I’ve seen a lot of folks go with Class 4s lately, especially after last year’s hail storms. Did you notice much difference in noise during storms compared to your old shingles? Some people say the impact-resistant ones sound different, but I haven’t really noticed it myself.
Did you notice much difference in noise during storms compared to your old shingles? Some people say the impact-resistant ones sound different, but I haven’t really noticed it myself.
I’ve heard that too, but honestly, when we swapped ours after the last big hail, I was expecting it to be way louder. Didn’t really notice a change—maybe a little more of a dull thud instead of that sharp ping? Could just be in my head though. Did you go with the thicker underlayment too, or just the shingles? Wondering if that makes any difference for noise or insulation.
That’s interesting—you’re not alone. I thought the impact-resistant shingles would be noisier too, but after a couple of storms, it just sounded more muted than before. We did add a thicker underlayment and it seemed to help with both noise and keeping the attic cooler. Not a night-and-day difference, but noticeable enough during heavy rain.
Funny, I had the same concern about noise when we switched to impact-resistant shingles after a nasty hailstorm last spring.
—that’s exactly what I noticed too. We went with a synthetic underlayment, and it made a bigger difference than I expected, especially during those Midwest summer downpours. The attic temp dropped a bit as well, but like you said, not dramatic. Still, anything that keeps the house quieter and cooler is a win in my book.“it just sounded more muted than before”
That’s cool to hear you noticed the same thing with the noise. I was honestly a little skeptical when my boss said the underlayment would make a difference, but after helping out on a couple installs, it really does seem to help—especially when it’s pouring. It’s not like total silence or anything, but it’s way less of that “drum” sound you get with heavy rain.
The attic temp thing is interesting too. I’ve seen some people expect a huge drop, but like you said, it’s usually just a few degrees. Still, every bit helps in the summer. If it means your AC isn’t working as hard, that adds up over time.
I think impact shingles are worth it if you’re in hail country. We had a customer last year whose regular shingles got trashed by one storm, then they switched to impact-resistant and haven’t had any issues since. They cost more upfront, but less stress and fewer repairs later. Kind of feels like one of those upgrades you only appreciate after the next big storm rolls through...