What is the weight of metal roofing?
There are lots of things that you need to take into consideration when you’re considering a new roof for your home. One thing that’s critical is the weight that your roof structure can support. The amount of weight that every building can hold is different, so if you’re considering a metal roof, you’ll need to know how much that will weigh. Will your roof be able to support it?
The Average Weight Of Metal Roofs
When calculating the weight of a metal roof, it’s important to consider that it can actually be made from a range of different metals. As such, this is going to affect the weight of the roof. If you’re thinking of a metal roof for your home, you’ll want to consider what type of metal you’d want first.
The weight of each roof type will vary depending on several factors, but there are averages for each metal. As such, you’ll need to check these before making a decision:
- 1×1 piece of flat aluminum: 0.20 lbs per foot
- 1×1 piece of flat steel: 0.57 lbs per foot
- 1×1 piece of flat stainless steel: 0.59 lbs per foot
- 1×1 piece of flat copper: 0.66 lbs per foot
You may have noticed that tin hasn’t been included here, and that’s because a pure tin roof is not something that actually exists. If you’ve seen a roof referred to as being made of tin, it’s actually made of galvanized steel, which means the steel has been coated with zinc. In the past, some roofs were made of sheet iron that was coated with tin, but these roofs are no longer made.
Calculating The Weight Of A Metal Roof
With these numbers in mind, you can calculate how much a metal roof would weigh on your home. If you want the numbers for your roof, you just need to calculate the weight of the material by the area of your roof in square feet.
As an example, the average square footage of an American roof is 17,000 square feet. Using this example, we can work out the weight like so:
- Aluminum: 0.20 lbs x 17,000 feet = 3,400 lbs
- Steel: 0.57 lbs x 17,000 feet = 9,690 lbs
- Stainless steel: 0.59 lbs x 17,000 feet = 10,030 lbs
- Copper: 0.66 lbs x 17,000 feet = 11,220 lbs
It’s important to remember that these are just averages, and you’ll need to know the square footage of your roof in order to get the correct weight. If you don’t know that number, that’s not a problem as there are online calculators that can help you work this out.
How To Pick The Right Roofing For You
Now that you have these results, you’ll need to use them in order to pick the best metal roof dependent on its weight. However, the weight won’t be the only thing that you have to consider. You’ll need to balance other considerations too, and you’ll then be able to pick the right metal roof for your needs.
For example, based on the above calculations, you’ll see that aluminum is the lightest metal when it comes to roofing. For many, that may feel like the obvious choice for your roof. When you’re considering aluminum, though, you’ll need to consider that it’s a more expensive metal than others on the market. If price is a concern, then you’ll want to look into other options.
Coated steel has become a popular choice as it’s more cost-effective than other metals. It may be a little heavier, but you’ll get more for your money with it. At the same time, though, you’ll need to consider that the coating on steel can wear away over time. That leaves the steel vulnerable to corrosion, and that will considerably shorten the lifespan of your roof.
You’ll need to do your research about the different roofing types available to you, and then make a decision on which one will be the best one for you and your home. This decision should include the weight of the roof, and whether your home’s structure can support it.
Other Reasons To Consider A Metal Roof
As you’ve seen above, you can get metal roofs that are lightweight and put little stress on the structure of your home. You’ll also find that there are lots of other benefits to having a metal roof, too. These include:
Longevity: One of the biggest benefits of a metal roof is that you can have it last for decades if it’s cared for correctly. In some cases, those roofs will last for up to 70 years, so you’ll most likely never have to replace it again in your lifetime.
High fire resistance: If you live in an area at risk of wildfires, then this is a huge benefit for you. A metal roof will have a Class A fire resistance rating, the highest there is. That means that you’ll not need to worry about the roof catching fire if flaming debris lands on it.
Environmentally friendly: If you’re looking to replace your roof in a more eco-friendly way, then you should be looking into metal roofs. They’re typically made with a large percentage of recycled metal, and you’ll be able to recycle the metal once you replace it, rather than sending it to a landfill.
Energy efficiency: Here’s a benefit that you may not have thought of. When you have a metal roof installed, you’ll see that it’s capable of reflecting a lot of heat that comes from the sun. That keeps your home cooler and allows you to drastically reduce your energy bills in the process.
Weight of Metal Roofing Conclusion
One of the best benefits of metal roofs is that they’re a lot more lightweight than other roofing materials out there. As such, if you’re concerned about the weight of a new roof, then you’ll want to look into a metal roof for your home. Use the tips here to calculate the weight of your home, and you’ll see just how lightweight they can be.
If you would like more information, contact the professionals at Piedmont Roofing today!
And if you live in Virginia areas such as Middleburg, Winchester, Leesburg, or Warrenton, we’ll be happy to help you with your metal roofing needs.
