Are you interested in architectural shingles specifically made for impact resistance? Do manufacturers even make impact-resistant architectural shingles?
Architectural shingles are the most commonly used shingle and roofing material in the United States. But with how frequently storms damage roofs with hail, homeowners are considering impact-resistant shingles more than ever.
While all shingles have some level of impact resistance, it doesn’t mean they’re technically impact-resistant in the roofing sense. This is especially true for architectural shingles.
So, are architectural shingles impact-resistant?
For over 30 years, Bill Ragan Roofing has taken pride in breaking down the roofing industry so homeowners can make the right decisions. That’s why I’ll help you understand what you need to know about impact resistance ratings and architectural shingles.
By the end of this article, you’ll learn the answers to:
- What is considered an impact-resistant shingle?
- Are architectural shingles impact-resistant?
- How do manufacturers make architectural shingles impact-resistant?
- Are impact-resistant architectural shingles worth it?
What's considered an impact-resistant shingle?
Impact ratings are broken down into classes given by Factory Mutual (FM) or Underwriters Laboratories (UL) through testing a shingle’s ability to withstand an impact from 20 feet. They do the test the same way, but UL uses steel balls, and FM uses ice balls.
Below are the Classifications for both UL and FM impact ratings:
- Class 1 shingles can withstand steel/ice balls that are 1.25” in diameter.
- Class 2 shingles can withstand steel/ice balls that are 1.5” in diameter.
- Class 3 shingles can withstand steel/ice balls that are 1.75” in diameter.
- Class 4 shingles can withstand steel/ice balls that are 2” in diameter.
As you can see, impact resistance ratings are categorized into 4 classes based on the hail size a shingle can handle without getting damaged. The higher the classification, the more impact-resistant a shingle is.
However, only class 4 shingles are considered “impact resistant” in the roofing industry. So, any shingle with a class 3 rating or below isn’t impact-resistant, even though there’s still an impact rating classification.
Are architectural shingles impact-resistant?
There are impact-resistant architectural shingles, but the majority of them aren’t. In fact, even the same line of architectural shingles from a manufacturer can have an impact-resistant option.
For example, CertainTeed’s Landmark architectural shingle has a class 3 rating, but their Landmark ClimateFlex architectural shingle is the class 4 version. That’s why you need to look for the class 4 classification to determine if a specific shingle is impact-resistant.
(Photos taken of GAF and CertainTeed sample boards showing labels)
To determine if an architectural shingle is impact-resistant, look for:
- UL 2218 Class 4 impact resistance
- IR (stands for Impact Resistant)
- SBS modified
Manufacturers do a good job labeling them, so you should see one or all of the identifiers. Just know color options are usually limited, and the availability of class 4 architectural shingles heavily depends on the area.
How do manufacturers make architectural shingles impact-resistant?
Architectural shingles with a class 4 impact rating have to be made differently than standard asphalt shingles. Some class 4 architectural shingles are made thicker, have a multi-layer design, or come on a reinforced mat.
However, manufacturers also have specialized materials/formulas for impact resistance. Some add a polymer-modified mesh that absorbs the impact by holding the shingle together instead of splitting.
Another way that’s becoming more common is by adding a rubber-type polymer (mainly styrene-butadiene-styrene aka SBS) to the shingle. The SBS or other rubber-like polymer creates more flexibility, which allows the hail to bounce off the shingles instead of absorbing the impact.
No matter the reason, getting a class 4 impact-resistance rating means the architectural shingle passed strong testing. But just know the shingles passed at the time of manufacturing, so they become less resistant as they age.
Are impact-resistant architectural shingles worth it?
The roofing industry is replacing roofs at a record pace right now as damaging storms become more frequent in the United States. In my opinion, Class 4 architectural impact-resistant shingles are well worth the investment if you live in a hail-prone area.
Some areas with frequent hail and strong storms even require Class 4 impact-resistant shingles on new roofs per local building codes. However, they’re also a great option if you just want an impact-resistant shingle to avoid dealing with hail damage and insurance.
In fact, most insurance companies offer policy discounts if you install an impact-resistant architectural shingle. On top of this, meeting the high-quality standards to qualify for a class 4 rating makes them more durable and helps them last longer.
So, class 4 impact-resistant architectural shingles are well worth it. Just remember the availability of actual shingles and specific colors will heavily depend on your area.
What are the best Class 4 impact-resistant shingles?
After reading this article, you know that there are impact-resistant architectural shingles. But remember, every architectural shingle doesn’t qualify for the “impact-resistant” title.
You’ll need to look for the designations I mentioned to determine if a specific one has the class 4 impact-resistance rating. Manufacturers are great about labeling and marketing them, but this requires you doing a lot more research to find an impact-resistant shingle.
So, you’re not done if you’re still interested in shingles specifically made for impact resistance. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t make it easier for you.
That’s why I wrote another article breaking down the best class 4 impact-resistant shingles.
Check out The 5 Best Class 4 Impact-Resistant Shingles to get started with finding the right impact-resistant shingle for you.
