Need Advice On Hdwe Cloth Install

[gltrap54]

Did the search with no joy, so.......

Ready to install hardware cloth & I have some questions........ Run is 8'W x 8'L x 6' H & I'm using 36" wire....



1) If running wire horizontally, do I start at the top or bottom (on the sides)?

2) Any way to "stretch" this wire for a better look?

 

[St-Hubert]

I am no expert, only having recently finished my own coop....so take this with a grain of salt.

1)I ran mine horizontal as well, and started at the bottom seeing as I had 'trenched' mine to about a foot in the ground.

2)Stretching the hardware cloth would weaken it, I believe. I did not, however, try.

One suggestion.....gloves and long sleeves. Those will save you a lot of pain.

 

[gltrap54]

Quote:
Thanks for the input! I've handled just enough hardware cloth to know it's wicked stuff!!

 

[NewHen]

You can do it in sections in panels and then attach the panels together. Invest in a wire snips and it will be much quicker cutting the mesh.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

We call it "walking the wire". You start you wire on one frame piece and slowly work your way backwards. You are facing where you are tacking it down. Your body weight keeps it in place and fairly tight. I use U nails. Unless you have a staple gun that's going to shoot the staples down a good inch, a raccoon is going to peel the wire back like a banana

 

[NewHen]

Or you could staple the mesh into the wooden strips and then screw the strips into the frame with the mesh facing inward so it's nice and pretty.

 

[gltrap54]

Thanks folks! I'll post pics when we finish!

 

[elmo]

You either build framing that's 36" wide and attach the hardware cloth to this (I prefer screws to staples), or you're going to need to splice the wire. For that job, I like these Loxit clips:

http://www.randallburkey.com/PKG-1-LB-LOXIT-RINGS-OOB/productinfo/6000/

For my pens, I used 48" wire set into frames and ran it vertically. That way I could make the pen as tall as I wanted without having to splice, and I also ran an extra foot or two of wire down past the bottom of the frame and bent it outward to make the apron.