Metal Roofs vs. Shingles: Which is Heavier?

Metal Roofs vs. Shingle Roof

metal-roof-vs-shingle-roof Hingham massachusetts 1 Feb

If your initial instinct was to say “metal,” you’re incorrect. It seems like metal would be the heavier material, but even though it’s very strong and durable, metal roofing is one of the lightest weight roofing options you can invest in. Aluminum weighs less than one pound per square foot, while steel (the heaviest type of metal roofing material) weighs 1.5-pounds per square foot.

Now let’s take a look at the weight of asphalt shingles. They weigh between three and five pounds per square foot! So, in a nutshell, metal roofs are lighter than shingles.

The Heaviest Roofing Material

Concrete tiles weigh between 9.5 and 12 pounds per square foot. Because of this weight, you rarely see this type of roof on a simple residential home – usually this material is reserved for commercial or industrial use. Nonetheless, concrete tiles weigh 40 percent more than clay tiles, which are also quite heavy. They can weigh between 600 and 650 pounds, compared with concrete which weigh between 820 and 1,100 pounds per 100 square feet.

Slate happens to be the heaviest roofing material of all, at about 1,500 pounds per 100 square feet.

Roofs can be too heavy for the house or building on which it sits. In fact, before exploring heavy roofing materials for a home, it’s wise for a professional roofer in Marshfield or a structural engineer to examine the home and existing supports to see if it can withstand the added weight. Sometimes, when homeowners are really set on a particular heavy roofing material, extra supports have to be added to accommodate the weight.

TLightweight Durability and Home Protection

It’s no wonder that metal roofs are the best for lightweight durability and home protection, known for their ability to withstand extreme weather conditions like:

  • High winds – Thanks to their strong interlocking features, metal roofs remain secure against winds up to 120 mph.
  • Fire – Metal roofs are fire-resistant.
  • Hail – Metal takes abuse from hail better than other types of roofing materials.
  • Ice, rain, and moisture – Water-related damage won’t affect metal roofing because this material is nonporous. This means it won’t crack or split during freeze and thaw cycles.

Contact Revered Roofing in the South Shore

Now that you know that metal roofing is actually a lightweight option for your home, you can schedule your metal roofing consultation with confidence! Simply contact our roofers in Hanson MA and beyond at 781-536-4589. We have lots of experience installing metal roofs throughout the South Shore.

We serve the entire South Shore and lower Cape with quality metal roofing products; standing seam, metal shingle and metal panel roofs in Scituate, Taunton, Marshfield, Quincy, Needham, Medfield, Milton, Halifax, Hingham, Falmouth and Plymouth.


Paul was easy going and a pleasure to deal with. No pressure. Crew got started late but the metal roof with new sky lights over our sun room was done in a day! Quality work. I recommend Revered Metal Roofing.
Contact Revered Metal Roofing

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