Howard's Blog
Field notes, spec deep-dives, and shop-floor know-how from the people who’ve been cutting wire mesh in Hayward, California. Mesh counts, alloys, finishes, and the jobs they end up on — written plain.

- // Editor The Howard Wire Crew
- // Cadence Published When It Matters
- // Topics Specs · Materials · Applications
- // Loc. Hayward, California
Featured Read
Our most recent long-read — the one we’d hand a new buyer before they pick a mesh count.
Featured
Keeping Skunks and Raccoons Out From Under Your Deck: Why Winter Is the Window
Skunks breed in February and March, and raccoon young arrive in April and May, usually under a deck or porch. Here's the mesh UC recommends, how to bury it so they can't dig under, and why you want...
All Notes
Everything we’ve filed from the shop floor — sorted newest first.
// 03
Hardware Cloth vs. Chicken Wire for a Backyard Coop
Chicken wire or hardware cloth for a backyard coop? Which mesh goes on the walls, the floor, the roof and the buried...
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// 04
Copper Root Barriers: How They Work and Where They Go
How a copper root barrier works on tree roots, how deep to install it, where it goes, and who pays when roots...
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// 05
Getting Ready for El Niño in the Bay Area: Gutters, Downspouts, Drains, and Rain Barrels
NOAA gives a greater than 90% chance of a very strong El Niño this winter, and California is already under a preparedness...
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// 06
Chimney Spark Arrestors in California: The Mesh Size and Wire the Code Requires
California requires a spark arrester on every chimney that burns solid fuel. The openings have to land between 3/8 and 1/2 inch,...
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// 07
Rodent-Proofing Your House for Winter: The 1/4 Inch Rule
Mice move indoors when fall nights turn cold, and a mouse only needs a 1/4 inch gap. Here's why 1/2 inch mesh...
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// 08
Fall Planting in Northern California: Why the Basket Goes In on Planting Day
Fall is the best planting window in Northern California — warm soil, cool air, and rains that do the watering. It is...
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