What is Hardware Cloth?
Whether it’s around the home, in the garden or beyond, hardware cloth can be quite useful. Also called wire mesh, hardware cloth is easy-to-install and can be the answer to many home maintenance projects. Often designed of woven or welded wires in grids, wire mesh screen is typically made from durable, high-quality steel to stand up to many jobs, but also comes in other materials.
Different Types of Mesh Screen Cloths
It’s important to understand the different types of hardware cloth, including galvanized steel, copper and aluminum.
- Aluminum hardware cloth: Lightweight and corrosion-resistant, aluminum wire mesh screens are easy to handle and install. They are ideal for light-duty applications like insect screening, garden fencing and soffits due to their durability and resistance to rust.
- Copper wire mesh: Known for its high conductivity and excellent thermal properties, copper hardware cloth is commonly used for pest control, bird cages and decorative projects.
- Fiberglass mesh screen:Durable, lightweight and resistant to corrosion, fiberglass mesh wire screens are perfect for reinforcing joints and plaster. It's also used in various DIY projects due to its flexibility and ease of use.
- Galvanized steel hardware cloth:Coated with zinc to prevent rust and corrosion, galvanized steel wire mesh is ideal for heavy-duty outdoor applications like fencing, animal cages and garden protection. It's also used in construction and pest control.
- Steel hardware cloth: Strong and durable, steel hardware cloth is available in both stainless and carbon steel varieties. It's used for fencing, animal cages, strainers and filtering screens, and is popular in construction and home repair projects.
- Polyester screen cloth: A synthetic material known for its durability and resistance to stretching and shrinking, polyester screen mesh is often used in screen doors, window screens and garden netting. It's also suitable for various craft projects.
Welded Vs. Woven Wire Mesh
The mesh wire you choose may be woven or welded. Your choice will depend on the strength and flexibility you need on the job.
- Welded wire mesh: Made by welding the intersections of metal wires, this type of mesh is rigid, durable and resistant to deformation. It’s commonly used in garden fencing, pest control, ventilation screens and construction reinforcements.
- Woven wire mesh: Woven mesh screens are more flexible and can be bent or shaped more easily. It’s often used for livestock fencing, insect screens and sieving.
What Metal Mesh Wire Gauge is Best?
Wire gauge determines the thickness of wire in hardware cloth. The lower the gauge is, the thicker the wire will be. Thicker wire is stronger and more durable than thinner wire, but can also prove more Shop Hardware Cloth Near You at Ace Hardware
