You may have heard people refer to shingles as “Hail Resistant” or “IR shingle”. But what does that mean?
Shingles are graded by “Class”.
Class II: standard grade shingles
Class III: Hail resistant to withstand ping pong sized hail and 100+ mph winds.
Class IV: Hail resistant to withstand tennis ball sized hail and 130+ mph winds. Class IV shingles offer a homeowner’s discount with most carriers.
Oklahoma has some of the most turbulent weather in the country. You need a roof that can endure extreme temperatures, humidity, wind, hail, and pollen. Here are some important factors to consider when choosing a shingle:
NAIL ZONE
Having a generous nail zone gives everyone more assurance all the nails are within the zone, So many leaks start with a single popped up nail that’s outside the nail zone.
REAL STARTER SHINGLE
First off, it’s required to use starter strip to preserve the shingle warranty on most brands. Secondly, water will get underneath that and cause warranty service calls. No roofer wants to do repairs if they don’t have to. It’s not profitable. So do it right the first time.
WIND RESISTANCE
60-80mph winds happen very frequently here in the plains. Those winds will wear down your roof and beat on those seals. Real Starter, proper seals from the shingles, it all matters. A good shingle will withstand 100mph + winds.
HAIL RESISTANCE
We are in the perfect environment for cold and hot air to mix year round. When a hail stone falls from thousands of feet, something as small as a piece of marble or quarter sized hail can damage your roof.
The process of hail damage is like a piece of fruit rotting from the inside out. First there’s the blunt trauma and pitting (where it feels like a crater). Then it begins to rot from the inside out. You don’t see the damage until it’s in the later stages.
Hail Impact Resistance Shingles save you money, annually, on your homeowner’s insurance. Impact resistant shingles can withstand anything from golfball sized hail to softball, depending on the shingle.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
All different types of roofs have different energy ratings. And there’s a lot to consider here like the cost, rebates, upkeep. One of our goals, as a company, is to offer solar shingles for those who are focused on a self sustaining home, powered mostly by solar shingles, as well as slate and metal also.
MANUFACTURER’S WARRANTY & EXTENDED WARRANTY OPTIONS
All shingle companies offer some form of Manufacturer’s Warranty and have requirements for installation. And then some fully extended warranties similar to a warranty on a car. We will cover all of these topics in more detail soon. Class 4 Hail Resistant Shingles are the way to go
