Expanded Metals vs. Perforated Metals – Costs, Benefits and Analysis

Architects and building contractors are often faced with many challenging decisions when choosing the right materials for a job. Different types of metals, materials and fabrication methods affect the performance of a structure or facility hugely, and structural sheet metal is no exception. While perforated metals and expanded metals are similar and have some overlapping applications, engineers understand that their capabilities are very different. Not only are perforated and expanded metals separated by their application industries, but by their fabrication methods and cost as well.
Perforated metal seems to be the industry standard for architectural applications such as building facades, fences and partitions. Because perforated metals are punched and cut, dies can be designed to cut patterned shapes into sheet metal for a variety of purposes, both decorative and functional. The shape of metal perforations can determine a material’s usefulness for blocking microwaves, sound waves or light; perforated metals are used in all these industries. Next time you warm up some leftovers, take a look at your microwave door. See that filter in the glass? That’s a piece of perforated metal blocking microwaves from coming through the door.

Perforated sign image by Hendrick Manufacturing

Soundproofing and acoustical enhancement is another important application for perforated metal, which is capable of muffling, blocking or softening sound within structures that are too large to soundproof with foam acoustic panels. Theater lights and laboratory lights are often filtered and diffused with perforated metal, and large office buildings or corporate structures can benefit from an interior perforated wall panel’s decorative and sound muffling properties.
Aside from architectural uses, perforated metal functions in a number of filtering applications when fabricated as perforated tubes. These are often used in inline processing to filter fisheyes or other agglomerates during pharmaceutical, chemical or food processing.
Expanded Metal sheets, while capable of many of these applications (except soundproofing), excel in a different area entirely. The stair treads, walkways, catways and floor grating found so commonly in industrial facilities, construction sites and even many commercial buildings are made from industrial expanded metal. Expanded metals are capable of far greater structrual strength than perforated metals; unlike perforated metals, expanded metals are slit and stretched, creating a pattern of three dimensional structures, although expanded metal may also be rolled into a two dimensional sheet. This slitting and stretching process sets expanded metals apart from perforated metals in cost and fabrication time. Because expanded metals are slit and stretched, there is virtually no waste material, significantly lowering fabrication costs. It’s also a fairly quick process, making custom expanded metal stair tread orders fast and cost-effective.

Stair tread and machine guard images by Niles Expanded Metals and Plastics

To wrap up, let’s look at a summary of expanded and perforated metals as compared to one another:

Expanded MetalPerforated MetalCostLowMid to HighFabrication MethodSlitting and stretching; rolling for 2 dimensional sheetsPunchingWaste MaterialLittle or noneRelatively high, depending on hole diameterTexture2 dimensional or 3 dimensional with surface grip capabilities2 dimensionalStructural StabilityExcellentLow to moderateDesign FlexibilityModerateHighArchitectural ApplicationsStair treads, floor grating, walkways, fencing, doors, furnitureDecorative walls, barriersTechnical ApplicationsLight diffusingSound barriers, noise proofing, electronic housing ventilation, computers, speakersFiltering ApplicationsLarge process particles, industrial processingMicrowaves, electromagnetic waves, sound waves, fine process liquids, gas flow control