AWA manufactures both IBR and Snaplock in-house at our Koforidua facility, and both profiles are excellent roofing systems. The question isn’t which is better — it’s which is right for your specific building, budget, and aesthetic goals. Here’s the honest comparison our sales team gives every client who asks.
IBR (Inverted Box Rib) is our most popular profile for good reason. Its deep, regular ribs give it outstanding structural rigidity, allowing longer spans between purlins and reducing the amount of support structure required. It handles heavy rainfall exceptionally well, draining fast and resisting ponding. It’s cost-effective, widely available in all our standard colours, and our installation teams can work with it quickly. For homes, warehouses, schools, and commercial buildings where performance and value are the priority, IBR is the right choice.
Snaplock is a premium interlocking profile designed for buildings where the aesthetic matters as much as the performance. The concealed fixing system means no exposed fasteners on the roof face — the result is a clean, architectural finish that reads as a continuous surface rather than a ribbed sheet. The interlocking seam also provides superior weather resistance at the joint, making Snaplock particularly strong in coastal environments or areas with driving rain. It costs more, takes longer to install, and requires more precision — but the result is a roof that defines the character of the building.
If your budget allows and the design calls for it, Snaplock. If you’re building to perform and last at the best value, IBR. If you’re not sure — our team will walk you through both options on a site-by-site basis. There’s no wrong answer, only the right answer for your project.
“Both are flagship AWA profiles — but they serve different jobs. Here’s the head-to-head comparison.”
"Both are flagship AWA profiles — but they serve different jobs. Here’s the head-to-head comparison."
