Impact Resistant Shingles Insurance Discount

Class Iv Roofing Materials

Although, there are many styles and manufactures of Class IV asphalt shingles you are not only limited to those options. Most metal roofing materials are giving a Class IV rating also and that is the case for tile, clay, slate and some synthetic roofing materials. With so many material options and designs, a Class IV roofing system is a viable option for almost any home.

Reasons To Consider Impact

• Better resistance to impact from hail and flying debris than non-impact-resistant products
• Protection against fire most products are Class A fire rated
• You may be eligible for an annual discount on your homeowners premium,footnote 2 especially if your current roof is made of wood shinglesfootnote 3
• If you sell your home, the new owner may be eligible for a homeowners insurance discount, which can be a good selling point
• Less impact on the environment since fewer roofs will be damaged during a storm

To learn more about impact-resistant roofing materials, contact a State Farm agent today.

return to reference 1 Underwriters Laboratories Impact Resistance of Prepared Roof Covering Materials or FM Global Specification Test Standard for Impact Resistant Testing of Rigid Roofing Materials by Impacting with Freezer Balls. Discount names, percentages, availability and eligibility may vary by state.

return to reference 2 For qualifying metal products, an exclusion of certain damages to metal roof products will be a part of your policy. See your agent for details.

return to reference 3 Reduction of your homeowners insurance premium depends on your state of residence.

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Steel Ball Simulation Test

UL 2218 Becomes the Impact Resistant Roof Standard

Underwriter Laboratoriesâ steel ball test simulates a hailstones impact using a steel ball on a roof shingle, focusing on the shingles most vulnerable areas, including the edges, corners, unsupported sections, and joints.

The simulation includes the following:

• Steel balls are dropped from 12 feet for a 1.25-inch ball and from 20 feet for a 2-inch ball
• Impact resistant shingles remained intact, even with the 2-inch steel ball
• To successfully pass the UL 2218 standard, the roof covering, the exposed surface, the back surface, and underneath layers all must show no evidence of tearing, fracturing, cracking, splitting, or rupturing.

Non-impact resistant shingles will endure cracks and ruptures from the same steel ball test. The roof shingles granules will be knocked off, leaving it exposed to harmful UV damage. Over time, UV rays will degrade a roof and make it vulnerable to leaks.

This hail simulation test is performed on new shingles not aged shingles that may already be brittle with age or more susceptible to hail damage. Another factor to consider for your home is your roofs pitch, or angle. Steeper pitched roofs are less vulnerable to most hailstorms than lower pitched roofs. Additional considerations include the type of underlayment used, the existing roof decking condition, tree coverage, and more.

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Costs Of Upgrading To A Class 4 Shingle

Why doesnt everyone upgrade to Class 4? Material cost. While the labor costs to install are the same, the materials price of the shingles themselves is higher for Class 4 rated, impact-resistant products. Additionally, if you are replacing your roof as part of an insurance claim, the upgrade will be an out-of-pocket expense to the homeowner .

Does it make sense to upgrade my roof to a Class 4 shingle if my current roof is in good shape? In most cases, no. Shingles are a just one part of a new roofing system, which is a major construction project. Most people choose to upgrade to a higher-quality shingle during new home construction, or when they have roof damage or an old roof that warrants replacement.

What percentage of a roof installation cost is shingles? About 35%. Looking at our actual job cost sheets for single-family residential roof replacements, roughly 70% of total costs are materials , and 30% is labor.

So should I invest in a Class 4 impact-resistant shingle on my home? Were back to the original question. If you consider your home to be a long-term investment, yes, we think so. Lets look at an example home under consideration:

What Companies Give Impact

Different insurance companies have different policies regarding impact-resistant materials in regards to what kind of discounts they offer and most major insurers like State Farm and AllState do provide discounts for these materials. You will need to contact your insurance agent to find out their unique policies.

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Best Impact Resistant Shingles

There are many producers of shingles, but some make better Class 4 impact resistant shingles than others. Heres a list of reliable impact-resistant shingles, and their respective manufacturers:

1. Owens Corning Duration TruDefinition Duration Flex Shingles

Owing to their UL 2218 Class 4 rating, TruDefinition Duration Flex shingles offer you the best hailstorm protection possible. Owens Corning makes them with a blend of modified SBS polymer asphalt. This gives the shingles a rubberizing effect, making them pliable and more flexible.

As a result, the shingles are more durable, tougher, and can withstand more severe storm conditions. Another benefit of these shingles is the nailing technology used in their production.

Namely, Owens Corning uses SureNail Technology, which helps make the shingles extremely durable and strong. Their shingles also feature triple-layer protection, great wind resistance, and outstanding grip.

2. Owens Corning Duration TruDefinition Duration Storm Shingles

TruDefinition Duration Storm shingles also offer reliable roof protection. They feature two patented systems: the SureNail Technology, and the WeatherGuard technology that safeguards against failure due to impact.

Thanks to their fabric strips, the shingles prevent blow-offs due to winds of up to 130 mph. In addition, the shingles can last a lifetime if you maintain them properly.

3. Owens Corning Duration TruDefinition WeatherGuard HP Shingles

4. CertainTeed IR Shingles

IKO Nordic Shingles

Beware Of Roofing Scams And Free Upgrades

A couple of words of warning. Some roofers are offering to give free upgrades to impact resistant shingles. Find out first what product they are offering for the free upgrade. There are some impact resistant shingles out there that are not worth installing.

The second word of warning is that some homeowners have found that they paid for an upgrade, or received a free upgrade, but then found out that no impact resistant shingles had been installed on the roof. Remember, if somebody’s offering you a free upgrade to an impact resistant shingles, and it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Homestead Roofing, Inc is a licensed and fully-insured roofing contractor in Colorado Springs, Colorado. We serve homeowners in Colorado Springs, Fountain, Falcon, Peyton, Manitou Springs, and other surrounding communities.

Homestead Roofing Inc. serves homeowners in Colorado Springs, Monument, Falcon, Peyton, Security, Widefield, Fountian, Teller County, El Paso County, and in Elbert County, Colorado.

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How Is Impact Resistance Determined

Shingles that have been tested to withstand the force of large hail or debris using Underwriter Laboratories standard testing 2218 will be categorized based on how they sustain damage. The test includes dropping a steel ball from varying heights and speeds to simulate hail hitting your shingles during a storm.

During the UL2218 testing, a 2-inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet signifies the relative impact of a large golf ball-sized piece of hail. When hit with a ball of hail this size, your average asphalt shingle would show cracking or breakage beneath the impact area. Class 4 impact-resistant shingles would not.

How Do Roofing Shingles Qualify For A Class 4 Rating

Back in the mid-1990s, after a series of catastrophic hail storms across the U.S., the roofing industry developed a test to evaluate their products resistance to impact. This standardized test is known as the Underwriters Laboratory 2218 , and is also nicknamed the steel ball test. Based on the results of this test, UL assigns one of four ratings to a shingle, with Class 4 being the highest possible rating.

During this testing method, asteel ball is dropped from a specified height onto an installed roofing shingleseveral times. The shingle is then turned over and inspected for any breaks orcracks that could potentially allow water to leak through.

To receive a Class 4 rating, aroofing shingle must withstand having a 2-inch steel ball dropped multipletimes from a height of 20 feet. For more perspective, if this same test isrepeated on a 4-inch concrete paver, the force of the steel ball would crackthe paver in half.

While Class 4 is the highestrating for impact resistance, there are also lower ratings a shingle can receive,such as Class 3 and Class 2. The difference between the ratings is that Class 3shingles withstand a smaller steel ball dropped from a lower height, andlikewise for Class 2.

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How Much Does Metal Roofing Save You On Insurance

Unless you live in Texas its not guaranteed that you will save any money on your insurance premium. It will depend upon where you live and which insurance carrier that you have.

If you live in a part of the country that experiences frequent hail storms then youre more likely to receive an insurance discount. These are the most hail prone states in the country: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, or Wyoming

If you live in a region of Texas that experiences hail at least 6 times a year the discount was an impressive 35% annually.

If an insurance discount is an important part of your decision to purchase a metal roof, we suggest that you call your insurance agent and ask them if they offer this type of discount.

Should I Invest In A Class 4 Impact Resistant Shingle On My Home

There are many important things to consider when replacing your roof. What type of products should I choose? What color or design to choose? Is it really worth it to upgrade my roof? One of the most common upgrades that homeowners consider when replacing their asphalt shingle roof is installing Class 4 rated shingles.

Hail damage on a roof can crack or displace shingles, cause granule loss, or break the shingle seal, which lead to water leaks inside your home. As the impact-resistant name suggests, the primary purpose of a Class 4 rated shingle is its resistance to hail damage . However, the additional thickness and durability of a Class 4 shingle also increases the longevity of the roof, add resistance to falling or scraping tree branches, and help protect from flying debris .

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Benefits Of Impact Resistant Shingles

Are impact-resistant shingles worth it? For many homeowners, the answer is yes. Class 4 impact resistant shingles offer many benefits, including:

• Meet building codes: Some local building codes at the city or country level may require you to install Class 4 impact resistant shingles when you get a new roof. Typically, these are in areas where hail is a common occurrence.
• Get insurance discounts: Some insurance companies offer discounts on roofing materials that achieve a Class 4 impact resistance rating. For example, State Farms impact resistant shingle discount is available to select customers. These savings may be substantial, even 35% of your home insurance premiums, according to NBC News.
• Enjoy more benefits: Impact-resistant shingles may also meet other high standards for quality. At IKO, we call these performance shingles. For example, NordicTM shingles are designed to withstand high winds up to 110 mph.
• Achieve better durability: The most significant benefit of impact resistant shingles is that they will better withstand hailstorms. You can get peace of mind that in a hailstorm, your roof will be as safe as it can be.

Metal Roofing And Cosmetic Waiver

Metal roofing continues to be one of the strongest, most durable and expensive roofing materials available. It is for these reasons that it qualifies for Class IV roofing discounts with relative ease. However, it is also for these reasons that most insurance companies will make you sign a cosmetic waiver that states the insurance company will only pay for the replacement of the roof if it has failed. This simply means that even if your roof is dimpled like a golf ball, if there is no breakage or failure, they will not replace it. In some cases, like on a farm, this may not be of any issue, but in the city, most homeowners will not be happy keeping a heavily dented roof. For these people there are only two options, do not take the Class IV discount or pay out of pocket if the damage is too unsightly. This is why we typically do not recommend the Class IV discounts to our residential and non-rural customers.

Reinforced with an extra fiberglass mat

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When Are Class 4 Impact

Every year, thousands of homeowners across the country suffer costly damage to their roofs during hailstorms and other extreme weather events. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Severe Storms database, 4,610 major hail events occurred in the U.S. in 2018, and these storms caused billions of dollars in damage. One insurer alone, State Farm, reported paying out more than $2.7 billion in claims related to wind and hail damage in 2018.

There are certain parts of the U.S. that are more hail-prone than others. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the five worst states for major hail events in 2018 were:

• Texas, with 508 hail storms
• Kansas, with 493 hail storms
• Colorado, with 332 hail storms
• Nebraska, with 309 hail storms
• South Dakota, with 309 hail storms

If you live in a hail-proneregion of the country, or in an area where frequent severe weather events put yourroof at higher risk for damage, then you may want to seriously considerinstalling Class 4 roofing shingles.

How To Get A Discount When You Use Impact Resistant Shingles

One of the many benefits of getting impact-resistant materials on your roof is the possibility of receiving discounts on your home insurance premium. We want to let you know why insurance companies give these discounts qualify and how to get the discount once these materials have been put on your roof.

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How Much Do Impact Resistant Shingles Cost

You may be surprised to learn that Class 4 IR shingles are not a lot more expensive than regular architectural shingles. They are even cheaper than many luxury or premium quality asphalt roof shingles.

On average, for materials only, impact resistant shingles cost $42-50+ per bundle The price varies based on manufacturer, as well as your location.

For example, Atlas and Owens Corning IR shingles will be in the $40 per bundle range, where as GAF, and CertainTeed Class 4 shingles will be in the $50+ per bundle range.

Thus, per 100 sq.ft. you are looking to spend $136-150 for materials only. There is also waste of about 10% as well as any applicable taxes in your state. So on a 1,600 sq.ft. simple cape or ranch style roof, you are looking to spend $2,400 2,650 for shingles themselves.

Additionally, you need to add $40-50 per square for roof underlayment, nails, flashing, lead, ridge and hip caps, vents, etc. For a 1,600 sq.ft. roof this ends up being $460-800. This covers all your materials needed to complete the install.

When it comes to professional installation, there really should not be much difference in the cost to install regular vs IR shingles. This should be between $125-300+ per square installed. Most jobs are typically somewhere in the middle: $175-200 per square, average.

This includes tear off of one layer of shingles. For a 16 square job this is $2,000-4,800 Typical labor for this job will be around $3,000.

What Exactly Is Ul 2218

Lets talk more about how roofing materials are given the UL 2218 classification. Underwriters Laboratories developed a standardized test to rate the durability of a roofing material and its ability to withstand hail events. This test, in its most basic explanation, consists of a steel ball being dropped from high up on to the surface of the material twice on the same spot. The material must not show signs of breakage, cracks or excessive granule loss . Ultimately, this test is designed to assure that a roofing system with a UL 2218 classification will withstand major hail events with much less potential to fail and cause interior or structural damage than standard roofing materials.

Standard 30-year shingle

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Benefits Of Installing Class 4 Roofing Shingles

Class 4 roofing shingles are considered to be a premium product and, therefore, may cost more than standard, non-impact resistant shingles. However, due to the various benefits of Class 4, impact-resistant shingles, the extra cost upfront may be a worthwhile investment if you live in an area where hail and wind storms frequently occur.

Class 4, impact-resistantshingles may:

• Eliminate the need for, or reduce the frequency of, roof repairs. With shingles this tough, you can relax a bit more knowing you have given your roof its best chance at holding up against the storms. Less damage means fewer unexpected repair expenses.
• Extend the lifespan of your roof. Your shingles are your roofs first line of defense. A roof with intact, undamaged shingles is better protected season after season.
• Save you money on homeowners insurance and premiums. Many companies offer discounts for homeowners whose roofs are covered in Class 4-rated shingles. Contact your insurance provider to learn more.
• Prevent your insurance premiums and deductibles from increasing at renewal time. Due to increasing costs of covering hail prone homes, some insurance providers are passing those costs onto homeowners. Having Class 4, impact-resistant shingles installed may help you keep your existing rates and avoid future rate hikes. Contact your insurance provider to learn more.