Need Extra "Impact" or High Wind Protection For Your Roof ?
Consider Class 4 Shingles!

Courtesy Atlas Roofing

Many homeowners aren't aware that impact damage caused by hail can be avoided. Not all shingles are manufactured to withstand the extreme force a roof must take from hail, sleet and wind-blown rain. The contractor who can explain this to customers will have a better chance of securing the work. The job-winning factor could be to show customers how the best defense against such impact damage is a Class 4 shingle.

History Of Resistance Rating

In 1996, insurance industry experts teamed with the Institute of Business and Home Safety (IBHS) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to create a rating system for shingle impact resistance. Known as UL 2218, this classification is now the national standard.

Roofing shingles are rated Class 1 through 4, with a Class 4 rating indicating the toughest and most durable. This rating is determined by tests simulating the effect of 90-mph hailstones on shingles and measuring their impact resistance. A Class 4 rating indicates that the shingle should withstand damage by hailstones up to two inches in diameter.

Other Hazards Than Hail? What about high winds and driving rain?

Should a customer point out that hail is a rare occurrence in their region, let them know Class 4 shingles can protect a roof from more than just the impact of hailstones. In a gale-force storm, wind-driven rain or sleet can inflict damage to a roof and subsequently, the home it protects. A Class 4 shingle offers the best possible protection from such hazards.

For example, Atlas Stormmaster® Shakes have a limited 130mph wind resistance warranty!

Atlas Roofing manufactures two lines of Class 4 shingles, StormMaster® Shake and StormMaster® Slate. The key to their Class 4 rating is Styrene Butadiene Styrene (SBS), a rubberized polymer that gives a shingle more flexibility and durability. Its rubber-like quality keeps hail and wind-blown rain from fracturing the shingle and causing damage. These Atlas shingles can stand up to fearsome storms in every season.

Initial Cost And Long Term Protection

Contractors should help homeowners understand all the essential factors they need to consider before making a final decision on which roof shingle to install. A new roof is a considerable investment and while Class 4 asphalt roof shingles do cost more than conventional three tab shingles, they could save a homeowner much more over the life of the roof. They could help to prevent the disaster a homeowner would experience if their roof suffered impact damage.

Let customers know that most home insurers offer policy discounts for the increased level of protection that Class 4 shingles provide. Whatever kind of impact falls upon a roof, a Class 4 shingle has it covered.