From 1991 to 1995, hail and wind damage caused an average of $8 billion worth of damage per year to homes, factories and office buildings.

…A large portion of  that damage  occurs to roofs and is the result of  not using  impact resistant shingles.

Hail can damage asphalt shingles by causing serious loss of granules, damage to the edge of the shingles, and holes in the shingles. High-velocity winds can tear shingles right off the roof. In fact, the most common type of damage from Hurricane Hugo in 1989 was roof material failure.

Impact-resistant or IR shingles are better than standard asphalt shingles at enduring impact from flying objects like branches, boards or debris that may have been lifted by the winds of a thunderstorm, hurricane or twister. A shingle’s resistance to impact is graded from Class 1 to 4 on the American Society for Testing Materials ( ASTM ) D2218 Testing Standard, with Class 4 being the best rating. To qualify for a Class 4 rating, the shingles must pass standards for impact and wind resistance established by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and the ASTM.

Numerous manufacturers offer asphalt shingles that qualify as Class 4 impact resistant. A very popular Class 4 impact-resistant shingle is the  Certainteed Landmark IR  brand. They’re so good that insurance companies in many parts of the country will give you a reduced rate on your premiums if you use these shingles instead of normal asphalt shingles.

Alternative methods are employed to affix the granules attached to the shingle, to stop shingles from breaking due to impact, and to keep the shingles affixed to the sheathing during high winds. The shingles are tested by firing steel balls at roof samples to gauge their effectiveness. High impact-resistant materials cost a little more, and the labor charges are also higher, but the price is recovered by not having to repair or replace them as frequently.

In Texas, hail resistant shingles are well worth the investment. They’ll save you money in the long run and protect your home or business better.  Call us for an estimate  if you’re interested!

Texas Star Roofing strongly encourages the  installation of high resistant shingles. The insurance industry’s acceptance of UL 2218 rated shingles has resulted in significant discounts on homeowner insurance premiums. Some carriers advertise 27% discounts, and even higher discounts have been offered.

The UL 2218 designation is broken into four classes. Class 1 carries the least weight, and higher discounts are offered as the class designation increases, with, again, Class 4 being the highest. The test involves a 2-inch steel ball weighing 1.2 pounds being dropped from 20 feet onto the roofing material. The test is repeated, and the second strike must be within ¼ inch of the first.

The class 4 designation does not mean that the shingle is “hail proof.” The benefit comes from the insurance discount that remains in effect for as long the roof in place. This results in not only significant savings on insurance premiums but also consider the fact that the impact-resistant products will survive hailstones that non-class 4 products won’t. This can result in avoiding any out of pocket expense relating to deductibles by not having your roof replaced when the rest of your neighbors without an IR product are. Not to mention the inconvenience of having to have your roof replaced, to begin with. If the class 4 roof is damaged and has to be replaced, your insurance company is obligated to replace it with a class 4 roof of like kind and quality. That removes any upgrade expense from the equation and you continue to receive the discounts on your premiums just like before.

Class 4 roofs come in a wide range of products. There are many offerings from the composition family. Some products achieve their rating from the mat or backing the shingle is made from and some are made of SBS, a more rubbery, flexible material that’s better suited to absorb the impact.

The style of composition class 4 shingles varies as well. There are 3-tabs, laminate or architectural style, and even tri-laminates (3 thicknesses laminated together).

Other class 4 offerings include composites, often referred to as faux slate or shakes. Some composites are made of polymers and are injection molded, and some are compression molded.

Another popular class 4 is steel. There are steel shingles, stone coated steel panels, and standing seam. Steel shingles can be molded to look like slate or shake or can be stone coated steel. The stone coated steel panels come in a variety of styles as well. Mediterranean tile, wood shakes, and barrel tiles are the most popular. Standing seam roofs are continuous panels formed on the job-site from a coil of steel run through a machine available in different panel widths and seam heights.

Texas Star Roofing  is experienced in the installation of all UL 2218, Class 4 products. All class 4 roofs are more expensive, and the class 4 prices can vary greatly from the least expensive composition offering to the composites and steel products.

To determine if a class 4 upgrade is a good business decision for you, we suggest you get a price from your insurance agent for your premiums with the class 4 roof versus what you’re paying now. We’ll give you a price for the roof you select. Then take the difference between your current roof and the class 4 product you like and divide it by one year’s savings on your insurance premiums. That will tell you how long you will have to stay in the house to get your money back.

Every year thereafter you’re putting that money in your pocket. If it’s a 4 or 5-year payback, and that’s average, and you’re planning to be in the house longer than that, then it’s a good idea. Some people argue that the roof makes your home more valuable. That may or may not be the case, but it is definitely a valuable sales tool to make your home more attractive to a buyer when you do decide to sell.