I actually do double up on screens—mesh outside, then a finer screen inside. It’s a pain, but after a squirrel chewed through just the outer mesh and got stuck in the soffit (not fun to get him out), I figured it’s worth the hassle. The inner screen also catches debris and keeps wasps from nesting right inside the vent. Cutting stainless is rough, though. I started using tin snips and gloves, and it’s made a huge difference for my hands. Not sure it’s 100% critter-proof, but it’s held up better than hardware cloth for me.
- Not sure doubling up on mesh is always the answer. Seen a few cases where the extra layer actually restricted airflow more than folks realized—especially with finer screens inside.
- Critters are a pain, no doubt, but if you’re in an area with heavy squirrel or raccoon pressure, even stainless can get chewed through eventually. Had a client swap to expanded metal lath (the stuff used for stucco) and it held up better than any screen or hardware cloth I’ve seen. Bit heavier to cut, though.
- Debris buildup can be a problem with double screens too—sometimes it traps moisture and leads to rust or mold around the vent edges. I’ve had to replace more than one soffit panel because of that.
- Not saying your method’s wrong, just worth weighing the trade-offs. Sometimes simpler is better, depending on what you’re dealing with.
- For anyone in hurricane zones: make sure whatever you use is rated for wind-driven rain, not just critters. Learned that the hard way after a nor’easter last year...
That’s interesting about the expanded metal lath—never would’ve thought of using stucco stuff for critter control. I get what you mean about double mesh, though. I tried adding a second layer to my soffit vents last fall (just regular hardware cloth over the factory screen) and noticed the attic felt stuffier after. Didn’t realize how much it could restrict airflow until I checked the temp up there on a warm day.
Debris buildup can be a problem with double screens too—sometimes it traps moisture and leads to rust or mold around the vent edges.
Yeah, I’m already seeing some gunk collecting between the layers. Might have to rethink that before summer humidity kicks in. It’s always a trade-off—keep out the squirrels, but don’t end up with a moldy attic...
That double mesh trick always sounds good on paper, but yeah, it’s a classic case of “fix one problem, create another.” I’ve seen folks end up with more attic funk than they bargained for—especially once pollen and spider webs start clogging things up. Sometimes a single layer of heavier gauge hardware cloth does the job without choking off airflow. Squirrels are persistent, but mold is sneakier... and way harder to get rid of.
Man, the battle between critters and mold is real. I’ve been on too many jobs where folks went all-in on mesh—sometimes double-layered, sometimes fine enough to keep out gnats—and ended up with vents that barely breathed. One time, a homeowner had me pull apart his soffits and it looked like a pollen piñata exploded in there. Squirrels hadn’t made it in, but the attic was musty enough to curl your nose hairs.
I get why people double up, especially if they’ve had a squirrel circus up there before. But honestly, I’ve had better luck with a single run of sturdy hardware cloth. Keeps out most of the wildlife without turning the vent into a dust filter. Mold’s way sneakier than any critter—once it gets going, you’re looking at insulation replacement and a whole lot of headache.
If you’re in the South or anywhere humid, airflow’s even more critical. Sometimes less is more when it comes to mesh... unless you like crawling around in itchy insulation later trying to clean things up.