What is the difference between expanded metal and perforated metal?

They are two different processes. Expanded metal is slit and stretched, so the mesh opens out of the parent sheet and nothing is removed. Perforated metal is punched, so the material inside each hole becomes scrap. That difference shows up in the finished panel: an expanded sheet has continuous strands and a raised, three-dimensional surface, while a perforated sheet stays flat.

How is expanded metal mesh measured?

Four figures define a specification: raw material thickness, SW (short way, the horizontal side of the diamond opening), LW (long way, the vertical side), and strand width, meaning the bar between openings. Quote all four together. SW and LW alone do not describe the panel, because two sheets with the same opening behave differently once the strand width changes.

What expanded metal thickness and sheet sizes are available?

Thickness runs from 0.05 mm to 8.0 mm. Common market widths fall between 305 mm and 3050 mm, and common lengths between 1830 mm and 3050 mm. Sheets can also be supplied in coil and cut to length. Dimensional tolerance holds within ±3 mm.

Which surface treatments can be applied?

The treatment follows the base metal. Steel is usually hot-dip galvanized. Aluminum can be anodized, with an oxide layer of 6 μ to 15 μ, powder coated at 40 μ to 150 μ, or given a fluorocarbon coating at 40 μ to 50 μ. Stainless steel can be electroplated. For exterior façades we normally specify the fluorocarbon finish, which can meet the ten-year AAMA 2605-05 requirement.

Does expanded metal require welding?

No. The strands are formed from one sheet and are never cut apart, so there is no joint anywhere in the mesh. This is the main structural difference from welded mesh, which carries its weakest point at the weld.

Can mesh be made to a project drawing?

Yes. Every expanded metal panel is set to the drawing rather than to a catalogue number: opening size, strand width, material and sheet format. Send the drawing with the intended exposure and we will confirm which line it runs on and what finish suits the application.