What UL 2218 Class 4 Actually Means
Within our hail damage roof repair work, Class 4 shingles are the upgrade we discuss most, and the rating comes from UL 2218, the standard test for how roof coverings hold up to impact. In the lab, steel balls of increasing size, from 1¼ inches up to 2 inches, are dropped onto shingle samples, and each spot is struck twice. A product earns Class 4, the top rating, when it survives the 2-inch ball without cracking through. That is the meaning behind "Class 4 shingles" on a product label or an insurer's discount form.
For Irving homeowners, the rating matters because hail is the main reason roofs here get replaced early. NICB data shows Texans filed 637,977 hail claims in the three years from 2017 to 2019, and an impact-rated roof is the most practical way to reduce the odds of joining that list.
Is a Hail-Resistant Roof Worth It in Texas?
For many North Texas homes, yes, but it is a choice with trade-offs rather than an automatic win.
| Consideration | Class 4 shingles | Standard architectural shingles |
|---|---|---|
| Hail performance | Built to resist 2-inch steel-ball impacts | No impact rating, or a lower class |
| Upfront cost | Higher material cost | Lower |
| Insurance credit | Possible with some insurers; ask yours | Usually none |
| Appearance | Looks like standard dimensional shingles | Same |
| Flexibility | Often rubber-modified, more flexible | Stiffer, especially as they age |
If you plan to stay in the house for years, live in a hail corridor, or have filed hail claims before, the upgrade usually deserves a serious look. If a sale is coming soon, the math may be different.
Irving gives most owners at least one reason. Point2Homes dates the typical Irving house to 1986, so plenty of roofs are reaching replacement anyway, and that is the cheapest moment to choose a better shingle. Hail season peaks around May, Irving's wettest month, and NICB lists Dallas in the national top five for hail claims. A roof that has needed two storm repairs in a few years, or a house surrounded by tall trees that already scuff the shingles, is a good candidate.
Impact-Resistant Shingles in Irving, TX: What We Install
A Class 4 roof is still a full roof system, and the rating on the shingle wrapper only describes the shingle. Hail that the shingle survives can still crack a cheap plastic vent, split an old pipe boot or dent thin flashing, so we upgrade those details at the same time. Every component is listed on the written estimate, with the Class 4 line shown beside the standard one, and we keep the paperwork your insurer may ask for when you apply for a credit.
- UL 2218 Class 4 architectural shingles in a range of colors, chosen with you from current samples
- Matching Class 4 or compatible hip and ridge caps, as the shingle maker specifies
- Synthetic underlayment and leak barrier in valleys and at walls
- New drip edge, flashing and pipe boots, since a strong shingle over weak details still leaks
- Balanced attic ventilation, which shingle makers require for their material coverage
- Documentation: product name, invoice and photos you can send your insurer for any credit
Questions about class 4 impact-resistant shingles? Talk to us.
Call for a free inspection and a written estimate. Hablamos español.
- 5.0 on Google (33 reviews)
- Free inspections & estimates
- Se habla español
- Workmanship guaranteed in writing with every contract
How a Class 4 Upgrade Works With Us
- Free inspection of the current roof, or review of your approved hail scope if there is a claim.
- Insurer check. You ask your agent whether a Class 4 roof qualifies for a credit and what proof it needs.
- Side-by-side pricing. We show the standard option and the Class 4 option in writing.
- Color selection using samples held against your brick and trim outdoors.
- Permit and installation, with full tear-off and the manufacturer's nailing pattern.
- Paperwork for your insurer: product details, invoice and installation photos.
If you are mid-claim, the upgrade happens inside a hail damage roof replacement or right after a hail damage roof inspection confirms the roof needs replacing. Homes with metal roofs have different options, covered on our metal roof hail damage page.
Will an Impact Resistant Roof Get an Insurance Discount in Texas?
It may. Texas insurers may offer a premium credit for Class 4 roofing, but whether yours does, how much it is and what proof it needs are all set by the insurer. We do not quote discount percentages, because they vary and change. Ask your agent before choosing shingles, and the Texas Department of Insurance's consumer pages are a good neutral place to read about hail and roof coverage. Keep your invoice and installation photos either way.
FORTIFIED Standards, Permits and Irving Code Rules
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) runs the FORTIFIED Home program, a construction standard aimed at keeping wind and water out: a sealed roof deck, stronger attachment of the deck and edges, and better detailing. Designation comes from an IBHS-approved evaluator, not from the roofer. If FORTIFIED interests you, ask your insurer whether it recognizes the designation, and we can discuss which of those building details fit your re-roof.
The city side is simpler. A Class 4 re-roof is permitted like any other in Irving, and the city's code library shows the 2024 IRC in force since May 1, 2026 (Ordinance 2026-11253); the residential handout exempts only small jobs up to 100 square feet. Texas has no statewide roofer license and TDLR does not issue one, so check a contractor's annual City of Irving registration instead. If the upgrade happens during a claim, Texas Insurance Code Chapter 707 still makes the deductible yours.
What Affects the Cost of Class 4 Shingles?
- Roof size, pitch and complexity
- The specific product line and color
- Matching caps and accessories the manufacturer requires
- Tear-off, decking and ventilation work found during the job
- Whether part of the cost is covered by an approved hail scope
For a baseline, Smart Roofing Calculator's 2026 figures price a standard architectural roof at $426–$614 per square installed; impact-rated lines usually price above that, and your written estimate shows the exact difference. Those are published third-party figures, not our prices. Any insurer credit works against that premium over the years you own the house, so ask your agent for the yearly amount before comparing. Ask too whether your policy carries a cosmetic-damage exclusion, which some insurers attach to roofs: dents that do not affect function may then go uncovered.
Color choice has a code side, too. Irving's local energy-code amendments list a cool-roof reflectance value for steep-slope roofs (SRI 29); check with us or the city on whether it applies to your project before settling on a very dark shingle.
Why RJ Premium Roofing for Class 4 Shingles in Dallas and Irving?
- Insurance-literate: customers credit us with checking their coverage first, before any claim was filed
- Every review a five: 33 Google reviews averaging 5.0 at our November 2026 check
- Reasonable prices, as several reviewers put it, with upgrade costs shown in writing
- Tejas resistentes al granizo explained in Spanish or English
- A free inspection first, so you know whether the current roof needs replacing before you price an upgrade
Our workmanship guarantee is part of your written contract, and the shingle manufacturer's material warranty applies when the product is installed to its instructions. Beyond Irving, we install Class 4 roofs across the Mid-Cities and northeast Tarrant County, including Grapevine, Colleyville and Bedford.
