Class 4 Impact-Resistant Shingles
Colorado's closest thing to a hail-proof roof. The highest UL 2218 impact rating, tested against 2" hailstones — and most Front Range insurance carriers give you a premium discount for installing them.
Is there really a hail-proof roof?
Honest answer: no asphalt shingle is 100% hail-proof — given a big enough hailstone moving fast enough, any roof can crack. But a UL 2218 Class 4 impact-resistant shingle is the closest thing to one on the market. Class 4 is the highest rating in the standard — tested by dropping a 2-inch steel ball from 20 feet onto the shingle. If the mat cracks, the shingle fails. Class 4 shingles don't.
On the Colorado Front Range — where severe (1.5"+) hail hits somewhere along the corridor almost every summer — Class 4 is the right baseline for any roof being replaced today.
UL 2218 impact ratings, explained
UL 2218 is the steel-ball drop test that defines impact resistance for roofing. Four classes, four hailstone sizes:
| Class | Test | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | 1.25" steel ball, 12 ft drop | Baseline asphalt |
| Class 2 | 1.5" steel ball, 15 ft drop | Minor upgrade |
| Class 3 | 1.75" steel ball, 17 ft drop | Real improvement |
| Class 4 | 2" steel ball, 20 ft drop | Highest UL 2218 rating |
For Colorado hail (median size 1.0–1.5", with regular 2"+ events), Class 4 is the only rating that meaningfully reduces damage from a typical Front Range storm.
Most Colorado carriers give a premium discount
State Farm, Allstate, USAA, American Family, Farmers, Travelers, and Liberty Mutual all offer a wind/hail premium discount for installing UL 2218 Class 4 shingles in Colorado. The discount typically runs 5–30% off the wind/hail portion of your premium — and over a 20-year roof life, often pays for the entire upgrade.
We provide the manufacturer's Class 4 certification letter for your carrier. Most discounts apply within the next renewal cycle.
How our insurance claim process worksClass 4 shingles we install
All five are UL 2218 Class 4. They differ in warranty, polymer chemistry, color depth, and — in TAMKO's case — a literal hail warranty no other shingle on the market offers.
TAMKO HailGuard™
First & only hail-warrantied shingle
ImpactCore™ technology, tested beyond Class 4, backed by an actual written hail warranty — homeowners may avoid the deductible after a covered storm.
Learn moreMalarkey Vista AR
Class 4 SBS-modified asphalt
Polymer-modified rubberized asphalt — proven in Colorado for over a decade. Strong granule adhesion in big hail.
GAF Armor Shield IV
Class 4 with StainGuard Plus
GAF's flagship impact-resistant shingle. Available in most popular color families, broad insurance acceptance.
CertainTeed NorthGate ClimateFlex
Class 4 polymer-modified
Engineered for cold-weather flex — stays flexible at sub-zero Colorado temps when standard shingles get brittle.
Owens Corning Duration FLEX
Class 4 SBS polymer
TruDefinition color blends with the same impact rating. Long-standing Front Range track record.
Class 3 vs Class 4 — the real difference
Class 3
1.75" steel ball, 17 ft drop
- Handles small to mid hail
- Small price bump over standard
- Rarely qualifies for an insurance discount in CO
Class 4
2" steel ball, 20 ft drop — top of the standard
- Handles Colorado-typical 2" hail
- 5–30% wind/hail premium discount
- Better long-term warranty packages
- TAMKO HailGuard adds an actual hail warranty
Frequently asked
Is there really a hail-proof roof?
No asphalt shingle is 100% hail-proof — any roof can be damaged by big enough or fast enough hail. But a Class 4 impact-resistant shingle is the closest thing on the market. It's the highest UL 2218 impact rating, tested by dropping a 2-inch steel ball from 20 feet without cracking the shingle mat. On the Colorado Front Range that's the right baseline for any roof being replaced today.
Are Class 4 shingles worth it in Colorado?
For most Front Range homeowners, yes. Colorado averages 3–4 damaging hail events per year, and severe storms (1.5"+ hail) hit somewhere on the Front Range almost every summer. A Class 4 shingle typically adds $1,500–$3,500 to a re-roof, and most carriers offer a 5–30% wind/hail premium discount that pays the upgrade back over the life of the roof.
Do Class 4 shingles lower my insurance?
Most Colorado carriers — State Farm, Allstate, USAA, American Family, Farmers, Travelers, Liberty Mutual — offer a wind/hail premium discount for UL 2218 Class 4 shingles. The exact discount varies by carrier and policy (typically 5–30% off the wind/hail portion). We provide the manufacturer certification letter for your carrier.
How much more do impact-resistant shingles cost?
On a typical Front Range home, expect roughly $1,500–$3,500 over a standard architectural shingle. The exact upgrade depends on roof size, pitch, brand, and warranty package. We line-item it on every quote so you can decide.
Will my HOA approve a Class 4 upgrade?
Almost always — Class 4 shingles are available in the same color families as standard architectural shingles, so the look matches what your HOA already approved. We've filed ARC packets for most major Front Range HOAs (The Pinery, Castle Pines Village, Flying Horse, Black Forest, Wolf Ranch, and others) and can handle that paperwork for you.
Ready to upgrade to Class 4?
Free roof inspection, free Class 4 upgrade quote, and we'll include the manufacturer certification letter for your insurance carrier.