Switching from RO to UF membranes made my life way easier

After the last derecho here, I swear every raccoon in the county tried to move into my attic. I’ve had better luck with hardware cloth too - screws all the way, staples just pop loose after a couple freeze-thaws like you said. Haven’t tried those composite vent covers yet, but honestly, unless they’re steel-reinforced, I’m skeptical they’ll hold up to determined squirrels. The critter problem definitely ramps up after storms - guess they’re just as desperate for shelter as we are for repairs.

I’ve had a similar run-in with critters after storms, especially raccoons and the occasional possum. They’re relentless once they sense an easy entry point. Hardware cloth with screws has held up way better for me too - staples just don’t cut it once the weather starts cycling between freeze and thaw. I tried those plastic vent covers a couple years back, thinking they’d be a quick fix, but the squirrels chewed right through them within a month. Ended up replacing them with galvanized steel and haven’t had an issue since.

Funny thing is, after that last big windstorm, I found a whole family of raccoons camped out above one of the drop ceilings in our rental property. They’d worked their way in through a soffit that looked fine from the ground but was actually split along the edge. Took forever to get them out and then patch things up properly. Insurance didn’t cover any of it either, since technically it was “vermin damage.” That’s always a fun conversation.

I’m curious if anyone’s tried those composite covers with some kind of metal reinforcement? I keep seeing them advertised as “animal-proof,” but honestly, unless there’s steel mesh inside, I can’t see them holding up to determined teeth and claws. Maybe they’re better for birds or bats, but for raccoons or squirrels? Not convinced.

The post-storm critter invasion is just part of the routine at this point. Seems like every year there’s something new trying to get in - last winter it was flying squirrels, which I didn’t even know we had around here until they showed up in the attic insulation. Just goes to show: no matter what you do, nature always finds a way if you give it half a chance.

Those composite covers always look promising in ads, but I’ve seen raccoons rip right through them in my neighbor’s place. Unless there’s actual metal mesh inside, I wouldn’t trust them for anything bigger than a bird. Galvanized steel’s ugly but it works.

- Saw a squirrel try to chew through my “heavy-duty” composite cover last spring… thing looked like Swiss cheese after a week.
- Galvanized steel’s not winning any beauty contests, but it’s the only thing that’s survived hail and raccoons at my place.
- Composite’s fine for leaves, but if you’ve got critters with attitude? Go metal or go home.

Composite’s fine for leaves, but if you’ve got critters with attitude? Go metal or go home.

That’s been my experience too. I tried a recycled composite cover for my green roof trays - looked great at first, but squirrels and raccoons tore right through it in a single season. Switched to powder-coated steel and haven’t had an issue since. Not the prettiest, but it holds up to both weather and wildlife. If you’re serious about durability, especially with animals around, metal’s hard to beat. Composite just doesn’t cut it for anything more than basic debris.