Diamond Plate 101

Curious about diamond plate?  What is it?  Which do I need for my project?  What do all of the numbers mean?  Today we will be educating you about diamond plate sheets from CutsMetal, the leading retailer of the highest quality and most affordable diamond plate metal on the market!  So, let us begin...

What is diamond plate?  Diamond plate refers to the raised, diamond like pattern on the material (see pictures below).  When people refer to "diamond plate", they usually are referring to aluminum diamond plate sheets (the diamond like pattern on sheets of aluminum).  Although usually sold as metal diamond plate, you can purchase plastic diamond plate, steel diamond plate, or vinyl diamond plate...it just depends on what you are going to be using it for.  Steel diamond plate is very heavy and may require more durable equipment to cut it to the size that you want.  Plastic diamond plate is lightweight, but can crack easily with extreme temperatures or if it is bent.  Vinyl diamond plate is very lightweight and can bend easily.  However, vinyl diamond plate is not as durable as the metal products and can show creased marks if it is not handled properly.  Aluminum diamond plate is lightweight (about 1/3 the weight of steel), rust resistant, and durable.  Aluminum diamond plate can easily be maneuvered to fit curves and can be cut with a metal snips or other tool for cutting lightweight metal.  

Does it have other names?  Yes!  Diamond plate is called by many names...aluminum diamond plate, diamond plate, checker plate, tread plate, metal diamond plate, diamond plate metal, and more!  It all refers to the same raised, diamond like pattern on the material that is being used.  It may also have variations on the spelling (depending on who you are talking to)...it is commonly spelled diamond plate, tread plate, and checker plate, but some spell it diamondplate, treadplate, and checkerplate.

Does diamond plate only come in silver?  No!  CutsMetal has the largest variety of diamond plate colors!  We offer the classic silver diamond plate (sometimes called chrome diamond plate or shiny silver diamond plate), black diamond plate, white diamond plate, red diamond plate, and gunmetal gray diamond plate.  We may be offering other colors in the future!  If you need a different color, contact our order specialist and they may be able to special order it for you (depending on the desired color).

What do the numbers mean?  You may see numbers associated with the diamond plate that you are ordering (.025, .045, .125, etc).  Those numbers refer to the thickness of the diamond plate.  The larger the number, the thicker the sheet of diamond plate...so .125 diamond plate is thicker than .025 diamond plate.  If you are unsure about the thickness that you need for your project, ask one of our specialists for assistance!  You will see numbers for the size of the sheet.  You will need to specify what size that you want the sheet to come in.  Sometimes the diamond plate is shown in inches (example 48"x120") or it may be shown in feet (example 4'x10').  CutsMetal can do custom cuts for you at a reasonable price, saving you time and money!

If you have any more questions about diamond plate sheets from CutsMetal, please call us at 970-800-3173 or visit our website at www.cutmetal.net!