# Styles of Carport Panels
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Ribbed Panels
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Ribbed seamed panels are linked together by a snap-lock system or a crimping process. Both installation styles produce the look of a ribbed flat panel and can be run vertically or horizontally, depending upon the look the carport owner requires. Ribbed panels can be placed top to bottom or cut to drop a few feet from the roof line leaving an open, airy feel to the carport. The same panels can be used to create a ribbed roof that starts at the peak and extends downward at an angle.
Shiplap Panels
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Shiplap metal carport panels are often referred to by the style name “Grand Beam.” The shiplap profile is pre-formed or pressed into the metal sheeting panels and mimics the shiplap style used in wood siding -- wood planks placed horizontally and angled to slightly overlapping the panel below. The panels are made in 36-inch widths, providing four 9-inch shiplap boards per panel. The overall measurement of the shiplap panel is 37.75 inches, which allows the panel to overlap the next panel and continue the shiplap profile.
W Panels
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A common metal panel used in carports is the W panel. The name of the panel references the panel's profile -- a 3-inch-deep by 16-inch-wide panel formed in the shape of a W. When a series of W panels are attached together, they create a ribbed look created by the valleys and hills of the W profile. W panels can be ordered in 16- and 12-inch widths and a number of different thicknesses, including .032, .025 and .020.
Flat Panels
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Flat panels create the look of a smooth surface from the exterior. Some flat panel styles may have a linear detail -- called a pencil rib -- pressed into the metal to create the feel of long wood planks. The detail is delicate and not deep like a W or ribbed panel. The panels can be assembled so that the interlocking system is not viewed inside or out. This is accomplished by placing two layers of flat panels back-to-back to hide the interlocking process. Metal end caps or fascia boards are placed along the edges to hide the interior assembly.
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