Where the fasteners sit. Standing seam hides them under a raised seam on concealed clips. Corrugated is screwed through the face of the panel with a sealing washer under every screw. That single difference drives cost, maintenance and service life.
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Side by side, the trade is clear enough to decide on.
| Standing seam | Corrugated | |
|---|---|---|
| Fasteners | Concealed under the seam | Through the face, visible |
| Installed cost | $10 to $18 per sq ft | $4 to $9 per sq ft |
| Typical life | 40 to 70 years | 20 to 40 years |
| Recurring task | Little | Screws and washers checked and replaced |
| Thermal movement | Clips allow it | Pinned at every screw |
| Look | Clean vertical lines | Visible fixing pattern |
the full cost picture covers what each does to a quote.
Corrugated is a sound, honest choice on barns, workshops, garages and outbuildings, and on rural or farmhouse designs where the fixing pattern reads as intentional.
Standing seam is the choice on a house you would rather not think about again, because it removes the maintenance task rather than deferring it. Neither is wrong; they answer different questions. metal roof types compared sets out the full range.
Not bad, just different. It costs less, needs periodic fastener attention, and shows its fixings. On the right house that is a fair trade.
Mechanically seamed standing seam goes lower than snap lock or corrugated. Check the published minimum slope for the specific panel.
Neither is loud over a solid deck with underlayment. The noise people imagine comes from panels over open purlins.
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