05may23a1a14When you're thinking about adding a new roof to your home this year, you have to consider how heavy the roof is, and what the overall weight of it is as well. There are many different roofing materials that are out there – each has its own weight rating, so it's a good idea to think about how heavy this might be when you put it on your home.

Aluminum is the lightest material on the market, weighing anywhere from 40 to 70 pounds, while steel and copper are second. When you get to the more heavier weighted roofing materials that are up in the 100 to 450 pounds, you can think of polymer or fiberglass, along with asphalt. Concrete is a very heavy material and these can weigh anywhere from 400 to 700 pounds. Slate and clay tile are up over 1,000 to 2,000 pounds.

Why Does Roof Weight Matter? Among the other considerations when you're choosing a new roof is to evaluate the weight.  Why?
  • Homes age and with aging comes strucutral weakness. As the home weakens, the heavier the roof is, the more it is going to weigh the supporting structure down and even cause it to become even more brittle. Putting a lighter roof on this type of home means that you aren't worrying about the home caving in – which is why steel and other metal roofing types might be the best to get.
  • High winds coming and going to come into play if there is ever a severe storm such as a tornado or straight line windstorm. You want to ensure that your home doesn't have too much weight on it since it can collapse, and this could be a problem if anyone is inside the home at that time.
  • If there is ever a fire, this can cause stability issues with the walls; if the roof is too heavy, it is going to cave in because the walls are not able to hold it up if they  become weak. Fires can ruin homes in a matter of seconds and if you want your home to still be standing, making sure that a lightweight roof is on top is essential.
  • Not only are you able to get energy saving benefits from a lighter roofing material such as a metal, but it is also great for the environment since it is made from raw materials that can be used over and over again, so there is less waste.
When you're thinking about adding a new, lightweight roof to your home, consider speaking with us here at Quarve where we can install a metal roof on your home. It is one of the most lightweight roofiong materials that is available, and it provides both energy efficiency and less waste. We are a MN roofing contractor serving the Minneapolis St. Paul MN area, including the communities of Stillwater and Lakeland 55082, Eagan 55120, Bloomington 55431 and Sunfish Lake and West St. Paul 55118.