For an economical solution for lighter traffic ramps, walkways, treads or other
types of structural applications – consider Expanded Grating or Expanded Catwalk. The open diamond truss
configuration is a much heavier gauge than regular expanded metal and provides sure footing. With Expanded
“Grating”, the width of the sheet is parallel to the short way of the diamond opening, the length is
parallel to the long way of the diamond opening. With Expanded “Catwalk”, the opposite is true – the short way of the diamond runs parallel to the length of the sheet (typically 10 foot) and the long way of the diamond/opening
runs the short dimension of the sheet. Catwalk is structurally stronger because the long way of the diamond
runs across the shorter supported span.
Expanded Grating is available in plain steel styles ranging from 3 to 6.25# per square foot; Catwalk Grating, 4.27# per square foot; Aluminum Expanded Grating,
2# per square foot.
To narrow your selections, please click on an image below. The left navigation pane will help you refine your requirements, or you may browse our stock list below.
Expanded metal is composed of strands and bonds. Strands form the sides of the expanded metal openings. Bonds are where the strands intersect. In other words, the bond is where each diamond shaped opening is connected with the next opening.
SWO (Short Way of the Opening) is the width of the opening of the shortest side of the diamond. SWO does not include the strand width, where SWD (Short Way of the Diamond) does.
LWO (Long Way of the Opening) is the length of the opening of the longest side of the diamond. LWO does not include the strand width, where LWD (Long Way of the Diamond) does.
Expanded metal contains open spaces (the diamond-shaped openings) and material. Open area is the total area of the diamond openings divided by the total area of the sheet or roll of expanded metal and is expressed as a percent. In other words, open area describes how much of the expanded metal is open space. If expanded metal has a 60 percent open area, then 60 percent of the expanded metal is open space and 40 percent is material.
Thickness is the measurement from the top surface to bottom surface of the expanded metal piece. Gauge is the most common measurement, but thickness can also be measured in fractional inches or millimeters. This gauges and weights chart can provide additional information.
Length is the measure of the longest side of the expanded metal sheet or cut-to-size piece. Width is the measure of the shortest side of the sheet or cut-to-size piece.
Please consult the Load Tables for application requirements. Standard shearing tolerances apply to all cut-to-size pieces unless other shearing tolerances are specified (see Tolerances, below)
Bond Shearing- The material is cut on or near the center of the bond eliminating prongs or jagged edges. Bond shearing is only possible if the dimensions fall directly between bonds. If a bond shear is not possible and you want a smooth edge, U-edging can be installed.
Random Shearing - The material is cut wherever the dimensions fall. This type of cut may leave jagged edges, prongs, and incomplete design patterns.
There are tolerances associated with shearing.
Stock sheets are bond sheared (machine run) on all four sides, except that some flattened patterns may result in one random shear along the LWD. Cut-to-size pieces may be:
· Bond sheared on all four sides LWD & SWD
· Random sheared all four sides LWD & SWD
· Bond sheared SWD and Random sheared LWD
· Bond Sheared LWD and Random sheared SWD
Quantity is the number of expanded metal sheets or cut-to-size pieces you need. Unless otherwise specified, the standard tolerance on quantity is Exact Quantity. In other words, McNICHOLS® will deliver the exact quantity you specify.
Perforated
Grating
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Wire Mesh
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Stair Treads
Stair Tread Covers
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