Different Types of Perforated Steel & How to Use It

Steel is one of the best materials for a wide variety of different uses, and whether you are planning to frame a house or building a major highway, it is often the metal that people turn to for strength, durability, performance, and beauty. One type of steel that is very popular is perforated steel. It can be used for many different things and comes in a wide variety of patterns and sizes at Wasatch Steel. Here are some of the most common types of perforated steel available, and ways that people use it.

Hole Types
Perforated steel is defined by its holes, and there are a variety of different hole styles, shapes, and sizes that you can get when you purchase from the best steel wholesaler in Utah. Some of the most common hole shapes include:

• Round – evenly spaced round holes. These are the most popular shape, and give you the option of the widest selection of gauges, diameters, different materials, and sheet sizes for your perforated steel at Wasatch Steel. 
• Square – a great alternative to the traditional round holes with several staggered or straight row patterns at the steel supermarket, including uniform squares and rectangles. 
• Slotted – for areas where you need longer holes and longer areas of steel between each hole. These elongated holes can have round or square ends, and come in several different gauges and patterns to meet your needs. 
• Hexagonal – for areas where you want maximum area to view in between the perforations, since they have about 80% open area and only 20% steel between. Hexagons are staggered and can be customized for different sizes. 
• Decorative – shapes and styles that include a variety of geometric designs for areas where you want a strong barrier, but one that looks good as well. Popular designs include cloverleaf, Grecian, honeycomb, octagons, Windsor triangles, crystal, diamond, jewel, and basketweaves.

 
Reasons to Choose Perforated Metal
Perforated metal is used for many different reasons, but primarily because it offers several features that are beneficial. You can choose from a wide variety of opening sizes and areas, several different gauges, and it is an economical choice for a strong and lightweight barrier whether you are using it for walkways, enclosures, fences, or more. It offers superior safety and security while also providing great aesthetic appeal in many different situations. It allows for the flow of air, light, sound, liquid, and gases. Plus you can get it with good load-bearing capabilities for walking and working.

Common Applications for Perforated Metal
While you can use perforated metal from Wasatch Steel for just about anything, some of the most common places that people use it include:

• Walkways 
• Stairs 
• Screens and security panels 
• Fencing 
• Ceilings 
• Display panels 
• Security enclosures 
• Benches 
• Guards and grates 
• Furniture and fixtures 
• Ladders 
• Non-slip surfaces 
• Partitions 
• Plant screens 
• Building facades 
• Shading or awnings

The use of perforated steel is not limited to these things—you can use it for anything that you can imagine. Come to the steel supermarket at the best steel wholesaler in Utah today to shop for perforated steel.

Perforated Steel: What is it, and How is it Used?

There are many different ways that you can use metal in your daily life, whether you work on construction, or you are just looking for unique ways to add beautiful décor to your home and yard. One common type of metal you can find at Wasatch Steel that is often used in a variety of applications is perforated metal. If you’re not sure what it is, and how it differs from other metals like expanded metal, here is an overview of this sheet metal manufacturing process, and some ways you might want to use it in your life.

What is Perforated Metal?
Perforated metal is a sheet metal that undergoes a manufacturing process of stamping to add holes or other perforations to the surface, in a variety of shapes and sizes, to use in your home, business, or building application. It is a functional steel, and comes in a wide variety of different elements, including lightweight applications for decorations around the house or yard, to heavy-duty applications you can use as load-bearing structures. Since it’s made of steel, this decorative metal offers the same combination of strength, durability, and beauty that other steel provides no matter how you are planning to use it.

Defining Perforated Metal Types
When discussing or buying perforated metal at Wasatch Steel, there are a few different terms you should be aware of so you can get the exact sheet and pattern you prefer.

• Staggered pattern, which offer holes that are diagonal or nested in their orientation, so they offer an offset pattern that gives you the maximum amount of open area in the metal sheet. 
• Straight pattern, which has holes aligned in straight rows and columns for a very symmetrical look. 
• Unfinished ends, which has a pattern that is not extended all the way to the edge of the sheet. It can give the ends of your metal sheet a bit of a rough look.
• Finished ends, which takes the pattern to the edge of the sheet in the same form as the rest of the metal so it appears constant and complete.
• Margins are the areas on the top, bottom, and sides that will not have perforations. These margins help preserve the strength and structural integrity of the sheet. 
• Safe side margins allow you to perforate right to the edge of the sheet, while leaving a small amount of metal on the end so the perforation doesn’t go over the edge.
• Perforated tools are the interchangeable die cuts that give you the size and shape of holes that you expect for different patterns. 
• Hole size describes the shape and diameter of the holes you want in your metal sheet. 

Uses for Perforated Metal
There are a wide variety of ways that you can use perforated metal, whether it’s more functional or it is a more decorative use. Construction and other building or facilities projects may use it for HVAC systems, noise control, security ceilings, sunscreens on the outside of windows, building facades, in-fill panels, ceilings, stair treads and risers. If you like it as a decorative piece, you can use it for interior design, furnishings, screens, and fencing. There are also some applications for the chemical and energy industries, mechanical and manufacturing plants, and food production and brewing, for things such as beehives, grain dryers, wine vats, farming, hammer mill screens, silos, threshing machines screens, malting floors, hop screens, vegetable and fruit presses, and more.

These metal sheets offer several benefits, including light weight, containment, heat dissipation, anti-skid, and the best acoustic performance. Whether you’re planning to use it as something functional or simply beautiful, perforated metal gives you a lot of options.