Tips to Expanded Metal

Expanded metal is composed of strands and bonds. Strands form the sides of the expanded metal openings. Bonds are where the strands intersect. In other words, the bond is where each diamond shaped opening is connected with the next opening. 
 
SWD (Short Way of the Diamond) is the distance from the middle of the bond on one side to the middle of the bond on the opposite side. 

LWD (Long Way of the Diamond) is the distance across the largest dimension of the diamond measured halfway between the diamonds. 
 
SWO (Short Way of the Opening) is the width of the opening of the shortest side of the diamond. SWO does not include the strand width, where SWD (Short Way of the Diamond) does. 

LWO (Long Way of the Opening) is the length of the opening of the longest side of the diamond. LWO does not include the strand width, where LWD (Long Way of the Diamond) does. 
Open Area 
Expanded metal contains open spaces (the diamond-shaped openings) and material. Open area is the total area of the diamond openings divided by the total area of the sheet or roll of expanded metal and is expressed as a percent. In other words, open area describes how much of the expanded metal is open space. If expanded metal has a 60 percent open area, then 60 percent of the expanded metal is open space and 40 percent is material. 
Gauge or Thickness 
Thickness is the measurement from the top surface to bottom surface of the expanded metal piece. Gauge is the most common measurement, but thickness can also be measured in fractional inches or millimeters. This gauges and weights chart can provide additional information. 
Width and Length 
Length is the measure of the longest side of the expanded metal sheet or cut-to-size piece. Width is the measure of the shortest side of the sheet or cut-to-size piece.