The Best Places to Buy metal screen mesh Online and In-Store

From animal containment to temporary fences and erosion control, hardware cloth has many valuable uses for DIY and professional projects alike. Discover the best wire gauge for your projects, and explore the different types and many uses of wire mesh for your needs.

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 a number of jobs.

What Metal Mesh Wire Gauge is Best?

Wire gauge determine the thickness of wire in hardware cloth. Generally speaking, the lower a gauge is, the thicker the wire will be. Wil you need thicker or thinner wire for your projects? Thicker wire is stronger and more durable than thinner wire, but can also prove more difficult to work with as you prepare it for your specific projects. Unsure what you may need for your project? Stop by your local ace hardware store where our helpful staff will advise you.

Different Types of Mesh Screen Cloths

Mesh wire comes in a variety of designs offering lots of versatility for different projects around the home. Before you make any purchases, it’s important to understand the different types of hardware cloth, including galvanized, vinyl-coated, and twisted or welded metal mesh.

• Galvanized: Coated with a protective layer for added durability, galvanized steel mesh screens are typically galvanized before weld (GBW) or galvanized after weld (GAW). Although both offer great advantages, GAW metal screen mesh is typically more durable but can be more expensive.
• Fiberglass: Flexible and easy to install, this budget-friendly mesh wire option resists denting or creasing, but may fade with continued exposure to UV rays.
• Aluminum: An aluminum screen mesh is resistant to UV rays, high temperatures and corrosion, but dents easily and may be more difficult to install without professional help.

Additionally, the mesh wire you choose may be twisted or welded. Welded wire mesh screen is what you typically see in gardens to help keep out pests or protect plants, and also can be fitted on house vents to allow circulation while ensuring no debris enters.  Welded wire is very durable, as the wire grid is welded together at each cross-section. Woven mesh wires are interwoven and more flexible than welded mesh wires. Woven wire is often used for fences for livestock,  and tends to be more affordable than welded mesh wires.

Many Uses for Screen Cloth

From the material that goes into making it to the specific intricate design, your hardware cloth has many uses. Set up an animal containment fence to keep livestock in or predators large and small out, or use it to complete home maintenance and craft projects like wall repair and window screens. For gardeners, screen cloth is great for plant support and erosion control, and can also be used to help with compost containment.

For help with finding the right type of hardware cloth for your project, visit your local Ace Hardware to shop mesh wire from leading brands like Adfors, Garden Craft and Phifer Wire. Then, shop for more home hardware essentials to stay prepared for any job.  

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