A Class 4 roof uses shingles that earned the top rating in the UL 2218 impact test, which drops a 2-inch steel ball from 20 feet. Some Texas insurers offer a premium discount for Class 4 roofs, but each company sets its own. Defend Roofing installs Class 4 lines from IKO, GAF and other major brands. Call 512-777-1751.
UL 2218 is the impact standard for roof coverings. A lab drops steel balls onto the roofing from set heights to copy the force of falling hailstones. CertainTeed describes the range as a 1.25-inch ball dropped from 12 feet up to a 2-inch ball dropped from 20 feet. GAF lists Class 3 as a 1.75-inch ball from 17 feet and Class 4 as the 2-inch ball from 20 feet.
After the impacts, the lab checks the back of the shingle for cracks, tears or fractures. Products that pass are rated Class 1, 2, 3 or 4, and Class 4 is the highest. Three things the rating does not mean:
Defend is a certified installer for IKO, Owens Corning, CertainTeed and TAMKO, and our primary shingles are IKO and GAF. Each of those manufacturers lists at least one Class 4 line on its own website:
Availability and colors vary by market, so we confirm what we can get before you pick. See how a full tear-off works on our roof replacement page.
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) says impact-resistant roofing may be eligible for a discount on your insurance, and that a Class 4 roof covering would receive the highest premium credit. TDI is also clear on the limits. Each insurance company sets its own discount amount, decides which test criteria it accepts, and decides what paperwork the contractor and policyholder must submit.
TDI publishes form PC068, the Impact-Resistant Roofing Installation Form. A representative of the roofing company signs it to certify that the roof covering was installed to manufacturer specifications and is listed under UL 2218, along with its impact class. The form tells property owners to keep the original and send a copy to their insurance company. TDI notes that insurers may use this form or require their own.
When we install a Class 4 roof, we sign TDI form PC068 for you, and we hand over the UL 2218 Class 4 label from the shingle packaging, so you have the paperwork in hand. Whether you qualify for a discount, and how much it is, is between you and your insurer. Call your own agent before you choose a shingle and ask:
Texas Property Code §202.011 says a property owners' association may not prohibit or restrict an owner who is otherwise allowed to install shingles from installing shingles designed primarily to be wind and hail resistant. The protection comes with conditions. Once installed, the shingles must resemble the shingles used or allowed in the subdivision, be more durable than and of equal or better quality than those shingles, and match the look of the surrounding properties.
So pick a Class 4 shingle whose color and style resemble what your neighborhood already uses. Your HOA may still have an architectural review step, so check its rules and get any needed approval before work is scheduled.
Every replacement starts with a free 100+ photo inspection and a written Integrity Report you keep. Full replacements start at $7,900, priced on your roof's actual scope: size, pitch, layers to tear off, decking condition and the shingle you choose. Financing is available through Enhancify. New roofs carry a workmanship warranty that lasts as long as the shingle manufacturer's warranty. Read the details on our warranty page.
It depends on your insurer and how long you plan to stay. Ask your insurance company whether it offers a Class 4 discount, how much it is, and what conditions come with it. Then compare that to the price difference between a standard and a Class 4 shingle on your written estimate.
Maybe. TDI says impact-resistant roofing may be eligible for a discount, but each insurance company sets its own amount and decides what proof it accepts. Discounts are not guaranteed. We don't request or arrange discounts with insurers. You ask your own insurance company, and we sign TDI form PC068 and give you the Class 4 label so you have the paperwork to send.
TDI's form PC068, the Impact-Resistant Roofing Installation Form, is signed by the roofing company and certifies the UL 2218 class. On every Class 4 roof we install, we sign PC068 and give you the label from the shingle packaging. TDI says insurers may use this form or their own, so ask your insurer which one it wants before work starts.
Under Texas Property Code §202.011, an HOA may not prohibit or restrict shingles designed primarily to be wind and hail resistant, as long as they resemble the shingles allowed in your subdivision, are equal or better in quality and durability, and match the surrounding homes. Check your HOA's approval process before work is scheduled.
No. Class 4 is the top rating in the UL 2218 test, but IKO states the rating is not a guarantee of impact resistance against hail, and GAF notes the test allows dents. After a major hailstorm, a Class 4 roof should still be inspected. We photograph what we find and tell you if the roof is fine.
Want to see what a Class 4 roof costs on your house? Book a free inspection, get an instant replacement estimate, or call or text 512-777-1751.
