By Lee Williamson
Texas Star Roofing encourages the use of impact resistant shingles. The insurance industry’s acceptance of UL 2218 rated shingles has resulted in significant discounts on homeowners insurance premiums. Some carriers advertise 27% discounts and even higher discounts have been offered.
The UL 2218 designation is broken into four classes. Class 1 carries the least weight and higher discounts are offered as the class designation increases, with Class 4 being the highest. The test involves a 2 inch steel ball weighing 1.2 pounds being dropped from 20 feet on to the roofing material. The test is repeated and second strike must be within ¼ inch of the first.
The class 4 designation does not mean that the shingle is “hail proof”. The benefit comes from the insurance discount that remains in effect for as long the roof in place. This results in not only significant savings on insurance premiums, but also consider the fact that the impact resistant products will survive hail stones that non class 4 products won’t. This can result in avoiding any out of pocket expense relating to deductibles by not having your roof replaced when the rest of your neighbors without an IR product are. Not to mention the inconvenience of having to have your roof replaced to begin with. If the class 4 roof is damaged and has to be replaced, your insurance company is obligated to replace it with a class 4 roof of like kind and quality. That removes any upgrade expense from the equation and you continue to receive the discounts on your premiums just like before.
Class 4 roofs come in a wide range of products. There are many offerings from the composition family. Some products achieve their rating from the mat or backing the shingle is made from and some are made of SBS, a more rubbery, flexible material that’s better suited to absorb the impact.
The style of composition class 4 shingles varies as well. There are 3-tabs, laminate or architectural style, and even tri-laminates (3 thicknesses laminated together).
Other class 4 offerings include composites, often referred to as faux slate or shakes. Some composites are made of polymers and are injection molded, and some are compression molded.
Another popular class 4 is steel. There are steel shingles, stone coated steel panels, and standing seam. Steel shingles can be molded to look like slate or shake, or can be stone coated steel. The stone coated steel panels come in a variety of styles as well. Mediterranean tile, wood shakes, and barrel tiles are the most popular. Standing seam roofs are continuous panels formed on the job-site from a coil of steel run thru a machine available in different panel widths and seam heights.
Texas Star Roofing is experienced in installation of all UL 2218, Class 4 products. All class 4 roofs are more expensive, and the class 4 prices can vary greatly from the least expensive composition offering to the composites and steel products.
To determine if a class 4 up grade is a good business decision for you, we suggest you get a price from your insurance agent for your premiums with the class 4 roof versus what you’re paying now. We’ll give you a price for the roof you select. Then take the difference between your current roof and the class 4 product you like and divide it by one year’s savings on your insurance premiums. That will tell you how long you will have to stay in the house to get your money back. Every year thereafter you’re putting that money in your pocket. If it’s a 4 or 5 year payback, and that’s average, and you’re planning to be in the house longer than that, then it’s a good idea. Some people argue that the roof makes your home more valuable. That may or may not be the case, but it is definitely a valuable sales tool to make your home more attractive to a buyer when you do decide to sell.