Impact Resistant Shingles

Designed to Protect

Impact Resistant Shingles

Hail and high wind. At first mention, they seem relatively harmless. A little inconvenient when it comes to picnics or cheering on your favorite sports team. But upon closer review, Mother Nature’s enforcers can sweep through neighborhoods leaving destruction fit only for a horror movie in their wake. High wind and hail have been responsible for $15 billion in damages over the past five years, yet these natural disasters often fly under the radar for many homeowners.

There are many benefits of impact resistant shingles. Class 4 impact-resistant shingles are manufactured to resist the force of hail, sleet and wind-blown rain. Class 4 shingles are the best defense against impact damage. Designed to protect, a Class 4 shingle provides unmatched strength and lasting durability – even through the toughest storms.

Testing For Success
In 1996, insurance industry experts teamed with the Institute of Business and Home Safety (IBHS) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to create an impact-resistance rating system for roofing shingles. Known as UL 2218, the classification is now the national standard. Roofing shingles are rated Class 1 through 4, with Class 4 awarded only to the toughest and most durable. Tests simulating the effect of 90-mph hailstones are used to determine the rating.

Long-Term Protection
A new roof is a big investment for a homeowner. Class 4 asphalt roof shingles provide the long-term protection homeowners need to preserve their home’s curb appeal by resisting some of the harshest weather conditions. Traditional shingles without impact resistance may break or fracture in the moments homeowners need them the most – which means even small storms can lead to big and expensive repairs. Common storm damage includes cracked or broken shingles and torn underlayment that can result in long-term problems such as mold growth, wood rot and water infiltration.

With the help of a Class 4 impact resistant shingle, homeowners will get much more than peace of mind from weathering the storm. Most home insurers offer policy discounts for the increased protection the shingles provide. So you might say, it pays to have protection.

Takes An Impact. Makes An Impact.
The problem isn’t just hailstones. In a gale-force storm, wind-driven rain or sleet can inflict damage on a roof and the home it protects. A Class 4 shingle offers the best possible protection from such hazards. Atlas Roofing manufactures two lines of Class 4 shingles, StormMaster® Shake and StormMaster® Slate. The key to their Class 4 rating is styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), a rubberized polymer that gives roofing shingles more flexibility and durability. Its rubber-like quality keeps hail and wind-blown rain from fracturing the shingle and causing damage. StormMaster® shingles help resist impact from the hail. So don’t choose just any old shingle to weather the storm – master it with Atlas StormMaster® Shingles.

You may need anything from minor repairs to a completely new roof. If your roof needs work, take the time to research roofing products and contractors. Click here to explore roofing options.

Streamline Enterprises is located in Lansing, Michigan and have been providing the surrounded areas with quality exterior home improvement services since 1998. They can provide you with a roof inspection and make the best recommendation for your home and budget. Contact Streamline Enterprises for additional information on their products and services.

Streamline Enterprises is an Independent Contractor, not an Employee or Agent of Atlas Roofing Corporation. See the full article.