VM wrote:
On Thu, 03 Jun 2010 07:12:39 -0700, Smitty Two
wrote:

In article ,
VM wrote:

Looking for something to use as a simple unattached 'floor' for on a
fire escape. Needs to be rain-proof of course. A big sheet of 1/8"
aluminum would probably do it, but I have a feeling that there are
cheaper ways. Anyone know of anything?
How about some grating? McMaster sells steel and fiberglass stuff, but
they may not be the least expensive place to buy it.

Thanks for the various opinions about this. It appears that some kind
of metal grating would be the best and safest. I figured that I need
two pieces of flat metal plate, perforated or not. If perforated,
they'd need to be relatively small holes, like 1/2" diameter or so.

Problem is that they're odd sizes, so I'd need to get them cut. About
4-1/2 feet square. Is there a good place to mail order something like
that?

If you live in a town with fire escapes that big, there is a metal job
shop somewhere near you. Only question is if they do retail custom work.
A heavy gauge of expanded metal mesh, or any of several different kinds
of outdoor-rated nonskid decking, would do what you needed. Look in
Yellow Pages under fire escapes, scaffolding, industrial supply, etc. It
will be too heavy to mail, or too large. If you do not have a vehicle,
you will need an understanding cab driver, and an old blanket to wrap it
up in. Don't forget to have the fabricator smooth or wrap somehow, any
cut edges. Something that would be easier to get home would be lengths
of pierced steel planking, if you can find any thin enough, and they
have some way to clip or bolt them together to make up larger panels.

--
aem sends...