Many features of Class 4 impact-resistant composite roofing products make them a good investment choice for today’s homeowners. The integrity of Class 4 impact-resistant composite tiles lessen long-term maintenance and repair costs, lengthen the roof’s lifespan, adds resale value to a home, and can lower insurance rates. Furthermore, the ease of installation of Class 4 impact-resistant composite tiles reduce installation costs.
Why Homeowners Need Class 4 Impact-Resistant Shingles
The strength and integrity of a house depend on the roof. A durable-strong roof stands up to hail, rain, ice, and debris and protects the home's structure and interior. Worn-out or damaged roofs can quickly lead to large-scale water problems to all parts of the house and massive repair bills.
Of concern, hail and wind damage to roofs accounts for the most frequent home insurance claims (41 percent between 2014 and 2018) and caused $13 billion in property damage in 2019.
Of concern, since 2012, the cost for both roofing materials and labor has significantly increased. In the past year alone, materials increased by 1.8 percent, and labor increased by 6.3 percent—a trend expected to continue and challenge both homeowners and insurance companies.
What is Class 4 Impact Resistance?
Impact-resistant shingles ensure a roof will maintain its strength and integrity against flying debris, hail, and winds up to 110 mph.
Impact-resistant shingles achieve a UL 2218 rating of Class 4. Since 1996, the UL 2218 has provided a national standard for rating the impact-resistance of roofing materials. Materials achieve a rating of between Class 1 to 4, based on their resistance to the impact of steel balls of various sizes, simulating 90-mph hailstones. The toughest roofing materials rate a Class 4.
Initial Cost vs. Long Term Benefits
Cost of Impact Resistant Shingles
SBS Class 4 impact-resistant shingles cost from 10-25 percent more than regular asphalt shingles. However, because impact-resistant shingles reduce long-term maintenance costs and prevent premature roof replacement, homeowners can quickly make up the higher initial costs. Also, Class 4, impact-resistant shingles further save money because they can improve a home's resale value and add a discount to the homeowner's insurance premium.
Improved Lifespan
The improved durability and strength of impact-resistant shingles over regular shingles improves the lifespan of a roof. Notably, many manufacturers of impact-resistant shingles back them up with 50-year-limited warranties. Impact-resistant shingles offer the following features that improve the lifespan of a roof.
- Impact-resistant shingles maintain their integrity against hail and flying debris.
- Most impact-resistant shingles have a Class A fire rating.
- Impact-resistant shingles significantly diminish the chance of interior damage due to a roof leak.
- Many impact-resistant shingles resist wind speeds of 110 mph or higher.
Why are Impact Resistant Shingles a Good Investment?
Class 4 impact-resistant composite tiles' integrity and lightweight nature make them a good investment because they save on installation and long-term maintenance and repair costs. Notably, Class 4 impact-resistant tiles offer a lengthy lifespan, add resale value to a home, and lower home insurance rates.
Cracking and Water Damage Prevention
Large pieces of hail and debris can dent and crack a roof during intense storms, leaving the roof susceptible to water leaks, damage, and expensive repairs. Thankfully, Class 4, impact-resistant shingles will not crack, tear, or split under these severe weather situations, protecting the roof and home from water damage and costly repairs.
Long-Term Cost Savings
Impact-resistant shingles provide homeowners several long-term cost savings.
- Impact-resistant shingles stand up to extreme wind events; therefore, homeowners spend less on roof repairs than homes with standard shingles.
- Some insurers offer discounts for homes with Class 4 impact-resistant shingles.
- Impact-resistant shingles reduce routine maintenance costs because they don’t need the frequent upkeep or refinishing required by less-impact-resistant shingles.
Increased Resale Value
The 2019 Remodeling Impact Report from the National Association of Realtors found that a new roof ranked highest for exterior projects that add resale value to a home. Furthermore, impact-resistant shingles can increase resale value because buyers will appreciate Class 4 rated impact-resistant shingles' low-maintenance and longevity.
The Best Class 4 Impact Resistant Material
Lightweight and durable synthetic-composite shakes offer the beauty of Spanish clay tile, natural slate, and cedar shake roofing, but none of the problems. Synthetic-composite shakes require less maintenance, allow for easier installation, and provide a longer lifespan than most traditional roofing products.
Synthetic, Composite Shakes
Synthetic-composite shakes contain a mixture of fiberglass, asphalt, and other sustainable materials that create an eco-friendly roofing product with exceptional durability and roof lifespan. Lightweight and durable synthetic-composite shakes provide an aesthetically pleasing alternative to natural products like clay, concrete, slate, and cedar tiles.
3 Unique Styles
Synthetic-composite shakes come in three unique styles that mimic, if not surpass, the beauty of natural slate, cedar shake, and Spanish clay tiles.
1. Synthetic Slate Roof Tile
Impact-resistant, synthetic-slate tiles, with a lifespan of over 50 years, offer the beauty of heavy-natural slate roofing but with greater durability and fewer maintenance requirements. Moreover, synthetic-slate roof tile costs slightly less ($10 - $18 ft.2) than natural slate ($10-$25 ft.2). Importantly, lightweight-composite slate tiles require less labor than natural slate and eliminate costly substructure modification - both of which lower installation costs. Our slate tiles come in 11 colors to perfectly match your desired slate aesthetic.
Try slate roof tiles on your home with our visualizer!
2. Synthetic Cedar Shake Roof Tile
Synthetic cedar shake roof tiles simulate the rustic split texture of a natural cedar shake roof, but with added durability (Class 4 Impact Rating, Class A or C Fire Rating), and twice the lifespan of natural cedar shake. Synthetic-cedar roofs ($11 ft2 - $18 ft2) cost slightly more than fire-rated natural cedar ($10.85 ft2 - $16.85 ft2). However, synthetic-cedar tiles provide greater long-term savings through lower maintenance and fewer repairs due to impact and fire damage than natural-cedar shake tiles. Offered in 11 colors, Brava's synthetic cedar roof tiles allow homeowners the right set of options for your cedar aesthetic.
Try cedar shakes on your home with our visualizer!
3. Synthetic Barrel Roof Tile
Lightweight synthetic-barrel roof tile provides a superior alternative to heavy and high-maintenance barrel clay tile. Synthetic-barrel roof tiles do not require extra structural support and last 50 years, while natural clay needs added structural support and only lasts 20-30 years. Moreover, synthetic-barrel roof tiles' durability eliminates long-term maintenance and repair costs from impact, moisture, and fire damage. These long-term financial advantages help owners quickly make up the higher initial cost of synthetic-barrel roof tiles ($8.00 ft2 – $16.00 ft.2) compared to clay tiles ($7.00 ft2 – $12.00 ft.2). Offered in 13 colors, Brava's synthetic barrel roof tiles are the perfect match for modern design sensibilities that hearken back to the heritage of barrel tiles.
Try synthetic Spanish barrel roof tiles on your home with our visualizer!
Choosing the Right Roof and How Brava Can Help
We at Brava Roof Tile would like to help you make the right choice in roofing material. We clearly understand that for your family's safety and the protection of your investment, only durable, long-lasting roofing products, with low to no maintenance costs, fit today's homeowners' requirements. If you're familiar with composite roof tiles, see how Brava compares to other options.
At Brava, all of our eco-friendly composite roofing products come with a 50-year warranty. We offer three unique composite tile styles that achieve, if not surpass, the beauty of natural slate, Spanish clay tile, and cedar shake roofing. Importantly, all our products protect against impact, fire, moisture, extreme temperature, color fading, and structural damage - features that eliminate maintenance and lower long-term costs.
- Brava roofing products achieve a Class 4 impact rating - 188+ mph with ring shank nails wind resistance
- Homeowners can choose Brava products with either a Class A and Class C fire rating
- Moisture-resistant Brava products avoid problems associated with mold
- Temperature-resistant Brava products maintain their integrity during freezing and thawing events and high temperatures.
- Brava's revolutionary multi-coloring process produces a product with authentic color variation and flow (in any custom color or combination) throughout the entire tile.
- Brava's lightweight composite tiles eliminate the potential of structural damage, unlike heavier tiles, like clay and concrete.
To see more projects featuring our award-winning products, check out our photo gallery and video gallery.
Why Class 4 Impact-Resistant Shingles are Worth the Investment
While homeowners must pay slightly more for Class 4 impact-resistant shingles than less-impact-resistant roofing products, the long-term savings quickly made up for the initial costs. Class 4 impact-resistant shingles stand up to damaging hail, debris, and more, saving homeowners thousands of dollars on long-term maintenance and repairs. Moreover, Class 4 impact-resistant tiles offer a long lifespan, lower insurance rate, and improved resale value. Contact the experts at Brava today to discover why Class 4 impact-resistant shingles are not only the most durable choice, but the best aesthetic choice.
We're happy to offer quotes, help you to find a contractor, and will even send a free sample for you to inspect. Order a complimentary lookbook or upload your home's image to our visualizer and see how it would look with our tiles!
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