Expanded metal and bar grating turn up on trailer decks, catwalks, stair treads, machine guards, security screens and oilfield platforms. We source carbon steel expanded metal in standard and flattened styles and welded bar grating in common sizes, arrange the cuts to your panel sizes, and deliver across Texas.
What it's used for and how to choose
Expanded metal is a sheet slit and stretched into a diamond pattern. It stays one piece with no welds, so it won't unravel. It's light, it lets light, air and water through, and it's the usual choice for trailer ramps and decks, guards, fence panels and grill grates.
It comes in two styles. Standard (raised) expanded metal keeps the strands at an angle, which gives a gripping surface and more stiffness. That's the one for trailer ramps and walk surfaces. Flattened expanded metal has been rolled flat after expanding. It's smooth, a little thinner, and lies flat for guards, screens, shelving and decorative panels.
Bar grating is for real foot and equipment traffic across a span: platforms, catwalks, trench covers and stair treads. Load-bearing bars run the span and cross bars tie them together. Bearing bar depth and thickness set how far it can span and how much it carries, so size it to the span first.
Grades
| Grade / spec | Why pick it | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon steel expanded metal | Economical, easy to cut and weld. The default for trailer and guard work. | Rusts bare. Paint, powder coat or specify galvanized for outdoor use. |
| Welded bar grating, plain | Standard for platforms and catwalks, black, painted or galvanized. | Plain bars can be slick when wet or oily. |
| Welded bar grating, serrated | Notched bearing bars give grip where oil, mud or water are present. | Slightly less effective depth than the same bar unserrated. Check the span. |
Galvanized expanded metal and grating are widely available and worth it on oilfield, marine and exterior work.
Common sizes
| Product | Common designations | Typical sheet or panel size |
|---|---|---|
| Expanded metal, standard | 1/2" #13, 3/4" #13, 3/4" #9, 1-1/2" #9 (lower number is heavier strand) | 4' x 8', 4' x 10' |
| Expanded metal, flattened | 1/2" #13F, 3/4" #13F, 3/4" #9F | 4' x 8', 4' x 10' |
| Welded bar grating | 19-W-4 (bars on 1-3/16" centers, cross bars every 4"), 15-W-4 for tighter spacing | 24" or 36" wide panels, 20' and 24' long |
| Bearing bars | 3/4" x 1/8", 1" x 3/16", 1-1/4" x 3/16", 1-1/2" x 3/16" and heavier | Set by span and load |
Sizes only. Metal prices move daily, so every order is quoted.
Cut-to-size options
Expanded metal sheets can be sheared or plasma cut to your panel size, which saves wrestling a full 4' x 10' sheet on a small shop's table. Bar grating is usually saw cut or burned to size, and banding (a flat bar welded across the cut ends) can be arranged to finish the edges and tie loose bar ends together. Tell us whether dimensions are to the outside of the band.
What to include in your quote request
- Expanded metal or bar grating
- Designation: e.g. "3/4" #9 standard" or "19-W-4, 1" x 3/16" bearing bar"
- Standard or flattened, plain or serrated, black or galvanized
- Panel sizes and quantities, with the direction of the diamond or bearing bars noted
- Banding or cut-outs needed on grating
- The span and load, if you want a second look at the bar size
- Delivery location