STAINLESS STEEL CABLE MESH IN SECTIONAL DOORS GIVES THE CAR PARK A UNIFORM LOOK
For a new apartment block in Wetteren, N2Mesh developed a bespoke solution using stainless steel cable mesh to screen off a bicycle shelter and a multi-storey car park. The sectional door was also finished in the same open style, giving the entire ground floor a uniform look.
Stainless steel cable mesh as an architectural finish for openings
With sectional doors, the infill panels are usually simply fitted into aluminium extrusion profiles. This works well for solid panels, but stainless steel cable mesh requires a different approach. A cable mesh cannot simply be slid loosely into a profile; it must be tensioned to retain its shape, stability and appearance.
That was precisely the challenge in this project. The architect wanted the same open and lightweight finish as the other openings in the bicycle storage area and car park, but the existing sectional door construction was not designed for this type of infill as standard.
Instead of attempting to fit the stainless steel cable meshes directly into the door profiles, a solution using separate, bespoke frames was chosen. These frames were designed to fit into the openings of the sectional door whilst providing a sufficiently stable base to tension the cable meshes correctly.
The frames were manufactured in-house and the cable meshes were also fitted in our own workshop. This allowed the tension of the stainless steel cable meshes to be checked in advance, even before installation at the site in Wetteren.
In projects involving existing structures, the difficulty often lies not in the cable mesh itself, but in the way it needs to be secured and tensioned. Every detail counts: the available space, the profiles, the edge finishing, the tension, the installation sequence and the behaviour of the structure into which the mesh is installed.
That is why N2Mesh acts not only as a supplier of stainless steel cable mesh, but also as a technical partner. In this project, this meant, in practical terms: analysing the situation, devising a suitable frame solution, preparing the components in our own workshop and then assembling them on site.
‘Stainless steel cable mesh panels require a different approach to standard infill panels. They must be correctly tensioned to remain durable, stable and aesthetically pleasing.’
A successful outcome in Wetteren
The end result is a sectional door that blends seamlessly into the architecture of the ground floor. The cycle shed and car park remain screened off, whilst the open feel of the design is preserved. The stainless steel cable mesh creates a transparent, light and high-quality appearance.