Are Class 4 Impact-Resistant Shingles Worth It in Colorado?

Ask three Denver roofers whether you need Class 4 shingles and you’ll get three sales pitches. Here’s the plain version.

What the rating means

The Class 4 rating comes from a test called UL 2218, in which a 2-inch steel ball is dropped from 20 feet onto the shingle, twice in the same spot. If the shingle doesn’t crack or split on the back, it earns Class 4, the highest rating. Class 3 uses a smaller ball, and most standard architectural shingles are Class 2 or unrated.

Manufacturers earn the rating by using a more flexible asphalt blend, often with polymer modifiers, and in some cases a reinforced mat. The shingle looks identical to its standard cousin from the street.

What it costs

Across the brands we install, Class 4 adds a modest premium per square over the standard version of the same line, which on a typical metro roof works out to a small fraction of the total job. It is not a doubling of the price, despite what some competitors imply.

What you get back

Many Colorado insurers discount the wind-and-hail portion of your premium for a Class 4 roof. Discounts vary by carrier and policy, and some carriers that offer them also require a certificate from the installer, which we provide. For many homeowners the discount pays back the upgrade within a few years.

The bigger benefit is the roof itself. In the hail events we’ve inspected after, Class 4 roofs show noticeably fewer bruised and cracked shingles than standard ones from the same storm. That means fewer claims, fewer deductibles and a roof that reaches its intended lifespan.

The honest limits

Class 4 isn’t hail-proof. Enough large hail will damage any shingle, and a direct hit from baseball-size hail will still leave marks. Cosmetic granule loss can still occur. And note that some insurers are now writing policies that pay only for functional damage, not cosmetic damage, on impact-resistant roofs. Read your policy.

Our recommendation

On every roof we replace in the Denver metro, yes. The cost is small, the insurance math usually works, and the roof holds up better. The only time we’d skip it is on a home you plan to sell within a year, and even then the certificate helps the sale.