A Wide Range of Styles
Hardware cloth is available in many different styles. The most common standard specifications of this wire cloth, available at most retail stores, are usually welded. As domestic production has declined, woven wire mesh hardware cloth has become difficult to find.
The most readily available types of hardware cloth, available in 50' and 100' rolls are:
- 19 gauge with 1/2" x 1/2" openings
- also called 2 x 2 or 2 mesh - two squares to the inch
- available in 24", 36" and 48" widths
- 23 gauge with 1/4" x 1/4' openings
- sometimes referred to as 4 x 4 or 4 mesh - four squares to the inch
- available in 24", 36" and 48" widths
Less common styles are more difficult to find at the retail level:
- 21 gauge with 3/8" x 3/8" openings
- sometimes called 3 x 3 or 3 mesh - three squares to the inch
- available in 24", 36" and 48" widths
- 27 gauge with 1/8" x 1/8" openings
- also referred to as 8 x 8 or 8 mesh - eight squares to the inch
- available in 24", 36" and 48" widths
In general, as the opening size of the mesh decreases, so too does the gauge or thickness of the wire used decrease.
Welded wire cloth meshes for many different applications, including:
- aviaries
- window guards
- screen door reinforcement
- exclusion screens for nuisance wildlife
- small animal cages
- shrub and tree protection
- sieves and strainers
- stucco mesh
- ferro-cement boats
- sculptures and other structures
Can you think of other possible uses for hardware cloth?
Have you used hardware wire cloth for an interesting or unusual project?
