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 ...

Hybrid's definitely the way to go. I did something similar a couple years back—sprinklers alone just weren't cutting it, especially with the runoff is...

Good advice overall, but I'd say don't completely rule out big-box stores. I got my metal sheets from one a couple years back, and they've held up sur...