There are many reasons why most Americans pick asphalt roofing shingles, fiberglass-based asphalt shingles particularly, when choosing their residential roofing material. Asphalt shingles are economical, inexpensive and simple to install, either by a professional contractor or by homeowners themselves. The other type of asphalt shingles is organic shingles, heavier and more durable, containing about 40% more asphalt per square foot. Fiberglass roof shingles usually weigh in the range of 1.8 to 2.3 pounds per square foot, compared with 2,000 gram organic roof shingles. Although not as heavy as the asbestos roofing shingles of the past, they are in wide use in the United States, even in hurricane prone regions.