What Drives FRP Grating Price? Resin, Depth, Surface and Freight

FRP grating quotes vary by 30–40 % for the “same” panel — because the panels are never the same. Four factors set the price.

1. Resin system (biggest lever)

Ortho : ISO : vinyl ester : phenolic index roughly at 1.0 : 1.15 : 1.4 : 2.0. Resin is the majority of raw material cost, so the system you specify is the single biggest price decision — and the one with a lifecycle answer (see the resin guide). A quote that doesn't state resin explicitly is pricing ortho.

2. Panel depth

Price scales near-linearly with material volume: 50 mm costs ~30 % more than 38 mm. The correct response is span discipline, not depth avoidance — wider support centres that need 50 mm are usually cheaper overall than closer supports with 38 mm once steelwork is counted.

3. Surface and fabrication

Gritted surface adds a few percent; meniscus is the base. Cut-to-size adds value far beyond its cost when it eliminates site cutting: numbered panels arrive, the crew places them, no dust, no waste, no edge-sealing questions. Cut-outs for pipes and columns are cheap at the factory and expensive on site.

4. Freight and incoterms

FRP's light weight makes freight competitive — but compare quotes on the same term. FOB vs CIF vs DDP quotes differ by the entire ocean and import leg; a DDP quote can look 15 % “expensive” and be the cheapest landed. Ask for the landed cost per m² at your port.

Comparing quotes: the four-line checklist

• Resin system named? (not “premium polyester”)
• Panel-specific load table attached?
• Glass content and panel weight stated?
• Same incoterm, destination and panel schedule?

Quotes failing any line are not comparable — and the missing item is usually where the saving lives.