Impact resistant shingles are designed to handle hail better than standard roofing materials. Class 3 and Class 4 options are available from several major manufacturers, and some may qualify for insurance premium discounts depending on your carrier and policy.
Class 4 shingles can be a great upgrade, especially here in Minnesota, but the rating alone does not tell the whole story. We look at the product, your roof, your budget, and how long you plan to stay in the home.
In this video, we explain what Class 4 actually means, why we often recommend Malarkey Vista, and what to ask your insurance company before choosing an impact resistant roof.
Is a Class 4 Roof the Right Call for Your Home?
For most homes in the Twin Cities metro, it’s worth a serious look. Class 4 is the highest impact rating a shingle can earn under UL 2218, the industry standard hail test. A two-inch steel ball gets dropped from 20 feet onto the same spot twice. To pass, the shingle cannot crack, split, or tear open on the back. Standard architectural shingles carry no impact rating at all.
That is a lab test, not a guarantee. Big enough hail at the wrong angle can damage any roof. What the rating buys you is better odds, and most Minnesota carriers will discount the wind and hail portion of your premium for a Class 4 roof, which offsets part of the upgrade cost.
If your roof is sheltered, your carrier offers no impact discount, or you’re selling within a couple of years, standard architectural shingles may be the better value. We’ll tell you if that’s the case.
Three Class 3 & 4 product lines from manufacturers we’re certified to install. Vista is the one we lead with.
Class 4
Most Class 4 shingles earn the rating through added thickness or a reinforcing mat. Malarkey takes a different route. Vista is built on NEX polymer modified asphalt, a rubberized blend of asphalt with rubber and plastic polymers. It stays flexible, so hail gets absorbed instead of shattering the mat, and the shingle doesn’t go brittle when the temperature swings from 90 above to 20 below. Malarkey rates NEX at up to 25 percent greater tear strength than the industry standard.
Specs: UL 2218 Class 4 impact. ASTM E108 Class A fire. 110 mph wind warranty standard, 130 mph enhanced through certified contractors. Limited lifetime shingle warranty with a 15-year non-prorated period.
Class 3 & Class 4 Options
Standard Duration and Duration Designer currently carry Class 3 impact ratings. Duration FLEX and Duration STORM are Class 4 options for homeowners wanting greater impact resistance.
Additional Impact Resistant Systems
We also install Class 3 & 4 options from GAF and CertainTeed, including GAF Timberline ArmorShield II and CertainTeed ClimateFlex products. Both offer familiar architectural shingle styles with upgraded impact resistance for homeowners who prefer those manufacturers, colors, or product lines.
A Class 4 shingle typically costs more than a comparable standard architectural shingle. How much more depends on the manufacturer, product line, roof size, and overall roofing system.
The biggest difference is impact resistance. A Class 4 product has earned the highest impact rating available under the UL 2218 test. A standard architectural shingle can still be a very good roof, but impact ratings vary by product, so it’s important to compare the specific shingles you’re considering.
Standard architectural shingles can make sense when keeping the initial investment lower is the priority. Class 4 is worth comparing if hail resistance matters, you plan to stay in the home, or your insurance company confirms a meaningful incentive for the upgrade.
Class 4 asphalt keeps you in a more traditional shingle roofing system. Metal roofing is generally a larger upfront investment and requires a different installation process.
Class 4 shingles are specifically designed and tested for increased impact resistance. Metal is also a durable roofing option, but hail can still leave cosmetic dents depending on the type of metal, profile, and storm. Those are two different approaches to dealing with Minnesota weather.
Choose Class 4 asphalt if you like the look and cost structure of shingles but want better impact resistance.
Consider metal if longevity, snow shedding, and the look of a metal roofing system are priorities and the higher upfront investment makes sense for your home.
Synthetic slate is a much larger investment than Class 4 asphalt. The added cost is not simply for a higher impact rating. You are getting a completely different roofing system designed to recreate the depth, texture, and appearance of natural slate or cedar.
Class 4 asphalt gives you improved impact resistance while keeping the familiar look and more approachable cost of an architectural shingle.
Choose Class 4 asphalt if better hail resistance is your main goal and you want to stay with a traditional shingle roofing system.
Consider synthetic slate if you want Class 4 impact resistance along with a premium architectural look and are comfortable investing more in the overall roofing system.
No matter which Class 4 line you choose, every full roof replacement from Foremost includes:
The full asphalt lineup, including standard architectural and designer lines.
40 to 70-year lifespan, excellent hail and wind resistance, modern or traditional aesthetics.
Free post-storm inspections with photo and scope documentation for your insurance file.
Share a few details about your home. We’ll follow up within one business day to schedule your free inspection and show you what a Class 4 roof would cost on your house.
Free inspection, honest assessment, and a written quote that prices the Class 4 upgrade as a clear line item.