Wire mesh panels are incredibly durable, long-lasting, and resistant to various elements, including extreme temperatures and weather conditions. What are they for, though, and how are they used? Read on to find out.
What are Wire Mesh Products Used For?
Exceptional resilience and versatility make metal mesh a go-to for a host of applications in the industrial, agricultural, construction, and DIY residential sectors. The most common uses include pest control, winterization, security, building, on-the-job safety, filtration, horticulture, and decoration.
1. Pest Control
Wire mesh screens, as the name suggests, make excellent pest-control barriers. Depending on the weave, size, and placement, they can be used as insect screens for windows and doors, chicken coop enclosures, and eco-friendly garden fencing to keep curious burrowers and nibblers at bay.
2. Winterization
Stainless steel mesh is also often used to winterize houses and commercial buildings. It works for gutter guards, soffit screens, chimney caps, and foundation vents—all of which help exclude pests while making a structure more fire-safe and energy-efficient.
3. Security
Woven wire cloth is often used for security purposes, whether for improving privacy or creating a physical barrier. For instance, black poly-coated screens can be installed on windows and doors to prevent others from seeing inside. Less flexible metal mesh can be used as fencing or as barricade for workers in dangerous settings.
4. Construction
From office buildings to infrastructure to custom homes, wire mesh plays a critical role in the construction and development industries. Applications include subgrade reinforcement, foundations, concrete placement, masonry, wall framing, infill panels, building facades, and stair treads—to name just a few.
To learn more about how builders use the material, read our blog, Welded Wire Mesh a Concrete Solution for Contractors.
5. On-the-Job Safety
Metal mesh screens offer a practical, affordable solution to occupational safety. The material can be used as building reinforcement, fencing to prevent people from walking off-path, and netting to prevent rock falls during road work and underground mining.
6. Filtration
Stainless steel wire mesh, particularly the galvanized variety, is incredibly durable and resistant to corrosion, rust, extreme temps, and abrasion. As such, it's ideal for various types of filtration.
This includes purifying oils, filtering hydraulic fluid, and separating other liquids and gases. Additionally, finely woven mesh is used to separate small solid particles, such as filtering out contaminants from food and cosmetics, sorting pharmaceuticals, and sieving mined substances.
7. Horticulture
Steel hardware cloth has many uses in the gardening, landscaping, and agriculture sectors. From fencing, pest control, and harvesting machinery to vegetable cages, trellises, and gabions, there's no shortage of applications when it comes to plants, soil, and outdoor accents.
See our blog to discover 5 Creative Ways to Use Chicken Wire in Your Landscaping.
8. Decoration
Metal mesh is just the thing for a broad range of decorative applications, indoors and out. DIYers love using antique brass and bronze flat-wire weaves for cabinetry, light fixtures, firepits, and seasonal outdoor accents.
In addition, the material is perfect for various commercial designs. This includes signage, aesthetic partitions, ceiling canopies, foyer accents, sculptures, gabion benches, and plant walls.
Quality Metal Mesh Screens, Panels & More
Founded in 1969 in California's Bay Area, TWP Inc. has been a top screen mesh supplier for over five decades. Our woman-owned company carries an impressive variety of products for industrial and residential applications alike.
From galvanized, welded, and poly-coated hardware cloth to pest-control copper, decorative brass, and malleable aluminum, we have a wire mesh product to suit your needs. TWP Inc. is proud to offer sheets, panels, rolls, and laser-cut discs in various sizes and weaves.
Custom, Quality, Expert
If you don't find what you're looking for when browsing our extensive inventory, we can always accommodate custom sizes or quantities. TWP Inc.'s in-house services include measuring, cleaning, slitting, and precision laser cutting.
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Connect with us on LinkedIn for the latest wire mesh trends in your industry. Or upload pictures of your DIY project on Instagram with the hashtag #TWPWireMesh to have your creation featured in our gallery.
Wire screens and custom metal screens can be used for a variety of applications across a variety of industries. Since metal screen is such a versatile material, it is used in many different uses. Custom wire cloth has purpose for projects ranging from insect screens and strainers to screen printing and architectural design.
Metal screens can be created using many different alloys, including stainless steel, aluminum, copper, titanium, brass, and more. In addition, the weave used to produce wire cloth can differ from standard to Dutch weave and beyond. There are many other customizable options to create metal screens fit for your needs, including the shape, opening size, and dimension. Keep reading to find out seven different uses for the versatility of metal screens.
Metal Screen Cloth for Screen Printing
Wire mesh screen is a common choice for many screen printing applications. Screen printing is a technique that uses mesh to transfer ink onto a substrate, which results in creating a print. A stencil is used to block ink from transferring through completely, thus creating different designs and artwork. The benefit of screen printing is the reusability of the same screen stencil for multiple prints.
One of the most important aspects of metal screens used in screen printing is the tension of the screen. In screen printing, artists want the screen to stretch very tightly over the frame they are using to avoid inconsistencies and tears. For this aspect, stainless steel wire mesh is an ideal choice for screen printing due to stainless steel having less than 1% elongation. Stainless steel wire mesh also offers more stability and durability than other materials like polyester or nylon.
Stainless Steel Insect Screens
Metal screen is a perfect choice for keeping bugs and critters out of the home or office. These screens keep bugs out while allowing air to flow through and providing excellent visibility. Stainless steel insect screens are much stronger and more durable than regular window and door screens. Additionally, using stainless steel allows the screen to withstand scratching from pets without ripping.
Stainless steel insect screens are likely to last a very long time due to their durability and corrosion resistant material. Common specifications include 18×14 Mesh .009″ Wire, 18×14 Mesh .011″ Wire, 16×16 Mesh .009″ Wire, 16×16 Mesh .011″ Wire, and 18×18 Mesh .009″ Wire.
Wire Mesh Fireplace Screens
Wire mesh screens can also be used in applications that keep people safe. For example, fireplace screens are often made out of metal screen. Using metal screen with the right opening size that offers both visibility and protection is key in this application. A fireplace screen in our 8×8 mesh .028″ wire offers both heat control and spark protection, keeping you in control of your space.
Preferably, your fireplace screen should be mounted in a frame. Since this mesh can be used in a variety of alloys, you will be able to pair your protection with your home decor, using alloys like stainless steel, brass, or copper.
Metal Screen for Decorative Home Fixtures
Practical applications for metal screens range far beyond the jobsite. Metal screen is a unique and not always thought of choice for decorative home fixtures but works just as well. Utilizing an eye-catching alloy, like copper or brass, adds a distinguished look to your project and can assist in matching other fixtures in your home. Different choices in home decor with metal screens include, wall art, cabinet accents, organizational elements, stair panels, and more.
Metal Mesh Screen for Garden Fencing
Metal mesh screens work well in both indoor and outdoor applications for safety, pest control, decoration, and just about everything else. Using a metal screen outdoors in your garden can help you protect your plants and allow you a working material to create your own compost bin.
Using a metal mesh screen as a garden cover gives you a durable, corrosion resistant material that saves your plants from unwanted insects and animals, while also allowing rain or hose water through the screen’s openings. Wire screen in your plant beds can also be a useful tool in keeping your crops separated and organized.
Additionally, the same metal screen you’re using for garden fencing can be altered to create your own compost bin for your food scraps. Galvanized steel screen is a preferred material for this project because the galvanized coating is made of zinc, which helps prevent water and other corrosive elements from interacting with the steel. Creating your compost bin with a metal screen also allows you to create a bin in the exact measurements you’re looking for, fitting your space perfectly.
Stainless Steel Metal Mesh for Splatter Screens
Metal mesh screens can also be used in applications in the kitchen, beyond decor. Stainless steel metal mesh, a material that’s not only easy to clean but also to maintain, can be used as a splatter screen for most standard pots and pans. 304 stainless steel mesh filters are extremely durable, making them easy to sanitize for use in the food and beverage industry. The wire mesh is usually made into screens that are approximately 8″,10″, or 12″ in diameter to fit common pan sizes.
Feel Secure with Metal Mesh Screen
Wire mesh can also be used in security applications. Using a wire mesh screen with small openings as security screen offers good visibility without the ability for items to pass through it. A popular specification is 12×12 Mesh with anywhere from .023″ to .035″ wires.
Lawrence Sintered Metals for Metal Wire Mesh Discs
If you’re looking for a high-quality metal metal screen, Lawrence Sintered Metals has you covered. With over 30 years of experience, our experts can assist in finding you the right metal screen for your job and offer you any additional insight on fabrication services you may need.
We offer a wide variety of metal screens in different alloys, sizes, and specifications to meet your needs. Contact us today to learn more about our products and services.
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