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Found a cheap way to keep rodents out of my plastic deck boxes

After losing a $40 storage tote to gnawed corners last spring, I started wrapping the lid seam with galvanized steel mesh stapled to the inside lip. Has anyone else tried metal mesh instead of the rubber weatherstripping they sell for this?

3 comments

3 Comments

young.thomas10d ago

lucasw84 nailed it with the hardware cloth idea. I went with 1/4 inch mesh on the sides and bottom of mine too after the first tote got chewed through in a week. The mesh is way tougher than those rubber strips and hasn't given me any rust problems so far. Did you staple yours on the inside or outside?

lucasw8411d ago

Oh man, I totally feel your pain on this. I went through three of those black and yellow totes before I finally wised up. My solution was a bit different but same idea - I used hardware cloth stapled around the whole perimeter, not just the lid seam. I even doubled up on the corners where they love to chew. It's been over a year now and not a single new hole. The stuff they sell at the store just doesn't cut it, the rubber strips are way too soft. Your method sounds solid though, the galvanized mesh should last forever compared to that flimsy weatherstripping.

thea60211d ago

Does the galvanized mesh ever rust where it rubs against the plastic? I tried using some old chicken wire once but it left these weird little marks. Actually now I'm wondering if that matters if the box is just sitting on the deck anyway.