by United Roofing MN | Aug 2, 2011
Roofing MN | Minnesota Roofing Company If you’ve had hail damage and are considering replacing your shingles, you might want to consider an impact resistant shingle. Impact resistant shingles are slightly more expensive than standard architectural shingles because they’re thicker, heavier and come with longer warranty coverage. Roofing MN – Impact Resistant Shingles Some insurance companies offer premium discounts if you install Class 4 impact resistant shingles, which may offset the added cost of the shingles, and lessen the risk of future roof hail damage. Check with your insurance company for details. However, it is important to note that even though impact-resistant shingles can lessen the risk of hail damage, most manufacturer warranties do not cover hail damage even for shingles that pass the UL test. Select a Roof Cover For Your Home That Will Perform Better in High Winds and Hail Storms Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has the most demanding standard for testing the impact resistance of shingles. The test determines the amount of stress a newly manufactured shingle can withstand without cracking. Here’s how it works: Steel balls of various sizes are used to simulate the force of free-falling hailstones. The steel balls are usually dropped from 20 feet. The steel ball hits the shingle at 90mph and comes to an instant stop. This is a higher force than most hail that hits a roof. The shingles are struck twice in the same spot to test impact resistance. A rating is assigned to each shingle (Class 1, 2, 3, or 4) to signify resistance to a particular size steel ball; the higher the rating, the greater the impact...
by United Roofing MN | Jul 25, 2011
High Wind- and Impact-Resistant Asphalt Roofing Shingles Between 1991 and 1995, wind and hail resulted in an average of $8 billion in insurance payouts each year, and wind and hail damage to roofs comprises a significant portion of this cost. Hail damage to asphalt shingles may include severe granule loss, material loss at shingle edges, and penetration. Wind can also create serious roof damage-it is documented that roof material failure was the most widespread type of damage from Hurricane Hugo (Manning, Billy R. and Gary G. Nichols. 1991. “Hugo Lessons Learned.” In Hurricane Hugo One Year Later, Benjamin A. Sill and Peter R. Sparks, Editors. New York: American Society of Civil Engineers). Designed to Resist Damage From Impact and High Winds New shingle products are designed to resist damage from impact and high winds. They meet the most stringent standards for impact resistance (Class 4) set by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and wind resistance set by UL and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International). Several manufacturers offer asphalt shingles designed to resist the effects of severe weather such as wind and impact from flying debris or hail. Different proprietary methods are used to keep granules attached to the shingle, to prevent shingle breaking during impact, and to keep shingles attached to the sheathing during high winds. UL 2218 classifies the resistance of roofing products to impact damage. In the test, steel balls are directed at roof samples, and damage is observed. Products that receive a Class 4 rating from UL 2218 are the most resistive to hail damage. Some major insurance companies are offering homeowner premium discounts...
by United Roofing MN | Jul 7, 2011
Hail Proof Roof? No roofing material is fully hail proof. If anyone was involved in the hailstorms that went through Minnesota this summer, you know what we’re talking about. There are hail-RESISTANT roofs. These products have Class 1 through Class 4 hail-resistance ratings, 4 being the highest. The ratings are given by taking a steel ball and dropping it from a pre-determined height and measuring the damage the roof has sustained. The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) perform the tests. Many roofs carry this rating. For steep slope, these roofs include some metal roofs, some tile and some composition shingles. For flat roofs, these are some gravel-surfaced built-up, and some spray foam (with the right coating system), and just a few others. Installing a Class IV hail resistant roof may qualify you for lower insurance premiums, depending on where you live. Call your agent for verification. Keep this in mind, too, not many agents and adjusters will know the specifics about hail resistant roofs. Consult a reliable Minnesota roofing contractor. Impact Resistant Roofs Reduces Hailstorm Damage The potential benefits of installing impact-resistant roofing products include: Reducing roof damage caused by a hail event Decreasing the risk of water damage to your home and its contents, property, etc. Avoiding disruptions caused by roof system replacements Increasing the useful life of your roof, especially if you are in a high-risk area; the longer the useful life of your roof system, the less it costs you per year to own Increasing your home’s value Realizing several additional financial benefits, including potential insurance premium discounts; potential Department of Insurance cash rebates;...
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