DIY exclusion of rats, mice, and other pests is easier than you might think — all you need is the right material. While a few varieties of metal wire mesh can be used to keep rodents out of your house and garden, galvanized hardware cloth is a top choice for homeowners.
Find a breakdown of the benefits of galvanized mesh for pest control below, as well as tips for installing your own.
Benefits of Rodent-Control Wire Mesh
If you already have rats or mice on your property, we don’t need to tell you how much of a nuisance they can be. Luckily, you don’t need to put up with these furry pests much longer.
Rodent-control wire mesh can be applied to air vents, soffit screens, floor drains, foundation vents, gutters, fan guards, chimneys, and exposed pipes throughout your house. The material can also be installed under your porch and throughout your yard and garden to keep critters at bay.
Metal mesh for DIY rat and mouse control is:
- Affordable compared to other pest-control approaches
- A non-toxic material that won’t harm you, the environment, or any animals
- Durable and remarkably resilient in a wide range of environments and temperatures
- Effective at keeping other pests out, including snakes, birds, gophers, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, and bats
Why Homeowners Use Galvanized Mesh
Many homeowners opt for galvanized stainless steel wire mesh for DIY exclusion of rats, mice, and other pesky rodents. To galvanize the material, steel is dipped into molten zinc or treated with electrolytic reactions. This forms a stable, protective zinc coating, which makes the product extremely resilient.
In some cases, rats will chew through wood, cinder block, mortar, plastic, and even aluminum. That’s why the protective zinc coating of galvanized hardware cloth is so vital when rodent-proofing your home.
Budget-friendly galvanized hardware cloth is not only durable, but it’s also resistant to water, high heat, freezing temperatures, and corrosion. It lasts for up to two decades, which is longer than plain steel wire mesh. According to the U.S. National Park Service, galvanized metal screens are the best material for excluding mice and rats.
Welded or Poly-Coated Wire Mesh for Outdoor Pest Control
In outdoor environments, rats and mice are good at finding food sources, whether it’s a trash can, compost bin, garden, or fallen fruit from trees. Galvanized hardware cloth comes in a few different varieties, including woven, black poly-coated, and welded. To expel rodents from your yard, galvanized welded or poly-coated metal mesh is the way to go. You can screen your trash receptacles, create a garden fence, or install landscaping mesh screens around your fruit bushes or trees.
For welded hardware cloth, the heavy-duty material goes through a process called resistance welding, which makes it consistently sturdy without any filler metals. With galvanized welded stainless steel wire mesh, you’ll often get the most longevity and resistance to rust and abrasion. However, poly-coated hardware cloth is more flexible, which can be beneficial for some outdoor applications.
Pest-Control Wire Mesh from TWP Inc.
For many homeowners, metal mesh and hardware cloth are simple and easy to use yet very effective for excluding pests. TWP Inc. has a substantial inventory of industrial-grade wire mesh products suitable for rodent screens and many other DIY home applications. We’re the go-to resource for premium-quality galvanized stainless steel mesh, including welded, woven, and poly-coated options in various sizes and weaves.
Since 1969, our women-owned company has been a leading supplier of metal mesh. We carry virtually every material and specification you can imagine, but if you can’t find what you’re looking for, we provide custom orders. Our in-house services include cutting, measuring, disc sizing, slitting, and laser cutting.
Order your rodent-control wire mesh today or request a quote on a custom order. To get your home projects featured in TWP Inc.’s gallery, upload your photos to Instagram using the hashtag #TWPWireMesh.
