You're spot-on about layering defenses. I used to think critter guards were just an upsell, but after squirrels chewed through my attic vent mesh (twice!), I reconsidered. Now I pair affordable DIY mesh reinforcements with regular trimming—it's saved me from costly repairs more than once. Sometimes a bit of effort upfront really does prevent wallet pain down the line... Glad to see others thinking along similar lines.
"I used to think critter guards were just an upsell, but after squirrels chewed through my attic vent mesh (twice!), I reconsidered."
Interesting... I've been skeptical about critter guards myself—always seemed like another unnecessary expense. But now you've got me thinking. Did you find DIY mesh reinforcements sturdy enough on their own, or is it really the combo with regular trimming that makes the difference? Just moved into my first place, and I'd rather not learn this lesson the hard way...
I went the DIY route myself at first—figured some heavy-duty hardware cloth would do the trick. It held up decently, but honestly, the squirrels around here must be part beaver or something... they eventually chewed through.
Totally relate to this! After round two, I added some metal flashing around the edges and trimmed back nearby branches. So far, fingers crossed, that's kept them out. I'd say it's definitely a combo thing rather than just mesh alone."after squirrels chewed through my attic vent mesh (twice!), I reconsidered."
I had a similar issue with raccoons, believe it or not. Thought I had it covered with hardware cloth too, but nope...they peeled it back like it was nothing. Eventually, I doubled up—metal flashing plus some galvanized steel mesh. Also made sure to seal any tiny gaps with roofing sealant. Been about a year now and no more midnight attic parties. Definitely agree it's about layering defenses rather than relying on one fix alone.
Hardware cloth usually does the trick if you use a heavier gauge and secure it tightly. Had raccoons a few years back, and once I switched to thicker gauge mesh and screwed it down firmly, they gave up pretty quick. Layering works, but sometimes simpler solutions hold up fine.
