Are you considering CertainTeed’s Landmark shingle? Do you want or need a class 3 shingle?
With the rise in damaging storms in the United States, homeowners are replacing roofs due to hail damage more than ever. That’s why the impact rating is becoming a major consideration when choosing an asphalt shingle.
CertainTeed’s Landmark shingle is a popular choice in residential roofing. However, the impact rating has changed recently, which could affect whether it's right for you.
For over 30 years, Bill Ragan Roofing has given homeowners the power to make the right shingle decision with transparent information. That’s why I want to break down what you need to know about CertainTeed’s Landmark shingle and the impact-resistance rating.
By the end of this article, you’ll have the answers to:
- What are CertainTeed Landmark shingles? (Quick overview)
- Are CertainTeed Landmark shingles class 3?
- Are CertainTeed Landmark shingles considered impact-resistant?
- Does CertainTeed make a class 4 Landmark shingle?
What are CertainTeed Landmark shingles?
CertainTeed’s Landmark® shingle is an architectural shingle with a multi-layered design on a tough fiberglass base and protective outer layer. It’s a great option for homeowners who want a durable and aesthetically pleasing roofing option at an affordable price.
(Photo from certainteed.com)
CertainTeed’s Landmark shingles offer:
- 21 color options (availability varies by location)
- Algae resistance
- Tear resistance
- Class A Fire-Resistance Rating (highest rating available)
- Class F Wind-Resistance (110 mph, upgradable to 130 mph)
Landmark shingles come with a basic lifetime-limited warranty against manufacturer defects. However, they also come with other warranties that back up the performance features, including CertainTeed’s SureStart™, StreakFighter®, and wind resistance warranties.
A big reason Landmark shingles are incredibly popular is simply because they’re affordable and a high-quality, reliable asphalt shingle option. In my opinion, they are the best basic architectural shingle on the market.
Are CertainTeed Landmark shingles class 3?
Yes, CertainTeed Landmark shingles have a class 3 impact rating. Certain areas have had them before, but all Landmark shingles are now manufactured to be class 3.
This means all Landmark shingles can handle hail or impacts up to 1.75” in diameter. Now, keep in mind that CertainTeed doesn’t determine the classification.
Impact ratings are given through Factory Mutual (FM) or Underwriters Laboratories (UL) by testing a shingle’s ability to withstand an impact from 20 feet. CertainTeed specifically uses Underwriters Laboratories, so you’ll see Landmark shingles with a UL 2218 Class 3 designation.
Are CertainTeed Landmark shingles considered impact resistant?
So, CertainTeed Landmark shingles are class 3. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean they get the “impact-resistant” designation.
Including class 3, Impact resistance ratings are categorized into 4 classes based on the hail size a shingle can handle without getting damaged. CertainTeed uses Underwriters Laboratories, but manufacturers also use Factory Mutual.
The test is the same, but the only difference is UL uses steel balls and FM uses ice balls. Either way, the rating is determined by dropping steel or ice balls from 20 feet.
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.
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.
Does CertainTeed make a class 4 Landmark shingle?
CertainTeed makes two class 4 versions of their Landmark shingle: ClimateFlex and TL. Unfortunately, they aren’t readily available in every part of the United States, and their color options are extremely limited.
However, they’re great options if you live in an area that sees frequent hail and ice storms. Let’s do a quick breakdown of Landmark’s class 4 shingles.
Landmark ClimateFlex
CertainTeed’s Landmark ClimateFlex shingle is like a standard Landmark shingle but with a polymer-modified formula. This gives it rubber-like qualities to provide class 4 hail resistance.
(Photo from certainteed.com)
So, ClimateFlex is specifically manufactured to be impact-resistant for areas hit by frequent hail storms. The rubber-like quality also provides cold-weather pliability, which allows the shingles to be handled in low temperatures.
On top of the class 4 rating:
- 6 color options (availability varies by location)
- Tear resistance
- Algae resistance
- Class A Fire-Resistance Rating (highest rating available)
- Class F Wind-Resistance (110 mph, ungradable to 130 mph)
Landmark ClimateFlex shingles pretty much offer the same perks as standard Landmark, but some are more expensive. However, the polymer-modified formula is a huge benefit that no other Landmark shingle can match.
Landmark TL (Triple Laminated)
CertainTeed's Landmark TL shingles have the same multi-layer design as Landmark. They are constructed with three laminated layers (instead of two), making them thicker to more closely match a cedar shake look.
(Photo from certainteed.com)
While they aren’t polymer-modified like ClimateFlex, the triple lamination is strong enough to qualify for a class 4 impact rating. However, they aren’t made specifically with storm damage in mind.
On top of being class 4, Landmark TL architectural shingles also have the following performance features:
- 4 color options (availability varies by location)
- Tear resistance
- Class A Fire-Resistance Rating (highest rating available)
- Class F Wind-Resistance (110 mph, ungradable to 130 mph)
Just know that Landmark TL shingle is even less available than ClimateFlex and more expensive. However, the triple lamination is unique when it comes to architectural shingles across all manufacturers.
What are the top CertainTeed shingles you should consider?
After reading this article, you know CertainTeed landmark shingles are class 3. Just remember, the class 3 rating doesn’t mean they’re “impact resistant”.
However, there are two Landmark lines with the class 4 impact resistance rating. The only problem is that they aren’t readily available.
Luckily, CertainTeed does have other class 4 options. In fact, they have the most shingle options available among the main manufacturers.
So, whether you want to consider another class 4 shingles or want other options, you need to know the top shingles CertainTeed offers.
Check out The Top 5 CertainTeed Asphalt Shingles to find out which CertainTeed shingle is right for you and what you’re looking for in a new roof.
