Infographic: Is a metal roof heavier than shingles?
Welcome to the third of a seven-part series on the most common questions homeowners have about metal roofing versus asphalt shingles. The questions covered are as follows:
1. Is a metal roof way more expensive than asphalt shingles
2. Does a metal roof cost more because it takes longer to install?
3. Should I worry about my metal roof being heavier than shingles?
4. Is a metal roof way more noisy than shingles?
5. Is a metal roof hotter in the summer than asphalt shingles?
7. Is a metal roof just for agricultural buildings and not for residential?
Disclaimer: Obviously A.B. Martin believes in the benefits of using metal roofing, or we wouldn’t be manufacturing it. But we do sell asphalt shingles too. These articles attempt to make a fair comparison between asphalt shingles and metal roofing. If you decide asphalt shingles are better for your needs, we stock Tamko’s 30-year Heritage Shingles that have the best warranty on the market.
Should I worry about my metal roof being heavier than shingles?
When you think of putting steel panels on your roof, you’re smart to consider the weight. Metal is one of the heaviest substances known to man, right? The last thing you want to do is overload your trusses or rafters and bring your shiny new metal roof crashing down into your living room.
But before you start imagining dollar signs as you consider the expense of reinforcing your roof supports to prevent a tragedy, we need to ask a question.
Does a metal roof actually weigh more than asphalt shingles?
Click here for a helpful infographic that walks you through the details.
Let’s look at the numbers.
- The average 10′ x 10′ square of shingles weighs around 347lbs.
- Our stocked Tamko Heritage 30-year shingles weighs approximately 237 lbs per square.
- To contrast that, our 28 ga. steel ABM Panel weighs 73 lbs per square.
- Even our heavier, 24 ga ABSeam Panel comes in 100 lbs lighter than our stocked shingles at 135 lbs per square.
So in most cases, no additional framing is needed for a metal roof where shingles were used previously.
Many roofers will even install a metal roof over top of the old shingles to save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in removal and disposal costs. (Be sure to check your local building codes for possible limitations on the number of roofing layers permitted in your area.)
That’s just one of the ways you can save with a metal roof.
And considering that our metal panels come with 40-year paint warranties (with many metal roofs lasting over 100-years with proper maintenance), the savings over time makes metal a smarter choice.
