Wire mesh is showing up inside more commercial businesses
Wire mesh is shattering traditional boundaries and making its way inside commercial businesses in the form of captivating décor, decorative finishes and traffic flow solutions. The loose, flexible, wire fabric is quickly becoming the customizable go-to material that offers fresh, versatile and low-maintenance solutions to commercial building interiors.
Go with the flow
Along with its durability, metal architectural accents add a nod to modernity and sophistication. Impressive installations are popping up in hospitals, restaurants, retail, offices, hotels, airports, schools, public buildings, stadiums and even parking decks. Its uses range from adding aesthetic interest to filtering light through windows and filtering crowds through stadiums. The fluidity of the metallic curvature serves as a visual guide to streamline pedestrian traffic.
Interior metal mesh systems can be used in conservative corporate settings or in a more fun, unexpected way. With endless design possibilities, awe-inspiring wire structures add interest to otherwise drab or sterile areas. Used practically, metal mesh can serve to reflect or filter light while still allowing free airflow. Many wire mesh weaves also offer acoustic transparency, which minimizes the loss of sound quality.
Architects, builders and designers are gravitating toward wire mesh because it can be manipulated to round corners and form shapes that drywall and tile cannot. Wire mesh is often mixed with a variety of substrates including wood, tile or granite for modern appeal. Wire mesh is also environmentally friendly in that it is made from nearly 100 percent recycled material. The metal is easy to maintain and has long-lasting durability.
Dream weaver
Wire mesh should be custom-fabricated to suit the space it will fill. There are many factors to take into consideration when designing a wire mesh product, including the desired level of rigidity, density and pattern of the weave. There are more than 10,000 combinations of weave patterns and decorative finishes-the only limits are one’s imagination.
Endless weave patterns exist when using wire mesh. There are a variety of alloys to choose from, as well as finishes such as high shine or matte. The mesh can also be fabricated with colored wire, or powder-coated with a color derived from any paint swatch. Powder-coating offers endless color options but also contributes to the rigidity of the end product, so it may not be suitable for all applications.
A common misconception is that metal is too expensive to use for an interior application. There are a variety of ways to control costs, including working with the manufacturer to select the weave size, pattern and weight that will work best for its end use without “overbuying” a heavier metal or tighter weave than is necessary. When sourcing wire mesh, consider a supplier who can customize the wire mesh based on the project specs and not the other way around. This can help assure the best price, quality and fit for custom-built spaces.
Nicole Theis is director of marketing, architecture division, Wire-Mesh Products Inc., York, Pa. For more information, visit www.wire-mesh.com or call (717) 848-3620.
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Five Reasons to Open the Door to Indoor Alloy
• Versatile: Bend it, fold it, drape it, mold it! Wire mesh can serve many purposes and function as a wall, ceiling, drapery panel, doorway and directional guide for foot traffic.
• Durable: Virtually indestructible, wire mesh can far outlast alterative products and is easy to maintain.
• Functional: Wire mesh can significantly impact lighting, whether it be for decorative or reflective purposes or to filter out the sun’s harsh rays.
• Aesthetically pleasing: Installations create a sleek, modern, clean appearance and provide visual interest.
• Adaptable: Wire mesh compliments a variety of substrates and can be uniquely molded to fit curves or form shapes.
