Hail Resistant Roof Classes

The ul 2218 is the roofing industry standard for testing shingles against hail impact.

Hail resistant roof classes.

For wind resistance these ratings are usually indicated by a letter with class f being the best and class a being the bare minimum. The roofing materials that show the greatest resistance earn a class 4 rating. For instance if you ve recently installed a class 4 hail impact resistant shingle on your home and your roof was impacted by 2 1 2 hail stones there is a chance that your roof sustained no functional damage. Class 4 impact resistant roofing shingles.

These steel balls are dropped at heights between 12 and 20 feet to mimic the impact of hail falling at high speeds. It s important to remember that no roof is 100 immune to the damaging effects of an intense storm or some other catastrophic event. Thicker steel protects better. This is why you need northgate.

The most effective way to minimize hail damage is to choose durable hail resistant roofing materials. After performing the test roofing manufacturers would be scored based on the resistance of the material getting a rating from 1 least hail resistant to 4 most hail resistant. Shingles on an impact resistant roof are designed to withstand high winds and hail damage and have a class 4 rating see below. Now here s where it can get a little confusing.

Summarizing the result we would be looking at for a class 3 roof is earned if the sample does not crack when hit twice in the same spot by a 1 75 inch diameter steel ball. The last factor is the method by which the panel bonds to its neighboring panels. A class 4 impact resistant shingle will provide these benefits and more including insurance discounts in some areas. To have a truly hail resistant metal panel a design must combine all of these factors to create a layer of protection.

Here are the top hail resistant roofing options available for modern homes. Impact resistant shingles and other roofing materials are designed to resist damage from hail and flying debris abuse that might damage ordinary shingles. Manufacturers report their hail ratings voluntarily thus you may not find hail ratings for shingles that don t perform well. Storms that bring hail airborne debris and high winds put your roof at risk for damage and installing impact resistant shingles may.

You need a roofing shingle that has been lab tested by the roofing manufacturer and is proven to withstand hail and provide reliability in your building envelope. There are four testing classes that use four different steel ball sizes that range from 1 1 4 to 2. Those with the least resistance earn a class 1 rating. Hail resistant is not hail proof.

When it comes to protecting a roof the thickness of the metal is a key factor to resisting large sized hail stones. Note however a few caveats.