Impact Resistant Shingles: Are They Worth the Investment?
If you are a Houston resident, you already know how violent hail storms can get. One storm can damage your roof badly and leave you dealing with insurance claims, contractors and a big unexpected bill. One simple and permanent solution to deal with this situation is impact resistant shingles because they are specifically built to handle tough weather conditions like hail storms. This guide answers all your questions regarding impact resistant shingles.
How Impact Resistant Shingles Differ from Regular Shingles?
Impact resistant shingles are a type of roofing material made to hold up against hail and severe storms. Regular shingles crack and break when hail hits them. Impact resistant shingles are made from polymer-modified asphalt, which adds a rubber-like flexibility that absorbs the hit without falling apart.
Every impact resistant shingle goes through a test run by a company called Underwriters Laboratory. Underwriters Laboratory is a recognized organization in the USA that evaluates products and components to make sure they meet standard safety and performance requirements. To test, a steel ball is dropped onto the shingle to see how much damage it takes. Depending on the damage taken by the shingle, it is rated from 1 to 4. Class 4 is the highest impact resistance rating available.
Class 3 vs Class 4 Impact Resistant Shingles: Which One Do You Need?
There are two ratings most Houston homeowners will choose between: Class 3 and Class 4.
Class 3 shingles are tested with a 1.75-inch steel ball. They are a good upgrade from regular shingles and offer good protection from moderate hail.
Class 4 shingles are tested with a 2-inch steel ball. This is the toughest test available. These shingles offer the highest level of protection and are the ones the insurance companies in Texas tend to reward with discounts.
For Houston homes, Class 4 shingles are the best choice. They may cost slightly more than Class 3, but when you factor in lower insurance premiums and fewer roof replacements, the numbers work out in your favor.
How Much the Upgrade Costs vs the Deductible!
Here's where it gets interesting. Upgrading to impact resistant shingles usually costs a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars more than a regular roof replacement. That completely depends on the size of your home and the materials used.
Now think about your insurance deductible. Most Houston homeowners' hail or wind deductible is somewhere between $1000 and $2500 or even more. In most cases, the upgrade costs about the same as your deductible, or even less.
That means one hail storm without impact resistant shingles could cost you just as much as the upgrade itself. Houston gets hit with hail more than most cities in the country. This is not a rare situation here and happens over and over again.
The Insurance Premium Factor
With impact resistant shingles, you pay less on your insurance premium. Texas insurance companies often give discounts to homeowners who have Class 4 impact resistant shingle. As a Houston homeowner, you can save 10% and 30% on hail and wind part of your insurance premium. Those savings add up every year.
Over time, the money you save on your premium can cover a big chunk of what you paid for the upgrade, so your investment eventually comes back to you.
Are Impact Resistant Shingles Really Worth It for Houston Homeowners?
Houston sits right at the edge of what meteorologists call "hail alley" and storms here can bring large hail with very little warning. Homeowners with regular shingles here often end up replacing their roof multiple times over years due to storm damage. Now, every time that happens, you pay your deductible. You deal with the insurance process. You wait for contractors. And then you repeat this entire process after the next storm and it doesn't stop anywhere, unless you find a permanent solution against the hail.
Impact resistant shingles put an end to that cycle. They are made to strengthen your roof and take the kind of hits that would tear up a regular roof. That means fewer insurance claims, less hassle and more money staying in your pocket in the long run.
The Final Verdict: Should Houston Homeowners Upgrade?
The upgrade to impact resistant shingles often costs less than the amount of the deductible. A roof replacement is the perfect time to upgrade. The work is already being done so the extra cost to go impact resistant is much smaller than it would be on its own. The savings over time are real. And you stop having to replace your roof every time a storm rolls through.