Galvanized steel mesh is definitely solid advice, especially if you've got wildlife determined enough to chew through aluminum flashing. I've seen raccoons peel that stuff back like they're opening a can of tuna—pretty impressive, actually. And yeah, squirrels are basically the ultimate QA testers for home improvement projects...if there's a weak spot, they'll find it. Good call on tightly securing those edges; that's usually where I see DIYers slip up. Sounds like you're on the right track!
Totally agree about squirrels being the ultimate testers... I swear, they're like tiny furry ninjas. Galvanized mesh is definitely tougher stuff, but I've also had good luck doubling up aluminum flashing with a layer of hardware cloth behind it. Might sound like overkill, but after watching a raccoon casually rip apart my neighbor's DIY patch job, I'm all for extra layers. And yeah, edges are crucial—critters always find that one loose corner you thought nobody would notice. Better safe than sorry, right?
Haha, squirrels really are relentless. I once patched a hole with aluminum flashing thinking I'd outsmarted them—next morning, found it peeled back like a sardine can lid. Doubling up sounds smart, wish I'd thought of that sooner... lesson learned the hard way.
"next morning, found it peeled back like a sardine can lid."
Ha, sounds about right. Aluminum flashing is basically squirrel candy wrapper—learned that the hard way myself. Had a tenant complaining about noises in the attic, thought I'd quickly patch it up with some thin metal sheeting. Next day, squirrels had practically rolled out a welcome mat. Ended up going heavy-duty galvanized steel mesh... hasn't failed yet. Honestly, if you're dealing with squirrels, skip the shortcuts and go straight for the tough stuff.
I see your point, but galvanized steel mesh might be a bit overkill depending on the situation. I've had decent luck with properly secured aluminum flashing, provided it's tightly fastened and edges are sealed. Maybe installation technique matters more than material choice sometimes?
