I went with screws and washers for the hardware cloth, mostly because I got tired of the staples popping out every time I bumped the mesh or tried to pull it tight. Maybe I was using the wrong kind of staple gun, but it just felt like a losing battle. The screws took a little longer, but once they’re in, that stuff isn’t going anywhere. I did try doubling up in a couple spots where the gaps were bigger or I was worried about critters getting clever, but honestly, for most of it, just the screws held fine.
Steel wool was a disaster for me too—looked solid at first, but after a year it was just a rusty mess and the mice basically laughed at it. Hardware cloth is a pain to cut, especially around pipes and weird corners, but I’d rather wrestle with that than deal with another mouse invasion. Overkill? Maybe. But after chasing mice out of the attic at 2am, I’ll take overkill every time.
- I’ve had some luck with heavy-duty staples, but only when using a pneumatic stapler—not the hand-held kind. Those manual ones just don’t have enough oomph for hardwood framing, in my experience.
- Screws and washers definitely hold better, but I found it tricky around tight corners or where there’s not much wood to bite into. Sometimes the screw heads can snag insulation or snag your hand if you’re not careful.
- On the steel wool front, I agree—total fail in damp climates. But I’ve seen folks use copper mesh instead. Costs a bit more, but it doesn’t rust out and critters don’t seem to chew through it as fast.
- For cutting hardware cloth, tin snips work but I switched to an angle grinder for long runs. Less hand fatigue, though you’ve gotta watch for flying bits.
- Overkill? Maybe, but honestly, after seeing what mice can do to wiring (and the repair bills), I’d rather go extra secure too. Just wish there was a less brutal way to keep them out...
Screws and washers definitely hold better, but I found it tricky around tight corners or where there’s not much wood to bite into. Sometimes the screw heads can snag insulation or snag your hand if you’re not careful.
That’s a fair point—tight spots are always a pain. I’ve seen folks use self-tapping screws with low-profile heads in those areas, but even then, you risk damaging the vapor barrier or catching on loose fill. On copper mesh, I’ve inspected a few attics where it’s held up for years, even with high humidity. Still, it’s not foolproof if you’ve got determined rodents. Anyone tried stainless mesh as an alternative? It’s pricier, but I’m curious if it’s worth the extra cost for long-term peace of mind.
Stainless mesh is something I’ve looked at a few times, but I keep hesitating because of the price tag. I get the appeal—rodents are relentless and copper mesh can corrode over time, especially if you’re in a damp climate. I’ve seen copper do fine in most attics, but I’ve also had to patch a couple spots after a few years where it started to break down, usually where there’s more moisture or where critters really went at it. Stainless would probably last longer, but I wonder if it’s overkill unless you’ve got a serious pest problem.
About those tight corners: I hear you on the frustration. I’ve had to use construction adhesive in a few places where there just wasn’t enough wood for screws. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than nothing if you’re stuck. Low-profile screws are a bit of a double-edged sword—less snagging, but sometimes they don’t hold as well in soft or old wood. And yeah, the insulation snags are no joke. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve ended up with fiberglass in my sleeves.
Honestly, there’s no perfect fix. Every attic seems to have its own set of headaches. If you’re dealing with determined rodents, I’d say stainless might be worth the extra money, especially if you’re already tearing things up and want to do it once and be done. But if you’re just patching a few spots and haven’t had major issues, copper or even galvanized mesh could be enough.
It’s always a bit of a gamble, but I guess that’s true for most stuff up in the attic. At least you’ve got your temps under control—that’s half the battle.
