For some areas of the country, hail is a major issue. Hailstones ranging in size from golf balls to baseballs are known to rain down on some parts of the country with such regularity that they come to be known as “hailstone alleys”. And whether you live in an area that has frequent hail or not, if hail were to hit your home, the results could be devastating for your entire property, and in particular for your roof. That’s why so many homeowners are beginning to look at modified, impact resistant shingles for their homes. Faced with getting a new roof, however, some homeowners may still hesitate, wondering if they should opt for the newer, potentially more expensive shingles or if they just aren’t worth the extra cost, meaning they should stick with the unmodified type instead. For those wondering if modified shingles are worth it, the answer is a huge, resounding yes. While nothing is hail proof, it has been proven that Class 4 shingles, which have been modified to resist impact, are well worth the cost.
What Hail Does to Your Roof
When hail strikes your roof, it essentially does two things. First, it bruises the mat, damaging it and making it more susceptible to the elements and high winds. Second, it knocks loose the protective layer of granules on top of the shingle. Without those granules, UV rays, rain, wind, and snow can now more easily reach the damaged mat beneath, causing your roof shingles color to fade and the shingles themselves to deteriorate at a very rapid rate. So while you may not notice an issue with your roof immediately following a hail storm, you could very likely find yourself in the need of a roof replacement just a few months later.
What Makes Modified Impact Resistant Shingles Different
Nothing is ever completely hail proof, and new shingles aren’t going to prevent the hail from striking your roof, but they can go a long way towards minimizing the amount of damage that hailstones can usually bring. This is because the shingles are modified with polymers that help strengthen the shingles, and help reduce the amount of impact. In fact, a Class 4 modified shingles can resist steel ball bearings of 2-inches in diameter being dropped on them with no damage – both now, and several months down the road.
A Class 4 rating is the highest standard set, and means that your shingles are likely going to perform better, for longer even under impact than standard, unmodified shingles will.
Substantial Savings
For homeowners that worry about the cost of the modified shingles, consider this: most insurance companies in areas that are prone to hailstones will offer up to $500 in incentives to get a Class 4 rated roof put on your home, instead of standard shingles.
Also consider this, every time hail strikes your home, and you need a roof replacement, you can expect your home insurance premiums to rise by about 10%. Studies have shown that homes in areas frequently hit by hail need to have their roofs replaced about three times on average in a 20-year span. Contrast this with Class 4 roofs, which have a 30-year life expectancy, and which are much less likely to require replacement even when hit with the same amount of hail.
Other Factors to Consider
The same studies carried out on Class 4 shingles to determine their impact resistance also determined several other factors that can affect how well your roof holds up to hail strikes, wind, rain, and other elements.
Having two layers of roofing shingles raises the probability that your shingles will be damaged during a hail strike. Because some homeowners like to save money by leaving a single layer of shingles on their roofs, and putting new shingles over this, unmodified shingles used in this manner are more likely to lead to the need for a roof replacement should a hail storm strike.
Having a very thin, quality underlayment on your roof can help protect your home from hail strikes, as having a very steeply pitched house roof design of 6:12, and having a reinforced roof deck made with tongue and groove construction. While anyone using a quality roofer to have new shingles put on can request a thin, high quality underlayment, it’s more difficult for those with older homes to request a different pitch and roof deck on their homes to help protect them from hail damage. In these homes, having impact resistant shingles installed over a thin underlayment is by far your best protection against hail damage.
Protect Your Home
If you’ve suffered damage to your roof due to hail stones, or you live in an area that is prone to them and are in need of a new roof, consider investing in impact resistant shingles. Not only will they help protect your roof from damage, but they can help keep your home insurance premiums down over the lifetime of the roof. Check out modified impact resistant shingles for your next roof replacement to get the best protection out there for your home.
