Hail storms cause billions of dollars of damage to roofs every year, it’s only fitting the industry would design a product more resilient to the throws of mother nature. The Impact Resistant shingle was born out of market necessity, encouraged by the insurance companies. The product benefits everyone. When shingles stand up to hail, insurance companies pay out fewer claims, homeowners avoid deductible payments and enjoy lower premiums, and roofers sell a slightly more expensive product.
But do they work? Impact Resistant (IR) shingles are not designed to resist all hail, just the more common hail, up to 2”. IR shingles have a rubberized component added to the asphalt to give it more elasticity. This prevents the shingle from cracking when hit by hail. So they do work, but is it worth it? Should you pay an extra $1,000 - $2,000 for an upgrade to avoid a storm that might happen? When the roof may be damaged anyway?
Just based on the benefit of the hail resistant qualities, upgrading may not end up saving you money if the storm never hits. However, insurance companies often offer lower premiums to homeowners who install IR shingles. In some areas it’s as much as 30%. Thats in perpetuity. Over the 20 year life of the roof, that’s potentially thousands of dollars savings. If money isn’t as much of an issue, IR shingles still offer the peace of mind that you won’t have to deal with a claim if a moderate sized storm rolls through.
Whether you live in an area with yearly hail storms or not, depending on your insurance savings, upgrading to IR shingles may be a no-brainer. Check with your agent to find out what you might save. Over time, the upgrade may pay for itself, or even the entire roofing project. Give Arrington Roofing a call to review all of your impact resistant options today.