Images throughout this article were taken from an actual Pest Armor Tight Mesh Panel installation performed by Western Mass Wildlife Removal.
At HY-C, we manufacture an entire line of prefabricated wildlife exclusion solutions under our HY-GUARD EXCLUSION brand name. These solutions are tailor-made to fit snugly over common wildlife entry points like roof vents, foundation vents, dryer vents, and chimneys.
But sometimes in the wildlife exclusion business, a prefabricated solution isn’t enough. Sometimes, you come across a vent or an opening that’s so far outside standard specifications that you need a versatile solution that’s easy to customize yet robust enough to keep critters out.
And that’s where Pest Armor Tight Mesh Panels come in.
In this guide, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about using Tight Mesh Panels for wildlife exclusion jobs. We’ll cover the specifications of these panels, some common uses for them, how to cut and form them yourself, and plenty more.
By the time you’re finished here, you’ll understand how Pest Armor Tight Mesh Panels can help to bolster your wildlife control service offering.
Discover HY-GUARD EXCLUSION Pest Armor Tight Mesh Panels
Pest Armor Tight Mesh Panels: Specifications
Before you start to consider all the ways you can use Tight Mesh Panels out in the field, it’s important to understand a few of their key specifications to help you plan ahead.
The panels are made from galvanized steel, a material that is relatively easy to cut and form out in the field yet strong enough to withstand the paws and teeth of curious critters. They provide much more robust wildlife exclusion capabilities than chicken wire or hardware cloth.
Tight Mesh Panels measure 28” x 31-¼” and come 5 to a pack to provide 30 square feet of total exclusion coverage. They also utilize ¼” mesh — plenty small enough to keep even insects out while maintaining over 92% of the vent’s baseline airflow.
Each pack of 5 panels is available with either a black or white powder coat and are also paintable to match the aesthetics of your customers’ homes.
How to Cut and Form Pest Armor Tight Mesh Panels
The biggest appeal of Pest Armor Tight Mesh Panels is their customizability. And while each operator prefers to cut and form them a little differently, we’ll provide some general tips here to help you get started.
The first step is to measure the opening you want to cover and trace its outline on the panel. If the area you’re trying to cover is too big for one panel, it’s common to cut up two or more panels and join them together. Just remember: measure twice, cut once!
The next step is to cut the panel into the shape you need. Be sure to cut as closely and carefully as possible along the lines you traced out on the panel.
There are a few tools you can use to cut the panels. If you don’t mind cutting by hand, a pair of aviation snips will get the job done. For quicker results, though, many operators prefer to opt for a pair of powered sheet metal shears.
Finally, some jobs may require you to bend the edges of the panel a bit to make installation easier or more aesthetically appealing to the homeowner. If you’re bending panels in your shop and you have a metal bending brake, that is likely the easiest route. If you’re out in the field, though, a hand seamer will get the job done nicely, too.
Common Uses for Pest Armor Tight Mesh Panels
Pest Armor panels are used in several wildlife exclusion applications, but they’re most commonly used on gable end vents for a couple of reasons.
For one, gable vents tend to come in several shapes and sizes. Between triangular gables, round gables, and square and rectangular styles, it’s difficult to manufacture a one-size-fits-most gable exclusion solution. That’s why a customizable product (like Tight Mesh Panels) works well.
Another reason wildlife control operators tend to target gable end vents with Pest Armor panels is that they’re a common wildlife entry point. Critters can easily get through the hardware cloth or bug screen that typically covers gable vents. But steel Tight Mesh Panels will seal them out well.
Pest professionals also tend to use these panels on foundation vents and soffit vents that have uncommon dimensions — situations where prefabricated foundation vent screens and soffit vent screens won’t fit correctly.
At the end of the day, though, there’s no limit to these panels’ wildlife exclusion capabilities. They’re endlessly versatile, so keep some on your truck for situations where other products won’t quite work.
What Kinds of Pests Do Pest Armor Tight Mesh Panels Exclude?
Given their common use on gable vents, Pest Armor panels do well in keeping out squirrels, raccoons, bats, and other wildlife that tends to invade attics. As long as they’re installed well, they’ll seal out whatever nuisance wildlife is common in the area in which you work.
Additionally, their ¼” mesh also does well in keeping out large insects like bees, wasps, hornets, stink bugs, cicadas, and more. This will allow you to provide your customers with a pest control solution that stops both wildlife and bugs.
Small insects like ants, gnats, and flies are still likely to get past the ¼” mesh. If your customers are having trouble with those, they’ll likely need to be taken care of with sprays.
But in all, Pest Armor Tight Mesh Panels help to exclude a wide array of critters both large and small.
How Can You Start Using Pest Armor Tight Mesh Panels?
As you can tell, Pest Armor panels have plenty of applications, making them a welcome addition to most wildlife control operators’ toolboxes.
With that in mind, though, how can you start using them yourself?
The best place to start is with your existing wildlife control supplier. We work closely with most distributors in the pest and wildlife control industry, and many of them carry most of our products — Pest Armor Tight Mesh Panels included.
If you need some assistance finding where to buy them, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our customer service team. They’ll be happy to help you find the best supplier to fit your needs.
In the meantime, be sure to check out our guide to the 7 best wildlife exclusion items to keep on your work truck. It provides plenty of tips for solutions you can keep on your vehicle to increase your average ticket size and expand your service offering for your customers.
