Class 4 Impact Resistant Shingles: What It Is & Why It’s Important

We will go through what Class 4 Impact resistant shingles are and why you should consider spending a bit more on these shingles for your home in Calgary. We will also look at the City of Calgary rebate available for these kinds of shingles and potential home insurance savings.

What are Class 4 Impact Resistant Shingles?

Roofs are known to be the first line of defence against severe weather for your home. Having Impact Resistant shingles (IR Shingles) makes that line of defence more durable against the extreme weather your roof can experience here in Calgary, Alberta.

Many factors contribute to a shingle’s ability to withstand hail damage and other severe weather. Class 4 shingles can be some of the best roofing shingles you can get to protect your home.

How are IR shingles more durable?

• Polymer-based mesh for improved reinforcement is placed on the back of the shingle, mitigating splitting and other damage from impact from extreme weather like hail.
• SBS (Styrene-butadiene-styrene) polymers or other Rubber-like polymers are built into the composition of the shingle to create a ruggedization of the material. This leads to more give in the shingle from impacts, even from objects in high wind conditions.

Why You Should Consider Class 4 Roofs

If you have lived in calgary for an extended period, you know that we suffer from some of the most extreme weather in Canada. Hail damage, unfortunately, is a regular occurrence in calgary, with communities still recovering from hail damage years later. 

For a more in-depth look, severe weather occurrences in Calgary, look at Calgary Disaster Risk Explorer.

If you have a new home and are looking to replace shingles anyways, using impact-resistant shingles will offer some additional benefits.

Impact Resistant (Class 4) Roofs benefits

• Less frequent need for roof repairs because of increased shingle durability and toughness, these shingles will require less maintenance, leading to you having peace of mind when it comes to your roof.
• Extend the Lifespan of your roof as shingles that are built with this degree of strength keep your home protect longer, season after season. Have a look at our previous post that discusses other factors for the lifespan of your roof.
• Decreased insurance premiums and City of Calgary Rebates. We will go over these benefits in the next section, as this helps reduce the cost of these premium shingles.

Cost

Class 4 impact resistant shingles are premium shingles, which means an increased cost. But when compared to other premium shingles (Architectural shingles) impact resistance shingles focus more on durability instead of just looks. On average, these shingles can cost up to 10-20% than traditional options.

This additional cost can be offset by reduced insurance premiums and a new rebate that the City of Calgary is now offering.

Insurance Reductions

Having more durable roofing as your first line of defence will often be considered for class 4 shingles insurance discount. However, your mileage may vary, so we always recommend that you closely look at your policy with this reduction.

City of Calgary Rebate

If you were affected by the hail storms in 2020, you can now apply for a $3000 rebate for your roof. After June 1, 2021, the rate can be used on any house looking to get stronger impact-resistant roofing. For more information, take a look at the City of Calgary’s official statement.

Final Thoughts

Class 4 impact-resistant shingles might not be the right choice for everyone; however, the added cost might bring in more value as a homeowner in Calgary. At the very least, it will reduce the chance of you googling “how to fix hail damage.”

Keep in mind that any roofing system in southern Alberta, whether it is a standard asphalt shingle roof or Class 4 shingles, requires a roofing contractor to do a proper roof replacement.

Whalley’s Four Seasons Roofing (W4SR) can ensure that your new asphalt roof is installed correctly, with our work guaranteed. As part of the roofing material offering, class 4 impact-resistant shingles just might be a perfect choice. Contact us today.

Disclaimer: no shingle is perfect, and with even the most advance protective shingles, damage can still occur in severe enough weather.