Services
Impact-Resistant Shingles (Class 4)Based in Fort Worth, TX
Owens Corning, Malarkey, and GAF Class 4 systems, installed for Fort Worth homes that see hail.
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Class 4
What this work covers on a Fort Worth roof.
A lot of Fort Worth homeowners pick impact-resistant shingles after the second hail claim, when the roof they replaced a few seasons ago is bruised again. Hail is a regular part of living in North Texas, and a standard architectural shingle is built to shed water and survive wind, with no particular rating for what happens when ice hits it at speed. Class 4 shingles are made and tested for that. They carry the highest impact rating an asphalt shingle can earn, which means they held up in testing against the largest hailstones the standard uses. For a house that is likely to see several more hail seasons, that rating changes how often the roof has to come off, and with many carriers it also changes what the policy costs each year.
The rating comes from UL 2218, the impact test most shingle makers use. Steel balls of increasing size are dropped onto the shingle from set heights, and the sample is inspected for cracks after each round. Class 3 shingles hold up against smaller hail and debris, and Class 4 shingles survive a two-inch steel ball dropped twice on the same spot without cracking. That makes Class 4 the top rating for hail and impact resistance. The test measures whether the shingle cracks through, so a hard enough storm can still scuff granules off a Class 4 roof or dent it without breaking the shingle. Our guide to Class 3 and Class 4 ratings goes through the testing in more detail, and this page covers what choosing a Class 4 roof looks like on your house.
How It Works
Inspection
We inspect the roof to find the damage and what is causing it.
Estimate
You get a repair plan or a replacement scope with a clear estimate.
The work
We protect the property, check the decking and install the materials you chose.
Final inspection
We clean up the property and inspect the finished roof before we call it done.
The Difference
Worth knowing before the inspection.
Most Class 4 asphalt shingles get their toughness from the asphalt itself. Manufacturers blend in SBS polymer, a rubber-like modifier that lets the shingle flex when a hailstone lands, where a standard shingle is more likely to crack through its mat. Some lines add a reinforced backing or a heavier mat as well. From the street, a Class 4 roof looks like any other architectural shingle roof, with the same dimensional profile and a similar range of colors, so choosing one does not mean changing the look of the house. The difference shows up after a storm, when the shingles are more likely to come through intact. No shingle is hailproof, and very large hail can still damage a Class 4 roof, but the odds of needing a full replacement after an ordinary spring storm drop considerably.
We install Owens Corning, Malarkey, and GAF Class 4 systems. Each manufacturer builds its impact-resistant line differently, and each sells its shingles as part of a system, with matching starter strips, ridge caps and underlayment designed to be installed together. The choice between them usually comes down to color, the texture and shadow line you like on the house, and what each manufacturer's warranty terms require. Material selection is a set step in our replacement process, after the consultation and estimate and before installation, so you have the options in front of you before anything is ordered. If you are replacing a roof through an insurance claim, bring the Class 4 question up at that stage, since it affects what goes on the estimate.
A Class 4 installation starts the same way as any full replacement. After a consultation and a clear estimate, prep work protects the property around the house, and the old roof comes off down to the decking. The deck gets checked for soft, rotten or damaged boards, since a new shingle is only as solid as the surface it is nailed to. Then the system goes on: underlayment, drip edge, flashing at walls, valleys and penetrations, starter strip, the shingles themselves and the ridge cap. Manufacturers publish specific nailing patterns and installation requirements for their impact-resistant lines, and following them is what the rating and the manufacturer's warranty depend on. The job finishes with clean-up and a final inspection of the completed roof.
Many Texas insurance carriers offer a premium discount for a Class 4 roof, and the size of it varies widely by carrier, policy and location. Call your agent before you choose shingles and ask whether your carrier discounts Class 4 roofs, how much it would take off your premium, and what proof they need to apply it. Most carriers want an invoice or manufacturer documentation showing the exact shingle line, so keep that paperwork. Ask as well whether the discount comes with a cosmetic damage exclusion. Some Texas policies pair the two, which means the carrier would not pay for dents or scuffs that do not affect how the roof keeps water out. Knowing those answers before installation lets you weigh the upgrade against what it saves you over the life of the policy.
When a claim is already paying to replace your roof, ask us about upgrading to Class 4 through the insurance claim. A policy generally pays to replace the roof with materials of like kind and quality, so the extra cost of a Class 4 shingle usually falls to you, although some carriers and policies pay toward the upgrade or offset it with a lower premium afterward. What your carrier covers depends on your policy, and the estimate will show the difference in cost. If the discount is large and you plan to stay in the house for years, the upgrade can pay for part of itself through lower premiums, so work it out with your agent before ordering. Class 4 shingles cost more than standard architectural shingles, and the gap depends on the product line and the roof. To see both options priced for your house, call (817) 988-9509 or send the form for a free estimate.
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Class 4, answered.
Are Class 4 shingles worth it in Fort Worth?
For many homeowners, yes, because North Texas sees damaging hail often and Class 4 is the highest impact rating for shingles. Whether the numbers work for you depends on your carrier's discount and how long you plan to stay, so ask your agent and call (817) 988-9509 for a free estimate.
Will my insurance give me a discount for a Class 4 roof?
Many Texas carriers do, but the amount and the rules vary by carrier and policy. Ask your agent what the discount would be, what proof they need, and whether it comes with a cosmetic damage exclusion.
Can I upgrade to Class 4 through my insurance claim?
Often you can choose Class 4 during a claim replacement, and whether the policy pays any of the difference depends on your carrier. Ask us about upgrade options through your insurance claim when we go over the estimate, and check with your agent about coverage.
Are Class 4 shingles hailproof?
No shingle is. Class 4 shingles survived a two-inch steel ball without cracking in UL 2218 testing, so they come through ordinary hail far better than standard shingles, but very large hail can still damage them.
Do Class 4 shingles look different from regular shingles?
Not from the street. They use the same dimensional profile as architectural shingles, and every Class 4 line we install, from Owens Corning, Malarkey, and GAF, comes in a range of colors, which you choose during material selection.
Class 4
Class 4, handled from the first inspection to the final nail.
Let's work together
Get a Free Roof Inspection
Call (817) 988-9509 or send the form. We inspect the roof, tell you what we found and give you a clear estimate. No pressure, just honest answers.
Crafted Roofing LLC 16170 US-377, Fort Worth, TX 76126 (817) 988-9509 · Craftedroofingtx@