How to Cover an Attic Air Vent
Attic air vents are essential for maintaining proper insulation within a home. But left uncovered, they can lead to major pest problems including rats, bats, birds, squirrels and even raccoons. Covering the attic air vent is a simple step to make sure that their is adequate ventilation, insulation and pest control. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Screwdriver
- Hardware cloth
- Staple gun
- Wire cutters
- Oil Pencil
- Tape Measure or Ruler
Instructions
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1
Remove the gable, the exterior ventilation component that sits over the vent with louvers attached to prevent water leaking into the attic, screwed into the home's exterior stucco. The gable is made of wooden slats.
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2
Place the gable on the ground laying it on its slats. If it is a standard shape such as a square or rectangle, measure the length and width. If not, lay the hardware cloth over it and trace the shape with the oil pencil.
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3
Cut the hardware cloth with the wire cutters about an 1/8 of an inch smaller than the shape determined in Step 2. So if the dimensions measured in Step 2 are 5-by-5 inches, cut the hardware cloth at 4 7/8-by-4 7/8 inches. This will keep the wire neatly concealed under the gable when reattached.
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4
Staple the hardware cloth in place on the interior side of the gable so that the hardware cloth covers the entire vent openings but doesn't go beyond the perimeter of the gable frame. Note: this is an aesthetic component, not a requirement. Many people do a quick covering by laying the hardware cloth over the slats and staple.
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5
Screw the gable back in place with the slats pointing downward so water flows down to the ground.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Hardware cloth is a wire mesh cloth with small gauged wire weaved no more than 1/8 inch apart and prevents rodent entry. Prefabricated gables may be purchased at hardware stores but are usually all metal components that can detract from the finished touches of most homes that traditional gables offer.
