What Class 4 Actually Means
Impact resistance for asphalt shingles is graded by UL 2218, a standardized test in which steel balls are dropped onto a shingle from set heights. The shingle passes a class only if the mat does not crack, split, or tear on the back side after two impacts in the same spot.
Class 4 is the top rating. It requires the shingle to survive a 2-inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet — the most severe impact in the standard. There is no Class 5.
| Class | Steel ball | Drop height |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | 1.25" | 12 ft |
| Class 2 | 1.5" | 15 ft |
| Class 3 | 1.75" | 17 ft |
| Class 4 | 2.0" | 20 ft |
Why It Matters on the Front Range
Colorado sits in one of the most active hail corridors in North America. The stretch from Fort Collins through Denver to Colorado Springs regularly produces multiple damaging hail events per season, and hail is consistently the single largest source of property insurance losses in the state.
A standard three-tab or entry-level architectural shingle can bruise from hail under an inch. Class 4 shingles are built to flex and absorb that energy rather than fracture.
- Class 4 shingles resist bruising and mat fracture, the damage adjusters actually pay for.
- Most Colorado carriers offer a wind/hail premium discount for a certified Class 4 roof.
- Fewer claims means fewer deductibles and less risk of being non-renewed by your carrier.
- Impact-rated roofs are a documented selling point at resale in hail-prone ZIP codes.
How the Toughest Shingles Are Built
There are two common routes to a Class 4 rating. The first is a polymer-modified (rubberized) asphalt, where SBS rubber is blended into the asphalt so the shingle stays pliable and rebounds from an impact instead of shattering. Malarkey's NEX asphalt is a well-known example, and it keeps working in the deep cold that makes conventional asphalt brittle.
The second route is a reinforcing scrim or laminate layer bonded to the back of the shingle. It passes the test, but it can behave differently over years of freeze-thaw cycling than a fully rubberized mat. For Colorado, we favor rubberized asphalt.
Getting Your Insurance Discount
The discount is not automatic. After installation, ask your contractor for the manufacturer's UL 2218 Class 4 certificate for the exact shingle installed, plus a final invoice showing the product name and installation date. Send both to your agent and ask specifically for the impact-resistant roof credit to be applied to your policy.
Better Builders provides that documentation package with every impact-rated install. See the Malarkey product page for the lines we carry, or read how roof insurance claims work.
Common Questions
FAQ
Does a Class 4 shingle mean my roof can't be damaged by hail?
No. Class 4 is the highest impact classification under UL 2218, but it is a laboratory test using steel balls at fixed heights. Large, wind-driven, or irregular hail can still damage a Class 4 roof. The rating means the shingle is far more likely to survive common hail sizes without splitting or losing its mat integrity.
How much can I save on insurance with an impact-resistant roof?
Most Colorado carriers offer a premium discount for a documented Class 4 roof, commonly in the range of 5% to 30% of the wind/hail portion of the premium. The exact discount depends on the carrier. You will need the manufacturer's UL 2218 certificate and your final invoice to claim it.
Are Class 4 shingles worth the extra cost in Colorado?
In the hail corridor along the Front Range, most homeowners recover the upgrade cost through the insurance discount and by avoiding one deductible-triggering replacement. Homes in lower-hail areas of the Western Slope see less benefit.
Which Class 4 shingles does Better Builders install?
We primarily install Malarkey Highlander, Vista, and Legacy, which use rubberized NEX polymer-modified asphalt, along with impact-rated CertainTeed options when a homeowner prefers that system.