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
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 emergency. It tilts the odds toward a wet Bay Area winter without guaranteeing one, and getting...
All Notes
Everything we’ve filed from the shop floor — sorted newest first.
// 03
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,...
Read Note →
// 04
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...
Read Note →
// 05
The Quiet Shift to Aluminum: Why Lightweight Mesh Is Showing Up in More Specs
Aluminum wire mesh is gaining ground in architectural and industrial specs. Here's where it makes sense to switch from steel — and...
Read Note →
// 06
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...
Read Note →
// 07
California's Zone 0 Rule: What It Requires and Where Mesh Fits
California approved its Zone 0 five-foot ember-resistant zone on August 19, 2026. What the rule requires, when it takes effect, and where...
Read Note →
// 08
Wire Mesh and Perforated Metal in Cars: Grilles, Intakes, and Screens
In March 2026, a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT sold at auction for $3.1 million. It is a carbon fiber monocoque with a...
Read Note →
// 09
How to Read an Expanded Metal Spec: 1/2" #16 Decoded
Expanded metal is specified as a diamond size and a gauge number — and neither one is the size of the hole....
Read Note →
// 10
Beyond 304 and 316: When Stainless Is the Wrong Alloy for Wire Mesh
Stainless handles most jobs. But there are conditions where 304 and 316 fail predictably — hot chlorides, sulfuric acid, flammable atmospheres, RF...
Read Note →
// 11
Machine Guard Opening Sizes: What OSHA Table O-10 Actually Covers
Table O-10 is the table everyone reaches for when sizing mesh for a machine guard. It is also written for one narrow...
Read Note →
// 12
How to Read a Perforated Metal Spec: 1/4" Hole on 3/8" Staggered
Perforated sheet is specified as hole size on centre distance, in a staggered or straight pattern. The second number is the one...
Read Note →
// 13
Mesh Count vs. Inches: Why 1/4" Hardware Cloth Is Called 4 Mesh
You ask for 1/4" hardware cloth. The invoice says 4 Mesh. Same roll, two naming systems — and the opening you actually...
Read Note →