The weight of metal roofing per square foot (2024)

The weight of metal roofing per square foot (1)

We often consider weight when we think about metal roofing. After all, certain metals can be heavy, leaving homeowners wondering how they could impact their home and influence their decision-making wheninvestigate which roofing materialsare right to brave the winter weather in northern Wisconsin. Fortunately, this feature is not as concerning as most people think. In fact, it even gives you extra benefits. This is the weight of metal roofing per square footcompared to asphalt shingles.

The misconception about the weight of metal

Before we can discuss how much metal roofing actually weighs, it's important to acknowledge a common myth on the subject. One of the most mentioned disadvantages ofmetal roofingis that it often weighs much more than standard asphalt shingles. This means that a home could be damaged by the extra pounds or require braces to be installed to accommodate it. However, this is simply not true. Depending on this, metal roofing materials can be as much as 50 percent lighter than other roofstype of metal roofyou have chosen your home.

The actual weight of metal roofing materials

You may be surprised to learn that the weight of most metal roofing per square foot is less than two pounds, which is comparable to many types of asphalt shingles. Shingles will average about two pounds per square foot, while steel, the heaviest metal used for roofing, weighs about 1.5 pounds per square foot. If you choose copper or aluminum roofing instead of steel, the numbers are even lower, 1.25 and 0.7 pounds respectively. This ismetal roofs for homesquite reasonable because these are amounts that the average home can handle.

If you have any questions about the weight of metal roofs or other features of metal roofing, please contact American Metal Roofs of Northern Wisconsin. You can prevent this by choosing an experienced rooferCommon mistakes when installing roofs. Our skilled and expertentrepreneurs in Appleton, Wisconsin, will provide you with the information you need to make the best decision possible. We also guide you through the purchasing and installation process of a metal roof, so that you always know what to expect.

The weight of metal roofing per square foot (2024)

FAQs

The weight of metal roofing per square foot? ›

If there are two layers there, it will weigh anywhere from 5.0 to 6.0 pounds/square foot. In most instances, a structure can only withstand a maximum weight of 10 pounds per square foot so you should be good to go as metal roofing is not very heavy.

How much does a metal roof weight per square foot? ›

On average, metal roofs weigh 1.4 pounds per square foot, while composition averages 2 to 5 pounds per square foot. A bonus of this extreme light weight is that many types of metal roofs can be installed over existing roof materials (like asphalt and wood shingles, for example) without compromising the roof structure.

How much does a sheet of metal roofing weigh? ›

Color Coated Products
BrandJSW
Length5 Meter, And Also Available In 10 Meter,12 Meter
Weight4.8 Kg Per Meter
UsageIndustrial
Thickness0.50 MM

How much weight per square foot can a roof hold? ›

For most residential buildings, the roof should be able to support a live load of at least 1.9 kPa or around 20 pounds per square foot for a wood or shingled roof. A roof made of more sturdy materials, like clay or metal, will be able to hold closer to 27 pounds per square foot.

How much does built up roofing weigh per square foot? ›

Typically, a built-up roof weighs between 5-7 pounds per square foot. A comparative single-ply roof system is usually less than 1 pound per square foot. Ensure that your roof's weight load limits are exactingly calculated before installing a built-up roof system.

How much does 24 gauge metal roofing weigh per square foot? ›

Single chart made possible by using some approximate values
GaugeUS Standard GaugeGalvanized Steel
(inches)Weight (lb/ft2)
260.01880.906
250.02191.031
240.02501.156
34 more rows

How much does 26 gauge metal roofing weigh per square foot? ›

26-gauge Metal Roofing Material. Approximately 0.730 – 0.885 lbs/sq. ft. Regarding 26-gauge, it's usually considered the standard metal thickness for exposed fastener metal roofing.

How much does 29 gauge metal roofing weigh per square foot? ›

The weight of a 29 gauge roof is about 9 ounces, while that of 26 gauge is 12 ounces. If you want to know how much 29 gauge metal roofing weighs per foot, experts say it is approximately 1. 5 pounds per square foot.

How much does steel sheet metal weigh per square foot? ›

Sheet metal thickness gauges for steel are based on a weight of 41.82 pounds per square foot per inch of thickness. This is known as the Manufacturers' Standard Gauge for Sheet Steel.

How to calculate roofing sheet weight? ›

The base metal of PPGI is carbon steel, whose density is about 7.85 tons/cubic meters. For example, if the PPGI sheet is 0.5 mm in thickness, 0.9 m in width, and 2.4 m in length, the weight per piece will be 0.5*0.9*2.4*7.85=8.478 kg.

Can a 300 lb person walk on a roof? ›

The short answer is yes. It's designed to withstand the combined weight of a temporary live load and a dead load to retain structural integrity. A clay tile or metal roof can hold a dead load of approximately 27 pounds per square foot.

What does 20 lb roof load mean? ›

Thus, a roof designed to a carry a snow load of 20 lbs.. per horizontal square foot is expected to support nearly 12 inches of wet, heavy snow. ( University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture)

Can a roof be too heavy? ›

If your roof is too heavy for your home's structure, it can lead to various issues, including sagging, cracking, and even collapse. Conversely, if your roof is too light, it may not protect against high winds and heavy rain.

What is the dead load of a metal roof? ›

This is the weight that comes from structural material itself. Stronger roof types including clay tile and metal roofs can have dead loads in excess of 25 pounds per square inch.

What is the weight of corrugated metal roofing? ›

Galvanized Corrugated Roofing
Item #ThicknessWeight per Sheet
GCR-28-27500-960.015 inches0.381 mmWeight per Sheet N/A 15.6 lbs7.0668 kg
GCR-28-27500-1200.015 inches0.381 mmWeight per Sheet N/A 19.5 lbs8.8335 kg
GCR-28-27500-1440.015 inches0.381 mmWeight per Sheet N/A 23.4 lbs10.6002 kg
6 more rows

How much does 28 gauge metal roofing weigh? ›

What is the weight of your 28-gauge metal? The weight is 2.1 pounds per linear foot.

Is a metal roof heavier than a shingle roof? ›

To give an idea; asphalt shingles usually weight from 275-425 pounds per square feet, depending on brand and style. By comparison the average metal roof will weight around 100 lbs per 100 sq feet.

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