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Top Impact Resistant Shingles That Will Protect Your Roof from Hail Damage
Blog / Top Hail Resistant Shingles That Will Protect Your Roof
Are you wondering why your “30-Year” shingle isn’t living up to its name, and already showing signs of hail damage? That’s because they are a standard builder’s grade shingle, that isn’t designed to withstand hail impact.
Simply getting a new roof isn’t enough to protect your home from the volume of hailstorms we get here in Texas.
Don’t worry, if you are looking to get a new roof. This guide explains the top shingles that fight against hail, and go over how impact resistant shingles can stand the test of time against serious hailstorms.
Key Takeaways
- Impact Resistant Shingles are designed specifically for regions like Houston, TX to fight against different sizes of hail.
- Impact Resistant Shingles come in different levels:
- Class 1 Impact Resistance
- Class 2 Impact Resistance
- Class 3 Impact Resistance
- Class 4 Impact Resistance
- Understanding Impact Resistant Ratings
- Advantages of Impact Resistant Roofing
- How much do impact resistant shingles cost vs regular shingles?
- How they can help lower your insurance premiums.
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What are Impact Resistant Shingles?
Impact-resistant asphalt roofing shingles are specially designed to withstand hail damage.
While all shingles offer some level of protection, only the most durable ones are marketed and sold as impact resistant.
When hail hits an asphalt shingle, it undergoes a lot of stress. Hail can create small tears or cracks in the shingle, which may not be visible to the naked eye but can let moisture seep through. That’s why it’s crucial to have a professional inspect your roof after a hailstorm, even if you don’t see any damage.
Additionally, hail impact can knock off the protective granules on the shingle’s surface. This not only affects the appearance of your home but also exposes the asphalt underneath to daily UV exposure, which can lead to leaks.
Impact-resistant roofing is designed to withstand damage and minimize granule loss, ensuring your roof stays strong and keeps your family safe and dry.
Impact Resistance Shingles Come in Different Resistance Levels
Shingles are available in various levels of impact resistance.
In the Underwriter’s Laboratory 2218 test, they introduced a universal standard to help homeowners compare the durability of different materials. Researchers dropped steel balls onto the shingle surgace to replicate the force of hail.
The 2218 test was intended to assess the resistance of the weakest parts of your roof such as: roof edges, corners, shingle durability, and joints.
Shingles receive a class rating from one to four (with four being the best) based on the steel ball drop test, which mimics hail impact damage. Most shingles are considered impact resistant if they are Class 4, although some are classified as impact resistant at Class 3.
Class 1 Impact Resistance Shingles
Class 1 Impact Resistant shingles can withstand hail impacts that are up to 31.8mm or 1.25 inches in diameter.
In order to achieve this rating, the shingles have to withstand a 1.25-inch steel ball’s impact in the same place twice from a 20ft drop.
Class 2 Impact Resistance Shingles
Class 2 Impact Resistant shingles can withstand hail impacts that are up to 38.1mm or 1.5 inches in diameter.
In order to achieve this rating, the shingles have to withstand a 1.5-inch steel ball’s impact in the same place twice from a 20ft drop.
Class 3 Impact Resistance Shingles
Class 3 Impact Resistant shingles can withstand hail impacts that are up to 44mm or 1.75 inches in diameter.
In order to achieve this rating, the shingles have to withstand a 1.75-inch steel ball’s impact in the same place twice from a 20ft drop.
Class 4 Impact Resistance Shingles
Class 4 Impact Resistant shingles can withstand hail impacts that are up to 50.8mm or 2 inches in diameter.
In order to achieve this rating, the shingles have to withstand a 2-inch steel ball’s impact in the same place twice from a 20ft drop.
Advantages of Impact Resistant Shingles
- Enhanced Weather Resistance: Impact-resistant shingles are designed to withstand hail, wind, sleet, and other extreme weather conditions. Some Class 4 rated shingles can endure winds of up to 130 mph, equivalent to a Category 4 Hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
- Long-Term Savings: Severe hail storms can damage roofs, leading to costly repairs or replacements. Impact-resistant roofing prevents such damage, ensuring your roof remains intact and protecting your home and belongings from water intrusion. Over time, this can save homeowners significant money.
- Potential Insurance Discounts: Many insurance companies offer discounts to homeowners with impact-resistant roofing, particularly those in hail-prone areas. According to Emily Long at NBC News, upgrading to impact-resistant shingles can lead to annual savings of 5% to 35% on home insurance premiums. Check with your insurer to see if you qualify for such discounts.
How much do impact resistant shingles cost vs regular shingles?
While impact-resistant roofing provides superior protection and peace of mind, traditionally they come with a higher initial cost. Compared to standard roofing materials, impact-resistant roofing is more expensive due to the specialized manufacturing processes involved.
However, at Bailey Roofing our Class 3 Impact Resistant Shingle comes at no-additional cost when comparing it to a 30-year architectural shingle. We strive to install at minimum a Class 3 IR Shingle on every house to give our customers protection, savings, and peace of mind for years to come.
Customers who may be staying in their house longer than 6-8 years may want to look into Class 4 IR Shingles to enhance their protection, and save money on their insurance premiums for years to come. With a Class 4 IR Shingle, you can expect about a 5-10% price increase depending on the complexity of your roof.
FAQs
What brand of Impact Resistant Shingles do you offer?
We don’t believe in telling a customer they “have” to use one brand over the other. We offer Mutiple top brands of IR shingles to our customers like: IKO Roofing, Certainteed, GAF, Malarkey Roofing, and more!
How many colors do you offer for IR Shingles?
Between all the brands we have to choose from, there are over 20 different color options! Whether you are looking for Black, Grey, Red, Orange, Blue, Green, White, Charcoal, etc. we have the perfect match for you.
What are the warranties like for IR Shingles?
The manufacturing warranties can change based on which brand you choose for your home. However, warranties can range from 30-years, all the way up to 50-years on an impact resistant shingle. We back our professional installs with our lifetime warranty on impact resistant roofs, to give you the ultimate peace of mind for years to come.
Conclusion
While you can’t make your roof indestructible from hail damage completely. Impact Resistant Shingles can certainly increase your roof’s lifespan through hailstorms, and high winds. Of course, IR Shingles are exponentially stronger than a standard 30 year shingle, it’s a no-brainer to install a Class 3 IR Shingle at no additional cost to you.
Remember: Not every IR Shingle is built the same, so be sure to reach out today to one of our roofing experts to assist you in picking the best roofing system for your home.
About Bailey Roofing & Construction
Bailey Roofing & Construction in a top roofing contractor in Houston Texas. We are Veteran owned and operated, right here locally! We help our customers with roof repairs, roof replacements, storm damage, insurance claims, and more! We don’t just stop at roofs, our passion is giving you a home you never want to leave. We specialize in interior remodeling, and renovations. Give us a call, and we will be more than happy to help you with all you home makeover needs!
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