Structural Tubing

Structural tubing (also called “architectural tubing”) is a metal product typically used in the architecture, design, engineering, and construction industries. Tubing is often a vital portion of many engineered structures, such as buildings, bridges, and supports for various other projects. Structural tubing products are typically made from steel or aluminum, depending on the type of project.

At Polished Metals, we process and finish many types of structural tubing, including both stainless steel and aluminum varieties, as well as various shapes such as square or rectangular and round tubing. Our in-house metal finishing facility gives us the bandwidth to process even high-volume orders with peerless attention to detail and quality. Learn more about our structural tubing offerings, or reach out to us to get a quote for your project.

an example of structural tubing used in an architectural project

What Is Structural Tubing Used For?

Structural tubing sees a wide variety of use cases across many different industries, from architecture and design to engineering and construction. It may be used as supports for skyscrapers, bridges and road signs, automotive projects, heavy machinery, and marine construction projects.

What Types of Structural Tubing Are Available?

At Polished Metals, our wide variety of in-house metal finishing equipment enables us to process and polish nearly all types of metals and shapes of tubing. This includes round, square, and rectangular tubing, which are the most commonly used for this purpose.

What Is the Strongest Shape of Tubing?

Round tubing is generally considered to be the strongest shape compared to products like square and rectangular tubing. This is because round tubing is, fundamentally, a circle; without the corners that square and rectangular tubing has, there are fewer pressure points to limit the overall structural capacity of the tube.

On the other hand, square and rectangular tubing is commonly used across a wide variety of projects where economy of space is important. Square and rectangular architectural tubing fits more snugly together compared to round tubing, which leaves gaps.

Metal Types

For metal types, aluminum and steel are the most commonly used for structural and architectural tubing. These metals have incredible tensile strength and primarily differ in terms of their weight and overall malleability, with steel being notably more rigid.

At Polished Metals, our team processes tubing of various metal types, including:

While stainless steel and aluminum are the most common, red metal tubing such as bronze and brass may still be used for structural purposes. Bronze is the more common of the two, as it features impressive tensile strength that can rival stainless steel. Brass, on the other hand, is less strong and generally more expensive, and therefore rarely used for structural purposes.

Your Supplier for Structural Tubing

At Polished Metals, we’re known throughout the world for our best-in-class metal finishing services. Our expansive inventory includes a broad selection of metal types and extruded products, including tubing used across various industries. Whether your project requires structural tubing or more aesthetic finished varieties, our metal finishing capabilities cover brass, bronze, stainless steel, aluminum, and more.

You know you’re working with the best when you work with the Polished Metals team. If you have questions about our structural tubing offerings or have custom metal finishing needs, please reach out to us.

Testimonials

“Plain and simple, we could not do what we do nearly as well without the consistent quality and support that we get from the entire team at Polished Metals Ltd. Your metal is top-notch, and the service that we get from David and Mary is even better! Our team has always enjoyed working with you guys, and we look forward to continuing our relationship for years to come.”
Architecture and Design

“I have worked with Polished Metals periodically throughout my 18 year carrier in the custom metal fabrication industry. They have been a consistent, reliable vendor for me both in regards to informational needs and as a product supplier. Quotes are often required to be turned around by me very quickly and Bob Gunther at Polished Metals sends me pricing and lead-times extremely fast. Our product arrives when we are told it will and if there are any delays (which does not happen often) we are informed ahead of time, which is appreciated. Product arrives undamaged and is of good quality 99% of the time and when there is an issue with damage or defects Polished Metals responds quickly and makes things right quickly. I highly suggest using Polished Metals for your quality metal needs.”
Architecture and Design

“Mary, It has been a pleasure working with you over several years. A fabricator is only as good as his suppliers, that is why we worked with you. You are one of the best in the industry.”
Architecture and Design

“When it comes to metal companies there are loads of companies that talk a good game, but Jay Isherwood from Polished Metals helps you make it happen. Polished Metals has offered us a great service with unparalleled consistency and amazing quality control. He has given us the confidence we needed to make an accurate timetable with our clients and each time, delivered as promised. Looking forward to the next project and working together again, thank you.”
Architecture and Design

“Our company produces and installs complex high-end projects in New York City. Procuring the materials for projects like the Edge Observation Deck at Hudson Yards can be extremely involved. Polished Metals exceeded our requirements for all our architectural metal needs on this and many other demanding NYC projects. Over the years they have provided everything from raw material to complex fabricated components for our installations. The key to our relationship has been outstanding communication and trust. As anyone in the construction industry knows things can change in an instant, how a company responds to those changes is critical. Mary and the whole team at Polished Metals have shown that they not only respond but have come through for us time and again.”
Architecture and Design

“Working with Polished Metals is always a pleasurable and exceptionally professional experience. Their range of capability is nearly limitless and in the fabrication industry they are extremely helpful in making sure a top quality product is delivered every single time. The sales team is nothing short of professional, they are very knowledgeable of the industry and they deliver top shelf service every time. Material range is everything we could need and they are surely a top choice when it comes to purchasing material for a project, large or small. If you want a top quality product and an enjoyable experience in receiving it, choose Polished Metals!”
Architecture and Design

“Polished Metals has been a Preferred Vendor of ours for over a decade. Our corporate philosophy dictates that we have Alternate or Secondary Supplier for all product, with the exception of #8 Mirror Polished Stainless Steel. We’ve tried to qualify other suppliers to no avail, as none of them can compete in any of the critical categories. The Customer Support provided by Bob Gunther cannot be replicated, pricing is fair, delivery is always on-time and quality is fantastic. As the Corporate Purchasing Manager for the last 7 years, not once have I had a negative experience with Polished Metals. I can’t say enough good things about them.”
Architecture and Design