A roof is a home's first line of defense against all weather: sun, wind, rain, hail, snow, and ice, as well as impacts from debris. With that in mind, it's pretty obvious that you don't want a gaping hole in the roof or missing roofing material, but what about smaller issues, like small holes, wear and tear, or cracks?
Once there is a crack or hole in the roof, that vulnerability will only get worse with time. Each storm will cause more damage, until the problem is no longer just a small crack, but water pouring into a home.
To protect a home from hail damage, the roof material should be high quality and able to withstand as much impact as possible. The strength and integrity of a house is largely dependent on the quality of the roof, so a durable roof is necessary for protecting the home from damage from weather events, especially those that include hail.
The stakes are higher than most homeowners realize. Damaging hail fell an average of 122 days per year between 2004 and 2024. In 2025, that climbed to 142 days, with at least 600,000 homes struck by hailstones two inches in diameter or larger. Average insurance payouts for hail damage ran around $12,000 in 2025. And the financial consequences don't stop at the repair bill: deductibles, premium increases, and in some cases policy cancellation follow. Choosing the best roof for hail storms isn't just an aesthetic decision. It's a financial one.
Understanding Impact Ratings: What Class 4 Actually Means
To help homeowners choose a roof that protects against hail, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) developed the UL 2218 impact rating system. Roofing materials are tested by dropping steel balls from specific heights. Steel mimics the density and hardness of hailstones better than softer materials, and the results are classified into four classes.
| Class | Steel Ball Diameter | Drop Height | What It Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | 1.25" | 12 feet | Basic impact resistance |
| Class 2 | 1.5" | 15 feet | Moderate resistance |
| Class 3 | 1.75" | 17 feet | Good resistance |
| Class 4 | 2" | 20 feet | Highest rating — no penetration or fracture |
Class 4 impact ratings also carry a practical financial benefit: many insurance carriers offer premium discounts for homes with Class 4 rated roofing because the data supports it. Class 4 roofs generate fewer hail damage claims. In some markets, those savings add up meaningfully over the lifespan of a 50-year roof.
How Common Roofing Materials Perform in Hail
Not all roofing materials fail the same way under hail impact, and the failure mode matters as much as the rating. A material that cracks compromises waterproofing immediately. A material that dents cosmetically but maintains its structural integrity is a different category of outcome entirely.
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are the most common roofing material in North America and are available in Class 4 impact-rated versions. Standard asphalt shingles, however, are highly vulnerable to hail. Impact strips away protective granules, increasing UV exposure to the underlying mat and accelerating aging. Even when shingles appear intact after a storm, granule loss has already shortened the roof's remaining service life.
Class 4 asphalt shingles improve on this, but the material is still relatively soft. In hail-prone regions, even impact-rated asphalt shingles typically require more frequent inspection and earlier replacement than harder materials. Their lifespan in severe hail climates is often shorter than their stated warranty period.
Metal Roofing
Metal roofing is non-combustible, carries Class A fire ratings, and handles most hail events without functional damage. Its failure mode is cosmetic: large hail can dent metal roofing surfaces, but denting doesn't crack, split, or compromise the waterproofing layer the way fracturing does in other materials. A dented metal roof still keeps water out. A cracked tile does not.
Metal roofs can withstand small to moderate hail without any visible damage. The concern with large hail is aesthetics rather than performance, though in severe events denting can be pronounced enough to affect appearance significantly. Metal is also susceptible to rust in coastal environments unless aluminum or zinc options are specified.
Clay and Concrete Tile
Clay and concrete tile are durable under normal conditions but can be brittle under hail impact. A direct strike from a large hailstone can crack or chip tile, and cracked tiles are not always immediately visible. Cracked tile that goes undetected allows water to reach the underlayment and decking below, where damage compounds over time. Replacement is also expensive because specialty labor is required and matching tile color and profile from older installations can be difficult.
Concrete tile performs similarly to clay but is heavier and more prone to surface erosion over time. Both materials require structural reinforcement in most homes, which adds to installation cost and limits where they can be practically used.
Natural Slate
Slate is among the most durable roofing materials available and handles hail well for its weight class. Its density works in its favor during impact. However, slate is brittle in a different way from clay: a direct strike on an exposed edge or a thin section can cause fracture, and like clay, replacement requires specialty labor. Natural slate is expensive, heavy, and not practical for most homes even where its performance merits consideration.
Wood Shake
Wood shake is one of the worst materials for hail-prone regions. Hail impact causes cracking and splitting, and the moisture that enters those cracks accelerates rot and decay. Wood shake is also a poor fire performer and is restricted or banned in many regions with elevated wildfire risk. It's both the most vulnerable to hail damage and the most maintenance-intensive material on this list.
Composite Tile
Composite tile, specifically Class 4 rated composite tile, is the strongest performer for hail resistance across the full set of relevant criteria. The material is engineered to absorb and disperse impact energy rather than crack or fracture. It doesn't lose granules because it doesn't rely on granule coatings for UV protection. Its failure mode under extreme conditions is surface marking, not structural failure. And it maintains those properties over a 50-year lifespan without the maintenance overhead that other materials demand.
Why Composite Tile Is the Best Roof for Hail
Composite roof tiles, especially those with a Class 4 impact rating, are best able to withstand hail storms. Because of their greater durability, you won't have to worry about cracks that allow moisture into the tiles and underlying material, and even into the interior of the home. For hail-prone areas, composite roofing material is the best choice.
The reasons go beyond just the impact rating:
No granule loss: composite tile doesn't rely on granule coatings, so hail impact doesn't accelerate aging the way it does on asphalt.
Failure mode: even under extreme impact, composite tile marks rather than fractures. Waterproofing stays intact.
Consistent performance: the Class 4 rating holds throughout the product's lifespan, unlike asphalt which becomes more vulnerable as it ages and loses granules.
Insurance value: Class 4 composite tile typically qualifies for insurance premium discounts in hail-prone markets.
Longevity: a 50-year warranty means you're not replacing the roof before the panels finish earning their keep.
Lightweight: no structural reinforcement required, unlike clay, concrete, or slate.
Fire resistance: Class A fire rating available, which matters as much in fire-risk regions as hail resistance does in storm corridors.
Brava Composite Tile: Class 4 Impact Rated Across the Full Product Line
Brava offers composite roofing with a Class 4 impact rating across all three tile profiles: cedar shake, slate, and Spanish barrel tile. A Class 4 impact rating ensures a roof will maintain its strength and integrity in the face of damaging weather events, like hail, and flying debris.
Composite roofing also lasts longer, is lighter, has greater durability, and is more aesthetically pleasing than traditional clay, cedar, slate, or asphalt roof tiles. For hail prone areas, composite roofing material is the best choice. Brava's tiles are manufactured from 100% recycled materials and carry a 50-year limited warranty.
For homeowners in hail-prone regions, the combination of Class 4 impact resistance, 50-year durability, and the potential for insurance premium savings makes composite tile the most complete financial and practical argument for a hail-resistant roof.
For a closer look at how Brava tiles perform under real-world testing conditions, including fire and impact demonstrations by independent contractors, see the fire and hail testing article.
Ready to Choose the Best Roof for Hail Storms?
From Colorado's Front Range to Texas hail country, the Great Plains to anywhere that sees serious spring and summer storm seasons, the material decision shapes how much disruption and expense you absorb over the next 50 years.
Brava's composite tile systems are Class 4 impact rated, Class A fire rated in available assemblies, and backed by a 50-year limited warranty. Request a sample to see the difference yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best roof for hail?
Class 4 rated composite tile is the best roofing material for hail protection when evaluated across impact resistance, failure mode, longevity, and insurance value. It carries the highest UL 2218 impact rating, doesn't lose granules or fracture under hail impact, maintains its performance characteristics over a 50-year lifespan, and often qualifies for insurance premium discounts in hail-prone markets. Metal roofing is a strong second choice, particularly because its failure mode under large hail is cosmetic denting rather than structural fracture. Asphalt shingles, even Class 4 rated versions, degrade over time in ways that reduce their hail resistance with each storm season.
What is a Class 4 impact rating?
Class 4 is the highest impact resistance rating under the UL 2218 standard. To earn it, a roofing material must survive being struck by a 2-inch diameter steel ball dropped from 20 feet, twice in the same location, without showing penetration or fracture. The test is designed to simulate large hailstone impact. Class 4 rated roofing is what most insurance carriers recognize for premium discounts in hail-prone regions, and it's the threshold required by some jurisdictions and HOAs in areas with frequent severe storms.
Does a Class 4 roof lower insurance premiums?
In many cases, yes. Many insurance carriers offer discounts for homes with Class 4 impact-rated roofing because the actuarial data supports it: Class 4 roofs generate fewer hail damage claims. The discount varies by carrier and market, but in hail-heavy states like Texas, Colorado, and Oklahoma it can be meaningful enough to offset some of the difference in material cost between composite tile and standard asphalt shingles. Check with your specific carrier for available discounts in your area.
Does metal roofing hold up to hail?
Yes, and for a specific reason: metal roofing's failure mode under hail is cosmetic denting, not structural fracture. A dented metal roof still maintains its waterproofing and structural integrity. That's a meaningfully different outcome from a cracked tile or fractured shingle, which compromises the waterproofing layer and creates a path for moisture. Large hail can cause pronounced denting that affects appearance, but metal roofing generally holds up to hail better than asphalt or wood from a functional standpoint. Coastal homes should specify aluminum or zinc to avoid rust.
What type of roof is worst for hail?
Wood shake is the most vulnerable common roofing material for hail. Impact causes cracking and splitting, moisture enters those cracks, and rot and decay follow. Standard asphalt shingles are a close second: hail strips protective granules and accelerates aging even when the shingle appears intact after the storm. Clay and concrete tile can crack under severe hail impact and require expensive specialty labor to replace. None of these materials are recommended as primary choices in regions with frequent or severe hailstorm activity.
How do I know if my roof has hail damage?
Not all hail damage is immediately visible. Obvious signs include cracked, chipped, or missing tiles, dented metal surfaces, or granules collecting in gutters and downspouts after a storm. Subtler signs include bruising or soft spots on asphalt shingles, hairline cracks in clay or concrete tile that are only visible up close, and damaged or displaced flashing. After any significant hail event, a professional inspection is worth scheduling even if the roof appears intact from the ground. Damage that goes undetected often compounds with subsequent storms.
