Colorado consistently ranks in the top 5 states for damaging hail and windstorms.
Today, many homeowners are looking for ways to minimize their risk and perhaps even save some money on their homeowners insurance premiums as well.
During the 1990s, a standardized method was developed to rate or classify shingles based on their ability to withstand hail impact damages.
Today we know this as a Class 4 or IR Shingle. To qualify for a Class 4 shingle rating, the shingle must withstand a 2” steel ball dropped repeatedly from a height of 20 feet.
Impact Resistant Shingles would not show breaks or cracks when turned over. It is those breaks or cracks in the shingle that allow moisture to seep in and damage your house. Twenty feet doesn’t sound like a lot, but if you were to drop the same steel ball from that height onto a concrete paver, the paver would crack in half. This steel ball test is now known as Underwriter’s Laboratory UL 2218 rating.
Impact Resistant Shingles are typically made by adding polymers to an asphalt shingle. Current manufacturing is tending toward adding in a SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene) polymer. SBS is a synthetic rubber-based polymer and creates an asphalt shingle that is a bit more flexible or “rubbery.” Each company has their own formula, but many IR shingles also have a thicker polymer-based mesh. Both sides of this mesh are then covered with the polymer modified asphalt, helping the shingle to hold together under impact.
Often, an Impact Resistant Shingle, with its built-in flexibility, is easier to install in more weather conditions and will often lay flat sooner than other shingles. This is important in hail alley here in Denver. Our summer hailstorms usually mean roofers are busy year-round repairing the damage from hail.
While Impact Resistant Shingles may cost a bit more up front, their durability to withstand wind blown impact damage and hailstones can mean less frequent roof replacements for you. Many insurance companies will now offer a discount on your yearly premiums for upgrading to an Impact Resistant shingled roof. Check with your insurance company to verify your savings. You might be able to recoup the increased cost of a Class 4 shingle in only 5 years.
Colorado hail season can be unpredictable and not even IR shingles can withstand all damage. They are hail resistant, not hail proof. Additionally, you may still experience some granule loss after a hailstorm, but the rubberized material can make your shingles less likely to crack and need replacing. It is always a good idea to check with your insurance company regarding their specifics before upgrading to an Impact Resistant Shingle.
When your home experiences a hailstorm, be careful! You’ll have people knocking on your door, day, and night, with promises that sound too good to be true. Now is a good time to “practice the pause.” Be in touch with your insurance company if you feel you have damage to your home. Take the time to research and investigate before hiring a roofer. Check with the BBB and the Colorado Roofing Association, along with local contractor referrals sites. Then give us a call. We have years of experience with all kinds of insurance claims and work with all insurance companies. Our crews are local, our staff lives in your community, and we’ve been in business for 25 years. We’d love to hear from you.
