A gas premix burner including a perforated plate, a woven wire mesh or an expanded metal sheet; and a woven, knitted or braided burner deck having metal fibers supported by the perforated plate, woven wire mesh or expanded metal sheet. The woven, knitted or braided burner deck has at least a zone with a high density of at least 1250 g/dm3. The zone with a high density includes at least 25% of the surface of the burner deck