“Ended up going with metal mostly for the longevity and the fact that it’s recyclable. The price tag stung a bit, but I’m hoping it’ll pay off in the long run—plus, no more shingle bits blowing into the neighbor’s yard every spring.”
I get the appeal of metal, especially with all the wild weather we get around here, but I’ve seen a few folks regret switching over—mainly because of hail. Had a client last year who went all-in on standing seam, thinking it’d be bulletproof, but after one of those late spring hailstorms, it looked like someone took a ball peen hammer to the whole thing. Insurance covered part of it, but he was still out a chunk of change and not thrilled about the dings.
Shingles aren’t perfect either (I’ve spent more time than I care to admit patching them after windstorms), but at least replacing a few is usually less of a headache than swapping out metal panels. Maybe it’s just me, but sometimes “old-fashioned” feels easier to live with—especially when you’re dealing with insurance adjusters who don’t want to pay for cosmetic damage.
Curious if anyone’s had luck with those newer impact-resistant shingles? I keep hearing mixed reviews, but I haven’t seen them hold up much better in real-world storms.
Curious if anyone’s had luck with those newer impact-resistant shingles? I keep hearing mixed reviews, but I haven’t seen them hold up much better in real-world storms.
We’ve installed Class 4 impact-resistant shingles on a few properties over the last couple years. They do seem to handle hail better than standard asphalt, but “impact-resistant” doesn’t mean “hail-proof.” After a big storm last May, we still saw some granule loss and minor dents, but way fewer full-on punctures or torn tabs compared to the older roofs. Insurance adjusters were a little more willing to cover replacement, too, since the damage was more than just cosmetic. Not perfect, but less hassle than dealing with metal panel dents or constant shingle repairs.
That’s interesting about insurance being easier to deal with—didn’t realize that could be a factor. For those who’ve had these impact shingles a while, do they seem to last as long as regular ones, or do you end up replacing them just as often anyway?
We put impact shingles on about 8 years ago after a nasty hailstorm, and honestly, they’ve held up better than the regular asphalt ones we had before. I haven’t noticed any granule loss or curling yet, which surprised me. That said, I’ve heard from neighbors that if you get a really bad storm, even impact-rated shingles can take a beating—maybe not as much as standard ones, but still. I guess it depends on your area’s weather. For us, they seem to be lasting longer, but I’m not sure they’re totally invincible.
Nothing’s totally storm-proof, right? I’ve seen impact shingles survive golf ball hail, but then a freak wind gust peels a few off anyway. Curious—did your insurance give you any break for upgrading, or was it just peace of mind?
