With extreme weather on the rise across the country, homeowners are looking for roofing solutions that offer the greatest protection for their homes. Class 4 impact resistance is the highest impact resistance rating that a roofing material can achieve, and it is increasingly becoming the system of choice for owners seeking the ultimate in severe weather protection.
What is Class 4 Impact Resistance?
When a roofing material earns a Class 4 Impact Resistance rating, it means that it has achieved the highest rating possible for withstanding impacts from hail and other falling debris. To earn Class 4 Impact Resistance using the ANSI/UL 2218 test method, roofing materials must pass stringent testing requirements.
The testing is conducted in a laboratory environment where various sized steel balls are dropped onto roofing materials from heights ranging from 12 – 20 feet to evaluate how well they withstand the impact. The test simulates the real-world environment where a roofing shingle might be subject to being hit by 1 ¼- to 2-inch hailstones during a storm. The ANSI/UL 2218 test results in four ratings, from 1 to 4, with 4 being the most impact resistant. To earn the Class 4 rating, a shingle must be able to be impacted by a 2-inch steel ball, dropped from a height of 20 feet and not show any visible evidence of cracking, tearing or fracturing on its back side.
Benefits of Class 4 Impact Resistance
Naturally, homeowners in areas that experience hail on a regular basis want the best protection for their home, which is often their largest investment and asset. Impact-resistant shingles with a Class 4 rating provide superior protection from hail and other falling debris, including twigs and branches, during severe weather events.
Without impact resistance, shingles that are subject to hail will often crack or split. Once compromised, the shingle can no longer do its job of preventing water intrusion.
Financial impact of Class 4 shingles
Because Class 4 shingles provide superior protection for the home, insurance companies look favorably on homes with this level of protection, often offering premium discounts to the homeowner. This is because the insurance companies recognize that the Class 4 protection reduces the risk of the home experiencing damage.
A higher performance roofing shingle can help homeowners save money over time by reducing the likelihood of needing to make expensive repairs following a severe weather event. The impact resistance provided by the shingle can also help extend the lifespan of the entire roofing system.
Finally, when a homeowner decides to sell their home, having the Class 4 impact resistant shingle is very appealing to potential buyers and can help increase the overall value of the home itself, bringing a higher selling price for that owner.
Geographic Considerations
While severe weather events are becoming increasingly more widespread, geography still plays a significant role in the level of impact resistance that should be chosen for a home. Homes in the central United States, are in areas considered to be more hail-prone, so choosing a shingle that offers Class 4 impact resistance makes a lot of sense. Contractors who provide services in hail-prone areas will want to be sure they are offering the Class 4 impact-resistant shingles to their customers.
Class 4 can also be a good fit for homes in geographic areas that might not see a lot of hail but are subject to more severe winds as they are more likely to experience flying debris that could impact the roof. Homeowners should also check with their insurance company for available discounts.
Protection Without Sacrificing Appearance
Manufacturers like GAF work hard to combine the Class 4 performance that contractors want to offer with the aesthetic appeal that homeowners desire for their homes. GAF has perfected that combination through their Timberline UHDZ® with UltraMat™ technology.
Now homeowners can still choose America's #1-selling shingle brand that is loved for its dimension, color depth, and beauty while also benefitting from the ultimate protection for their home. Aesthetic appeal is enhanced through GAF's patented Dual Shadow Line technology that enhances dimensionality for dramatic sunset shadows all day long.
The key to earning the Class 4 rating is GAF's innovative UltraMat™, a high-performance fiberglass technology that strengthens the core of the shingle, helping it resist the toughest of impacts.
GAF has taken this UltraMat technology and also incorporated it into its TimberTex® Premium Ridge Cap Shingles for the ultimate protection for the roof's ridges and hips. When Timberline UHDZ and TimberTex Premium Ridge Cap Shingles with UltraMat technology are installed as a complete system, homeowners get the peace of mind they want knowing that they have the ultimate in both premium beauty and powerful performance for their most important asset. For homeowners in the West, GAF offers its enhanced-profile TimberCrest® Premium SBS-Modified Ridge Cap Shingles which also provide Class 4 impact resistance.
Nationwide Availability
For contractors wanting to offer this level of performance and for homeowners seeking the ultimate in protection without losing aesthetic appeal, the good news is that Timberline UHDZ® with UltraMat™ technology and Class 4 impact resistant ridge cap shingles* are now within reach no matter the geographic location.
While Timberline UHDZ® is available nationwide, GAF offers a variety of ridge cap solutions to ensure Class 4 protection from coast to coast:
- TimberTex® is available in all areas outside the West.
- TimberCrest® Premium Bullnose Ridge Cap Shingles (manufactured from SBS-modified asphalt) are available for customers in the West & Southwest.
- Seal-A-Ridge® AS SBS-Modified Ridge Cap Shingles are also available as a Class 4 ridge cap solution.
GAF recently announced nationwide availability for this innovative Class 4 impact-resistant roofing system, demonstrating the company's continued commitment to "protecting what matters most" including our homes, families, and investments.
For contractors, this means they can now easily leverage the advantages of offering Class 4 impact-resistant roofing systems from North America's largest manufacturer of roofing systems, better-serving homeowners with insurance needs in mind while also differentiating themselves from their competitors.
For homeowners, the nationwide availability means that no matter where they are located, they can get the peace of mind and long-term protection they desire for their home and family, backed by some of the best industry-leading warranties available.
Ready to see what Timberline UHDZ® with Ultra Mat™ and TimberTex® Premium Ridge Cap shingles will do for your home's aesthetic appeal? Try out the GAF Virtual Home Remodeler to see for yourself and then locate a GAF certified contractor** near you to get your project started.
*UL 2218 Class 4 Impact-Resistance Test performed by Certerra Analytical - PRI under controlled laboratory conditions.
**Contractors enrolled in GAF certification programs are not employees or agents of GAF, and GAF does not control or otherwise supervise these independent businesses. Contractors may receive benefits, such as loyalty rewards points and discounts on marketing tools from GAF for participating in the program and offering GAF enhanced warranties, which require the use of a minimum amount of GAF products. Your dealings with a Contractor, and any services they provide to you, are subject to the GAF Contractor Terms of Use.
