Insect mesh for soffits, metal or plastic?

[epsilonGreedy]

Before I close up my wooden box eaves I need to fix lengths (4m to 10m) of mesh along the small gap where the 20mm thick wooden soffit butts up against the facing bricks. My brickie did a good job, the wall is straight and the typical gap is small (< 3mm), however my heritage bricks have larger irregularities that would allow a nesting wasp to crawl up through in some places into the eave box. My proposed solution for this is to run a length of mesh along the inside of the eave at the soffit to brick joint.

 

Soffit mesh is available in stainless steel and plastic. My inclination at the moment is to buy a trial 10m roll of 50mm wide stainless mesh because I think once it is fixed in position I will be able to shape the mesh further into some of the irregular dips in the facing bricks.

 

These are the products I am looking at:

 

Plastic = https://www.amazon.co.uk/Suregreen-Plastic-glazing-insects-entering/dp/B00H0KBE4E/

SS = https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stainless-Insect-Mesh-1-31mm-0-28mm/dp/B077XY88DP

 

There are also plastic comb products available but these seem to be intended to fit a vertical gap under profiled tiles.

 

Note to experts: Due to indecision on my part the soffit does not rest on the top course of facing bricks because I could not give the brickie a desired height for the wall so he went an extra course higher.

[SimonD]

I've used loads of stainless in various widths and it is very malleable. If you wanted, ping me a pm with your address and I'll pop a few meters of offcuts, probably 75 or 100mm width, in the post for you to see how it works. If it's too wide you can actually cut it with scissors.

 

I use Robinson wire cloth, better prices than the Amazon link.

 

https://www.robinsonwirecloth.co.uk/online-shop/Soffit-insect-mesh-stainless-steel-30m-roll-p49612077

Edited September 14, 2021 by SimonD

[bassanclan]

What about some frame sealant? For 3mm don't faff about with stainless steel

[Conor]

I was cheap and got plastic. It's terrible. Fragile, staples rip through it, rolls back up, and doesn't stuck too well to glue. Pay extra and get steel.

[epsilonGreedy]

1 hour ago, bassanclan said:

What about some frame sealant? For 3mm don't faff about with stainless steel

 

 

I would like to encourage a little trickle air ventilation through the attic space via the eaves and I decided not to fit top of fascia vents under the eave support tray as I did not like the idea of drawing air into the attic via the bottom of the gutter. Just a personal hunch that I have not seen discussed elsewhere.

[epsilonGreedy]

2 hours ago, SimonD said:

I've used loads of stainless in various widths and it is very malleable. If you wanted, ping me a pm with your address and I'll pop a few meters of offcuts, probably 75 or 100mm width, in the post for you to see how it works. If it's too wide you can actually cut it with scissors.

 

I use Robinson wire cloth, better prices than the Amazon link.

 

https://www.robinsonwirecloth.co.uk/online-shop/Soffit-insect-mesh-stainless-steel-30m-roll-p49612077

 

 

Sounds encouraging and yes Robinsons are much cheaper. PM will be sent.

[bassanclan]

Or fill the gap with mastic and fit proper soffit vents? 

https://www.toolstation.com/single-round-soffit-vent/p59214