Yeah, hardware cloth isn’t the prettiest, but it’s tough to beat for keeping critters out. I’ve tried those plastic “critter-proof” vents before—squirrels chewed right through in less than a year. Metal mesh with small openings seems to hold up best, at least in my area. One thing I’d add: check the fasteners too. If you use cheap staples, raccoons can just pry the whole thing off. Stainless screws have worked better for me, even if it takes a little longer to install. Sometimes the extra hassle up front saves a ton of repairs later.
That’s been my experience too—hardware cloth isn’t exactly subtle, but I’d rather have ugly vents than a family of squirrels in the attic.
I learned that the hard way. Do you guys caulk around the mesh too, or just rely on the screws? I keep wondering if sealing it up too much will mess with airflow, but I’m paranoid about gaps.“If you use cheap staples, raccoons can just pry the whole thing off.”
I’m right there with you—screws are a must, and I use washers for extra hold. I tried caulking the edges once, but honestly, it made maintenance a pain and collected debris. Plus, it did seem to cut down on airflow a bit, at least in my case. Tight mesh with solid screw placement has kept out critters so far. I’d rather have a few tiny gaps than risk mold or stale air up there.
That’s pretty much how I landed too—tight mesh, screws, and just accepting a few gaps here and there. I tried sealing everything up once with a fancy weatherproof tape, thinking it’d be genius. Ended up with condensation and a weird musty smell after a few months. Lesson learned: a bit of airflow really does make a difference, even if it means the occasional spider sneaks in. It’s a balancing act for sure... but I’d rather deal with critters than mold any day.
Yeah, I’ve seen that happen a lot—folks go all-in on sealing every crack, thinking it’ll keep out water and pests, but then you get that stale, damp air trapped inside. I get wanting to keep critters out (I’m not a fan of spiders either), but honestly, a little airflow is way less trouble than dealing with rot or mold down the line. I’ve even seen some new builds with those automatic vents that open and close depending on humidity—kinda neat, but not always foolproof. Sometimes the old-school approach with mesh and a few gaps just works better, especially in wetter climates.
