Many people who live in Austin, TX, have to constantly withstand high winds, which lead to premature roof replacement due to hail damage. This can be extremely costly, as roofing material is often highly demanded and may make you spend thousands of dollars in only one year. However, people use regular asphalt roofing shingles instead of impact-resistant shingles. These impact-resistant shingles take hail damage without breaking and prevent premature roof replacement.
However, many impact-resistant shingles companies charge incredibly high prices for their products, which raises the question, “are impact-resistant shingles worth the investment?” The truth is that these class 4 impact-resistant shingles are thoroughly tested with steel balls, which makes them much more durable against hail impact than traditional shingles or other roofing products in the roofing industry, which translates into fewer roof repairs. So read more as Austin Roofing & Water Damage | WDR discuss the topic further.
Related Article: How to Repair Roof Shingles Blown Off During A Storm
Discover the true value of impact-resistant shingles in our latest blog post. More than just a roof over your head!
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Learn More about Impact Resistant Roof Shingles (IR)
Class 4 impact-resistant shingles may tolerate more intense weather, which gives them a massive advantage over any other shingle type. That is why sometimes they are referred to as IR or impact-resistant shingles.
Therefore, these shingles are meant to guard your roof against major leaks and any damage that would need you to spend vast amounts of money on repairs.
All shingles must pass rigorous testing to receive this certification. In order to be ready to sell to the general public, the test must be conducted at a national level by expert organizations and is used to rate the quality and resistance of each shingle type.
The grading of the shingles’ impact resistance is based on how well they do in the previously mentioned test. Shingles must withstand two strikes from a steel ball with a diameter of 2″ without displaying any sort of structural damage to achieve a UL Class 4 impact-resistance certification.
Therefore, the shingle’s entire surface must be free from deterioration, such as cracks, tears, fractures, or splitting. This includes its internal and posterior areas as well.
The rating of the shingles is reduced if they function inadequately or are damaged. The least resilient shingles belong in class 1.
What Is the Price of Class 4 Impact-resistant Shingles?
Due to contrary belief, these shingles are relatively inexpensive compared to standard architectural shingles. They are even less expensive than many high-end or luxury asphalt roof shingles.
The total cost of installing impact-resistant shingles will depend on several factors, so it isn’t easy to give a numerical estimate. Still, some of the factors you must be aware of are the following.
- Your location
- The manufacturer
- The length of the roof
- How many shingles will you need
- The time the contractors will spend doing the job
- The state of your current roof
- The specific features of the shingles you chose
However, the price to install conventional shingles VS. impact-resistant shingles should be mostly the same when done by an expert.
Different Grades Roofing Material of Shingles
There are three product grades to choose from when buying roofing shingles. They are separated into affordable, moderately priced, and expensive shingles depending on several factors, such as price, durability, etc.
Shingles can be classified into the following types, and each one of them offers different benefits.
Architectural Shingles
This type of shingles, also known as dimensional shingles, offer more dependable roof protection since they are made using more sophisticated technology and materials. They last longer than other shingles, as they are much more robust. Architectural shingles also often come with higher warranties.
Architectural shingles’ improved aesthetic and frequent resemblance to high-end roofing materials is a huge advantage.
These shingles are highly popular in the US, as most homeowners select them based on their high quality and durability level.
3-Tab Shingles
These are the cheapest shingles you will find. Their name derives from the three-tab pattern on each one. Nonetheless, their warranties tend to be pretty short and are highly prone to breaking due to their lack of thickness despite being used for many years by building and roofing contractors.
Still, they are a wonderfully affordable alternative for starter houses. They operate best in warm areas with slight temperature and environmental changes.
Luxury and Premium Asphalt Shingles
The best products available are premium shingles. However, they also feature incredibly high prices. They come in a more extensive range of forms and are much more durable than the previously mentioned varieties. Many homeowners also choose them because they offer more design options and extended warranties, and they also help them prevent costly repairs.
Moreover, this thickness grade is seen in several premium types that imitate premium roofing materials. However, because thicker shingles weigh more, installation is sometimes more complex than less expensive shingles.
What Is the Difference Between the Most Popular Shingle Types?
Shingles’ impact resistance relates to their capacity to withstand harm and impact from bad weather conditions. This resistance is measured through a test in which experts let a steel ball fall on the shingle several times. The test findings make it simple to distinguish all shingle classes from each other.
In most cases, shingles receive a Class 3 if they remain intact after being struck twice in one area by steel balls. However, a Class 4 is only given to those shingles that sustain no damage at all.
If you want to ensure your house is as protected as possible, we highly advise choosing Class 4 impact-resistant shingles. This way, you will stop wondering, “are impact-resistant shingles worth the investment?”
Should You Get 4-Class Shingles?
These shingles are best for people who reside in an area where severe weather is regular and significant damage to people’s roofing is frequent, such as Austin, TX; getting Class 4 shingles can often be a prudent investment.
Every year many Americans have to deal with roof damage due to terrible weather conditions, although certain regions are more vulnerable to hurricanes and storms than others. That’s why getting Class 4 impact-resistant shingles is advisable if you live in one of these areas.
Where to Get the Best Roofing Materials in Austin, Texas
If you’re looking to prevent premature roof replacement, you should get class 4 impact-resistant shingles, as they can withstand high winds and hail damage. These impact-resistant roofing products will take hail impact and help you forget about damaged roofs.
Stop asking yourself, “are impact-resistant shingles worth it?” and check it out yourself. All you have to do is call Austin Roofing & Water Damage | WDR, and we will be there to install your class 4 impact-resistant shingles.