What Is Impact-Resistant Roofing?

If you live in an area with frequent hail and storms, impact-resistant roofing can serve as a shield for your home.

What is impact-resistant roofing?

Impact-resistant roofing is engineered to take a hit — from hail, falling debris, and storm damage. It’s made with stronger materials that not only shield out the rain and weather but also absorb the impact from the strike and disperse the force. The result is less risk of damaging the actual structure even when significant roof strikes happen.

Any home in an area prone to severe weather will benefit from this type of protection. Impact-resistant shingles are durable, protective surfaces meant to handle falling tree branches, high winds, and large hail without suffering significant damage. Having an impact-resistant roof safeguards your home’s value and minimizes the risk of hidden leaks developing.

How the UL 2218 Impact Rating System Works

An impact-resistant roof isn’t just a marketing term. Rather, it’s a roof that’s designed with special shingles recognized by the Underwriters Laboratories (UL). The UL is a global safety organization that reviews, tests, and rates various structural systems, including roofing materials. The organization engages in testing roofing materials based on what happens when a failing tree branch or a large hailstorm rolls through the area.

From this comes a classification of roofing impact resistance. UL 2218 is a standard for testing the impact resistance of roofing materials specifically. It simulates hail striking the roof by dropping steel balls of various sizes from different heights onto the shingles to determine what they can withstand. From that, comes a classification for the product in one of four categories:

• Class 1: Withstands a 1.25-inch steel ball dropped twice from 12 feet
• Class 2: Withstands a 1.5-inch steel ball dropped twice from 15 feet
• Class 3: Withstands a 1.75-inch steel ball dropped twice from 17 feet
• Class 4: Withstands a 2-inch steel ball dropped twice from 20 feet

Class 4, then, is the highest level of durability and most protective for your property. If you invest in Class 3 or Class 4 impact-resistant roofing, let your insurance company know. Many offer discounts on your premium because of the level of safety provided.

Many of the common problems with roofing shingles relate specifically to the lack of durability during storms. Over time, granules loosen and fall off, increasing the risk of damage. With impact-resistant roofing that happens less often, you get the highest quality results. When choosing any product, including GAF shingles, ensure you know how well they can withstand the conditions at your home.

Common Types of Impact-Resistant Roofing Materials

There are two main types of impact-resistant shingles that may be applicable for homeowners, as well as other materials that offer better protection compared to traditional products. Consider these differences:

• Polymer-based shingles: These shingles are made up of a polymer base that’s then combined with high-quality asphalt shingles to minimize cracking risks.
• Styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS): This type of shingle is also a polymer but has a rubber-like texture that’s more flexible and better able to withstand falling hail. They also have a better granular consistency that minimizes sun-related damage.
• Metal roofing: Metal is naturally resistant to impact, making it a good option for hail and debris strikes. Some do not like the aesthetic of metal roofs on homes, and they can be loud, but this tends to be the least expensive impact-roofing option.
• Composite and polymer roofing: These products are high-tech materials designed to mimic slate and wood shake, but they are stronger and less likely to crack. This also gives you more opportunity to choose color and styling, though at a higher cost than traditional roofing.
• Tile and shake: Traditional tile and shake are less durable in general, but some products are made to be more resistant than others. They tend to be more expensive overall.

Key Benefits of Impact-Resistant Roofing

Impact resistance safeguards your home when compared to a traditional asphalt shingle. When choosing any roofing material, homeowners must think about not just the look of the roof and their budget but also factors like lifetime. When considering any roofing product, look at the whole picture. Compared to standard shingles, impact-resistant roof materials offer numerous benefits:

• Better protection from hailstorms and wind-blown debris, with far less risk of strikes creating cracks
• Reduced risk of leaks and structural damage because this roof is less likely to crack with hail impact or other damage
• Longer roof lifespan and fewer repairs, keeping your costs more of a one-time investment rather than annual repairs
• Increased home resale value and marketability, especially when buyers recognize you have a roofing product that reduces their risk for years to come
• Potential insurance premium discounts for Class 4 roofing, with Class 4 shingles often resulting in a significantly lower premium
• Peace of mind during extreme weather events, and the clean-up after

Signs Your Home Might Need an Impact-Resistant Roof

Property owners should take into consideration a range of benefits and features before they choose any roofing material. But there are several signs that your home may benefit from impact-resistant roofing.

• Previous damage: If you’ve previously had hail damage or frequent roof repairs for missing shingles, impact-resistant may be beneficial.
• Severe storms: In areas where storms are severe, including the North Carolina storm season’s intensity, protection is vital.
• Failing shingles: If your current asphalt shingles are suffering damage, especially after hailstorms and before the roof’s expected lifetime comes to a close, that indicates the need for a higher-quality product
• Visible signs: Look for dents, cracks, and granule loss or shingles lifting off the surface as indications of a need for a higher quality product
• Increased insurance costs: Insurance companies increase premiums the more times you file a claim.

Impact-Resistant Roofing vs. Regular Shingles

The difference is all about the durability of these products. Impact-resistant shingles can handle more strikes and hits because they were manufactured specifically to do so. Standard shingles lack this protection, which means when even a small hail strike occurs, there’s weakening of the surface of the shingle, causing granules to loosen and dents to occur.

By contrast, you will spend more upfront to install impact-resistant roofing, but the long-term savings often make that worthwhile. They have far less maintenance and less risk of requiring emergency repairs.

Installation Considerations

There’s not a significant difference in the installation process or complexity of impact-resistant roofing in comparison to traditional asphalt shingles. However, you do need an experienced roofer to handle the process. That ensures proper adhesion and seals, while also making sure that the underlayment is in place to fully safeguard the roof structure.

Your roofer should also start with a comprehensive roof inspection, which looks at the actual decking to ensure it is in the best shape possible. Doing this now is important since your impact-resistant roof should not need repair or replacement for some time.

Choose a local, certified roofing contractor to do the work for you. At Lane’s Contracting, we can help you choose and install the proper roofing materials for your property and ensure the work is done exactly as the manufacturer expects.

Cost Overview and Insurance Benefits

Like any type of roofing investment, you must consider the specific needs of your roof. For example, the cost of the roofing material itself is just one factor. You also need to consider any damage to the decking that needs repair.

It’s not possible to provide a quote for the value of any impact-resistant roofing without taking into consideration material type, roof size, design complexity, and labor costs within your area. However, you can expect to spend more out of pocket for these roof materials. That could be 20% or more than what you might expect from traditional roofing materials.

But you also have to consider the benefits that save you money over time. The insurance premium discounts for UL 2218 Class 4 roofs can range 10-35%, significantly reducing the overall cost of insuring your home. There’s also the importance of considering the long-term cost savings that come from far fewer repairs and replacement projects you’ll need to do during your lifetime. Not having to worry about hail damage repair means less cost for materials and labor, as well as emergency-related calls.

Impact-Resistant Roofing Experts

Set up a professional consultation with an impact-resistant roofing expert before you make any purchase. Get a full roof inspection that provides you with clarity on the benefits this roof material can offer to you, as well as the overall costs you can expect from the process.

Our experienced team at Lane’s Contracting can provide answers, suggestions, and competitive pricing on all of the roofing products best suited to your home. We can offer specific material recommendations for North Carolina weather that keep you safe without overwhelming your budget.

When you contact our team, we will provide you with a transparent estimate of what the new roof will cost you. We also work with your insurance company if they are covering the cost or a portion of it. We will help you file a claim and navigate the process with State Farm, Allstate, or whoever carries your policy.

You can trust Lane’s Contracting. We provide high-quality workmanship on every project and back it up with a long-term, comprehensive warranty. Let us talk to you about this benefit during a free quote.

Impact-resistant roofing offers numerous benefits and can keep your home from damage. Contact us now for a roof inspection to get the process started.

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