Fireplace Screen

On a related note, a wire mesh screen is also recommended for wood-burning fireplaces. The metal grid safeguards you and your family from direct heat while preventing sparks and embers from flying into the room.

Various types of metal mesh can be used for DIY fireplace screens. These include bronze, brass, and stainless steel, each of which can be fastened into a stationary design or mounted onto a metal frame. The variety of metals and weaves available allow homeowners to create custom designs that suit their styles! 

6. Plan Ahead with Wire Mesh Pest Control Solutions

With every season comes a different type of pest. While it varies by region, many homeowners battle mice, rats, spiders, bees, and squirrels in the fall.

Luckily, the DIY wire mesh projects outlined above will do more than just keep your space dry and warm in the coming months. They're also a first defense in excluding all types of animals. To cover all your bases, you may want to cover any other crevices and openings throughout your home with hardware cloth.

DIY Weatherproofing Solutions from Our Wire Mesh Suppliers

Founded in 1969 in Berkley, California, TWP Inc. has been one of the world's leading wire mesh suppliers for over five decades. Our woman-owned business is proud to offer a broad range of materials for homeowners and DIY enthusiasts of all skill levels.

Stainless steel, aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, welded, galvanized, sintered stainless steel—you name it, we've got it. From chimney caps and fireplace screens to pest control, ventilation, and gutter guards, TWP Inc. a wire mesh product to suit your needs. Order yours today or request a quote on a custom order.

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