Corrugated Metal Roofing Profiles and Finishes
Corrugated sheets are sold by the size of the wave, and the names are loose: the same "2.67-inch pitch" turns up on a deep wave and a shallow one. Read the rib height and coverage on the sheet, not just the name. Bare or painted is a separate choice.
7/8-Inch Corrugated
The 7/8-inch wave is the classic heavy corrugated look. One supplier rolls it from 26 down to 20 gauge, so it can be far thicker than the 29-gauge sheet sold for sheds. It goes over open purlins or a solid deck, with a bead of mastic in each roofing lap.
- Wave: 7/8 in deep, 2.67 in from crest to crest
- Sheet: 39 in wide, covering 34.67 in on a roof
- Lowest slope on the supplier's sheet: 3:12
- Lengths: 1 to 52 ft
2.5-Inch Corrugated
What sellers call 2.5-inch corrugated has a shallower wave, about half an inch deep, on the same 2.67-inch pitch. It's the sheet stocked for sheds, barns and outbuildings, often in 29 gauge and short lengths.
- Wave: 1/2 in deep, 2.67 in pitch
- Sheet: 24 in coverage, sold in 8, 10 and 12 ft lengths at one retailer
- Gauge: 29 on that retailer's listing
1-1/4-Inch Fine Corrugated
Fine corrugated has a tight, low ripple: a quarter-inch rib every inch and a quarter. From the street it reads almost flat, which some owners want on a porch or an accent roof. We didn't find a slope rating on the maker's page, so ask for it before planning a whole roof in this sheet.
- Rib: 1/4 in tall, 1-1/4 in apart
- Coverage: 24 in per sheet
- Gauge: 29 or 26 on one maker's sheet
Bare Galvalume vs Painted Corrugated
Bare Galvalume is steel with an aluminum-zinc coat and nothing over it. It stays bright silver. Painted sheet adds a factory paint system over that coating. One supplier offers the same 7/8-inch wave in bare steel, Galvalume, galvanized, SMP paint and PVDF paint. Bare steel with no coating is sold for a rusted look and will rust on the roof by design.
- Galvalume corrugated, installed: $500 to $1,000 per square (HomeGuide)
- Paint: PVDF holds its color longer than SMP (the standing seam page compares the two)
Why Midland homeowners call Midland Metal Roofing
- Free quotes, no obligation to hire
- Panel, gauge and price in writing before any work
- Your request goes to one Midland roofer, not a call list
- Homeowners never pay us for the referral
Where Corrugated Works, and Where It Doesn't
The wave panel likes a simple roof with some pitch. The 7/8-inch sheet above is rated for 3:12 and steeper. The 2018 IRC lets lapped panels go flatter with sealed laps, but follow the panel maker's own number when it's stricter. On a nearly flat patio roof, standing seam is the usual answer.
Hail is worth asking about. The 7/8-inch data sheet above lists a UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating, and the Class 4 metal roof page explains what that covers. Don't assume a lighter sheet carries the same listing. Ask for the gauge and the test listing for the exact sheet in your quote.
Corrugated also pairs well with a radiant barrier. One retailer notes that a reflective foil layer works best under corrugated, because the wave leaves an air gap above it.
Related jobs:
- A metal carport or patio cover in corrugated to match the house
Barns and shops
Old corrugated with leaking screws
screw replacement or a coatingRibbed panels with a flatter look