Keep it Light: Choosing Lightweight Roofing
Your roof is what protects your home from the elements and provides essential insulation to keep temperatures well regulated. So, having a high-quality roof is essential.
When choosing a roof, there are countless factors to consider: style, color, and material tend to get the most attention. However, the weight of the roof is also a critical factor to keep in mind.
Why Does Roof Weight Matter?
Although you may not realize it, the weight of your roof is important to think about.
Roofs range in weight from very heavy to lightweight, depending on the materials. The roof of a 2,500-square-foot home can weigh anywhere from 1,750 pounds to upwards of 50,000 pounds, as crazy as it may seem. It is not something you expect when you look at a home, but the true weight of roofing can be incredibly surprising, which is why choosing roof materials carefully is so critical.
The heavier a roof is, the more strain it puts on a home's structure. If a home isn't capable of supporting that weight, or if it is an older home, it can slowly give out under the roof, which is a safety concern. This is why lightweight roofing has become an increasingly popular option.
3 Factors that Affect a Roof's Weight
There are several factors that impact the weight of a roof. Here are 3 of the most important factors you should know:
1. Material
The biggest factor that affects the weight of a roof is the material. While asphalt is generally an average weight material, other options weigh significantly more. By far, the heaviest roofing options are clay tiles and slate.
2. Size
Another factor to keep in mind is the size of the roof. The bigger the roof, then more material is needed. This also means that the bigger the roof, the heavier it will be, regardless of what material you choose.
3. Installation
In most cases, roofing materials have no interlocking features and few fasteners that secure them to the home. As a result, two main things help keep a roof in place: gravity, and the weight of the roof. Without the weight, the tiles or shingles would be more susceptible to being blown away by winds because there is not much securing them to the roof.
Benefits of Light Weight Roofing
There are several benefits of choosing a lighter roofing material. Consider these benefits below:
The Weight
Of course, the most obvious benefit to lightweight roofing is the weight. Compared to other roofing options, lightweight roofs weigh virtually nothing. This can make it easier to fireproof and less susceptible to things like mold and rot, depending on the conditions.
Easier Installation
Because a lightweight roof weighs significantly less than other roofing options, it is much easier to manage, and therefore, install. Workers will struggle less with the material and take less time to install the whole roof.
Installation costs for heavier roofing material or types that are more complicated to install can be expensive by the hour, so lightweight roofing can save you a lot by requiring a fraction of the installation time. You can save thousands on a lightweight roof installation.
More Affordable
Lightweight roofs cost less in every way. The product itself is more affordable than other roofing options, it is cheaper to ship across the country, and it is much cheaper to install. Also, lighter roofing materials such as sheet metal, vinyl, and synthetic cedar, for instance, tend to require a lot less maintenance.
Heavier materials like real wood or clay typically require a regular maintenance schedule that can end up costing more than the roof itself over an entire lifetime. They also wear out faster whether you perform the proper maintenance or not, which can lead to the need for an entire roof replacement if you’re still living in the home at that point. This can be anywhere from 10-30 years down the line and should definitely factor into your budget when making your initial decision.
More Environmentally-Friendly
The effect a roof's weight can have on the environment is often overlooked. The truth is that heavier roofs can negatively impact the environment due to the increased carbon emissions needed for transportation. A lightweight roof wouldn't require the same output, which makes it a better option.
Lightweight roofs are generally made using environmentally-friendly or sustainable materials as well. Heavier roofs generally use more material which pumps up the emissions required to produce it. And finally, a heavier roofing material can heat and cool faster, which requires you to use less energy on your heating and cooling systems overall, and puts less strain on the environment.
More Energy Efficient
Lightweight roofing is actually more energy efficient than heavier types of roofing material because it is easier to cool and heat. Lighter material takes less time to heat and cool because there is less mass to it. When it comes to heating and cooling costs, it can have a positive effect on your monthly bill.
Faster heating and cooling of the roof affects the overall temperature of your home inside, and can allow you to run your heating and/or cooling systems for less amount of time. Heating and cooling systems suck up a ton of electricity on a per-minute basis, so every second you can spend without having them on is a money-saving moment.
Design and Aesthetic Options
The amount of variety within the lightweight roofing material category is endless. From vinyl to composite, to synthetic cedar, you’ll have plenty to choose from. Lighter roofing material is easier to install on more complex roof designs as well, which allows you more flexibility if you have a unique roof design.
The different colors of light roofing material are also more numerous than with heavier material. Heavier material often comes with a color baked in, whereas lighter roofs are easier to work with when coloring and staining them during production.
Tips for Choosing a Light Weight Roof
If you're interested in choosing a lightweight roof material, here are a few tips to consider that can help you find the best option:
1. Consider Your Preferred Style
Lightweight roofing comes in a wide range of styles. One of the first things to consider is what style you want for your home. Luckily, no matter what style you like, there is a lightweight option for you–one popular option is synthetic cedar shakes. Synthetic cedar comes in multiple different colors and can work with just about any type of siding, landscape, and background.
2. Keep Your Location in Mind
While the style is one thing to consider, you also need to keep your location in mind. States like California and Colorado have specific building requirements that homes must meet, so it is important to know the requirements. If you’re in an area that is prone to heavy precipitation or wildfires, choosing a more durable option with a higher fire rating and less susceptibility to rot and mold is a must. Synthetic cedar fits this bill to a tee.
3. Research the Materials
There are a few different lightweight roofing material options on the market. Metal and other synthetic materials are the two most common, and each has its own benefits. When considering materials, you need to weigh the pros and cons of each for any material you may consider. If cost is a factor, you may want to consider a different class of materials as opposed to if you’re just looking for the optimal stylistic look and don’t care about maintenance or overall price.
4. Investigate Durability
The durability of a roof is key. When considering your lightweight roofing options, compare how durable the materials are. Durability goes hand-in-hand with building requirements, which you need to remember. California, for example, requires roofs to have a Class A Fire Rating, the highest rating possible. There are also roofing materials with a Class 4 impact resistance rating, which is perfect for tornado and hail-prone areas. Materials such as synthetic cedar are also great for high winds, because they won’t snap off if installed properly.
A Lightweight Option to Consider: The Benefits of CeDUR®’s Lightweight Roofing
For homeowners that want lightweight roofing with the look of cedar shakes, CeDUR® Roofing Shakes is the perfect option. Here are a few reasons:
Weight
Unlike common asphalt and fiberglass shingles, which can weigh anywhere from 275 to 325 pounds per 100 square feet, CeDUR® shingles weigh just 170 pounds, a result of the material they’re made out of (polyurethane material) and the manufacturing process used to create them.
Durability
CeDUR® shingles are also incredibly durable, with a Class A Fire Rating and a Class 4 Impact Rating—the highest ratings for each feature possible. Not to mention, they’re certified to withstand up to 115 mph wind speeds, which makes them a safe roofing material for hurricane-prone states. With water resistance as well as resistance to freeze and thaw cycles, CeDUR® shingles can withstand any environment imaginable.
Ease of Installation
Because CeDUR® roofing materials are lightweight shingles, they’re much easier to install—not to mention, maintain—than other roofing options. Plus, once they are correctly installed, there is little you need to worry about.
Choose CeDUR® to Be Your Lightweight Roofing Material
The roof is an important part of your home. But, traditional roofing materials weigh more than you think—and can put a strain on your home’s structure.
Although heavier roof materials may look nice at first glance, the additional weight is not necessary. Instead, consider a lightweight roofing option, one that has potentially the same durability as heavier materials and an even better appearance.
CeDUR® roofing Shakes is one of the greatest lightweight roof options, and they will truly help your home stand out from the rest–and for good reasons.
To learn more about CeDUR®’s lightweight roofing products and designs, contact us today!