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Identifying the type of vents you have

Your home may have a variety of vents. Below are names and pictures of the typical vents which you will find around your home.

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Count and measure your vents:

Now that you have identified your vent type, it is time to count and measure them. The beginning of the below video “How to Measure, Cut and Prepare WDM” will take you through the process of measuring your vent and adding an additional inch to each side for the fixing of the mesh.  

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TIP: If you are unsure with your measurements, it's better to oversize the vent and use tin snips to trim it back during installation.

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Safety

When you count and measure your vents, you may need to climb on a ladder or crawl into confined spaces. Please take proper safety precautions and if you feel uneasy, please contact one of the installers to assist you.

If you are unable to reach your vent, most smart phones will have a measurement app that will allow you to estimate your measurements from a distance. 

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Applying for your Wildfire Defense Mesh 98 

To apply for your Wildfire Defense Mesh 98, please proceed to the Berkeley Fire Department Order Page (linked)

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Installing Wildfire Defense Mesh 98 on Vents

Now that you have your Wildfire Defense Mesh 98, below are the installation videos to guide you through the installation of your vents.

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WDM have created an install manual and videos for homeowners to understand how to install Wildfire Defense Mesh. After reading and watching this material, if you feel more comfortable getting professional installation, please contact a local installer.

These guides will take you through: 

1. Selecting the installation mode that best suits your building 
2. Preparing the ventilation space for protection 
3. Measuring the ventilation space 
4. Measuring and cutting the Wildfire Defense Mesh
5. Securing the Wildfire Defense Mesh protected vent to your building 
6. Checking for the quality of installation 

Wildfire Defense Screens 

7. Selecting the installation mode that best suits your building 
8. Preparing the ventilation space for protection 
9. Measuring the ventilation space 
10. Securing the Wildfire Defense Screen to the building 
11. Checking for the quality of the installation 

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TIP: It's important to also calculate your home's Net Free Area to ensure you maintain the proper levels of ventilation in your space. Here is a simple guide to measuring your Net Free Area to make sure your ventilation is sufficient.

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Install Videos 

Our videos on How to install Wildfire Defense Mesh on vents to help defend your home from wildfire will take you through the entire process.

• Tips to help defend your home from Wildfire
• How to measure, cut and prepare the mesh
• Retrofitting a Foundation Vent 
• Retrofitting a Gable Vent 
• Retrofitting a Soffit Vent 
• Retrofitting a Dormer (off ridge vent) 

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For your ease, we have also cut these into shorter videos:

1. Five tips for defending your home from Wildfire

2. How to measure, cut and prepare Wildfire Defense Mesh for installation  

3. Retrofitting a Foundation Vent 

4. Retrofitting a Gable Vent 

5. Retrofitting a Soffit Vent 

6. Retrofitting a Dormer (off ridge vent) 

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Local Contractors and Installers

Wildfire Defense Mesh works with a series of installers. Below are installers who operate in the Berkeley area that are familiar with Wildfire Defense Mesh and are insured and bonded.

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Shearman Builders‍

Contact: Kazoo Shearman

kazoo@shearmanbuilders.com

(510) 501-4403

License # 1091520

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Adaptive Home Hardening

Contact: Nigel Siri

nigel@adaptivehomehardening.com

(775) 762-9328

License # 586141

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