Class 4 impact-resistant shingles, explained.
Class 4 is the highest impact rating a shingle can earn, and in Colorado it is the difference between replacing a roof every storm cycle and replacing one occasionally. It is not magic, and it is not free.
Updated August 2026
What Class 4 actually means
Impact resistance is rated under UL 2218, a standardized test where steel balls are dropped onto the shingle from a set height. Class 4 is the top rating, awarded when the shingle takes a 2-inch steel ball drop without cracking the mat, twice in the same spot. Classes 1 through 3 use smaller balls. That is the whole thing: a repeatable lab test, not a marketing tier.
The rating is about the mat surviving impact. It is not a warranty, not a guarantee, and not a claim about appearance after a storm.
Why it matters here
Colorado sits in one of the busiest hail corridors in the country. The Front Range gets worked over most springs, and the Grand Valley took a serious hit in June 2025. A standard shingle in this climate can lose its mat integrity in a single bad storm, which means a claim, a deductible, and a new roof on the insurer's timeline instead of yours.
A Class 4 roof does not stop hail from falling. It changes how often a storm turns into a functional failure, and it reduces how often you are standing in your driveway talking to an adjuster.
The insurance angle, stated honestly
Many Colorado insurers offer premium discounts for Class 4 roofs. The discount varies by insurer and by policy, and it is not universal. Call your agent, ask what your carrier gives for a Class 4 roof, and ask what documentation they need after the install. That is a five minute phone call that can pay for itself.
We will never promise you a specific discount. We do not set your premium and we do not know your policy.
The honest trade-offs
- It costs more upfront. Class 4 material carries a premium per square over standard architectural shingles, and that shows on the quote.
- Hail can still mark it. Bruising, scuffing, and granule loss all still happen. Class 4 protects the mat, not the appearance.
- Cosmetic damage exclusions exist. Some policies exclude cosmetic hail damage on impact-resistant roofs, meaning marks that do not affect function may not be covered. Read that clause before you buy the policy discount.
- It is not a substitute for good installation. Flashing, venting, underlayment, and fastening decide whether a roof leaks. A Class 4 shingle over sloppy detail work is still a leaky roof.
Why we install Class 4 as standard
On replacements, Class 4 impact-resistant shingles are our standard install rather than an upsell we spring on you at signing. In this climate we would rather put on the roof we would put on our own house and explain the price than win a bid with material we expect to see fail.
If a storm already hit and you are trying to figure out what you have, start with a free documented inspection on our hail and storm damage page.