Ask Chris: Are Metal Roofs Heavy?

From Chris:

One of the more interesting questions or concerns I hear from homeowners surprisingly often is something like, "Will my existing roof structure support the weight of a metal roof?"

It is surprising to me that so many homeowners think that an upgrade to metal will also add weight. A quick look at the comparison chart illustrates the fact that there is no material choice less stressful on a structure than a metal roof. In fact, not only are metal roofs lighter than every other pitched-roof option, some of them can actually increase the rigidity of the entire structure due to the strength of an installed sheet metal assembly. Also, the fact of its light weight allows metal to be installed over most existing roofs, saving the expense of such removal and saving the expense and environtal impact of additional land-fill. Anyway, to all of those people asking about the weight of metal roofing, check out the chart and you'll have a better idea of the relative weights of the various choices.