A Helpful Guide to Determining a Roofing Material’s Weight
The roofing material in your home is crucial to your property’s structural integrity and aesthetic appeal. The right choice can provide shelter and insulation from the sun, rain, snow, and wind, significantly affecting maintenance costs and energy efficiency. It also makes a house appealing or unattractive to neighbors and potential buyers.
While hiring professional roofing services can help ensure a smooth and stress-free process, you should also educate yourself about your roofing material’s weight. This habit can help ensure your roof’s stability and safety and minimize maintenance and installation costs. It also enables you to comply with local building codes.
If you want to make more informed decisions for your home, let this article be your helpful guide to determining a roofing material’s weight.
What Is a Roof’s Total Weight?
Homeowners and contractors can determine a roof’s weight by the type of roof system used and its size. Different roof systems have varying densities, ranging from less than a pound per square foot for aluminum standing seam metal roofs to more than 15 pounds per square foot for thicker clay roof tiles.
What Comprises a Roof System?
Roof systems comprise various materials, which contribute to their overall weight. You can determine the roof system’s density by adding the mass of each material used. For instance, a built-up roof will consist of a membrane, layer of gravel, insulation, and cover board, varying in thickness and material used.
How to Estimate the Roofing Material’s Weight
You can accurately determine the roofing materials’ weight on an existing roof by letting professional services physically inspect the materials present. To calculate the total weight, consider all roof assembly components, including the roof deck and supporting structure. Moreover, check if you should view multiple roof systems.
Do Manufacturers and Services Know the Roofing Materials’ Exact Weight?
Manufacturers usually have technical data sheets with specific material weights accessible on their websites. If you can’t locate the necessary details, contact their technical department through the phone number provided. You must know the roofing materials’ mass, and producers must promptly give this information when you ask them.
You can also ask the reliable and friendly technical department staff if you have any questions about roofing. Moreover, browse through roofing materials on the Home Depot website, where you can find information on the weight and coverage of each product. That way, you can calculate the mass per square foot of your needed roofing materials.
Roof Weight Chart: What Is It and How to Use It
This learning material shows the average weight of roofing materials and other building products. These figures represent the self-weight or dead load of roofing materials. People obtained the weight values from the manufacturers’ technical data sheets and accurately represented specific products if available.
Sometimes, you or your service provider estimate the weight of roofing materials using general data from the manufacturer or a reliable source. However, remember that these values only give a rough idea of how heavy the materials are, and you should not use it for essential engineering calculations that require precise measurements.
If you need accurate information, you should always refer to the data sheets of the specific product you plan to use or contact the manufacturer’s or supplier’s technical department.
What Are the Typical Weights of Common Roofing Materials?
Different roofing materials have varying weights, ranging from 1.95 lbs for asphalt shingles to 2000 lbs for a ballasted ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM) roof membrane. Clay and concrete tile roofing can weigh 600 to 1500 lbs, while copper panel roofing weighs 110 lbs.
Conclusion
The roofing material’s weight depends on what components the manufacturer used to create it. You can get a precise estimate by consulting a reputable service provider, using a weight chart, and asking the technical department staff.
If you need a professional Charlotte roofing service to determine your roof material’s weight, ask Weather Roofing! We are one of the locality’s premier roofing companies, committed to being your local roof guides. Schedule a free inspection now!
