What is trapezoidal rib roofing?

A trapezoidal roof profile has a trapezoidal-shaped rib pattern spaced across the panel. (A trapezoid is a quadrilateral (four-sided shape) that has just a single pair of parallel sides.) Sometimes, trapezoidal roofs are mistakenly referred to as corrugated. This is a misnomer as the corrugated profile has a repeating wavy pattern across its surface.

Trapezoidal rib roofs are popular with producers because the shape makes them very material-efficient with a high strength-to-weight ratio. This makes for a very cost-effective profile. The shadows of the trapezoidal shapes offer clean lines whether installed vertically, diagonally, or horizontally. They also possess good structural characteristics and can carry design loads well (e.g. for snow and wind). However, it is not considered as premium a profile as standing seam due to its attachment method. Click to read more.