Hail, Wind and Fire Ratings of Roofing Products

Your roof is your first line of defense against the elements. When you’re contacting your local roofer to replace a weather-damaged roof, it’s only reasonable to understand how it will fare against some of nature’s extreme conditions. These include sun, wind, hail, snow and, on rare occasions, even fire.

Roofing products are rated differently based on their performance and their resistance to common weather conditions.

Hail Damage

With winter just a few weeks ahead, many homeowners are calling their roofer for some timely and seasonal preparations. One such preparation is checking how well their roof can handle an unexpected hailstorm. Hailstones the size of a golf ball are enough to crack, break or even knock individual shingles off your roof. If hail is a common threat in your area, you want to stick to roofing products classified under UL 2218. This category is further divided into four classes, with Class 4 being the toughest. Higher-rated roofs can cost more than the usual (up to 20% more), but this price difference is often offset by lower insurance premiums.

Wind Damage

Wind resistance depends more on how well your roof is installed than on the specific characteristics of your roofing products. This is why it’s important to trust only certified and experienced roofers to handle roof replacements and installations. Talk to your professional about which materials are rated to resist up to 150-mile-per-hour winds for maximum protection.

Fire Damage

Ask your roofer as well about the fire rating classification of your roof replacement. These can either be Class A, B or C, with Class A roofs offering the highest protection. Most modern roofing products already have Class A ratings, but their overall performance can still be affected by their material.

Keep your home protected against anything Mother Nature can throw at it with help from our professionals at Jack the Roofer. Give us a call at (720) 722-2255, or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation and request a free estimate today. We serve homeowners in Denver and other nearby areas.